What’s the most important thing you consider when shopping for children’s decor and furniture for your home? Style? Quality? Value? Luckily, with sets like the the Svan Play With Me Set you can achieve all three without compromise. Indeed, the phrase “design without compromise” definitely applies to Svan’s toddler wooden table and chairs set.
Svan Play With Me
A child-sized table and chairs set designed to promote child/parent interaction.
Set includes a table, three chairs and a stool sturdy enough to hold mom or dad so that they can play along too. Crafted of high-quality, solid birch wood, the Play With Me Toddler Table and Chairs are built to stand up to year-after-year of art projects, tea parties, games and other children’s activities.
The set’s modern Scandinavian design complements any décor, making it the perfect addition to any living room, bed room, play room or nursery.
Toddler Table & Chair Set
To be honest, before we had the table and chairs set up I really wasn’t sure how much we would use it. Sure, they look beautiful and are a useful thing to have, but I wasn’t convinced they’d be a part of our daily life. After all, our family of four (for now!) easily sits at our kitchen table for most meals. But, I have been pleasantly surprised by how much we have used the Svan Play With Me Table and Chairs Set.
The set is certainly useful for any number of reasons, but here are the main uses in our home. First, it’s been invaluable when we have friends over for dinner. We have a perfect “kids table” and the adults can keep the big table all to ourselves. Second, the kids use it for art projects, coloring and preschool “homework” on a regular basis. And, my kids favorite use, is when they get a “special” meal and can watch a movie while they’re eating. While called a toddler set, it easily accommodates my 5 year old, 3 year old and their friends.
Of course, one of the neat things about the design is that one chair is actually a stool making it adult friendly. Even my giant pregnant self can sit down with the kids comfortably. (And by that I mean without fear of breaking the stool and falling on my bottom because not much is comfortable at 34 weeks pregnant.) I also really appreciate the way it looks in our family living space. The design is modern and simple so it blends in with our adult furniture very naturally. We have the espresso color, which matches our furniture, and it’s also available in honey and natural. The set wipes clean with wet cloth, but it has a glossy finish so it sometimes looks a bit grubby after my kids have eaten on it.
The Svan Play With Me Table and Chairs Set is, like all Scandinavian Child products, made of great quality solid birch wood. The assembly was straightforward and didn’t take much time. While it’s clear the construction is solid and the set is well-made, it’s also light enough to move around. We can easily move it from kitchen to living room to playroom to suit our needs.
To Buy or Not to Buy
To Buy… The Svan Play With Me Table and Chairs Set will serve more purposes than you can possibly imagine. Our kids adore sitting at their special table, and we love having a children’s table for them and their friends to share. It’s the perfect size for art projects and toddler play. The quality of the set is really great and I know this will be with us for years to come.
Or Not to Buy… The set has a glossy finish and requires attention to keep it looking shiny and new.
We are very excited to introduce a brand new baby gear company: Baby Cargo. Created by a team of designers, Baby Cargo’s goal is to marry a modern aesthetic with functional baby products. The first products the company introduced is a line of contemporary, lightweight umbrella strollers. The Baby Cargo stroller is a modern take on this classic – and very necessary – stroller, and we love the result. Check out our thoughts on the Baby Cargo 200 Series stroller and read on to see how you can win your own!
Meet Baby Cargo
As you explore your baby’s world, you will find your travels go a little bit smoother with the right equipment. We are a team of experienced designers who also happen to be new parents. Throughout our careers, we have longed for an opportunity to make things that help make life easier. At Baby Cargo, we’ve managed to combine our true loves — design and baby making, uh, parenting — into a few really smart places to let our babies rest, play, eat, stroll… live.
Baby Cargo 200 Series Stroller Details
Product Size 42 inches height x 12 inches wide x 12.5 inches deep
Product Weight : 14 lbs.
Seat Dimensions: 12.5 inches wide and 18 inches tall with 28 inch clearance to canopy
Carrying Capacity: Up to 50lbs.
Age guideline: Birth & Up
Easy to carry with shoulder strap and handle
Five-point safety belt
Infinite recline positions
Adjustable canopy
Under stroller cargo basket
Includes rain cover
Baby Cargo 200 Series Lightweight Umbrella Stroller Review
A good umbrella stroller has to do a lot of work in a lightweight package. The Baby Cargo checks all the important boxes: very lightweight, good weight capacity, easy to use and, of course, a great appearance. The Baby Cargo 200 Series Stroller is a versatile stroller that will be just as at home in a city apartment and a suburban garage.
