We found the Step 2 Lifestyle Twin Bed for my best friend’s four year old. Over the past two weeks, I have been very busily preparing for birthday parties and helping move one of my best friends back into the area. Her husband does IT contracting all over the world and is going to be spending the next year on contract in our area. I can’t tell you how excited I am to have my best friend and her family back in the area! One of the hardest things for them, however, was the fact that they always rented most of their furniture. Since they had enough money saved, they decided to actually buy some furniture for themselves and the kids, especially since they are considering staying if this position becomes permanent. This means they have to find beds and other furniture for their two boys – one being two and the other four.

Now, while they are talking about staying, we both knew better than to get furniture that couldn’t easily be moved. They would likely be moving another three times, especially since they are considering building a house if they stay. This meant that we had to find beds for both of the boys that were easy to move with them. After quite a bit of searching online, we found the Step 2 Lifestyle Twin bed and the Legare Frog Twin Bed for the boys. After assembling and helping them out for the past week, here is what they think so far of the Step 2 Lifestyle Twin Bed.

Assembly of the Step 2 Lifestyle Twin Bed

When my friend fell in love with the Step 2 Lifestyle Twin Bed, I was unsure what to think at first. We had never bought a plastic bed before, but I know my children’s Step 2 outdoor toys and basement furniture have held up really well. Like most Step 2 furniture, it was very easy to assemble, but does take two adults, mostly due to bulky pieces. The bed itself also came with two wood slats and two sturdy rotomolded supports. While this may sound like it’s enough for supporting your child, I would recommend getting a bunkie board to use as a box spring or buy some extra pieces of lumber from your local hardware store. Without the bunkie board, the bed does sag a bit. For safety reasons, I bought the bunkie board as well, mostly since I had never seen a bunk bed that didn’t need these as a box spring in the bed.

As for the mattress itself, make sure you get a normal sized twin mattress. The bed is a bit too big for a crib mattress and it will leave spaces around the bed that isn’t safe for smaller children. From measuring, we also predict that anything larger than a standard sized mattress will be too high for children to take advantage of the high sides. For children, I think high sides on any bunk bed are a must!

Quality of the Step 2 Lifestyle Twin Bed

Even though this is a plastic bed, I have to say I was really impressed by how nice this bed looked assembled and how sturdy the bed was for a kid’s bed. When they said this bed could handle the weight of a fifteen-year-old boy, I believe it! In the manual, it states that the bed can hold a maximum of 300 pounds, making it perfect for even a hefty teenage boy. Everything on the bed has a nice texture and can handle the abuse of a small boy. I just wouldn’t encourage kids jumping on this bed, since it is 33 inches high when measured from the top of the mattress to the floor. While this isn’t as high as most bunk beds, it is still a bit of a drop for a small child!

One of the biggest complaints that I was reading online about this bed was that the four large doors at the bottom of the bed hang crooked. I tried figuring out how they even accomplished this, since the doors went on rather easy and hung very straight when I put a lever on the door. I am guessing that the parents who had these problems just didn’t assemble the bed properly. For parents who move a lot, just make sure you follow the directions carefully when it comes to taking the bed apart so that you get the most use out of the bed. While we were able to assemble and disassemble the bed very easily, I could see it breaking if care isn’t taken with the plastic pieces.

As well, theStep 2 Lifestyle Twin Bed has high sides for extra security, allowing children who move a lot in their sleep to be safe. When I measured these sides, they are a bit higher than most guard railings that are put on twin size beds. Since children are higher up than a twin bed, my friend and I considered these higher sides a major plus!

Kid Friendly Step 2 Lifestyle Twin Bed

If I had to pick one bed that was made for active kids, it is definitely the Step 2 Lifestyle Twin Bed. With two climbing ladders on both sides of the bed and 28 cubic foot of storage under the bed, this bed can easily be a playground on its own. While I don’t encourage kids playing on ladders, this bed is very easy for little boys to climb up and down on, and he is already swinging from the ladder like a monkey. Since the ladders don’t come off, I consider the fact the bed could handle this a major plus! For safety reasons though, I would recommend not letting your children try this at home!

The best part of the Step 2 Lifestyle Twin Bed to the big boy, however, was all the storage under the bed. This bed has four large doors, two on each side of the bed that gives children access to the entire underneath of the bed. While this area was meant for storage, my friend’s son has turned it into his secret super hero base, where he has flashlights and all of his superhero toys.

My best friend also loves how contemporary this bed looks in her son’s bedroom. This plastic bed is a fun style that is great for little kids or older kids since it is designed to go with just about anything. With its neutral gray color, it is perfect for boys or girls, making it an ideal bed for parents who are constantly on the move and don’t want to purchase a heavier, less durable bed in the near future.

What Others Have to Say About Step 2 Lifestyle Twin Bed

While the Step 2 Lifestyle Twin Bed wasn’t what we had in mind, my friend and I are both happy we found this for her four year old. He absolutely loves this bed and has turned the storage area into his own ‘secret super hero base’. He isn’t the only one who loves this bed – on Amazon.com, it has a 4.6 out of 5 star rating, make it one of the most popular kids beds on the site! Parents and grandparents have had wonderful things to say about this bed!

” The Step2 Lifestyle Twin Bed was very quick and easy to assemble. My son, 2 1/2, loves his new bed and he even enjoyed helping me to assemble it. I love the fact that the sides are high and I do not have to worry about him falling out. I also like the storage compartments underneath. My sons uses the storage area as a barn for his stuffed animals. He has slept in his new bed for the past 3 nights and he is very proud of himself as well as his new bed.”
” We got this for my son for xmas and I just assembled it. It was very easy to assemble. Most of assembly is typical of step 2 products, pop and lock then screws for added security. It took me about an hour but I also stopped half way through for a bit. My son is 2 and LOVES IT. He could climb right away. It does require a ‘bunkie board’ (in instructions) however I just got a piece of plywood for 5 dollars and had it cut to twin size and it fits perfect. I put a sheet over it to try to keep splinters out of mattress but you can’t even tell. With a fairly thick mattress and the 1/2 inch plywood it leaves a nice lip so my son won’t fall out. The storage underneath is awesome also. It holds A LOT. I can store all his extra diapers/wipes, toys including a ride on toy that is always in the way, sheets, and he still can climb under!

