Stroller Review: Baby Trend Sit N Stand Double Stroller

We purchased Baby Trend Sit N Stand Double Stroller for the arrival of our second baby. Our toddler is an active guy so we thought having a standing option would be good for him. In truth, he's not old enough for the standing option, but he does love sitting in it which is a huge relief.

Ease of Use: Pretty easy. As a person who doesn't like to read directions, it's really not been too hard to choose. Sun and Moon did read the instructions which was helpful. We haven't figured out the stand part yet, but I imagine that is going to require necessity to learn. I do love how easily we can open it up and snap it together. It is very quick. Folding up is not as easy. The wheels have to be in just the right position to snap it together which is a little bit of a pain when you are trying to get everyone in the car quickly.

Weight/Size: Not too bad. I mean you are buying a double stroller so it's not going to be light. I am not exactly big in stature and I don't have a problem hauling it around. It fits in the trunk of our Honda and easily in the back of our mini SUV.

Functionality: This thing is easy to push around. I accidentally took it off road already and it didn't tip over (I was being VERY careful). Sun & Moon loves the part where you can hang the diaper bag off the back handle. The basket underneath isn't so useful cause well baby and kid above it so you can't exactly pull out things just cause you need them.

Overall, I like this product and consider it a good buy. We go out quite often and use it several times a week. As far as double strollers go, I am very satisfied.

Other Reviews:
Amazon Reviews

Cribs!

This is the last major (expensive) Cletus purchase. The rest of the spending is death by a thousand paper cuts. So I am out to find out what makes a good crib. Safety is definitely at the top of the list. The Cletus is sleeping in this thing so we don't want it folding up while he is at his most vulnerable. Also, kids tend to like jump up & down in the crib and try to climb out so Construction is super important; it's got to be sturdy. And finally ease of use which is important for baby illiterates like the GB. Construction and ease of use combine in an important way because did you know the GB has to build the damn crib??? This both freaks me out and pisses me off. I ain't no carpenter. I don't build furniture for a living. I teach public speaking - what about that qualifies me to build a crib? But the crib comes in a box in a bunch of different pieces and like Jesus or Jimmy Carter, I am supposed to assemble it. Therefore, the crib must be easy to construct in a sturdy manner.

Most recently, I read about some drop side crib scandal which initially meant nothing to me. It took a minute to figure out what they were blabbin about because the phrase "drop side crib" didn't mean much to people without a Cletus. A drop side crib (for the ignorant like me) is when one or both of the sides can be moved down to make it easier to grab your Cletus. If you are short (really short), then they make it easier to get the Cletus out of the crib. Like Rod Blagojevich, many many drop side cribs were recalled because of safety problems. More than 2 million cribs were recalled because of "concerns that babies can suffocate, become trapped or fall from the cribs... Drop-sides have been blamed in the deaths of at least 32 infants and toddlers since 2000. The cribs are suspected in another 14 infant fatalities during that time" (2). When the side drops unexpectedly, babies' bodies can get trapped and suffocate (5). Drop side cribs have been around since the 1940's, but apparently manufacturers are making them cheaper (using plastic instead of metal) and thus less safe (2). Upside of an old crib, it probably won't eat your Cletus which is awesome irony because manufactures say old cribs might not comply with modern safety standards (2). In this case if your crib is 20+ years old, it's probably more functional then one made in the last 5 years. The federal government is thinking about banning the drop side crib altogether because there have been 7 million recalled drop side cribs since '05 (3). The ban would prevent public facilities (day cares & hotels) from using drop side cribs - so don't worry the police aren't going to kick in your door yet (4).

The companies recalling cribs are Evenflo, Child Craft, Jardine Enterprises, LaJobi, Million Dollar Baby & Simmons Juvenile Products (2). And this isn't just about products made in China people - these cribs are made in United States, Italy, Canada and seven other countries (5). And it's not about cost, some of these cribs are expensive (upwards of $500) (5). Most of the recalls are drop side cribs, but not all. If the Delta wooden stabilizer bar is installed incorrectly (on either drop side or stationary cribs), then the mattress can collapse and suffocate your Cletus (2). Did I mention that I am not a carpenter? Maybe all this bullshit is happening because cribs are complex and should not be assembled by the great majority of the public!?!

