Anyone recently had a baby or expecting ?? [Archive]

EastYork3

11-04-2008, 04:09 PM

Hey all, I'm proud to say that I will soon be a dad...crazy, I know...

In this time of economic slow-down I was wondering if anyone knows of any contests or free stuff that is open to expecting or new parents. For instance I know I can get a free baby bag from Nestle...

Of course I would prefer mazda3 related stuff like the "new baby free CAI" giveaway or something but I doubt that exists.

thanks, EY3.

Cardinal Fang

11-04-2008, 04:14 PM

Congrats! Your life will never be the same.

Walrus

11-04-2008, 04:18 PM

Not only Nestle, all of the formula companies will send you stuff, we ended up with a drawer full of formula and whatever other stuff came with it.

However, we're not using formula, so most of the stuff is useless.

kevcol74

11-04-2008, 04:19 PM

Can I get in line for the "new baby free CAI"? We are expecting in April (#2)....
I'd settle for a "new baby free Struts" giveaway.... Or a nice Mazda3 booster seat for my boy, he's at that stage!! lol

Congrats EY3!

bunchi

11-04-2008, 04:44 PM

congrats! it's hard.. but it's fun at the same time! see I didn't learn from the first one so I had another one! :chuckle and give your wife all the support that she can get. she needs it - esp. after the baby's out.

Jeff-TheBiz

11-04-2008, 04:44 PM

I actually created a seperate email account and used it when I signed up for ever website I could find..

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=78

This section of RFD should help as well.

Congrats eh.. amazing months lie ahead my friend..

JMAK74

11-04-2008, 06:56 PM

Hey all, I'm proud to say that I will soon be a dad...crazy, I know...

Congrats - I'm going to be a dad in the new year, so yer not alone per-say!

The above info is good to know.

JMAK

EastYork3

11-04-2008, 07:44 PM

Thanks guys, I'm really excited, and scared at the same time. Funny how KenYork just started a poll on how's got kids here to see if there should be some kid friendly meet locations...

I've heard that there is a loss of sleep after the baby is born, that's not true right? just kidding....

sauga_kid

11-04-2008, 08:25 PM

Expecting my little one anytime now. In terms of getting things for free, Biz's link is the best place to find the best deals. The way I saw things though when it came to buying things for my little one was that nothing but the best within reason. We ended up picking up a fairly expensive stroller but the functionality and durability justified it to the wife and I. Good luck to you mang and congrats.

EastYork3

11-04-2008, 11:13 PM

Thanks sauga, I totally agree with you when it comes to buying things I will need, only the best within reason. I was wondering more about things like the "if your baby comes on the day you think it will, you win something something..." type stuff, which is covered on the RFD link The Biz posted.

Good luck man, you must be anxious!

sauga_kid

11-05-2008, 08:10 AM

Yeah tell me about it, lots of time preping and stuff, spend countless hours on the nursery and whatnot but happy how it turned out. There are a lot of good little boutiques around the city that carry nice things like Little Nibblets on Avenue Road, great customer service and decent pricing.

bigwood29

11-05-2008, 06:11 PM

The wife and I are due in February and we're very excited. Do you know what you're having? We decided to wait for our first one but everyone else seems to have an opinion. I'm lucky that I already have 9 nieces so if we have a girl, we are set. If it's a boy, at least we'll have our choice of strollers, seats, playpens, and swings - not so much on all the clothes. We're buying a brand new crib and checking out the stores.

The link from the Biz is great. Also found a few like-new things on Craigslist and Kijiji. Good times...

Candyman

11-06-2008, 09:20 AM

We went to those baby shows & signed up for everything. They didn't have any huge give a ways (at least we didn't win any), but lots of small practical things (diapers, formulas, bottles...etc).

I have actually slept better since the baby. I used to be an insomniac, now I'm so tired I just pass out!

EastYork3

11-06-2008, 10:23 PM

...The link from the Biz is great. Also found a few like-new things on Craigslist and Kijiji. Good times...

Loving that link too...Craigslist seems to have a lot of used cribs...not sure if that would be a good or a bad idea...

