Here are some simple ways that you can start being a more eco-friendly parent:

1. Make your own baby food. This is a money saver and a great way to introduce new fresh fruits and vegetable to your baby. In addition to the nutritional benefits, making your own baby food cuts down on the waste that the pre-packaged food comes in. You could also start your own garden and enjoy outdoor time with your little one.

2. Consider using cloth diapers. Disposable diapers require three times as much energy to be produced than their cloth counterparts and produce 60 percent more waste. If the idea of dealing with dirty cloth diapers makes you cringe, you can often find a diaper service in your area that will handle the mess so that you don’t have to, and often, these services are comparable or less in price than purchasing disposable diapers. The new cloth diapers are so easy to use and the patterns are adorable.

3. Find ways to reuse and recycle. As your children grow out of their clothes, lose interest in their toys and no longer need their strollers and exersaucers, donate them to charity, trade them with your friends or sell them online or at a consignment shop.

4. Green your groceries. Cook your meals at home using certified organic foods and produce obtained from local Farmer’s Markets whenever possible. Your family will enjoy healthier meals, and you’ll be supporting farms that use environmentally-responsible agricultural methods. Don’t forget you reusable grocery bags!

5. Walk more. Before you reach for your car keys for a day of running local errands, ask yourself if you really need your car. Heading out on foot with your stroller will conserve fossil fuels, cut back on emissions and help you stay in shape.

The Natural Edition collection from Bumbleride features fabrics crafted from 50 percent recycled fibers. Both the Indie and the Indie Twin come in two beautiful colors: Ocean Blue and Walnut Brown. The lining in the seats of both models is also environmentally friendly and made from natural fibers rather than synthetic materials. Bamboo is a predominant material in the lining and helps regulate the temperature of the seat to keep your baby cooler. The natural fibers are also antibacterial, which keeps the seats free of germs.

To protect your little ones, both the Bumbleride Natural Edition Indie and Indie Twin have sun canopies with SPF 45 protection, and when it rains, you can add the PVC-free, eco-friendly weather shield to the front of the stroller. You can adjust the handle height, the footrests and the back reclining positions in both models to make the riding and the pushing as comfortable as possible for your baby and you. For added convenience, the strollers are compatible with certain models of Graco, Peg Perego, Combi, Baby Trend and Britax car seats with the purchase of the universal adapter accessory.

The Natural Edition Bumbleride Indie weighs 20 pounds and has a weight capacity of 45 pounds. The Twin model weighs 34 pounds and has a weight limit of 90 pounds. Both models have 12-inch air-inflated tires and rear suspension, meaning that you can use them on all terrains as you explore the planet that your purchase of a stroller from the Natural Edition collection helps you protect.

Bumbleride Indie Twin Natural Edition

Valco Zee $329.99

The appeal of the Valco Baby Zee and Zee Two starts with their lightweight frames; the single weighs just 18 pounds, and the double is just 26.8 pounds. Both strollers have tubeless, all-terrain style tires, which can be released with just the push of a button to make the stroller easier to store. When it’s time to fold either model, the release mechanism is simple to use, and the strollers collapse to more than half their heights. In addition to being compact, the Valco Baby Zee and Zee Two can stand up on their own while folded and be towed like rolling luggage.

Additional features found in the Valco Baby Zee and the Valco Baby Zee Two include:

- Zip-able, extendable hoods for weather protection

- Peek-a-boo windows for checking on little ones or increasing ventilation

- Seats recline with just one touch and are compatible with infants

- Ample storage space in the rear baskets

- Front swivel wheels and rear suspension for a comfortable ride on any terrain

- Weight limit for the Zee is 45 lbs and for the Zee TWO is 45 lbs for each seat for a total of 90 lbs.

Valco Zee TWO $529.99

The Zee has arrived at Let’s Go Strolling in Jet (black), Citrine (yellow), Blue Opal (dark blue), and Sapphire (light blue) and the Zee TWO in Jet. The Zee TWO will also be available in Sapphire and Blue Opal in May.

The Cybex Aton car seat is designed to comfortably and safely seat babies 4 to 32 pounds in weight who are 30 inches tall and under. The car seat comes in six beautiful colors: Purple Potion, Lipstick red, Eclipse gray, Coffee brown, Moonlight blue and Shadow black.

Cybex Aton $229.99

When comparing the new Cybex Aton to other popular infant car seats, you’ll find that it’s a standout choice in four areas:

- The installation of the Cybex Aton is incredibly easy, thanks to a tensioning belt system that allows for a perfect, safe fit, even if you don’t use the car seat in a LATCH vehicle.

- The ease of lifting and carrying the Cybex Aton surpasses many other car seat styles. The unit weighs just 7.5 pounds, causing less strain in your arms. The handle has positions for resting, carrying and storage, so that you can get the perfect grip while on the move and still be able to easily lift Baby out of the seat and make the car seat more compact for storing in tight spaces.