It’s very durable feeling. I am 180 pounds and I feel like it’s sturdy under me. It says it holds up to 300 pounds and I’d believe it. All in all while this bed is very pricey and large (it comes up to my chest but I’m short and the box is HUGE) it’s a great investment and awesome I just wish it came in a queen size!!!!”
” I have twin boys that are 23 months old. We bought 2 of these beds and I absolutely LOVE them and so do they. I can lay with them in the bed to read books and they never get out of them unless its morning. Everyone kept telling me what a hard transition it is taking the child from a crib to bed, but so far its been a month and its been so easy!”
” We bought this bed for our son who was 21 months old when we got it about a month ago. He has slept in it perfectly since we got it, he has never once tried to climb out at night or nap time. He also loves to play in the bed at other times, and can climb in and out easily!!! I was really nervous that he would climb down out of the bed and try to play at “bedtime”, but that has not happened at all. We used a piece of plywood under the mattress and that seems to work quite well. I LOVE this bed and would recommend it to anyone for a boy or girl!!!!”
” We got this for my 2 year old son. Until now he has never slept in a bed other than ours. He loves this bed. It is fun to climb up and down. It also makes him almost as tall as Mommy and Daddy when he stands in it. It took him about 5 minutes to figure out how to go up and down the ladder. I see that some have complained about the ladder but I think it depends on the kid and willingness to “try” and get down. As for the look; it looks just like the photo. We bought a bunkie board and the mattress is fully supported. I even lay in it with him. The doors are perfectly in-line. We have not had trouble with them sagging.”

More Reviews on the Step 2 Lifestyle Twin Bed

Want to see what others have to say about the Step 2 Lifestyle Twin Bed? Read more reviews written by other parents and grandparents like us here!

Where to Purchase the Step 2 Lifestyle Twin Bed

Having had purchased other Step 2 products, my friend and I decided just to purchase this Step 2 Lifestyle Twin Bed on Amazon since it would be shipped right to her apartment. The one thing I have learned about their products is that they do come in big, bulky boxes, being just the right size that they never fit in my SUV. By having it shipped directly from Amazon, it could be shipped right to her door and neither of us have to worry about moving it until it’s time to switch apartments again! Lowes was selling this same set, but they were charging over $50 more for this bed without free shipping, making it not really worth it in our books. If Amazon has free shipping and quick delivery, why order for anyone else?

Click here to find today’s low price and availability for Step 2 Lifestyle Twin Bed on Amazon:

Discounts change every day, so check out today’s price now!

The reason that I am reviewing the Legare Frog Twin Bed is because my best friend is now living near me. While I may not like to always admit it, I am a little kid at heart. While my kids are excited about summer pretty much being here, I am excited about my best friend moving back to town. Her husband is constantly moving because of his contracting business. Now that their oldest is nearly five, they are considering settling down in one area so that he can at least spend a whole year in one place to finish kindergarten. There is even talk of them staying here with him taking a permanent position! While I wouldn’t hold my breath, I am very happy they will be living in the area for the next year to two years! The only thing that has made things difficult is the fact that they are no longer renting furniture and have asked me to help them find beds for the boys.

While we were able to find a bed for the oldest rather quickly, the Step 2 Lifestyle Twin Bed, finding one for her two year old was a bit more difficult. Due to the size of their apartment, they are going to have him sleeping in the master as well, meaning they had to have a bed that was rather compact. As well, it had to be easy to assemble and disassemble since they do move so much! After some looking, we finally found the Legare Twin Bed. Even though I was bit unsure about it from the picture, it has turned out to be quite the surprise! Here is what they think so far about the Legare Frog Twin Bed!

Assembly of the Legare Frog Twin Bed

Having put together quite a few ready to assemble pieces of furniture, I was thinking the three minute assembly was a bunch of hype. There was no way the Legare Frog Twin Bed could really take three minutes to assemble. Well, I can say that this bed really made me feel like a liar! It took my girlfriend and I more time to get everything out of the boxes than it did to put the bed together. Putting the pieces together is more like putting together a Lego set, but more stable! The furniture has a tab/slot design that allows you to just slip and snap the pieces together. Even the convenient little side shelf was easy to put on the bed.

The biggest concern we had with the bed was trying to figure out how we were going to put guardrails on the bed. While the bed took a standard twin mattress, we were worried about the guardrails damaging the bed or not staying in place. So far, this has not been a concern since the rails easily went under the mattress. They haven’t budged or caused any problems with the bed. My only complaint is that with pillows on the bed the cute frog face is mostly covered, allowing you to only see the frogs eyes! My friend doesn’t seem to mind too much though, especially since it fits perfectly in their master bedroom.

As a fair warning, don’t make the same mistake we did. We nearly panicked when we opened the first box and realized the entire set wasn’t there. For some reason, one box was shipped UPS and the other FedEx. While it all arrived the same day, we didn’t know it would arrive in two boxes. From what I was reading online, this has caused quite a bit of confusion, so make sure you get both boxes before starting to assemble the bed!

Quality of the Legare Frog Twin Bed

Unlike most ready to assemble furniture, the Legare Frog Twin Bed is one of the best made kids beds I have seen in a long time. The bed itself is made of sturdy 15 mm composite wood and painted with non-toxic green and white paint. Just to see how it would handle being assembled and reassembled, we took apart the bed five times. Not only did it handle disassembly very well, but was just as easy to reassemble without damaging the bed at all. I had never seen ready to assemble furniture that looked just as good after being taken apart and put back together! For a family with little kids that move, this bed is ideal since it looks like it can take the everyday abuse of a little boy and the abuse of a move.

Kid Friendly Legare Frog Twin Bed

One of the biggest things this bed has going for it is the fact that it is very cute. This frog design is perfect for boys and girls alike, and is a cute, modern design that is perfect for kids. While I could not imagine using it until a child is 15, I could easily see kids staying in this bed until they are about ten. My friends two year old considers this his fun big boy bed and absolutely loves going to bed with ‘his frog’. To make it even cuter, we have frog stuffed animals on the bed as well. These frog friends, as he calls them, keep the bed company when he’s not sleeping in it.

