Kelty KIDS Wallaby
Manufacturer: Kelty
Model Year: 2008
MSRP: $60.00

Family Friendly
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Specifications
Carries newborns 8-25 lbs.
Made from 100% cotton
Weight of carrier: 1lb. 3oz.

Features
JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturer’s Association) certified
Padded adjustable child’s seat
Baby can be worn facing inward or outward
Small zippered storage pocket in front of carrier.
Padded shoulder straps & waist belt.
Kelty’s Lifetime Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship.
Comes in four different colors: Blueberry, Black, Grape & Cherry

Testing Conditions 
Our mom tester wore the Wallaby with her three month old baby (facing outward) over a period of three weeks. It was used around the house to keep baby close, and on walks with her big sister in tow.  

Assembly/Preparing for Use
The Wallaby is already assembled so there is nothing to put together, just straps to adjust. The manufacturer recommends attaching and adjusting all the appropriate straps while wearing the carrier WITHOUT the baby in it. Then, you should place the infant to your chest and slide him or her into the carrier (from the top). They suggest loosening the black side-release buckles temporarily to allow for easier insertion. All straps should be re-tightened and adjusted to fit baby and parent comfortably before heading out.

Ease of use
Since the Wallaby is designed to load the baby from the top (there is no side entry feature), placing the baby into the carrier in the way the manufacturer suggests is not easy. Since our mom’s baby liked to stiffen her legs (to practice standing up!), this made it that much harder to get the baby’s legs into the leg holes. Once you get the baby into place, it’s simply a matter of tightening and adjusting the straps and off you go. Getting baby out of the carrier can be awkward as well, especially if he or she is sleeping.

Although the manual for this carrier shows an illustration of a parent inserting a child while holding him face to face, our mom tester had to lift the child up over her head in order to place baby in feet first as instructed. This can be pretty tricky and you want to make sure there is nothing overhead that might bump baby’s head in the process. We recommend sitting on a sofa, chair or bed while loading baby so that lifting him/her up over your head is not a problem. We also found that loosening all the straps and buckles first and then tightening everything up once baby is on board works the best.

Comfort for Child/Parent
The Wallaby is very comfortable to wear. The back support is located more towards the upper back which provides for less strain in the neck and shoulder area as well as support for the entire back. The cotton fabric is soft, yet the carrier itself is extremely sturdy. If having a baby hasn’t cramped your personal style, you’ll love that this carrier comes in four fruity colors colors: Blueberry, Black, Grape, and Cherry. Your baby will be comfortable and cool in this carrier as the leg and arm openings are a bit larger than in other brands allowing for more air flow. The sturdy design of the carrier provides a “seat” for baby creating a secure feeling for whomever is wearing the carrier. Our favorite aspect of this carrier was the comfort factor. Quite simply, it didn’t hurt to carry the baby around for any length of time.

Portability
This carrier is essentially designed in one piece. Only the waist belt disconnects on one side giving the Wallaby a unique distinction among baby carriers - you will never leave the house with only one half of your baby carrier and have to turn around and drive home to retrieve the missing piece (not that we’ve ever done that). Having said that, the Wallaby is still rather bulky and does not have any magical ability to fold down into the size of a coin purse (but what baby carrier does?).

Storage
There is a small zippered pocket on the front of the carrier which is very convenient for carrying keys or a pacifier for any excursion out of the house and into the light of day. We found it to be helpful to keep a small washcloth in the pocket for unexpected spit up. Most other front baby carrier models do not have any additional storage so this is a nice feature.

Safety
As with most front baby carriers, you should wear your baby facing inward until he or she has full neck support. The Wallaby is recommended for babies weighing between 8 and 25 lbs. Leg openings should be adjusted to the smallest size possible for young babies and make sure to check all straps and buckles to be sure they are attached and properly adjusted before  each use. The manufacturer recommends that you do not bend at the waist while wearing baby. Instead you should bend at the knees to prevent baby from leaning out of carrier.

Cleanability
This carrier can be machine washed separately with mild powder detergent in cold water on the gentle cycle, and set out to drip dry. 

Pros
This carrier is ridiculously affordable and is manufactured by Kelty, a highly respected company, which has been making outdoor gear for over 50 years. The thick padded straps which criss-cross the back provide cushy comfort and support. We liked the little storage pocket on the front and the fact that it comes in a variety of bright colors.

