Interesting article about the parenting "industry"...

[Meagan]

http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/03/29/parenting_inc/index.html

[Anne]

http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/03/29/parenting_inc/index.html

Oh, that's fantastic. I love this part:

There's also a misunderstanding of what's worthwhile to do with your child and what's not. Doing the things that our supposedly neglectful parents did, like toting us around town, from the dry cleaner to the grocery store, that's all incredibly informative and worthwhile for kids. It's better to do that with your kid than plant them on the floor with a Fisher-Price learning table that has 25 noise-making buttons, while you're checking your e-mail.

And this part really made me laugh:

Baby Einstein is one of the most successful marketing bamboozlings of the American parenting marketplace. There is absolutely no evidence that Baby Einstein makes your baby smarter. We forget that 20 years ago, there was no programming for babies. If you wanted to really occupy your kid, if you didn't have a playpen, or if that wasn't enticing, you just turned on the TV and stuck them in front of "Days of Our Lives," and they would stare at it. The fact is that they may even have gotten more from "Days of Our Lives" than they would from Baby Einstein, because it was actual human faces emoting, as opposed to these random blaring images.

[indigo]

http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/03/29/parenting_inc/index.html

This article really resonated with me. What it doesn't hit upon is that many moms (and dads) buy all this stuff not because they're duped but because they WANT to. They are LOOKING for a way to splurge on the baby because it's fun to shop for the baby. Then they feel sort of guilty about it because they know it's silly. So then they might spout off the lines about why it's good for the baby, but really, they know that it's a crock.

That's what I see with my sister and her friends, who are all having babies now. They're all pretty well-off financially and just like buying things for the baby.

I do remember feeling that way when my kids were really little too. Only there wasn't all the expensive stuff then. Plus i didn't have a whole lot of money. So my splurges were on cute outfits or books or whatever.

[cinnamon]

That was really funny!

My favorite part is this, talking about first child/subsequent children:

"You're incredibly in their face the entire time. When you have two kids that is no longer possible, and what happens when you have a second kid is you notice that actually that kid is being ignored, and they're OK. They're surviving, and in fact, they're probably doing a lot more interesting things of their own volition than the first baby was when you were throwing things in their face constantly."

I'll admit that I have buckets and buckets of toys from when Quin was a baby that have never seen the light of day with Lucy (like I have time to go searching for all that crap anyway). And the few Official Baby Toys we *DO* have invariable get tossed aside for the rubber spatula, or the remote control, or pulling all the cards out of my wallet, or unrolling the whole roll of toilet paper, or any one of those other things that happen when you're being a negligent parent. :D

That bit about 'Days of Our Lives' made me laugh out loud. I think I got plopped down in front of 'All my Children' as a baby; DH has fond memories of 'General Hospital'. :rofl: And OMG I never thought I would live to see the day when the playpen might actually be considered a progressive parenting tool, lol!

[Meagan]

This article really resonated with me. What it doesn't hit upon is that many moms (and dads) buy all this stuff not because they're duped but because they WANT to. They are LOOKING for a way to splurge on the baby because it's fun to shop for the baby. Then they feel sort of guilty about it because they know it's silly. So then they might spout off the lines about why it's good for the baby, but really, they know that it's a crock.

That's what I see with my sister and her friends, who are all having babies now. They're all pretty well-off financially and just like buying things for the baby.

I do remember feeling that way when my kids were really little too. Only there wasn't all the expensive stuff then. Plus i didn't have a whole lot of money. So my splurges were on cute outfits or books or whatever.

I think it's kinda both. People spend it because they want to (because it's FUN) but then they look around and see that so many other people are doing it too, that they think maybe their kid will miss out or they won't LOOK like good parents if they don't too (even if deep down they think it's silly).

And it's funny, I actually think an $800 stroller (while way too rich for my blood) could be a good investment if you didn't have a car and walk everywhere. I mean, it's less than what some people spend on a complete outfit, you know? But, it's not just the functionality of the stroller that's being bought here, it's the whole image that goes along with having the stroller that others will copy, like parents who maybe use it once a week to get into the mall on their way to buy $50 onesies or whatever. The whole package has become this weird status thing in some circles. Luckily, not in mine, because I'd have been thrown out by now. (I'm still pushing the same Graco stroller I got for $150 when Jacob was a baby.)