Another benefit that the Legare Frog Twin Bed has over other beds is the fact that it is big enough for an adult to sleep in the bed with the child. While I normally wouldn’t sleep in a bed like this, it is ideal for transitioning a little boy or girl to their own bed, or lying with them for a bit after they have a nightmare. While the company claims that the bed can hold 800 pounds, I wouldn’t test that too much. Even though the bed is sturdy, I’m not sure if there is a kid’s bed that is THAT sturdy.

What Others Have to Say About the Legare Frog Twin Bed

If there is one thing I can say about the Legare Frog Twin Bed, it is the cutest kid’s bed I have seen in a very long time. For parents who are constantly on the go and need a bed that can move as easily as them, the Legare Frog Twin bed is absolutely perfect! I wish we had a bed like this when we were constantly moving apartments when my oldest daughter was a toddler. Currently, the Legare Frog Twin Bed has a 4.7 out of 5 star rating on Amazon, making it one of the most popular big kid beds on the site. Unlike other toddler beds, parents have also had a great deal to say about this bed!

” We have had this bed for about six months. It is great! My son is 2.5 years old and he loves it. So easy to put together its ridiculous…and yet also very strong and sturdy, not to mention cute! The side table is so strong that he can even stand on it (although I don’t recommend anyone doing that). All in all a great bed for a 2-10 year old! I just hope he doesn’t get bored with the frog design later on in life.”
” Ok, people are not kidding when they say it only takes 5 minutes to put this bed together. It took me longer to get it out of the box than to put it together. This is the cutest bed ever! My son was so excited when he saw it. I looked and looked for the perfect bed, this is the one.”
” We love this bed. So, so easy to put together. 5 simple steps, no tools needed. Nice quality and very cute. My daughter loved this as her first “big girl” bed and has been excited to sleep in it. It does not sit flush against the wall as the headboard extends past the bed frame, but still can be put against the wall without too much of a gap that a child can fall through. We love the attached table for books and a sippy cup.”
” Originally I wanted a bed that would last her longer. But I took a chance and the smile on her face was priceless. “froggy!”… She hugged the headboard and gave it a kiss… And…It’s still a frog… Sturdy, priced right, and ridiculously easy to assemble. 3rd party from amazon, got here in two days.”

More Reviews on the Legare Frog Twin Bed

Want to read more reviews written by real parents and grandparents like us? Click here to read more reviews on this cute Legare Frog Twin Bed!

Where to Purchase the Legare Frog Twin Bed

While some stores in our area were selling the Legare Frog Twin Bed, they were very overpriced or didn’t have them in stock. Since we originally found this bed on Amazon, my friend decided to just bite the bullet and purchase the bed from Amazon. I purchased it for them so that we could use my Prime membership, allowing us to take advantage of the free shipping. Even better, the bed arrived at their new apartment in less than 24 hours. Now that is service! Along with having the best price and shipping policies, we knew Amazon would be easy to return the bed too if there were any issues, something that was important for her since she works at home like me!

Click here to find today’s low price and availability for Legare Frog Twin Bed:

Discounts change every day, so check out today’s price now!

I don’t know what it is about spring, but it feels like all of my eldest daughters friends are born between the months of April and July. My husband and I always have to budget extra money for toys since we know we are going to get some invitations for birthday parties, and we don’t want to be that person who always comes empty handed, or comes bearing a gift card for the birthday boy or girl. While gift card are great for adults, they aren’t exactly the best for kids for want to tear open a brightly wrapped package.

Last weekend, we spent most of Saturday at McDonald’s where one of my daughter’s friends had her birthday party. While the kids were on the playground, one of the girlfriends whose son was invited to the party asked me where I got all of these great gifts. She seems to always struggled finding gifts for children, and is usually one of those people who give a gift card. To say the least, she was quite surprised when she found out I was actually spending less on my gifts than she was spending on gift cards!

Even though I was reluctant to give out my secrets, she finally got me to spill the beans. After much thought, I decided to put it in writing, especially now that the cat was out of the bag and everyone is now asking me for list of fall back gifts for children.

Picking Out Gifts

One of the first thing I recommend doing before you even start shopping for gifts is to set a budget on how much you are willing to spend on toys. Before any of our children were even born, my husband and I made a budget that we have stuck to for the past eight years that seems to be working rather well. Children of acquaintances or school friends get gifts under $25. Children of family members and our children’s close friends get gifts under $50. We found that this system works rather well and keeps us from breaking the bank every time we buy gifts for the children in our lives.

After setting a budget, always keep the child in mind. If you are purchasing for a little girl who loves Barbie, you may want to consider buying her something for her Barbie collection. Yet, if you are buying for a little tomboy (my daughters) you may be better getting them a toy that you could see them playing with the boys. Each child has their own personality, and if you know them well, get something that you are sure they will love. For those who are totally clueless, however, you may want to stick with some safe gifts that I have found go over very well.

Gifts for Younger Children

Before having my children, nothing made me more nervous than buying gifts for toddlers. I had absolutely no clue what young children liked, never mind what was safe for them. What I have learned with toddlers is to always use your common sense. When purchasing a gift, always think about what will happen if they decide to put it in their mouth. Are there small pieces that can break off the toy and be a choking hazard? As well, are they close enough in age to their younger siblings that they may choke on the gift? These are the type of questions you need to answer before purchasing a gift for a small child. Remember, they are still trying to explore the world around them, meaning that if they think they can touch and taste it, they will!

Also, looking for gifts that are colorful and interactive. Children love toys that will make noise. When buying something that makes noise, however, you don’t want to go overboard and buy something that will drive mom and dad up the wall. They will ALWAYS remember who purchased that toy, and payback will be forthcoming when it’s time for you to have your own child! I learned this the hard way, so for your own sanity, determine if you could stand listening to the toy for two to three hours.