Cons
There is no baby height adjustment on the Wallaby which means that you cannot adjust it for your baby’s particular height and it cannot be adjusted as your baby grows. Our mom tester found that her baby sat very deep into the Wallaby as compared to being much higher and closer to her face with other front carriers. As a result, the baby’s head was down at chest level (our baby tester in this case was 23” tall at the time). Inserting the baby can be difficult and removing the baby is also awkward making it nearly impossible to successfully transport a sleeping baby from carrier to bed.

Comparable Models/Brands
We would compare the Wallaby most closely to the Baby Bjorn Active Carrier. Both the Wallaby and the Baby Bjorn have great back and neck support for the parent and the option to carry the baby facing inward and outward. The Wallaby is the best option economically as it will run you $60 compared to $119.95 for the Baby Bjorn Active model, but the Wallaby comes up short when you compare ease of use and adjustability for baby.

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Tuffo Water Resistant Blanket
MSRP: $39.95

Family Friendly
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Specifications
• Lightweight and compact with its own carrying bag
• Rugged, durable, water-resistant nylon backing
• Polyester batting provides cushioning on hard surfaces
• Machine wash cold, tumble dry low or line dry
• Large 54″ x 84″ size
• Weight: 3 lbs.

Pros
Lightweight and easy to keep in the car, carry handles on carrying bag are super helpful when you are lugging everything else you need for your outing, sand from the beach and grass from the lawn simply “slide” off the nylon backing so it doesn’t take two people to shake it out before heading home, comfortable with a little padding in between layers.

Cons
The only negative thing we could come up with is that the blanket can be a bit tricky to fold up and place into carrying bag since the nylon backing is slippery and easily comes unfolded. A little practice however and you’ll get it down in no time!

Tuffo Throw About Blankets are available in a variety of prints and colors. You can learn more about Tuffo products and styles at their website www.tuffo.com.

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When you pack this many lunches, you realize how many juice boxes, sandwich bags, and individual wrappers this can add up to. Multiply this times the number of hungry kids in your house, times the number of kids in their class, in their school, and so on and its no wonder that something as simple as packing a lunch can have a huge environmental impact. In fact, the average American child produces 67 pounds of trash each year from school lunches alone!

To help make your “brown-bagging” as a family a bit more eco-friendly, we have put together a list of five tips that can make a big difference in cutting back on lunch box waste.

1. Reusable Containers, Fewer Baggies
Begin creating a collection of small plastic containers that have resealing lids that can be used over and over to hold everything from crackers and cookies, to rolls of lunch meat or cut up fruit and sandwiches. Things like empty yogurt containers or baby food containers work well and fit easily into a lunch box/bag, cooler or backpack. You can also purchase inexpensive food storage containers in all sizes at the supermarket (even little snack sizes). By reusing containers you will save hundreds of plastic lunch and snack baggies that would otherwise be thrown away.

2. Make Your Own “Snack Packs”
The supermarket is loaded with time-saving, individually wrapped, portion-controlled, lunch items that may seem like a good idea, but often create more waste than value. By purchasing lunch items in larger quantities (and no, we’re not suggesting you need to buy 40 lbs of Goldfish Crackers, just normal packaging quantities will do) and then filling smaller containers yourself, you will save on one of the biggest waste producers in kids lunches - excess packaging.

3. Juice Boxes are NOT Our Friends
Get each one of your kids (and adults for that matter) in your family a reusable drink bottle that you can fill each day with their favorite bev. With so many great eco-friendly, high-quality, and BPA-free kids bottles on the market today, there are lots of options to use instead of non-recyclable drink boxes.

4. Way Cool Lunch Box Dude
Make your kids lunch easy to transport and appeal to their own sense of style with a lunch box or bag that is also eco-friendly. By investing is a quality lunch box or bag, it will last longer and keep your kids lunch fresher. Look for boxes and bags that are made with recycled materials (like recycled plastics or cloth), are lead-free, use minimal vinyl, and can be insulated with a cold pack when necessary.