Unoriginalusername

11-06-2008, 10:28 PM

Loving that link too...Craigslist seems to have a lot of used cribs...not sure if that would be a good or a bad idea...

if they are older they may not meet new safety standards. We bought ours from a floor model that had a few chips in the paint, so we got a solid white wood crib for 70% off after some shopping around. my wife e-mailed the company and they sent us a paint sample to repair the small chips and it looks good as new.

car seats... they aren't the same usa/can and its technically illegal to bring one across the boarder so expect to pay a hundred or more extra for the canadian model that looks identical in every way except for one small sticker that the hospital will look for when you go to leave the hospital.

sauga_kid

11-07-2008, 08:20 AM

I agree with the Biz on checking out Kijiji and Craigslist for used items. As UOU said, just make sure that they aren't that old as items like car seats have an expirey date on them, additionally, make sure there are no cracks, bends, dents etc. as they will comprimise the effectiveness of them. If you're looking for high end stuff like say the bugaboo stroller, Kijiji and Craigslist is the place to go. They retail for aprox. $1000-$1200 and you may find them for around $600-$700. If you're concerned with hygene, the covers can be purchased brand new and you would have saved yourself quite a bit. After you're done with it, it retains a good chunk of its value, so you can put it back up for sale. Another stroller option to the highend bugaboo is the uppababy (which we opted for) which has the same functionality and concept, for a little less $$$.

EastYork3

11-07-2008, 09:20 AM

...If you're concerned with hygene, the covers can be purchased brand new and you would have saved yourself quite a bit...
That is good to know, I really like that bugaboo stroller, gonna check out the uppababy one you got too, thanks man.

I'll probably get my brother-in-law's car seat (not his seat, his kids seat) but I'll make sure to give it a good once over, I'm sure it will be fine.

Candyman

11-07-2008, 02:25 PM

car seats... they aren't the same usa/can and its technically illegal to bring one across the boarder so expect to pay a hundred or more extra for the canadian model that looks identical in every way except for one small sticker that the hospital will look for when you go to leave the hospital.

I didn't know hospitals are required to do this. We bought our seat from the US (it has spanish warning). Hospital was only concerned about us tucking her in properly. They never checked the label. This was Markham-Stouffville. Which hospital did you go to?

Walrus

11-07-2008, 02:29 PM

Hospital in Kitchener didn't check either. Just wanted to see us going out the door with him in a car seat.

Unoriginalusername

11-07-2008, 02:52 PM

I didn't know hospitals are required to do this. We bought our seat from the US (it has spanish warning). Hospital was only concerned about us tucking her in properly. They never checked the label. This was Markham-Stouffville. Which hospital did you go to?

most don't check but it is the law... your insurance is voided in the event of an accident and you could get a ticket. not likely but just saying, it is actually the law.

downloading songs is not legal, but you aren't likely to run into the law... doesn't mean it still isn't illegal

bigwood29

11-07-2008, 09:00 PM

Those Bugaboo strollers are the Cadillacs of strollers. You can push 'em with one finger - not that I do on a regular basis. If I was a baby, I'd want to be in one of those - maybe with some nice rims of course.

EastYork3

11-12-2008, 09:22 AM

LOL....I saw one stroller that had 5-star rim like wheels...The rest of it was garbage but...hahaha

sauga_kid

11-20-2008, 06:11 PM

Just an FYI for you parents needing diapers, there's a P&G sale going on right now at the international centre, great deals at close to half off on boxes of diapers (ranging from Pampers Swaddlers 2-3 and up) and wipes. Check it out if you get the chance http://www.internationalcentre.com/events/2008/11/16/272

She_Prime

11-23-2008, 08:52 PM

I'm the mom of a two year old and I found out I was having a boy before he came into the world. The main reason I did it was because I was a poor student at the time and needed to buy sex specific clothing and other stuff.

For the parents expecting baby 1: I prefer Pampers diapers among any other type of diapers. And I use the cruisers (swaddlers for the newborn). They have a meshy liner so the wetness gets trapped away from the baby's body. Just my opinion though.

I'm a nurse too so if anyone has questions don't be shy :)

Angela

Noisy Crow

11-23-2008, 09:27 PM

She_Prime

11-23-2008, 11:38 PM

When you buy a stroller.... make sure you get one that has room for "stuff" -- diaper bag, shoes, winter coat, kleenex, drinkbox holder, stuff you bought shopping..... the fact it holds you kid is almost incidental when go the Zoo, or the mall or Wonderland.... remember unless you buy another stroller you will use it for all of those things, and more....

+1 to that! Your stroller becomes your life. Mine has a little storage compartment and sometimes I find surprises in mine. Sometimes they are good like money and sometimes they are not like rotten foods. You might feel obnoxious for pushing such a big clunker around but at the end of the day you'd rather it be holding all of your stuff than trying to deal with a screaming baby as well as juggle all the stuff you couldn't fit into your stroller

Jeff-TheBiz

11-24-2008, 08:14 PM

I gotta say this...