Below, are some of my favorite toys to purchase for toddlers and younger children. From my own experience, they go over very well and I have not yet had a bad experience with these toys.

Gifts Under $25 for Toddlers & Young Children

• Vtech Dial Discover Phone
• Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Learning Puppy
• Vtech Touch & Learn Musical Bee
• Playskool Step Start Walk N Ride
• Say Please Tea Set

Gifts Under $50 for Toddlers & Young Children

• Playschool Explore & Grown Busy Ball Popper
• Gymnic Rody Hopping Horse
• Vtech Kidizoom Digital Camera
• Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Learning Kitchen
• Lego Duplo Bricks & More Deluxe Brick Box

Gifts for Older Children

While it is a lot of fun to get gifts for toddlers, I love getting gifts for older children. This is the time where you can be more creative and not have to worry about small pieces. As with small children, always make sure to take the child’s likes into account. For example, boys and girls play with Calico Critters, but some parents aren’t comfortable having their children playing with these dolls since they feel they are too ‘girlish’. If you know the parents are a bit different than you with their parenting, make sure to ask what their gift requirements are first, or if certain things are banned in their household.

If you have an older son or daughter, also try to get their input on the gifts. They know what type of things their friends like; so let them have some input. This not only will help you get the right gift for the birthday boy or girl, but will make them feel like their opinion matters. Below, are some of my favorite gifts for older kids.
 

Gifts Under $25 for Older Children

• Angry Birds Knock on Wood Game
• Calico Critters Camryn’s Country Boutique
• Barbie Video Girl Doll
• Lego Spongebob Squarepants Krusty Krab Adventures
• Lego Friends Butterfly Beauty Shop
• Playmobil Pharaoh’s Temple

Gifts Under $50 for Older Children

• Swimline Radio Control Submarine
• Leapfrog TAG Reading System
• Lego Friends City Park Cafe
• Lego Super Heroes Batmobile & Two Face Chase
• Calico Critters Cozy Cottage Starter Set
• Playmobil Open Air Pool with Slide

Where to Purchase Toys for Birthday Gifts

Just like my own children’s toys, I buy all of my gifts on Amazon.com. By giving gifts from Amazon, I can make life easier for Mom and Dad if they already have the toy, or if for some reason, they just want to return it. There were many times we kept or donated gifts the girls didn’t care for just because it was too much of a hassle to try returning them. By getting gifts on Amazon, you can easily return the gift with a click of a button and have it picked up right at yours or their home. I have also found that Amazon.com has the fastest shipping of anywhere online and the best prices, allowing me to get the best deals on all the gifts we purchase. This allows us to get high quality toys for all my daughter’s friends, while not breaking the bank on gifts! In a way, I guess you could say Amazon is the best kept secret when it comes to buying gifts for kids.

As a parent, I always worry about my children’s safety. I can’t tell you how many times I have double and triple checked my children’s car seats before a trip, mostly due to all the horror stories I have been reading lately. Children getting concussions from they’re car seat being turned to early and others with car seats malfunctioning. This was part of the reason we took the recall very seriously when it came to our last car seat. Yes, it was a minor issue, but once you have lost trust in a car seat, you will never think of it the same way again.

In many ways, I consider myself a very paranoid parent. For this reason, I was quite surprised when I checked the news and saw that safety regulations for car seats have changed in the United States. If you are a new parent, you have likely been upset with what you have been hearing, especially with some parents going over the deep end about the changes. Being worried about my own car seats, I looked into some of these changes and here is what I have found….

New Car Seat Regulations

At the end of April, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) announced that they were changing regulations with car seats in the United States. While these requirements are usually just guidelines, it has traditionally been written into law in most states within two years. As for the guidelines that have changed, they will be mostly be changing how long children should be rear facing, and how long children should be staying in their car seat.
If you have a child under the age of two, the rear facing regulation should be affecting you now. This new regulation states that children under the age of 2 should remain rear facing in the back seat. As well, it is cautioned that children should remain rear facing as long as possible, likely until they have reached the maximum height and weight requirement for your car seat. For parents whose children have reached this limit and are still under the age of 2, you are to buy a convertible car seat and use it rear facing until your child has reached these requirements.

Many experts have seen this change coming for quite some time, mostly since the United States has one of the highest automobile fatality rates for children under the age of 14. Many countries have already made this change after recent statistics have shown that the old requirements were dangerously early for infants. Sweden is currently the most cautious country with these requirements, keeping children rear facing until the age of 4.

The change that is likely going to be a drastic change for parents effects preteens and teens. New regulations state that children should be in a belt position booster with a high back until they reach at least the height of 4 foot, 9 inches, and 80 to 100 pounds. It is also highly recommended that children have some form of a booster seat until the age of 12. Another regulation being added to preteens is that they should not be allowed in the front seat of a vehicle until they are at least 13 years old.

Quite a few experts have been applauding these changes, finding them to be much overdo. One of the most outspoken on these regulations has been Dr. Dennis Durbin, the lead author of the AAP’S policy statement. In relation to these changes, he stated:
“A rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash, because it distributes the force of the collision over the entire body. For larger children, a forward-facing seat with a harness is safer than a booster, and a belt-positioning booster seat provides better protection than a seat belt alone until the seat belt fits correctly.”

How This Effects Parents

Many parents are still not sure how to take these new regulations. This story has literally been taking over threads on major news outlets, with parents venting their frustrations and arguing over the best practices. Most parents aren’t objecting to the rear facing rule, unless they have already moved their child forward facing. This change has been in the works since a peer reviews study by the AAP in 2002. A few parents have been going by these regulations for years, some keeping their children rear facing until the age of three (an age most pediatricians are now recommending).

Most parents, however, have been going by the old regulations that stated that a child should be switched to a forward facing position at the age of 1 year, 20 pounds. Some of the most common concerns with children being rear facing longer include children being car sick riding backwards and fussing due to them being uncomfortable with their legs touching the backseat. As well, once a child is able to sit up on their own, they are very curious to see what is going on around them. While it is an adjustment, the AAP and NHTSA recommend that parents buy a new car seat if they are facing these issues and move their children back to a rear facing position as soon as possible.