5. Are you Going to Eat That?
Many parents don’t consider the environmental impact of throwing food away when a child doesn’t eat what has been packed for lunch. When food goes uneaten, it becomes a waste of the resources and energy required to grow, harvest, transport, and produce that snack item they decide they don’t want (or can’t trade to their friends). Try to keep your child’s lunch as appealing as possible by letting them help choose what to bring (within parameters of course), and keeping food the right temperature so it tastes good at lunch time.

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Mountain Sprouts recently introduced their “Plug Into Nature” campaign which promotes outdoor exploration for children and creating opportunities for them to learn about the natural world. As part of this campaign, they designed a special line of organic tee-shirts with various “Plug Into Nature” graphics for infants, toddlers and kids.

We loved the idea of ”plugging” kids into nature and thought the tee-shirts were super cute so we contacted our friend Jen Rieke Taylor, Founder and Global Brand Manager of Mountain Sprouts, to ask her some questions and learn more about what they are doing.

Melissa: What is your Plug Into Nature campaign all about and where did the idea come from?

Jen: The term “Plug Into Nature” came about on a road trip where my husband and I (this time without kids, funnily enough) were on our way into the Utah mountains, discussing the importance of the Mountain Sprouts mission (encouraging kids and families to recreate outdoors together), and the importance of this topic on a national level.  In near frustration, using hand gestures to express my inner passion, I said, “I just want to plug these kids into the outdoors, into nature! Like they plug into their i-pods!”. I then described this image in my head of a kid sitting in a tree with earphones on, but plugged into the tree instead of an i-Pod, like a branch.  My husband said, “Yeah - Plug Into Nature!”  That was the ‘ah-ha’ moment.

The campaign started with our Nature Organic Tee collection and putting the Plug Into Nature logo on the tee’s.  It began the first step in a campaign that has aspects which are in various formative stages - education outreach, interpretive elements, national tour, web outreach, corporate partnering, etc.  We have more ideas about the Plug Into Nature campaign than we have resources for, so it’s one step at a time for the moment.

Mountain Sprouts believes that this is our humble way of providing a puzzle piece to the ‘bigger picture’ for current and future generations of outdoor families. We work hard to develop a product line that is designed for kids to be used and abused in the Great Outdoors, keep them comfortable, and look good at the same time (everyone likes to look good!).  If the kids are happy, the parents are too and will likely extend their time spent outside.  
 
Melissa: What trends in the marketplace do you see that contribute to the success of the campaign and the Nature product line? Why did you feel it was important to promote this to consumers?

Jen: The nation’s recent attention to our disconnect with nature is the biggest component to our success.  Mountain Sprouts has been forging a path in the Outdoor Industry and beyond for 5+ years, and we’ve started to see the topic finally get the acknowledgment that it deserves. But there’s a long way to go and a significant shift in household lifestyles and priorities is required for real change to happen.

The importance of the Plug Into Nature campaign to consumers goes to the heart of the matter - the kids.  Well, the kids AND the environment.  It’s not news that parents are strapped for free time, kids are over-scheduled and the access to electronic media is pervasive - everything is topsy-turvy.  We struggle with the balance in our own household of three kids (ages 8, 12 & 17) just like everyone else.  But the rate of accelerated detachment from the natural world that’s taking place generation to generation is appalling. Kids develop common sense, humility, self-confidence, a connectedness with nature, basic life skills and much more when engaged with the natural world and allowed/encouraged to think for themselves.  Then there are the memories that last a lifetime, and the experiences that they’ll want to re-create for their own kids and grandkids. 
 
Melissa: What is the Mountain Sprouts philosophy when it comes to kids and the outdoors?

Jen: Go Get Dirty!!!!! Too often kids hear, “just don’t get dirty” or other such things. Many kids don’t know what it’s like to play in the rain or dance in a mud puddle or pull up rocks to dig for earthworms. These are simple, instinctual behaviors for kids that have been replaced with high-sequenced cartoons and plastic games that talk.  One of my favorite times of the day is when I kick my kids outside and tell them “I don’t want to see you until dinner” (in a loving way, of course).  Just like I heard as a kid.
Our mission is simple, strong, and for me, the ultimate driving force that feeds my passion for what we do here at Mountain Sprouts: Let the children play, OUTDOORS!