All this info is nice if you are in the crib market, but if you have already invest a fortune (several hundred at least) then what are you supposed to do? I mean you can't just send in your Cletus' bed and let him/her sleep god knows where while the crib manufacturer fixes the defect, provides you a fix it kit to figure out, or sends you a voucher. I guess, in the end, if you already own one of these, then you will have to assess how well if works for your family. At least, "consult the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) for the proper remedy" for your recalled crib; they have the info on the recalls and can help (4).

All the stationary side cribs scored 80 or more CR points (1). The drop side cribs didn't fair as well in the tests, most receiving D's and F's. It's clear consumer reports thinks parents should go with the stationary side cribs. Stationary cribs such as DaVinci Emily 4791 & Ikea Leksvik 601.086.63 score an overall excellent from CR and are a reasonable cost to the consumer (1). They are also much easier to find and obtain than the other cribs listed by CR.

Just got to have a drop side crib? Well some of them did score in the excellent zone. Getting a B rating is excellent for Consumer Reports. The Bellini Bella 4300 & Bellini Isabella 2000 both scored at least 80 of 100 during CR testing (1).

DON'T BUY:

1. The Delta Jenny Lind 4750-1, just for the record, is clearly terrifying (scoring 29 of 100) (1). It scored the lowest and no other crib was even close to sucking as much as this. You might as well let you Cletus sleep in a drawer, manger, or laundry basket - all are safer than the Delta Jenny Lind.

2. StorkCraft cribs - Basically, they aren't selling them anymore, but if you come across one for like $2 then pass. StorkCraft had the single largest recall in Consumer Protection  history last year (3).

After all the recalls, it does make one wonder how these cribs are tested. Do they even put a baby in there to see if the damn thing works? Here's what the GB learned from all of this (not to sound like a communist - hee hee), it's seems to me that manufactures' use cheaper parts and sell cribs at a higher cost than ever. Instead of requiring the manufactures to use quality parts, the government would rather ban a particular type of crib. What's the point of the ban? If the crib is stationary side, but I a non-carpenter still assemble it & its parts are plastic crap that break, then it is still true the crib is a danger to my Cletus. Funny thing is - most of these cribs are still safer than car seats and there's not a word about those!

1. Consumer Reports, "Cribs"

2. JENNIFER C. KERR, "Over 2 million cribs recalled amid safety concerns", The Associated Press, June 24, 2010, p. lexis.

3. Lyndsey Layton, "Hazardous drop-side cribs face U.S. ban", The Washington Post, May 22, 2010, p. A01. 

4. Nedra Rhone, "Families face crib decision", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 22, 2010, p. 1D.

5. Patricia Callahan, "U.S. RECALLS 2 MILLION MORE DROP-SIDE CRIBS", The Baltimore Sun, June 25, 2010, p. 21A.

The Great Diaper Debate: Cloth Verses Disposable

Cloth Pro's -

1. Environmentally friendly - The cloth diaper doesn't add to the growing landfill problem. Even if the diaper addition to the landfill problem is small (2%), the cloth diaper is akin to a "Do No Harm" ethic (1).

2. Diaper Rash - Cloth diapers have less chemicals interacting with the baby's skin. They are breathable (12 & 13). Diaper rash is largely about humidity in the diaper; a good diaper is a breathable diaper (6).

            - Answering the Wetness Advantage of the Disposable Diaper: Water repellant pastes should be applied to the baby's skin at each diaper change (5). Pastes are preferable to ointments because ": they adhere better to the skin, they are more absorptive (ie, drying), they can transmit perspiration and exudate and, in this way, cool and reduce maceration of the skin" (5).

3. Softer - Cloth diapers are made of natural (for the most part) and soft fabrics: cotton, bamboo, terrycloth, flannel, fleece, or microfiber (14). Skin to diaper friction doesn't cause diaper rash, but "may be an important predisposing factor" (5). Eruption sites for dermatological rashes often happen in places where the diaper is in constant contact with the skin, so a softer diaper is likely helpful in prevent eruption sites (5).