The parents who are the most concerned about these changes, however, are the ones with teens and preteens. In the past, most parents were able to forgo the car seat about the time their children started elementary school. With the new regulations, children will be in a high back car seat or booster into their middle school years. While there is an age recommendation on the regulation, many are asking parents to follow the height and weight requirement more since seat belts are designed for an average adult male. Along with this regulation, parents are up in arms about children needing to stay in the backseat until 13, due to new airbag concerns.

While parents may not like these changes, they should expect the laws to start changing very quickly in their state. Maryland will be turning these new regulations into law on October 1st, while California is looking at making their regulations for children even stricter. It is expected that most states will be doing the same by the summer of 2013. Since this will be a drastic change for most children, it is recommended that you start transitioning them back into a car seat sooner rather than later, as well as consider buying an extra car seat for visiting friends since you will be responsible for them as well in your vehicle.

What Parents Are Saying

Parents all over the United States are already getting very vocal about these new car seat regulations. While some are cheering these new regulations, others are viewing this as a threat to their parenting style. Some of the things that parents are saying about these regulations include:

For Regulations:

“My son rear faced until just shy of 3 when his weight had me turn him. He liked it fine. Didn’t drop toys where he couldn’t reach them. I would have kept my five point harness longer (age 6) but he vomited into the buckle (ick!) and we decided to get just a highback booster. The other car still has a five-point harness. We had an infant carrier then a Britax. It was expensive, but if he hadn’t vomited in it, would have lasted likely until he didn’t need a high back booster.”
“Kids come first, if it is more safe for our daughter than enough said. She is just turn three and in a forward facing five point harness and she loves it, she knows it is her special seat and it makes her safe. Make it a fun and special idea to have their own special seats. You can not be too cautious when it comes to your children, they are priceless!”
“My two oldest were in high back boosters until they were almost 12 due to height. They complained but I’m the parent and it was a safety issue so there was no arguing the point. Their egos survived…”
“My kids know they need to be 4’9″ for us to even consider taking them out of a booster seat, this means my almost 13 year old daughter who is only 4’6″ and getting ready to finish 7th grade still sits in a booster seat and she doesn’t care, has never complained!”
“I don’t think it’s ridiculous at all!! My kid will be harnessed until he’s 80 pounds, I don’t care if he’s 10 years old in a harness! Our booster goes to 120 and he’ll use it until then. My son is and has always been 95th percentile for his size and he still rear faced until 2 1/2. It’s more of an inconvenience for parents than kids but most parents will take the inconvenience knowing that it’s safer.”

Against Regulations:

“I did switch my girl at a year due to wanting to limit distractions while I was driving. She HATED!!! being rear facing and it was a struggle to even get her in the seat for months prior to her 1st birthday. Her screaming and crying was a huge distractions and made for huge (literal) headaches.”
“Really, the leg smashing doesn’t bother me as much as the view they are going to have, when they are old enough to realize, they can look out the window, everything is going to be backwards to them. Have these people given any thought to the emotional distress the child will no doubt go through, or the Mother, father, person who is driving the car, who has to “hear” their distress, and at 2 years old, their cry is going to be LOUD!”

“You have got to be kidding… in a booster seat until you are 12 years old? Ridiculous. Is this safety or does the industry need to sell new updated seats to increase profits? My grandchildren are tall for their ages and would have been extremely uncomfortable had they had to face the rear until age 2.”
“I think it is degrading to drop a middle school child off at school in a booster. My son is 11 and I would never embarrass him like that”
“My son would kill me if I tried to make him sit in a car seat again. He is 11.”

Great Car Seats for Parents

Like me, you were likely already worried about how long your child will be able to stay in their car seat. You already know that car seats are more expensive, and with the regulations changing, we can expect for car seats to very quickly be changing as well. If you have already sold your car seat or are in the market for a new one, we have tried some car seats that we thought worked rather well for our family. These car seats exceed the current car seat standards in the United States and are some of the most highly recommended car seats by safety experts. Our favorite car seats that are being used in our family are the:

•  Chico Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat
•  Britax B Safe Infant Car Seat
•  Britax Marathon 70 Convertible Car Seat
•  Graco Nautilus 3 in 1 Car Seat

If you are wanting to get the most use out of a car seat, we recommend going with one of 2 options – getting a high quality infant car seat and a convertible car seat, or a convertible car seat with an infant insert. These car seats should save you the most money in the long run and keep your children as safe as possible in the backseat.

This is why I found myself researching the Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bicycle .  Over the weekend, my daughters had a great deal of fun at their best friend’s birthday party.  While my oldest daughter had a great deal of fun with her friend, the party was really for her twin brothers, my younger daughter’s friends. The boys just had their sixth birthday and were very excited to get their big gifts – new big boy bikes! While their parents didn’t originally plan on buying them bikes, the decision was made when they saw my younger daughter riding around on her new Mongoose Lark Girls’ Bike. Before long, we were all sitting in front of the computer looking for new bikes for the boys.

For the younger of the twins, the decision was quite easy since he absolutely loves Spider Man.  For the older of the twins, however, it was a bit more difficult.  He is all about Superman and we really couldn’t find a bike that fit his personality.  Rather than get a bike we knew he wouldn’t like, we bought the Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bicycle and purchased some superman decals that we had specially made for the bike. So far, the bikes have been a big success.  All of us were really impressed with the Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bicycle, especially the little birthday boy. Here is what all of us thought so far of this cool bike.

Assembly of the Scorch Bicycle

Having already put together the Mongoose Lark Girls’ Bike, my husband was ready to take on another challenge when it came to putting together a bike.  I was happy to find out that it wasn’t very challenging at all. My husband was able to put together the Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bicycle in about a half hour, mostly due to it having amazing instructions.  In a way, he was a bit disappointed, since he was expecting the bike to take him most of the day, allowing him to put off yard work.  While he was disappointed by this fact, I consider it the quick assembly a major plus, especially if you aren’t as hands on as he is with tools.