We’ve been testing the 200 Series around town with a 3 year old and 5 year old who are both well below the 50 pound maximum weight capacity. A great feature is that, because of the nearly flat recline, the stroller can be used with babies from birth. I love that, without any costly accessories and with a little easy adjustment, all three of my kids can ride in the same stroller. The stroller has a 5 point harness and the straps are very easy to adjust to fit your child. There are three slots for shoulder straps and the waist belt tightens with a simple pull. The leg rest also adjusts to make the ride more comfortable for your child. Another great comfort factor is the cushioned seat – a definite improvement over the average umbrella stroller.
My 5 year old is obviously on the taller side for the stroller (picture above right) – the seat back is 18 inches from seat to top, but there is plenty of clearance for his head below the canopy. The seat is about 12.5 inches wide and both my kids fit perfectly fine. The sun canopy isn’t particularly large and is one area for improvement on the stroller, but we do really like the see through window making it easy to keep an eye on your tot. The stroller has independent brakes on the rear wheels. You can also lock the front wheels inline for travel over more rugged terrain.
Other features for the parent’s comfort include high handles – both my husband and I can push it comfortably, a cup holder, buttoned pocket on the canopy and pockets in the storage basket. The basket isn’t the biggest and is difficult to reach if the stroller is reclined. It will definitely fit essentials for a day out with kids like cups, blankets or toys but it might be a tight fit for a large diaper bag. The stroller is easy to fold and unfold and has a shoulder carrying strap perfect for travel. Another great feature for this price point is the included rain cover.
One of the things that makes the Baby Cargo different is its modern aesthetic. The 200 Series has a black matte aluminum frame, which is rust-resistant and looks awesome. The stroller’s design is influenced by modern home furnishings and features tone-on-tone fabrics for a subtle and sophisticated look.
Baby Cargo Video Review
To Buy or Not to Buy
To Buy… The Baby Cargo 200 Series stroller is a great, versatile lightweight stroller. The stroller is full of features to comfort baby in a great looking package to please parents. The stroller is easy to use, folds compactly and can be used from birth through 50 pounds. The seat is padded, with infinite recline and an adjustable leg rest for child’s comfort. Parents will appreciate the easy to maneuverability, easy compact fold and comfort features like pockets and cup holder. There’s definitely a lot to like about Baby Cargo and we look forward to seeing more products from the company!
Or Not to Buy… The only weaknesses of the 200 Series are that the sun canopy is on the small side and the storage basket can be difficult to reach. The positives far outweigh the negatives.
Shop! The entire collection of Baby Cargo strollers is available from our affiliates Wayfair.com and Amazon. Prices range from $109 for the 100 Series, $149 for the 200 Series and $179 for the 300 Series.
Win! Your Choice of Baby Cargo Stroller!
How to Enter: Visit Baby Cargo and check out the modern lightweight umbrella strollers. Leave a comment here telling us what stroller (series & color) you’d pick if you win.
Earn Extra Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.
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Follow Baby Cargo AND The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave a link when you do. Meet Baby Cargo – modern baby gear and enter to #win a stroller @TheShoppingMama bit.ly/wix02L
As the year draws to a close, it’s time to celebrate with a great Prince Lionheart giveaway. This one’s geared towards the toddlers, offering some must have gear.
The Bundle includes:
Universal Drawer Organizer: The Universal Organizer will keep things tidy, while keeping frequently used items at your fingertips. The versatile four row tray design saves space in pantries, keeps drawers neatly organized, or stands alone on countertops for immediate accessibility. A removable divider is perfect for smaller items such as utensils or small household gadgets. Can store cutlery, spices or other pantry items and office supplies once Baby grows.
boosterPOD: boosterPOD® makes sitting safe, comfortable and fun! The soft seat design and practical base attach securely to both child and chair. Little ones can now get a safe and secure boost that actually feels good.
2-Stage Seat Saver: Its high-density foam construction prevents depression damage that is caused by car seats. The bottom tray keeps all cars seats level and in proper position, and the kick plate protects upholstery from shoe scuffs. Works with all LATCH compatible car seat systems and fits all automobiles.
Shop! The Prince Lionheart Universal Drawer Organizer is $13, the boosterPod is $50 and the 2-Stage Seat Saver is $22. Shop or find a retail partner at PrinceLionheart.com.
Win! Prince Lionheart Toddler Bundle! {$85 Value}
How to Enter: Visit Prince Lionheart and leave a comment with another toy or baby product you’d like to gift this holiday season.
Earn Extra Entries – valid only after completing first mandatory entry. Please leave a comment for each you do.