4. Cost - Couples who use cloth diapers estimate saving between $1,500-2,000 per child (9).

Cloth Con's-

1. Environmentally unfriendly - Lots water to wash them.  Disposables are required in Day Care and probably when traveling, which means adding some disposables to the landfill is inevitable.

            - Answer to Water Waste: It's still comparably better than disposables. "Home washing cloth diapers has only 53 percent of the ecological footprint of disposables, and if you use a diaper laundering service that impact is halved again" (11).

            - Answer to eco-friendly disposables: They are so expensive that they make me cry.

2. Greater Fecal Contamination - Gross! Poop rags. The use of cloth diapers risks more fecal contamination than disposable diapers (3). Fecal contamination causes diarrhea (3). This study was done in a day care environment and general risk of fecal contamination at home is lower (3).

            - Answer to Fecal Contamination - Both cloth and disposable diapers are    supposed to get scraped into the toilet before washing or trashing. "Human waste in the trash is a no-no, and the fine print on disposable packages points that out"(14).

3. Diaper rash - Cloth diapers aren't as absorbent; therefore, urine sits on the baby's skin for longer.  (1).

            - Answer to urine on the skin: Urine Exposure isn't A Clear Cause of Diaper Rash.  Absorbency might be just another marketing trick. "Infants with diaper rash had the same amount of ammonia and  ammonia-producing organisms on the skin as unaffected infants, and that the groups did not differ with regard to the ammonia levels found in the first morning diaper. In addition, experimental application of highly ammoniacal urine on intact infant and adult skin for 24 hours failed to provoke a dermatitis (diaper rash)" (5). Ammonia in urine does contribute to diaper rash in already aggravated skin, so once the baby has diaper rash then urine touching the skin will inflame it (5). If skin is exposed to urine for 18 hours in warm weather, it can induce diaper rash (5). You are also a terrible parent if you leave your baby sitting in urine for 18 or more hours.  Feces "contain substantial amounts of proteolytic and lipolytic digestive enzymes, which have been reported to possess skin irritation potential" (5). Basically, change a poopy diaper right way, but this is true of both disposable and cloth diapers; this information could be a reason to avoid artificial baby powder good smells which prevents parents from smelling a stinky diaper.

4. The Feminism Kritik - Elisabeth Badinter argues the green politics of motherhood have created a perfect vision of motherhood where mothers are encouraged to breastfeed (to avoid plastic bottles), to use cloth diapers (for the landfills), and turn away the epidural (fighting overmedicalization) - to discard the inventions "that have liberated women" (7).

4. It's Complicated: Cloth diapers require the waterproof covers you’ll need to lock in moisture, the diapers, diaper inserts (cloth pads added to increase absorbency), doubles (for better absorbency, and flushable liners, & a laundry service (to resolve the gross poop rag & time management issues) and wet bag to hold wet diapers.

            - Answer to it's complex: Cloth diapers aren't your mama's diapers anymore. No more pins (replaced by velcro) or strange plastic pants that you put over the diaper. Some of cloths are all-in-one where all you really change is the insert.

 

Disposable Pro's -

1. Convenient - Put the diaper on him and let him go. Also when you travel, it's so much easier cause you can't wash the diapers. Day Care's requires disposables because of the fecal contamination argument.  

            - Answering the Environment Advantage: "Disposable diapers do not take up volume in a landfill which could be taken up by other materials but merely fill in the voids around the more rigid items" (4). "Disposable diapers account for only 2 percent of the waste in dumps. At that rate, "disposable diapers aren't clogging up our nation's landfills," Chaz Miller, director of state programs for the National        Solid Wastes Management Association in Washington, said. "They're just another pebble on the beach."" (1)

2. Better at containing fecal contamination spread (3). The poop stays in the diaper better and doesn't spread as much when changing the baby.