Quality of the Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bicycle

 
Like most Schwinn bikes, the Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bicycle is extremely well made, looking like it was built to be the type of bike to hand down from one brother to the next.  This single speed bike has a freestyle steel frame, making it able to withstand whatever abuse a boy can throw at it.  Having seen how the neighborhood boys treat their bikes, this is a good thing since boys are hard on everything! The bike also has front and rear caliper breaks, allowing children to learn how to use not only traditional bike brakes, but handlebar brakes as well, a very nice feature in my opinion.

We were also fairly impressed with all the safety features that were on the Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bicycle. The bike comes with training wheels, a chain guard, and padded handlebars for extra safety.  The training wheels especially are very well made and easy to pop on and off, allowing you to very quickly add or remove these wheels to your child’s liking.  While most people don’t think about it, I was very impressed with the fact that the bike had a chain guard.  It is very common for kids jeans or pants to get caught on the chains of the bike, causing accidents or at least dirty, ripped pant cuffs.  The chain guard keeps the chain away from your child, keeping the bike and them safe!

Kid Friendly Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bike

While the Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bicycle is a kid’s bike, you wouldn’t know it from the look of the bike. This BMX style bike looks just like it’s adult counterpart, allowing little boys to feel like they are riding a big kid bike that looks just like their Daddy’s. Now granted, it doesn’t look like an adult bike now with all the Superman stickers, but it looked very impressive after my husband finished assembling this bike. If this were a bike for our kids, I likely would have left it as is since it is such a good looking bike!

The Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bicycle has a very comfortable adjustable padded seat.  The seat looks like it will likely work for a boy up until they are about seven or eight, judging by the adjustments on the seat alone. What I thought was really cool about this Schwinn bike was the tires. Like most kids bikes, it has 16-inch tires, making it easier for boys to be able to get on and off the bike.  The bike also has detailed front pegs on the tires, something that I thought looked really cool on a boy’s bike.  As well, these 16 tires are fairly wide hybrid tires, making them perfect for riding on concrete or offloading.

What Others Thinks of the Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bicycle

Using the Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bicycle as the base for our Superman bike really was the best decision we could have made, especially with how amazing this bike looks even without the stickers! Personally, I like the look of the bike without the decals. It has an amazing style and really is the perfect BMX bike for little boys.  So far, this bike has a 4 star rating on Amazon, making it one of the most popular boys bikes on the site.  Unlike some other bikes, it also has amazing reviews on the site. Here is what some other parents and grandparents have had to say about the Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bicycle.

” If in doubt, BUY IT. We bought the bike as a birthday present for our 3 year old grandson and he loves it. Warning … the instructions are explicit as to how to put the bike together …. but there is no explanation telling us how to get the birthday boy OFF THE BIKE. He’s happpy; we’re happy!”

” I read what other reviews before I ordered this bike, but I needed to see for myself. It’s a Schwinn, how bad could it be??? I am glad I ordered it. This bike is extremely well made. Much better quality than what I expected based on the reviews. It was easy to put together and my grandson was on it within an hour! He was so excited. I don’t know what one of the other reviewers meant by it being hard to pedal, I just made sure that he brakes were set so they were not touching the wheel. If you’re looking for a great bike for a boy, look no farther. This is it!”

” I purchased this bike for my 5 year old grandson. Construction was great and the bike was easy to put together. Most of my purchases are based off of the purchaser’s reviews. I love the feature and have been very successful in purchasing good, quality products. He loves the bike and I am anxious for warmer weather to get here to watch him ride it. I would recommend this bike to anyone who has an active little boy and wants a sturdy product that looks good and one that a little boy will love.”

More Reviews on the  Boy’s Scorch Bicycle

Want to see what other parents and grandparents have to say about the Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bicycle? Click here to read more reviews written by families who purchased this fun bike.

Where to Purchase the Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bicycle

Finding a bike that was perfect for our little birthday boy wasn’t easy, especially since we knew we had to have a red bike for his favorite Superman stickers.  We purchased the Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bicycle online mostly since it was much cheaper than the local bike store and it was shipped right to our door, something which was nice since we were purchasing the bikes ahead of time for the twin’s parents (we did this to make sure the boys didn’t see the bikes).  Being a busy mom, I just didn’t have the time to clean out the SUV and make room for the bike. As well, I knew if there was a problem with the bike Amazon would return it no questions asked, giving me peace of mind.

Click here to find today’s low price and availability for Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bicycle:

Discounts change every day, so check out today’s price now!

Since my son is not old enough to have a Spider-Man bike here is why I found myself reviewing it. It is always amusing when one of my children’s friends asks for my advice or help on purchasing gifts for their kids. Many of them know that I do a great deal of research before purchasing any gifts for my kids, and that we have tried just about everything at one point with our kids. Not that long ago, we purchased the Mongoose Lark Girls’ Bikefor my youngest daughter, her very first big girls bike. Seeing that my daughter had a new bike, her friend’s parents decided it might be a good idea to get new bikes for their kids too. You see, her best friends are actually twin boys, and their parents have been struggling trying to decide what bikes to buy their kids for their late April birthday.

Even though we didn’t have long, I sat down with their mother and the kids had a grand time playing while the adults spent time looking for ultra secret birthday gifts! After some time, we found the perfect bikes for the boys – the New Spider-Man bike and the Schwinn Boy’s Scorch Bicycle. Over the weekend, the kids had the chance to try out these bikes for the first time. Here is what the youngest of the twins thought of the Spider-Man bike.

Assembly of the New Spider-Man Bicycle

Before the Spider-Man bike arrived, I must admit, I was very worried. I read online that quite a few people had problems putting this bike together. As well, they talked about it arriving damaged. Since we didn’t have much time to find quality bikes for the boys, I was absolutely terrified of the Spider-Man bike arriving damaged or missing pieces. My husband was pretty certain that there must have been a problem with those reviews showing up, especially since everything he was finding online said that this bike was just starting to be made in 2011, so it’s impossible for it to have reviews from 2009, unless it was a prior model.