I have a slight obsession with finding THE perfect stroller. Is it too much to ask that a stroller be able to be used from infancy until…whenever it is that kids don’t need strollers anymore, be lightweight and compact, handle rough sidewalks with ease, and look really, really nice while doing it all? The Bumbleride Flight Movement Edition certainly doesn’t seem to think so, but could it live up to it’s rep of lightweight do-it-all stroller? I was very excited to try it out, once Jack figured out how to put it together, of course.
Assembly
Out of the box this stroller is nearly ready to go. The above photo shows the included parts and it is a matter of minutes to snap on the wheels and attach the canopy, even with a helpful 18 month old. Once together, little man loved how easy it is to get into the stroller. More than once I’ve found him sitting in it waiting to go for a stroll. The shot below shows the stroller with the canopy attached, but unzipped from the seat. This option gives you maximum air flow with good sun coverage. Quickly zip the canopy to the seat for even better sun coverage and protection from the elements when it cools down.
Maneuverability and Handling
The stroller is incredibly easy to maneuver, in part because it’s only 19 inches wide and 13 pounds. The four caster wheels have independent suspension and turn easily and smoothly. Unlike strollers with similar looking tires, the Flite’s rubber like wheels provide a smooth ride over rough surfaces. This isn’t a stroller to take on a mountain biking trail or the deep sand, but it can easily handle grass, uneven sidewalks, etc. My neighborhood has crazy rough sidewalks and several places where I have to wheel across grass and the Flite had no problem with any of it.
Check out little man wheeling the mostly assembled stroller (it’s still missing the sun shade) around the house. He’s pushed around every stroller we own and this is the only one that doesn’t end up wedged against something while baby screams in frustration.
Specs
Ht: 39.5″
Wt: 13 pounds
Width: 19″
Reclined length: 32″
Folded length: 41.5″
Folded height: 9″
Folding
The Flite is a snap to open and fold, although both moves do require two hands, at least briefly. The fold is a quick 3 step move: (1) pull release handles on each side of the canopy (shown below without canopy installed) (2) kick up back wheel brace (Yes, you can do it barefoot or in sandals. I hate when it hurts to collapse strollers because I’m in sandals and I’m always in sandals.) and push up middle handlebar brace and (3) fold in half. The stroller locks itself in a closed position and has an easy to access handle for carrying. Opening is even easier. Pull on those same release handles and unfold. A quick nudge to lock the wheel brace or handle bar brace may be needed, depending on how enthusiastically you unfold the stroller. I tend to encourage everything into place with a quick shake.
Features and Accessories
The Flite is so jammed packed with great features it’s hard to be sure to include them all. Some of my favorites are the:
SPF 45 Sun Canopy with UV blocking mesh viewing window. Very important in our sunny state.
Infinite position sliding recline that goes flat enough for infants.
Adjustable leg rest with easy to adjust firm support.
The fabric is so beautiful and I love the red-orange accent. I feel like I’m showing it off every time I take it out.
The Optional Snack Tray and Included Infant Car Seat Adapter (shown with Peg Perego car seat) are great too. They are very easy to install. The only downside is you have to remove them before folding due to the Flite’s extremely compact fold. The snack tray is the most accessible tray we’ve used and is nice and deep for holding everything from a favorite toy to finger foods.
To Buy or Not to Buy
To Buy… The Flite could easily be your only stroller. Nearly every imaginable need for a stroller (short of jogging) is met by the Flite, plus it is incredibly light and portable. It doesn’t hurt that it is the best looking stroller in its class (in my opinion).
Or Not to Buy… My only complaint with this stroller is the small basket size and the fact that the basket can really only be reached from the front of the stroller. Fortunately it is sturdy enough to hand a diaper bag off the back when baby is sitting in the stroller. On quick trips to the grocery store I hang a reusable grocery bag from the handlebars and fill it as I shop. Ingenious, I know.
Shop! The Bumbleride Flite Movement Edition in Fog is $259.99 from Bumbleride and local authorized dealers.
Win! A Movement Edition Flite Stroller from Bumbleride.
How to Enter: Visit Bumbleride and leave a comment with your favorite Movement Edition feature and a Flite color(s) they should introduce next.
Earn Extra Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.
Follow Bumbleride AND The Shopping Mama on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave a comment when you share. Win the new Bumbleride Flite Movement Edition Stroller ARV $260 @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/nJRWne
While I have no desire or ability to homeschool my children, like every mom, I do work with my children at home to teach them the basic building blocks they need to know. But, I’ll be the first to admit my daughter has gotten the short end of the mom-education-stick. I’m busier now than I was when I was home with only my son, and I’ve worried that I haven’t given my daughter enough one-on-one time. The Teach My learning system is a great way to not only teach my daughter the basics but also to make sure we spend quality time alone together every day.