Mountain Sprouts Plug Into Nature organic cotton tee-shirts are available in a range of colors for both boys and girls and feature six different graphics to choose from. They are available in sizes for babies, toddlers and kids. You can find more information about these and the entire line of Mountain Sprouts outdoor clothing for kids at http://www.mountainsprouts.com/.

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Check out this video about the LIKEaBIKE brand of balance bikes to learn why these bikes are so great for kids just starting to ride!

You can learn more about LIKEaBIKE at www.likeabikeusa.com.

Has your little cyclist been using a balance bike? Leave a comment and share your experiences with us!

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Any campers in the upstate NY, VT, NH and MA regions more than likely spent the 2008 Great American Backyard Campout in the rain like we did here in southwestern NH (as there were no doubt other rainy spots nationwide). But the rain did little to dampen the spirit of the campers in our yard on Saturday night.

We managed to get the tent set up before the rain started and then spent a wonderful night under the pitter-pat of rain drops and the occasional downpour. Both our four year-old and one year-old campers were all too happy to be zipped into the tent, warm and dry, and eat Rice Crispy squares as the evening wore on. In the morning we woke to a shiny, wet world ready for the sun to dry everything off again.

Overall, the National Wildlife Federation, the sponsor of the Great American Backyard Campout, recorded 24,396 registered campers on their website ticker for the event. We were encouraged to hear and read about families all over the country participating in this fun and easy outdoor experience with their kids. By spending more time outdoors, even in simple ways, we help kids re-connect with nature and appreciate the world around them. This has been the mission of the National Wildlife Federation and the Great American Backyard Campout and we were excited to set up camp in our own backyard and be part of this growing campaign. Wet, but excited.

Did you particpate in the campout? Leave us a comment and fill us in on your camping adventures, stories or funny mishaps.

You can learn more about the Great American Backyard Campout and the National Wildlife Federation at www.nwf.org/backyardcampout.

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The REI Passport to Adventure Program is aimed at kids ages 5-12 years and encourages them to not only spend time outdoors as a family, but to document and record their adventures as well. By doing so, kids learn more about the natural world, are exposed to new experiences and take the first steps towards a lifetime of outdoor fun and recreation.

The program is based around an Adventure Journal which your child can personalize and use the keep track of your family outings. Whether it be a first-time camping trip, bike ride around the neighborhood, hike on a local trail or afternoon in the canoe, any outdoor activity counts! Once they complete their adventure, they can document the details and their experiences in the Adventure Journal. The Journal also contains a variety of wilderness inspired puzzles and games, places to draw pictures as well as tips for outdoor excursions.

Even better yet, you can use your journal to earn a free prize from REI! Once you have completed at least one outdoor activity, tear off and send in the postcard attached to your journal in order to get a certificate of completion and a nifty multifunction whistle that includes a thermometer, magnifier and compass. Very cool.

Our favorite thing about the Passport to Adventure program is the sense of accomplishment it fosters through documentation and awareness. It helps to confirm for kids that the time they spend outdoors is not only fun, but that their experiences and observations matter to all of us.

You can learn more about the REI Passport to Adventure Program at http://www.rei.com/features/kidsPassport.html. In order to get your own Adventure Journal, visit any REI store location or go to the website above to download and print a copy.

Let us know how you do! If you have been participating in the Passport to Adventure Program please leave a comment below and share with us your favorite family adventures from your journal!

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BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Synergy
Manufacturer: Baby Bjorn
Model year: 2007/2008
MSRP: $159.95

MySprout Review
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Specifications
Baby size & weight requirements: newborns 8-26 lbs; 21”-29” in length
Weight of carrier:
Construction: “Advanced 3D mesh”, 100% polyamid & polyester
Oeko-Tex certified: fabric is guaranteed to be toxic free.
Sliding buckle for baby height adjustment

Features
Allows parent to keep baby close while providing full mobility.
Constructed with mesh fabric that regulates both heat and moisture for parent and baby.
Mesh fabric construction is soft for baby while still providing sturdy support for baby’s head and neck.
Wide shoulder straps and full lumbar support distribute baby’s weight evenly.
Adjustable head and neck support: newborns face inward and older babies can face outward by folding head support piece down.
Sliding buckle allows for adjustment as your baby grows.
All attachments are located in the front of carrier for ease of use and for convenience when removing a sleeping baby.
Provides physiologically correct position for baby’s legs and arms.
Machine wash with cold water & mild detergent, and drip dry.
Can breastfeed baby discreetly by loosening the straps and sliding one strap off your shoulder.