Well, I’m happy to say that my husband was absolutely right! The Spider-Man bike came partially assembled and was packaged very well. To be honest, I had never seen so much Styrofoam in my life! Even the reflectors were packaged nicely. As well, the bike was very easy to put together. As many of you may know, I am not very handy. I usually depend on my husband to put things together. The Spider-Man bike was so easy to assemble that I was able to do it during my lunch break and the baby’s nap. I would say the bike took me about a half hour to put together.

Quality of the New Spider-Man Bike

One of my husband’s only concerns with the Spider-Man bike was the fact that we had no clue which company made this bike. It was a no name bike, and it didn’t even say on the packaging. I expect, however, it was made from one of the well known brands, judging by the build of the bike . The Spider-Man bike is a BMX style bike with a heavy duty steel frame. Being steel, I would expect that this bike could handle quite a bit of abuse. If you have kids, you know that they aren’t easy on bikes, especially when they are excited and let them fall right on the concrete. This is what usually causes most dents and damage on bikes. The downside to it being heavy duty steel is that it is a bit heavy – weighing about 30 pounds.

Safety also seemed to be a top priority for the makers of this bike. It has a fully enclosed chain guard, making sure that little legs and pant hems don’t accidentally get caught in the bike. As well, it has rear coaster and hand brakes, allowing kids to have as much control as possible on the bike. I personally like the addition of multiple types of brakes since it helps teach kids how to use these breaks when they move up to an even larger bike. Of course, the Spider-Man bike also comes with spider themed training wheels, which secure nicely to the bike. Overall, I was fairly happy with the overall quality of this Spider-Man themed bike.

Kid Friendly of the New Spider-Man Bike

Looking at this bike, it is easy to see that it was made for a little boy that absolutely loves Spider-man. The bike is covered with Spider-Man decals and graphics, perfect for any spidey fan. I was happy to see that all of these decals and stickers were already on the bike, since the last time I put decals on a bike it took me longer to place these decals that it did for my husband to assemble the bike! Like most kids bikes, it also had a fairly padded seat, making it perfect for long bike trips outside.
What really impressed by husband with the Spider-Man bike were the tires. Like most bikes designed for children under the age of seven, it had 16-inch tires. What really shocked him was that these were pneumatic knobby tires. Like me, you are likely wondering what in the world this means. After having him explain it to me, this seems to be the best type of tire if you are planning on offloading, since it had better contact with the ground. Since this was going to be a little boy’s bike, these tires were a very nice addition!

What Others Thinks of the New Spider-Man Bicycle

While the twins got plenty of gifts, the Spider-Man bike really was this birthday boy’s favorite gift. Throughout the party, he was reminding everyone that he was Spider-Man because his bike said so! Seeing his smile really made everything worth it. While we had no problems with the bike, we were surprised to see that it had a 3.2 out of 5 stars. We were a bit confused by this, since the bike arrived perfectly packaged and in the best condition possible, unlike some of the other reviews. Even worse, some of the reviews were from 2009, before the bike was even made! Personally, we think this is a technical error, since this brand new bike was a breeze to put together and really was a great purchase. Here is what other people have had to say about this amazing bike!

” This bike is awesome my grandson is enjoying his first bike of his favorite action character, Spiderman the colors & graphics on this bike are perfect for his liking gets to play out his role training wheels and all.”
” Santa brought this bike to my 5yr old Spiderman Enthusiast last Christmas. Of course Santa always knows just the perfect gift and was once again right on with this bike. Gage loved it of course… but so did Santa’s helper. It is sturdy… great looking… and was very easy for the helper to assemble. Unfortunately about a month or so ago Gage’s bike was stolen in the blink of an eye!! We liked the bike so much that we contacted Santa who arranged for us to get a second one!! Great Bike! ”
” I recently shipped this cycle to my 4 year nephew who calls himself “The Spidy”. He thoroughly loves it and wouldn’t stop biking now. This is the latest addition into his spiderman world. The spiderman helmet set goes as a fantastic combo with the bike.”

More Reviews on the Spider Man Bike

Want to see what other parents and grandparents have to say about the new Spider-Man bike? Click here to read more reviews written by families who purchased this cool bike.

Where to Purchase the New Spider Man Bike

Even though they had this bike at our local retail store, we purchased it at on Amazon since it was much cheaper – around $20 cheaper to be exact! Since this Spider-Man bike was one of the main gifts for the twins superhero party, we wanted to make sure they would arrive on time, something that Amazon has always been very good about. In fact, the bikes actually arrived a day early, surprising all of us and giving us the extra time to get the bikes assembled just in time for the party! As well, we had the comfort of knowing that if anything was wrong with the bike, Amazon would take it back no questions asked, allowing us to have the peace of mind that everything would go perfect with these gifts.

Click here to find today’s low price and availability for Spider-Man bike:

Discounts change every day, so check out today’s price now!

Our daughter loves her Mongoose Lark Girls Bike. For the past two weeks, it has been absolutely beautiful outside. I can’t believe it is starting to feel like summer and it’s only April! With the beautiful weather, my oldest has been coming home from school and riding her bike around the neighborhood. I love seeing her outside having fun, but my youngest daughter has been so sad since she can’t play outside with the other kids in the neighborhood. Normally, she plays with her younger sister since her best friend has twin little brothers that are only a year older than her. Seeing that she was rather sad that she couldn’t play with her sister and friends, my husband and I decided it might be time to get her a big girl bike.

With the big renovation going on to turn the office into her bedroom, we haven’t had a whole lot of money to spend on a new bike. This made things a bit tricky since we could only spend about $150 on a bike with training wheels. That night, my husband sat down with our daughter and they started looking at big girl bikes. About a half hour into their search, she found the bike of her dream, a cute, purple bike with pink accents. Since this was in our price range, my husband purchased her first bike – the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike. We have only had the bike for a little under a week but she is already having fun learning how to ride a bike with Daddy. Here is what my family thinks so far of the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike.

Assembly of the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike

One of my biggest fears when I saw the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike was the fact that it did not come preassembled. We had never purchased a bike in the past that wasn’t preassembled, so I was bit fearful what we were getting into. My husband, however, wasn’t too concerned at all; explaining to me that most bikes are actually shipped dismantled and then assembled at stores. This was news to me, but I also knew my husband and his family had purchased more bikes than mine since he was the youngest of four children. Luckily, he was putting together the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike and I was able to just sit back and watch!