- The compatible frame of the Cybex Aton allows it to fit in Maxi Cosi infant seat adapters in strollers as well as in Cybex strollers

- The design of the car seat is incredibly appealing. The features and functionality of this smart car seat in no way attract from its appearance.

City Elite $399.99

The major changes to the exsisting great features for 2012 Baby Jogger City Elite include:

- Easier access to the stroller basket, thanks to a redesign on the frame

- Automatic lock on the frame to keep it securely folded

- Frame color changed to black, enhancing the appearance of the City Elite

- Quick Fold Technology now makes it possible to collapse the stroller with one hand

- Seat now reclines to almost completely flat and is vented to keep Baby cooler on hot days

- 12-inch forever air tires for an even more comfortable ride than past models, and the tires heavy-duty construction means there’s no fear of flats

- Adjustable handlebar to make pushing simpler and more comfortable

- Shock absorbers on the front wheel to make bumps less noticeable as you stroll

- Foot-operated brake has been replaced with an easy-to-use handbrake

- Seat back support board available for $10.00

On top of all of these fantastic features, the 2012 Baby Jogger City Elite is still usable for newborns with its optional infant seat adapter. And even with improvements in the tires and frame, the stroller still weighs just 26 pounds, an incredibly light weight for such an incredible all terrian stroller!

UPPAbaby Cruz $459.99

Two of the most exciting releases for 2012 in top-of-the-line strollers are the redesigned UPPAbaby Vista and the new UPPAbaby Cruz. Both strollers have been extremely popular since their release, and we’re sure that the new updates have made them more appealing to moms and dads who are on the go.

We receive a lot of questions about the differences between the two models so we thought we’d take a few moments to explain what features the two designs have in common as well as where they differ.

In general, the UPPAbaby Cruz can be thought of as the UPPAbaby Vista’s little sibling. The Cruz is identical to the Vista in many aspects, but was designed to be a lightweight travel stroller that is a sturdier, more comfortable alternative to umbrella strollers.

For a full comparison of the features in the UPPAbaby Cruz and the UPPAbaby Vista, we’ve included the following lists:

Similarities:

• Can be used from birth through 50 pounds with infant insert

• Full-sized reversible seats are the same size in both models and allow Baby to look at you or take in the world• One-step folding system, so that you can close the stroller with just one step

• Oversized sun canopy with SPF 50 UV protection

• Adjustable canopy to give extra space to older children

• Telescoping handlebar to adjust to the height of the pusher

• Up to 180-degree seat recline

• Oversized storage basket

• Accessories include rain cover and sun cover

Differences:

UPPAbaby Vista $699.99

• The Vista comes with a bassinet, while both the Cruz and the Vista have optional car seat adapter accessory with styles available for Peg Perego, Chicco, Graco and Maxi-Cosi car seats

• Cruz is just 21″ wide, roughly 2.5″ narrower than the Vista, which makes it easier to fit through tight spaces

• Cruz has smaller wheels to make the design even more compact than the Vista, but the Cruz does feature a specialized suspension system, so that it rides more smoothly than umbrella strollers despite the decreased wheel size

The Sneak a Peak 4D Ultrasound and Boutique combines a high-end children’s apparel shop with a non-medical ultrasound studio that allows you to “sneak a peak” at your growing baby. The ultrasound service is safe and uses the same FDA-approved equipment found in your local doctor’s office or imaging center, but is offered in a warm, inviting setting that feels more like a comfortable living space than a cold examining room.

The ultrasound studio performs 2D gender-predicting sonograms as early as 15 weeks for moms and dads that are too anxious to wait for the first medical ultrasound to know the sex of their babies. If you visit after 17 weeks into your pregnancy and the skilled sonographer is not able to determine your baby’s sex, you can even return for a complimentary second try. Like traditional sonograms, you’ll receive photographs of your baby, and as an added touch, a musical DVD of the footage.

Another popular service at the Sneak a Peak 4D Ultrasound and Boutique is its amazing 4D sonogram imaging. 4D sonograms were developed to diagnose certain medical conditions that are not detectable on traditional 3D sonograms and provide amazingly vivid images of the developing baby. Since these sonograms are reserved for at-risk pregnancies, most moms and dads never get to see their baby in vivid 4D ultrasound pictures, making the services at Sneak a Peak truly unique!

In addition to seeing the images of your baby live on the screen in the sonogram studio, you can select from four different packages that include black and white photographs, color shots, CD-ROM images and DVD footage of the ultrasound. The Sneak a Peak 4D Ultrasound and Boutique also offers an adorable plush bear, that plays your baby’s heart beat, which you can use as a keepsake, give to an older sibling or send to a family member that is too far away to experience your pregnancy firsthand.

