Consultant for hire

It was only about five years ago that I started baby shopping for myself.  Since I had a pretty posh job, I would spend hours a day reading reviews on baby products, researching prices and trying to figure out what the latest and greatest was all while trying to stay in the dental student budget.

I had the notion that bigger was better and if it was expensive, it meant it was good!

Last Saturday, Creed and I snuck away and went to babies-r-us. I had a gift card burning a hole in my wallet {or on the verge of getting lost} and we need a new stroller so I went to go get myself one.

I walked into the store and starting strolling down the aisle's. Yes, I strolled. I only had one child and he was sound asleep.  I took my time, looking at this and that and wondering what we needed and why some strollers cost $100's more than others, are they really worth it??

Anyway. 

There were SO many young couples registering for baby gear or checking out this and that. After all, I do live in Utah County also known as baby making capital of the world. 

In the stroller aisle, I couldn't help but want to shout "don't buy that monster of a stroller. You'll hate it. It will take up so much room in your car and you'll be pregnant again in a year and need a double stroller so just save your money and trunk space. Get this one."

Looking at bathtubs I wanted to tell them "don't buy that big bathtub that you'll use for two months, and then have to figure out where to store it for another few years, buy this little foam thing, you'll love it and it's so compact and look, it's only $4.99"

Same thing with high chairs, "Just buy the one that goes on a chair, it takes up less room and you'll use it longer"

My mind was a fountain of what I would call useful information.  Things I wish someone would have told us when we baby shopped. For now, that huge monster of a stroller, large bathtub and high chair have all been replaced by simple, smaller and less expensive counterparts. Oh, to pay for something twice.

So, I'm thinking about getting a job at babies-r-us. Surely, my opinion on baby gear will be everyone's opinion- right?  

Well I didn't get my stroller. It was out of stock and since the gift-card was still burning that hole, I ended up with an activity mat for the little guy and a few other "necessity's". Really, the bath mat was a necessity, the poor kid was starting to smell.

Am I the only one who has regretting or changed her opinion on baby gear? Maybe it's because with the third kid, the house is already full of toys and other treasures that take up space that I like compact things or the car has three car seats in it, who has room for a monster of a stroller when the umbrella stroller will do?

The point being....I'm for hire as a consultant, I have three kids....makes me qualified in my book!