About Teach My
Teach My, award-winning all-in-one learning kits for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. No need to spend hundreds of dollars going to stores buying individual teaching tools, Teach My learning kits provide everything necessary to teach your baby, toddler and preschooler the basics, all in one kit! Looking for a unique baby shower gift or to teach the alphabet or teach preschoolers to read, Teach My, all-in-one kits- just 20 minutes a day, fun educational, one-on-one time!
Teach My Toddler Review
The Teach My system is available in three sets – Teach My Infant (6 – 18 months), Teach My Toddler (18 months and up) and Teach My Preschooler (3 – 5 years). The Teach My Toddler set includes four subjects: alphabet, colors, numbers and shapes. Each area includes a poster, puzzle (two for alphabet – capital and lower case), book and flash cards. The set is contained in an expandable file-like carrying case with labels so you can keep the pack organized. The system also includes a short but very useful teaching guide for parents with great tips on how to get the most out of the set.
My daughter does not have a very long attention span for anything other than High School Musical 2 (don’t ask), so I wasn’t sure how she would embrace sitting at the table every day to learn with me. But, she was immediately interested in, well, everything. I quickly learned that we should focus on one subject a day (for now), which means I should take out the corresponding poster, puzzle, book and flash cards and hide the rest of it. The variation in the tasks helps to keep her interest because we can switch from thing to thing all while reinforcing the lesson.
One thing I didn’t expect was that my son would be so interested in the set. He already knows the lessons in the Teach My Toddler set, and it has been adorable to watch him “help” his sister. He loves helping her with the puzzles and doing flash cards with her. It’s really the cutest thing ever.
To Buy or Not to Buy
To Buy… I definitely recommend Teach My Toddler. I worried that my 2.5 year old might be bored with it, but turns out she still has plenty to learn (like letter recognition, letter sounds and more complex shapes). The set is very well organized and thorough. It feels really fool-proof for a non-educator mama like myself.
Or Not to Buy… The Teach My system recommends 20 minutes a day, which can feel like a big commitment to make before you start.
Shop! Each Teach My all-in-one learning system is $49.99.
We received a sample to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own.
Prince Lionheart has a wide range of innovative products for families and I’m happy to be sharing some with you throughout the year as a member of the brand’s Elite Writers Group. One of the products that I’ve had my eye on for a while is the Soft Booster Seat. It’s perfect for transitioning a toddler from a high chair to sitting solo in a “grown-up seat”.
Soft Booster Seat Features
Perfect for meal-time, TV-time or anytime at home!
Waterproof, portable and slip resistant!
Great for outdoors…and indoors!
For 12 mos.+
Seat Weight: 2.7 lbs
Soft Booster Seat Review
The Soft Booster Seat is made of light density foam that is comfy for your child’s bottom and easy for you to clean. The seat has no seams, buckles or joints meaning you can wipe it down and it’s clean – no fussing with removing covers or wrestling to get into crevices. The Booster is super lightweight so it’s easy to move from chair to chair or even take along with you when you’re not eating at home.
We’ve used a similar product and I’ve noticed a few differences between the two products. The Prince Lionheart Booster Seat has a higher back, which is helpful for younger children. The bottom where your child sits is slight ridges that I’m guessing are for comfort while the other booster we have is mostly smooth but for two indentations for legs. The bottom of the Seat that rests on the chair is primarily open and it does seem to slide a bit more than the other chair.
To Buy or Not to Buy
To Buy… The Prince Lionheart Soft Booster Seat is a great way to give your tot a boost while sitting on a regular chair at the dinner table. The soft foam material is easy to clean and soft on your tot’s bottom.
Or Not to Buy… While I think this is more likely a reflection of my daughter’s independent streak than the chair, she doesn’t really like to sit on it. I wish it was harder for her to remove it from the seat herself – maybe if it had a strap to attach to the seat? But, that would take away from some of its benefits (sleek look, easy to clean).
Shop! The Prince Lionheart Soft Booster Seat is available in Mint and Orange for $31.99 at Target.
Win! A Soft Booster Seat from Prince Lionheart.
How to Enter: Visit Prince Lionheart and leave a comment with another product that catches your eye.
Follow Prince Lionheart AND The Shopping Mama on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Give your tot a boost and #win a Prince Lionheart Soft Booster Seat @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/ShopMama
. Prices range from $109 for the 100 Series, $149 for the 200 Series and $179 for the 300 Series.
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