Testing Conditions
We tested the Synergy with a two month old baby and her mom who used it daily to carry baby hands-free to the grocery store, park, the office, on walks, and at home performing everyday household tasks over a period of two weeks. Mom and baby also wore the Synergy during a week of hot, humid summer weather. 

Assembly
None to speak of. It’s mostly a matter of adjusting the straps to fit your particular body which is very easy.

Ease of use
Although the Synergy may seem complicated at first, especially if this is your first time wearing a front baby carrier, it’s actually a very simple and straight forward design. The carrier is in two pieces: one of which you put on like a back pack (this part has the lumbar pad) and the other piece attaches to it from the front. Loading baby into the Synergy is very simple and pretty quick once you get the hang of it (for first time parents it may take a few practice runs to get the coordination down). Once everything is adjusted and baby is on board you’ll be amazed how easy it is to move around and do any number of things with ease while wearing your baby! You’ll be so comfortable and efficient you’ll feel as though you’ve mastered a common parenting hurdle and become an expert baby wearer.

The one aspect of use we had some trouble with while wearing the Synergy was while breastfeeding. We could not determine how to breastfeed easily using the carrier as a “nursing cover”. The manufacturer has a short, written instruction about to how to achieve this, but it’s not clear how it’s supposed to work in real life.  

Comfort for Child/Parent
Once you have adjusted the latches and straps to fit both you and baby comfortably, you will both feel quite snug and secure. The unique mesh fabric construction follows the line of baby’s body, cradling him or her perfectly. The head support is also made out of this mesh fabric, but is a bit sturdier and can be adjusted so you’ll feel confident that baby is not just happy, but safe as well.  One of our favorite aspects of the Synergy is its breathability in hot conditions. While it does not prevent you from sweating altogether, you and baby will be MUCH cooler and dryer than in other carriers on the market. There is also a significant reduction of pain and strain in the back and neck area due to the wide straps and wonderful lumbar support that can be individually adjusted to fit your body.

Portability
The Synergy is designed to be folded up and stowed away into a “practical storage pocket” (a mesh bag which is found tucked inside the front part of the carrier). Both carrier pieces (front and back) can be folded down to fit inside this storage pocket which makes it slightly more convenient than having to carry two separate pieces around. However, once in the storage pocket, it still takes up a large amount of space and it is difficult to fit the carrier and much of anything else into an average sized diaper bag.

Storage
There are no additional storage pockets or compartments on the Synergy for carrying everyday items (cell phone, money, keys, etc). There is a storage pocket designed to hold the carrier itself when not in use.

Safety
Baby Bjorn recommends that your baby is at least eight pounds AND 21 inches tall to safely use the Synergy. Once your child has reached the recommended weight and length, be sure to adjust the sliding buckle so that it is in the proper location for your baby’s height. Although we did not use the optional leg straps (since our baby tester was more than eleven pounds), this feature helps keep little legs from slipping out too far through the leg openings. We used the carrier with baby facing inward but once she is able to support her head on her own, she could be turned around to an outward facing position. Overall, we felt the Synergy was very secure and safe even when we were moving around and leaning over.

Cleanability
The Synergy can be machine washed in cold water with a gentle, bleach free detergent and drip dries quickly.

Pros
The breathable fabric really does what it says, allowing for air and moisture to ventilate. The fabric is surprisingly soft and follows the curve of baby’s body making it a very natural position for baby to be in. The lumbar support gives you the feeling of being held tight and secure just as your baby will feel. The Synergy is very comfortable makes “baby carrying” easy and enjoyable.

Cons
Can be a bit bulky to carry around when not wearing the carrier because it does not fit easily into a regular sized diaper bag (especially if you have anything else in your bag like….diapers).

Comparable Models/Brands
Compared to other Baby Bjorn models, the Synergy has both the breathable fabric of the Air model as well as the wide shoulder straps and lumbar support of the Active model. For active, every day use, especially in hot climates, we would recommend the Synergy over the Original Baby Bjorn model. You will pay twice as much for the Synergy, but if you plan on using it everyday, on extended excursions, going for regular walks or if you have back problems, it would be worth every penny. 