[Anne]

That bit about 'Days of Our Lives' made me laugh out loud. I think I got plopped down in front of 'All my Children' as a baby; DH has fond memories of 'General Hospital'. :rofl:

Heeee! I remember Days of Our Lives because my mom used to watch it when I was a little kid. I remember when Hope was born and being sucked into that whole story line. I haven't seen the show in decades now, but I think Hope may still be a major character. :rofl:

[Anne]

And it's funny, I actually think an $800 stroller (while way too rich for my blood) could be a good investment if you didn't have a car and walk everywhere. I mean, it's less than what some people spend on a complete outfit, you know? But, it's not just the functionality of the stroller that's being bought here, it's the whole image that goes along with having the stroller that others will copy, like parents who maybe use it once a week to get into the mall on their way to buy $50 onesies or whatever. The whole package has become this weird status thing in some circles. Luckily, not in mine, because I'd have been thrown out by now. (I'm still pushing the same Graco stroller I got for $150 when Jacob was a baby.)

My best investment was a $20 Kolcraft umbrella stroller. That thing lasted forever, survived airplane trips, was easy to use, etc.

I agree with you about the whole image/status thing becoming huge. Just look at all the designer clothing being made for kids. :rolleyes:

[Peggyann]

She is. :) My first soap opera memory is Patch and Kayla getting married!! :jester:

~PA~


Heeee! I remember Days of Our Lives because my mom used to watch it when I was a little kid. I remember when Hope was born and being sucked into that whole story line. I haven't seen the show in decades now, but I think Hope may still be a major character. :rofl:

[Meagan]

My best investment was a $20 Kolcraft umbrella stroller. That thing lasted forever, survived airplane trips, was easy to use, etc.

I agree with you about the whole image/status thing becoming huge. Just look at all the designer clothing being made for kids. :rolleyes:

Hehe! Yep, we finally got a NEW umbrella stroller (oooh!) when Owen was little because we had left our other one (which made it through three kids, was left outside in all kinds of weather, etc) folded up in the driveway and it got run over (whoops....) I spent $25 on this one because it was a DELUXE model that reclines a bit and has a little bag on the back for holding stuff. Worth every penny, I tell ya!

[aleutsi]

Hehe! Yep, we finally got a NEW umbrella stroller (oooh!) when Owen was little because we had left our other one (which made it through three kids, was left outside in all kinds of weather, etc) folded up in the driveway and it got run over (whoops....) I spent $25 on this one because it was a DELUXE model that reclines a bit and has a little bag on the back for holding stuff. Worth every penny, I tell ya!

LOL! One of our umbrella strollers (I had two at one time because my bigs were stroller age at the same time) lasted through the bigs, the little and now the little's dollies. Granted, it was rare the little was ever in the stroller because she was mostly in the sling. I never wanted those huge bulky stollers, the umbrella or the sling were fine with me.

I loved how easily the umbrella whipped in and out of pedestrian traffic with ease - and how easy it folded up with basically one hand. I kinda miss those umbrella & sling days.

[mowse]

LOL! One of our umbrella strollers (I had two at one time because my bigs were stroller age at the same time) lasted through the bigs, the little and now the little's dollies. Granted, it was rare the little was ever in the stroller because she was mostly in the sling. I never wanted those huge bulky stollers, the umbrella or the sling were fine with me.

I loved how easily the umbrella whipped in and out of pedestrian traffic with ease - and how easy it folded up with basically one hand. I kinda miss those umbrella & sling days.

I am on my third umbrella style stroller. The first two were those $25 jobbies. Now, I have a Maclaren and I am in *love* with that stroller. Worth every penny. Of course, I did only spend $25 on it used :rofl:

I think some people get all the stuff because they think since it's available, you must need it. It's like a check list. We're so dang hung up on doing everything right, we forget that it's ok to screw up once in awhile.

Why get baby einstein when you can get the digital cable with the 1000 channels, 500 of which are music, yk? We spend a lot of time listening to show tunes. Lizzy is a big fan of the Sound of Music and Hairspray :p

[Bickery]

I think it's kinda both. People spend it because they want to (because it's FUN) but then they look around and see that so many other people are doing it too, that they think maybe their kid will miss out or they won't LOOK like good parents if they don't too (even if deep down they think it's silly).

And it's funny, I actually think an $800 stroller (while way too rich for my blood) could be a good investment if you didn't have a car and walk everywhere. I mean, it's less than what some people spend on a complete outfit, you know? But, it's not just the functionality of the stroller that's being bought here, it's the whole image that goes along with having the stroller that others will copy, like parents who maybe use it once a week to get into the mall on their way to buy $50 onesies or whatever. The whole package has become this weird status thing in some circles. Luckily, not in mine, because I'd have been thrown out by now. (I'm still pushing the same Graco stroller I got for $150 when Jacob was a baby.)

