Shopping: Second Time Around

Our littlest blogger, Elle Belle, recently became a big sister–here, she gives us the scoop on essential items for the city mom of two or more from the perspective of an older sibling!

Elle Belle is an adorable preschooler who lives in the Upper East Side of Manhattan with her magnificent mommy, dapper dad, and baby sister. She can be reached at ellebellenyc@gmail.com or like at facebook.com/ElleBelleNYC.

mamaRoo
This is the best baby invention ever. When Mommy doesn’t have enough hands to rock the baby and entertain her big sibling, the mamaRoo comes to the rescue. It’s an off-the-charts baby seat, bouncer, rocker, tree swing, car ride, stroller walk, ocean wave simulator, and more, all with matching music and different speed settings. It is sure to please any fussy baby while Mommy focuses on her other kiddos. Plus, baby will also enjoy admiring the masterpieces of fine artists dangling in the mobile above. 4moms.com/mamaroo
Summer Infant Sharp View HD Video Monitor
Mommy knows when all her children been sleeping, awake, bad, or good for goodness sake thanks to the Summer Infant Sharp View HD Video Monitor. Mommy can watch the Elle Belle show in one room and baby in another in crystal, clear quality on the large, 5-inch color LCD flat-screen. Mommy had lots of expensive monitors that were overrated but this is the best picture quality available in baby monitors! Mommy likes the pan/scan/zoom HD camera to locate me in my room and then loves the two-way communication to tell me to stop playing and go to sleep. And baby likes the temperature display and soft glow nightlight. It really delivers the latest technology in baby monitor innovation. summerinfant.com
Baby Jogger City Select Double Stroller
We call our City Select Stroller our stretch limo: It gets the job done when multiple kiddos need to be transported around NYC with style and functionality. The City Select offers multiple seating configurations depending on Mommy’s needs and my whim. And considering the size, it is relatively easy to maneuver. They don’t call it the stroller that grows with your family for nothing. babyjogger.com
Buggy Board
What if I don’t want to sit in the stroller and Mommy doesn’t want to push the double stroller but moi, the tired, older kiddo can no longer walk? Enter the Buggy Board! It’s the original board that attaches easily to your stroller and makes it fun to transport baby and bigger kid together! Whee! It makes everyone happy in a hurry. Plus it universally fits most strollers and is simple to use and store. buggyboard.info
Gripsterz Stayalong
What to do when the big kid is independent and, on a whim, doesn’t want to ride in the stroller or on the buggy board? Let me walk all by myself with the Gripsterz. It's a simple way to keep me within arm’s reach without putting me on any sort of an embarrassing leash. I love to hold on to the whimsical handles and do it all by myself! vivevita.com/gripsterz
Boba4G Soft Carrier
The Boba4G soft carrier lets Mommy carry around her little or big bundle of love (from 7-45 lbs) and can be worn facing front or back. It’s comfortable and practical for Mommy and baby. It even has foot straps, pockets, a sleeping hood, and purse strap all on board so Mommy doesn’t have to carry anything but her tiny treasure. Plus, I can wear a matching one to carry my “baby” around town. http://www.boba.com/baby-carrier#Dusk and http://www.boba.com/boba-mini
Ubbi Diaper Pail
With a newborn you can expect infinite dirty diapers and with multiple kids in diapers, you will have a mountain full of them by the end of the day. What’s the best way to contain and dispose of these messy nappies and do it in style? The Ubbi diaper pail. It literally locks in odors so it’s all style and no smell. It comes in a rainbow of colors to match your kiddo’s bedroom but the navy and pistachio are fan favorites. You’ll love this “can of steel!” ubbiworld.com