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Phil and Ted's MeToo Chair
Manufacturer: Phil & Teds
Model year: 2007/2008
MSRP: $49.95

MySprout Review
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Specifications
Dimensions: Approx. 13″ x 15″ x 2″ ( folded flat)
Seat depth: Approx. 8″
Weight: 2 lbs
Max weight limit: 40lbs
Frame: Aluminum
Three-point child harness

Features
Attaches to just about any table
Folds flat for easy packing and transport
Lightweight and compact
Safe and easy C-clamp table attachments screw into place
Durable, washable nylon seat

Testers
Baby sprout (starting at 7 months) over the course of 6 months. Used at the kitchen table as the primary home highchair, at the kitchen counter (with bar style overhang), while visiting friends and family, while traveling on vacation and outdoors on picnic tables.

Assembly
Really none to speak of. Simply unfold, pop out seat, adjust hardware to fit over table edge and screw down clamps to attach firmly to table.

Ease of Use
The MeToo chair is a snap to set up and easy to load and unload with your little dinner companion. Likewise, it is also easy to release from the table and fold up to take with you. This makes it also work well in restaurants when you don’t have a lot of time to be fooling around with baby gear as other diners watch while you attempt to get everyone to the table and away from the table with as little commotion as possible. While attached to a table, the MeToo takes up less space than a traditional high chair and allows hungry eaters to sit closer to the table (whether this is good or bad is up for debate). 

A few comments about tables: The MeToo Chair should probably not be used with tables that have three legs or a single center pedestal since these types of tables can have less support at the edges. The MeToo Chair also tends not to work as well on round tables since there is often not enough sufficient table overhang at both points of attachment. Finally, you need to have at least two inches of free table edge depth for the MeToo Chair to clamp on properly. Some tables are designed to have an “apron” or “skirt” just under the edge of the table top which can prevent the chair from sliding all the way on providing enough depth to clamp it down. If you are planning to use this as your regular highchair at home, we recommend you measure the depth of the edge of your table first to be sure it will work. Note that the MeToo Chair can also be used on a kitchen counter overhang (bar style) which we found worked very well.

Comfort
The seat area is rather large and deep so it is comfortable for children up to age three (recommended age limit by Phil & Teds). Unlike other more traditional highchair designs however, there is less (to none) back and side support for babies with the MeToo Chair so it is better for children who can comfortably sit upright on their own without a lot of support. Our testers had no problem with fit for a 7 month old but it could be a problem for babies who need a little extra support. For toddlers (up to 40 lbs), the MeToo Chair is the perfect size and depth. The three-point harness is very secure but we felt it could have been a bit softer and less stiff (maybe a little padding) and it could be easier to adjust.

Safety
The fact that the MeToo Chair is designed to “suspend” off the edge of a table is probably the thing that gets most people’s attention when they first see it. Be prepared for “Whoa! How safe is that?” and “Well that looks pretty tricky.” from lots of observers. We have to admit, we were also a bit suspicious when we first saw it in action with an unsuspecting (albeit happy) little toddler sitting in one. But rest assured, this little chair is solid (provided it is attached properly and securely). The unique aluminum C-clamp attachments have a rubber flange for grip and close down tightly by screwing into place.  In fact, the bigger risk is with the table not the chair. As mentioned above, the MeToo Chair is not recommended for use with round tables or ones with a single pedestal in the center. If the table is at all insecure, then you might have a problem, but the chair itself will remain attached regardless. We found no safety issues during our testing and also found that it worked very well on almost all public tables we used it on.

Portability
The MeToo Chair gets top ratings from us for travel and portability. We love how it folds up and is compact enough to fit into a suitcase or even a tote bag! With this handy chair, you no longer have to reluctantly use a sticky, germ covered restaurant booster seat or worry about trying to eat your thanksgiving meal with junior on your lap while at your in-laws house.

One thing we found that could improve the portability would be a carry bag or case for the chair. When taken off the table, folded up and carried around, the aluminum clamps have a tendency to swing in and out and the seat doesn’t stay folded in. A simple carry case would help keep everything in place. (Some parents we know even use the “pizza” style box it comes packaged in for storage and travel!)