3. Diaper Rash - Skin wetness is a clear cause of diaper rash. Wetness "enhances the skin’s susceptibility to abrasion and frictional damage and it impairs its barrier function, thereby increasing its permeability and, consequently, its reaction to irritants" (5). Absorbency may not be a marketing trick. "Modern superabsorbent paper diapers containing absorbent gelling material have significantly reduced the occlusive effect of diapers and the degree of wetness of the covered area" (5). It is important to note wetness included prolonged exposure to water or sweat, and not just urine.

Disposable Con's -

1. Cost - "You can expect to spend $1,500 to $2,000 or more on disposables" by the time you are done with diapers (2).

2. Environmentally Unfriendly - It's estimated that disposable diapers add 3.4 million tons to landfills in the US each year (10). Disposables "take about 500 years to decompose" (8).

3. Diaper Allergies & Chemicals - Infants can have allergies to glue components, rubber latex materials, & dyestuff (6). Diaper emissions (the solvents and other stuff added during the manufacturing process) are dangerous; "laboratory mice exposed to various brands of disposable diapers suffered increased eye, nose, and throat irritation, including bronchoconstriction similar to that of an asthma attack. Six leading cotton and disposable diaper brands were tested; cloth diapers were not found to cause respiratory problems among the lab mice" (17).  The real chemical is "sodium polyacrylate" in basically every diaper because it's is a super absorbent polymer (15). Sodium polyacrylate, "though non-toxic, can cause mild to severe skin irritation" (16).

            - Answer to Allergies: Relatively few diaper materials are associated with   allergies; often diaper rash is mistaken for allergy (6). 

Citations

1. Consumer Reports, December 2009, "Cloth vs. disposables"

2. Consumer Reports, July 8, 2009, "Cloth vs. disposable diapers: Getting started"

3. Bonnie Holiday, DNS, Gayle Waugh, MSN, Virginia E. Moukaddem, MEd,

Jan West, BS, & Sidney Harshman, ScD, "Diaper Type and Fecal Contamination in Child Day Care", Journal of Pediatric Health Care, March-April 1995, Vol 9, no. 2, p. 67-74.

4. K.L. Light , D.G. Chirmuley, &  R.K. Ham, " A laboratory study of the compaction characteristics of disposable diapers in a landfill", Resources, Conservation and Recycling, vol. 13 , 1995, p. 89-96.

5. RONNI WOLF, MD, DANNY WOLF, MD, BINNUR TUZUN, MD, YALCIN TUZUN, MD, " Diaper Dermatitis", Clinics in Dermatology, 2000, vol. 18, p. 657–660.

6. Bo Runeman, PhD, "Skin interaction with absorbent hygiene products", Clinics in Dermatology, 2008, vol. 26, p. 45–51

7. STEVEN ERLANGER & MAIA DE LA BAUME, The Ledger, " New Book Argues Women Are Steered From Careers", June 14, 2010, p. B6.

8. Lewiston Morning Tribune, "20 years ago", April 25, 2010, p. lexis.

9. CANDACE RENALLS, " Duluthians take baby steps with diaper business", St. Paul Pioneer Press, December 6, 2009, p. lexis.

10. Bill Tauber, "Q&A on the environment", San Jose Mercury News, November 14, 2009, p. lexis.

11. Chris Martell, " GO GREEN FOR BABY", Wisconsin State Journal, September 13, 2009, p. H1.

12. JENNIFER GISH, "BOTTOM LINE: COMEBACK FOR CLOTH?", The Times-Union, July 30, 2009, p. A1.

13. Dr. Laura Voigt & Dr. Kultar Shergill quoted in: Kellie B. Gormly, "Baby diapers: Parents cover all the options", Pittsburgh Tribune Review, June 15, 2009, p. lexis.

14. Sarah Moran, "A better BUM?", Star Tribune, May 4, 2009, p. 1E.

15. Clay Wollney, "How do disposable diapers work?", Staten Island Advance, December 18, 2008, p. C08.

16. Jeremy Cato, eHow, " Precautions With Sodium Polyacrylate", no date cited, http://www.ehow.com/way_5620021_precautions-sodium-polyacrylate.html

17. Rosalind Anderson & Julius Anderson, “Acute Respiratory Effects of Diaper Emissions”, Archives of Environmental Health, vol. 54, October 1999.