Babykeeper: Savior or silly?

Anne sent me a link to the Babykeeper with the subject line: "Can't stop laughing at this." She went on:

I guess it's legitimate.  And I have always wondered what to do with a little baby when I have to go in to pee.

We at Parent Hacks have plenty of answers to the public restroom question, including the Flying Pee Maneuver, but that's besides the point. What is the point, you ask? The point. Hm. Oh, yes! The point!

The point is that we're always on the lookout for useful products that simplify life with babies. We're ALSO ready to call out those products which no sane parent should ever buy. Which is it, Parenthackers? Anyone with firsthand experience they're willing to share?

Our last "Savior or silly" discussion: Tote-A-Tot.

Tags: Babies, Baby, Baby gear, Babykeeper, Parenting

Comments

[Edster]

Reminds me of another picture someone once gave me... http://independentsources.com/2006/12/08/child-cruelty-duct-tape/

[HDC]

That's a hard call. In theory I can see the use of this in that it keeps an inquisitive baby safe from the not so clean public bathroom floor. And the secondary use in shopping carts is definitely good. Fundamentally is it any worse than strapping your baby into a car seat? I don't really think so. But it's not as safe because you never know how sturdy those bathroom stalls are. That's probably the main reason I'd never use it for that intended use. It's almost a good idea.

[Latia]

I just wheel the baby in her stroller into the handicapped bathroom and use that one. Most of those handicapped bathrooms have a separate sink and a changing table...I find that a lot easier than purchasing a contraption to hang over the door of a stall and have my child stare at me while I handle my business...sheesh. People will try to sell anything.

[Sarah]

I can see how someone would think this was useful but it seems like a lot of trouble to put the baby into a special device just to pee. When my daughter was the size of the baby in the picture I usually had her in a sling or the Baby Bjorn and I could simply use the bathroom with her still strapped to me. It takes a little more dexterity than going by yourself but it's very do-able. It reminded a friend and I how we use to switch our backpacks to our front and wear them while we were in the stalls in public restrooms in college.

[Marcy]

As far as the shopping cart thing goes, I bought The First Years Elmo harness/leash: http://www.babyant.com/bv022047.html

My daughter is 14 months old and squirmy. The safety belt is no match for her. So, I put this harness on her and clip it to the back of the shopping cart seat. That, combined with the cart's safety belt, keeps her in place there in the cart. Less than $7 at your big box store of choice. The leash part is another debate for another day, but the harness is super useful.

[Adrienne]

My husband, raised partially in Germany, was a periodically leashed child (with little bears on his laderhosen-esque harness). This didn't mar his impression of the world any that I can tell, although he remembers a horrible confrontation at JFK airport when a stranger confronted his mother about leashing his toddler brother. [Our family has another tale about a non-English speaking toddler friend being lost for hours in the same terminal during the same era.]

I find the BabyKeeper harrowing. Maybe it's my region, but I have a hard time finding a place to hang the diaper bag without fears of it falling down. Doors are frequently loose and/or wonky.

My toddler son would either fight the harness or try to swing or climb.

[Caitlin]

This looks like a version of those toddler seats for babies that can't sit on their own. Unfortunately, the only toddler seat I've seen that still had straps was in Ikea and they're not really that common.

When Paul was a baby, the Snugli or sling worked great for solo trips and I could go to the restroom without waking him up. Once he outgrew that, the backpack carrier was great.

He figured out how to make the backpack carrier rock about 6 months ago, so it was back to the drawing board. I usually put Paul in the umbrella stroller when we stop at rest areas so he doesn't commit a restroom faux pas by crawling under the door and demanding conversation or unlocking the door. It's a tight fit, but it's the only that works with Paul.

You're better off getting some

[Jim]

Caitlin,

I was just going to mention those. I saw one in Indianapolis about a month ago and was puzzled. Cool idea, but will it catch on?

The answer; I have seen one in a local restaraunt chain in our town which is decidedly less cosmopolitan than Indianapolis. That is, if you allow Indy as being "cosmopolitan" in the first place.

I also have a dad rant. How long before every store and restaraunt has a baby changing table in the men's room? Sheesh. It is getting to the point that I am threatening to refuse to go to places that don't have them. It's not like they are expensive either. We bought one for our church (for the men's room) from Sam's Club for under $200. I'm just not willing (or able) to shell out that kind of money for every restaraunt and business establishment that I frequent that doesn't have one.

[JCB]

This is a great product!!! I have one and when I am at the mall I have ran into a few mothers that found the product innovating and more flexible the baby bjorn.