Cleaning
The durable nylon material that cover the aluminum chair frame is easy to clean with a sponge and soapy water as needed. Like all highchairs, the MeToo Chair collects its share of cheerios, banana and cracker crumbs so being able to clean it easily is a must. We found that the seam at the bottom of the seat did have a tendency to collect a fair amount of crumbs but a quick release from the table and a good shake-out took care of it.

Pros
Incredibly portable and easy to travel with so you always have a seat no matter where you are. Works well in crowded public places, on vacation, at family and friends houses as well as at home. Child sits closer to the table and feels as if they are “part of the family” rather than off to the side in a highchair.

Cons
May not work with all table types or designs. Child harness rather stiff and not as comfortable as it could be. Would be even easier to transport if it came with a matching carry bag or case.

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To help you with your gift buying, we rounded up some cool ideas based on recommendations from outdoor dads we know (who are also cool by the way).

Tikka Plus Headlamp Ideal for the tent and trail, the lightweight Tikka Plus features three brightness settings and a new recessed power button that won’t accidentally turn on inside your backpack. Weighing less than 80 grams, this amazingly comfortable headlamp is as easy to wear as a fleece headband. Simply click the ratchet-style lamp design at the angle you need and do away with the dark. The compact design fits in almost any spare pouch or pack side pocket. - $34.95 Altrec.com

eTrex Legend GPS Without a doubt, the Garmin eTrex Legend GPS remains one of the most affordable and well-detailed GPS units for hikers, backpackers and domestic travelers. While other GPS units offer more features (and color displays) the eTrex Legend GPS has a proven reputation for durability, reliability and ease-of-use. It includes 8MB of internal memory for retraceable waypoint tracking and automatic log tracking (you can save up to ten tracks for retracing later). The preloaded basemap includes oceans, lakes, rivers cities, interstates and other major roads. You can also customize locations with your own waypoints for fishing spots and other personal waypoints. A backlight makes the eTrex Legend GPS easy to read in low light conditions. The colorful blue case is easy to spot in your backpack or travel bag and remains completely waterproof. - $139.99 Altrec.com

CamelBak Classic Hydration Pack - 70 oz. Redesigned with an external-access fill pocket, this 70-ounce system offers even more value for its attractive price. Low-profile design and minimalist storage options support multisport activities or performance cycling. External pocket provides easy, convenient access to the reservoir. External zip pocket for keys and essentials. Secure Bungee Cinch System™ stashes extra clothing. Low-profile design enhances stability and precludes pack from interfering with helmet. Breathable mesh harness helps keep you cool. Easy-grip handle and large-mouth make filling the reservoir easy; antimicrobial HydroGuard™ technology inhibits bacterial growth. PureFlow™ delivery tube keeps water as fresh as store-bought bottled water; no plastic taste. Big Bite™ valve is ergonomically positioned for easy drinking; handly HydroLock™ securely shuts off water flow. $40.00 REI.com

prAna Catalyst Board Shorts - Men’s Whether you prefer the boardwalk or big waves, the prAna Catalyst board shorts will keep you strutting in style. Polyester microfiber fabric dries quickly and is soft and comfortable next to skin. Fabric is pigment printed for a slightly faded look; distressed piping adds to the worn-in image. Side zippered pockets hold beach essentials. Gusseted crotch facilitates freedom of movement for increased comfort. Drawstring closure. Machine washable for easy care. - $44.83 REI.com

The North Face Vaporwick Ruckus T-Shirt - Men’s This handsome crew features VaporWick® moisture management to keep you comfortable during high-energy activities. VaporWick® polyester fabric breathes well, moves moisture away from you and dries quickly. Relaxed fit with a contrast rib-knit neck. Machine washable. - $25.00 REI.com

Leatherman Juice S2 This cutting-edge multi-tool features a bevy of useful tools and distinctive burnt-orange anodized handles, contoured for comfort. Comes well-equiped with pliers, knife, wire cutters, four screwdrivers, scissors, can opener and bottle opener. Scissors are specially serrated to grip item being cut so it doesn’t slip out open end of scissors. Built on a small chassis, it measures just over 3 inches long and takes up very little space in a pocket or purse. Lanyard attachment allows S2 to be easily attached to a backpack zipper, snowpants or key ring. - $64.00 REI.com

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