Not only are the services, products and surroundings at Sneak a Peak 4D Ultrasound and Boutique wonderful, but the staff is also welcoming and accommodating. We’re sure you’ll love the studio and boutique as much as we do. Stop by soon to check out the boutique or give them a call to find out more!

One travel nightmare that many parents don’t think of is what they will have to do with their strollers; neglecting to find out your airline’s travel policy on them is almost a surefire way to create a hassle that you just don’t need while traveling with your young child.  Oh, and don’t forget… if you’re going to check your stroller in baggage you should make sure you get a quality stroller travel bag.  Preferably a bag designed for your stroller.  The airlines and be brutal on strollers and you don’t want your frame marred or your fabric ripped…or worse.  We have seen and hear it all.

All airlines place some stipulations on bringing strollers on as carry-on luggage and how much it costs to check them. If you don’t know the rules, you could end up having your stroller turned away or being charged a hefty fee to bring it on board.

In the latter portion of 2011, American Airlines made major changes to its rules regarding strollers, becoming the first of the biggest airlines in the country to introduce very detailed regulations about strollers based on both their weights and styles.

The new American Airlines policies, which are now fully enforced, are as follows:

-          Umbrella strollers are permitted as carry-on baggage, provided they fit in the overhead storage bins. They do not count against your carry-on baggage count. You also have the option to take your umbrella stroller all the way to the gate and have it checked as a bag for no fee.

-          Fully collapsible strollers that weigh less than 20 pounds are not permitted as carry-on baggage. You can check them at the ticket counter or at the gate for no fee.

-          Any stroller weighing over 20 pounds, large jogging strollers and travel systems that do not collapse can only be checked at the ticket counter. Gate checking is not permitted. The baggage fee is waived, provided the child using the stroller is traveling with you.

Some industry experts believe that this change in American Airlines’ policies will spark other airlines to place stricter regulations on strollers. Before you fly, make sure you check your airline’s website for the latest regulations. For your convenience, we have included the regulations for the other largest airlines in North America, updated as of January 2012.

-          United Airlines – Collapsible and umbrella strollers are not permitted as carry-on baggage. They can be checked at the gate or the ticket counter for no fee. Non-collapsible strollers are check-able only at the ticket counter. There are no weight rules beyond the FAA rules for checked baggage.

-          Southwest does not permit carry-on strollers. Strollers of any size may be checked at the gate, ticket counter or curb and are not assessed a baggage fee. There are no weight rules beyond the FAA rules for checked baggage.

-          Delta has the same policy as Southwest regarding strollers.

-          Jet Blue allows passengers to bring any type of stroller onto the plane as a carry-on, provided it fits in the overhead bin. The stroller does not count against the carry-on allowance. The airlines will check strollers for free at the gate.

-          Air Canada‘s policy is to check all strollers that are 10 inches by 36 inches in size or less when collapsed at the gate for free and then deliver them to passengers at the gate when they reach their destination. Larger strollers must be checked at the ticket counter and are counted toward your baggage allowance. A fee is assessed to check them.

You might also want to check the TSA’s site for any restrictions they may impose.

Completely unlike any infant bathtub you’ve ever seen, the Puj Tub is so unique, it’s practically a bath time miracle. Rather than a bulky plastic container, the tub is a comfortable piece of soft foam that lays flat when not in use. Right before bath time, you simply snap the Puj Tub together and set it down into your sink, where it holds your baby securely in place for washing.  The soft foam has the added benefit of snuggling your infant throughout the entire bath, which increases feelings of security and cuts down on fussing and squirming. For you, the tub allows you to stand comfortably at the sink and decreases the back and knee pain common with stooping and bending to reach other infant tubs.

Once the bath is over, the Puj Tub unsnaps to collapse as easily as it initially fit together. The flat surface is incredibly easy to clean; you just hold it under the tap in the sink to wash away suds. The foam surface has a convenient hole that can slide onto a hook to hang in your nursery, closet or behind your bathroom door, and because it has no corners that can trap water, the Puj Tub dries completely and is more resistant to mold and mildew.

The Puj Tub is the ideal upgrade from your current plastic infant bathtub and is a unique, useful gift for baby showers and births. The tub is safe from birth until 6 months of age or 17 pounds, whichever milestone your little one reaches first. For Baby’s safety, the foam is completely free of BPA and PVC. The tub can fit in most standard sinks. It measures 16 inches to 18 inches from side to side, 12 inches to 14 inches from front to back and 6 inches  to 8 inches in depth.

With all of its great features, the Puj Tub ranks highly on our must-have list for babies. We know you’ll love it, too; raising kids is enough of an adventure, after all. You really don’t need that extra bath time excitement.  We would love to hear your Puj Tub reviews!