I've spent less than $800 on cars...

But I would have cheerfully spent it on an all-terrain stroller that gracefully fit through doors, I think. I needed a "jog" stroller that seated two and I used it for many years and then passed it on, but I wish that it had been able to transmogrify into a mall stroller. (And it was nowhere near $800 -- and a gift! Bless my friends who take me seriously when I say "all that I want or need is a jog stroller for both kids.")

[aleutsi]

I've spent less than $800 on cars...



LOL - the car I'm driving now was just $500. My first car, 20 years ago, was just $150!

[Debra]

Am I the only one that couldn't really use umbrella-ella-ella (:p) strollers? I think I'm too tall. I had one but had to bend down to push it and it KILLED my back. In fact I had a hard time finding a stroller whose handles were tall enough for me. I ended with one that had adjustable handles ("for Dad" LOL) and that worked much better.

[bannanabette]

Am I the only one that couldn't really use umbrella-ella-ella (:p) strollers? I think I'm too tall. I had one but had to bend down to push it and it KILLED my back. In fact I had a hard time finding a stroller whose handles were tall enough for me. I ended with one that had adjustable handles ("for Dad" LOL) and that worked much better.

Sharrond has handlebar extenders on her stroller. I'm a midget and DH has arms he inherited from his ancestral apes so it was never an issue for us :p

[Anne]

Am I the only one that couldn't really use umbrella-ella-ella (:p) strollers? I think I'm too tall. I had one but had to bend down to push it and it KILLED my back. In fact I had a hard time finding a stroller whose handles were tall enough for me. I ended with one that had adjustable handles ("for Dad" LOL) and that worked much better.

I'm short, so they worked fine for me, but the umbrella stroller was uncomfortable for my husband.

[Bickery]

Am I the only one that couldn't really use umbrella-ella-ella (:p) strollers? I think I'm too tall. I had one but had to bend down to push it and it KILLED my back. In fact I had a hard time finding a stroller whose handles were tall enough for me. I ended with one that had adjustable handles ("for Dad" LOL) and that worked much better.

I've never had one.

[Peggyann]

My Dad took the arms it came with off, and added length to them with some kind of tubing. Otherwise, my back would kill me!

~PA~

Am I the only one that couldn't really use umbrella-ella-ella (:p) strollers? I think I'm too tall. I had one but had to bend down to push it and it KILLED my back. In fact I had a hard time finding a stroller whose handles were tall enough for me. I ended with one that had adjustable handles ("for Dad" LOL) and that worked much better.

[mowse]

Am I the only one that couldn't really use umbrella-ella-ella (:p) strollers? I think I'm too tall. I had one but had to bend down to push it and it KILLED my back. In fact I had a hard time finding a stroller whose handles were tall enough for me. I ended with one that had adjustable handles ("for Dad" LOL) and that worked much better.

I read somewhere that umbrella strollers were designed for women who are around 5 ft 2.

[Meagan]

The umbrella stroller I bought recently has longer-than-average handles. I had the same problem. I'm only about 5'8", but if I was doing any serious walking, the umbrella stroller we used to have KILLED my back. This one is a Jeep brand and it's a lot better. The handles are not only longer but angled differently and it's just a lot nicer ride.

[Kootiepoot]

Am I the only one that couldn't really use umbrella-ella-ella (:p) strollers? I think I'm too tall. I had one but had to bend down to push it and it KILLED my back. In fact I had a hard time finding a stroller whose handles were tall enough for me. I ended with one that had adjustable handles ("for Dad" LOL) and that worked much better.

I finally found one with long handles, but I still kicked the tires every time I walked with it.

[aleutsi]

Am I the only one that couldn't really use umbrella-ella-ella (:p) strollers? I think I'm too tall. I had one but had to bend down to push it and it KILLED my back. In fact I had a hard time finding a stroller whose handles were tall enough for me. I ended with one that had adjustable handles ("for Dad" LOL) and that worked much better.

I can see that. I do remember them being short, but not too short. If I were taller that definitely would have been an issue. DH has monkey arms and legs that are shorter than they should be (his arms are normal, his legs are not) so he didn't have much problem either even though he's 6'.

[mirage1]

I read somewhere that umbrella strollers were designed for women who are around 5 ft 2.And tall 10 year olds. :p