My wife works for Ivanhoe Cambridge ie Upper Canada Mall and they had a promotion on last year called "Pimp my Stoller" where strollers were given to celebs in the area and they were given a budget to mod them... in turn the strollers were auctioned for charity.. anyhooo..

She asked me for some slogans to be printed on the promotional materials... posters, bumper stickers etc..

Couple of my best:

"If you think this is hot, you should see my crib" <- they used this as a bumper sticker for strollers and they gave out 100s at the auction.

"I'm just kickin preschool"

Just had to share my 10 seconds of fame.

sauga_kid

11-25-2008, 08:47 AM

I gotta say this...
"If you think this is hot, you should see my crib" <- they used this as a bumper sticker for strollers and they gave out 100s at the auction.

I like that, I'd rock that however I think I like my stroller more than my crib:chuckle have any extras?

Here's what my little girl is rollin'

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff265/sauga5kid/vista_reverse_red_canopy.jpg

Check out the three star rims on that bad boy:chuckle You should it bounce when she's got the hydraulics going!

MSMitch

11-25-2008, 09:06 AM

Ugggh, don't get started on strollers - we now have 4 I think!!!
Graco was the first one - great storage, etc - but travelling with it was a pain - so we got a nice Graco "umbrella" type stroller that the baby seat was able to lock into. THEN we had a second child - no room for two, so we got a Fisher Price sit n stand model - seat in front with a small fold-down seat in back - it's LONG - I consider it the stretch limo of strollers - but has a HUGE amount of storage.
And them #4 - of course, the double Chariot - that thing is sweet - pain to get anywhere cause it takes up so much space.
So, just be prepared, you WILL out grow or find a "better" stroller within months. Wish I had as many cars in my garage as strollers! :)

She_Prime

11-25-2008, 07:48 PM

I like that, I'd rock that however I think I like my stroller more than my crib:chuckle have any extras?

Here's what my little girl is rollin'

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff265/sauga5kid/vista_reverse_red_canopy.jpg

Check out the three star rims on that bad boy:chuckle You should it bounce when she's got the hydraulics going!

Your little girl is rolling in style for sure! Aren't those super expensive though? But I guess anything for daddy's little girl right? ;)

flyinb22

11-25-2008, 08:30 PM

Glad I found this post, will be subscribing.
My wife is due with our first in March. We found out it is a boy and have begun the purchasing process. We have started making some purchases on kijiji, and I am still looking at the stroller options. Thanks for all the tips and look forward to more replies with great info.

Cheers,

Brian

She_Prime

11-25-2008, 08:40 PM

flyinb22

11-25-2008, 08:50 PM

Need baby boy clothes Brian? I have a two year old and I have so much stuff that is just taking up so much space!!!

PM sent

sauga_kid

11-26-2008, 08:29 AM

Your little girl is rolling in style for sure! Aren't those super expensive though? But I guess anything for daddy's little girl right? ;)
:chuckle Exactly, anything for my little girl. They are a little pricey but for one, we got a good deal on it, and secondly, it is a progressive stroller and will last her the whole time as it comes with a pram (bassinet) as well as what you see. Additionally, it is light weight and not so cumbersome for the wife to open and close, load and unload, when she's with the baby by herself. And most importantly, it looks pimp and drives nicely as well:chuckle

She_Prime

11-26-2008, 05:32 PM

:chuckle Exactly, anything for my little girl. They are a little pricey but for one, we got a good deal on it, and secondly, it is a progressive stroller and will last her the whole time as it comes with a pram (bassinet) as well as what you see. Additionally, it is light weight and not so cumbersome for the wife to open and close, load and unload, when she's with the baby by herself. And most importantly, it looks pimp and drives nicely as well:chuckle

Hey I know all that pain... my son is two and luckily I had a Graco stroller that was amazingly light and was super easy to open. Since I am a single mom to boot I was always alone with my son so I know how essential it is.

The one thing I didn't like about it was that the seat didn't recline all the way back so that I could have him fully laying down if and when he needed to. So I guess that's what makes yours so special. I love the ones that have the pram conversion though. If and when I have a second I will probably consider getting one of those for myself too.

My son's stroller was a gift from my parents so I couldn't really be picky.