Since I had no clue about these sorts of things, I asked my husband how assembly was for the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike. He said it was fairly easy, taking him about 45 minutes, but he could see someone who wasn’t too handy having some issues with the bike. Unlike most items that are shipped, it did not come with the necessary tools to put the bike together. In the garage, he used an Allen wrench, Phillips head screwdriver, and channel locks. Since these are things commonly found in toolboxes, he said this wouldn’t be a concern at all for most families.

Quality of the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike

I can tell you that finding a well made 18-inch wheel bike is very difficult, especially for a little girl. When my husband saw that it was a Mongoose bike, however, he was really excited. He said this was a very well known brand in the biking world. Once I looked at the information that came with the bike however, I could see why my husband was so excited about the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike. This girly bike was made of steel and aluminum, making it both light weight and able to withstand the abuse of a small child. Even better, it came with a one-year warranty, giving you some comfort in case your child did figure out a way to break a steel and aluminum frame bike.

Probably what impressed my husband the most was the low stand frame with unicorn fork. This along with the BMX style handlebars gave the bike a very sleek look that also added to the bike’s safety features. What I cared about the most was the coaster and caliper brakes. These are very high quality brakes, allowing your child an easier time of stopping and keeping control of the bike once the training wheels are taken off. Overall, we thought the Mongoose Lark Girls Bikewas a very well made bike that was not only sleek, but also safe.

Kid Friendly Mongoose Lark Girls Bike

If you are looking for a cute first bike for your daughter, the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike is definitely it! This girl’s bike is a very pretty purple with pink accents, something that my daughter really loved about the bike. My daughter was determined that she didn’t want a pink bike, thinking it wasn’t good for her tomboy image with all the little boys in the neighborhood. The Mongoose Lark Girls Bike definitely has the best of both worlds for little tomboys, looking like a boy’s bike but with a girly touch that any little girl will love. She especially liked that the bike has colored spokes on the wheels and that the bike has its own little license plate and safety pads on the bike. Unlike most kids’ bikes, it really looks like a big kids bike!

What my husband and I loved the most about the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike was the fact that it came with heavy duty training wheels. Since this was my daughter’s first bike, we wanted a bike that had training wheels. At first, we thought we were going to have to buy a training wheel kit for this first bike, but were rather happy when we saw these high quality training wheels. Even better, when it’s time for the training wheels to come off, she will have a big kid’s bike, allowing her to have this bike for many years to come. Unlike other bikes we had seen, the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike also was a low standing style bike, allowing our daughter to easily mount and dismount this bike without trouble.

What Others Think of the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike

So far, my youngest daughter absolutely loves the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike. While I was worried it may be a bit big for her, it seems to be perfect for a tall four to five year old. While I had never had a Mongoose bike until we purchased this one, I have to say I’m more willing to try this brand after trying this cute girly bike. The Mongoose Lark Girls Bike is the perfect starter bike for any girl between the ages of 4 to 9. We aren’t the only ones who have fallen in love. Here is what some others parents and grandparents have had to say about the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike….

” We bought this bike for my 4 year old daughter for Christmas and she just LOVES it!
I love the design we didn’t want something real “princess” so this is great!
We bought the 18″ wheels for her b/c she’s very tall she is 44 1/2 inches tall and the height of the bike is perfect for her she can get on and off with ease.
I was nervous about the height b/c it seemed like a lot of kids were age 6 getting it but I’m glad I did that’s why I put her height measurement in case anyone has a younger tall child!

The box came a little beat up. The bike was in perfect condition and my husband had no problems assembling it and all the pieces were there!
The bike is a little more on the purple side which was perfect for us my daughter wanted a purple bike.
So glad we purchased this from amazon and free shipping! Can’t beat it!”
” This is an awesome bike! I didn’t have a problem with the packaging at all. As far as I can see, there’s not a scratch on it. It was pretty easy to put together for me. I’m not very good at assembly, but it really wasn’t difficult. My daughter loves it and has been all over the neighborhood. The only problem I had was the valve on the back tire seemed to be stuck so it wouldn’t hold air. There may be a way to fix things like that, but I just purchased another tube. It cost me an extra $5, but watching my daughter having so much fun is worth it.”
” This is a sweet bike as in it’s all girl and it’s a very nice bike. I’m so not handy, but I did manage to put it together myself in a couple of hours. I will say that the color is not pink as the picture indicates. It’s purple with bright pink accents. My daughter is enjoying her new wheels very much. It does not come with a basket/pouch or anything, so we had to purchase a water bottle holder separately from the local bike shop. I also like the 18″ size, which is hard to find, but ideal for a first bike.”

More Reviews of the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike

Want to read some more about the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike? Click here to read more reviews written by other grandparents and parents who purchased this cute girls bike for their children!

Where to Purchase the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike

While I normally do most of the shopping for the kids, the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike was completely a purchase between my daughter and husband. They both sat down at the computer together and looked at a variety of different girly bikes. Since the Mongoose Lark Girls Bike was my daughter’s first choice and it was under $110, we decided to go for it! So far, we haven’t regretted buying it from Amazon. It was delivered right to our door and was the great shopping experience that I have grown to expect from Amazon, making me once again a very happy Mommy!

Click here to find today’s low price and availability for Mongoose Lark Girls Bike:

Discounts change every day, so check out today’s price now!

Why we considered the White Finish Trundle Mission Style Day Bed for our daughter. After we came home from Christmas, my husband and I started a monumental project by moving our office into the basement. Why would we do this, you may ask? Well, we decided it was time for our youngest daughter to have a big girl room and no longer sleep in the nursery with her little brother. We finally have everything looking perfect and decided it was time to find a big girl bed for our little princess.

We went looking at most of the local furniture stores and were having a great deal of trouble finding the perfect bed for her. I wanted something that looked adorable, but was still practical enough that she could keep using the bed up into her teenage years. Everything I found in white wood was over $600 in our area, and most of this was particleboard! We eventually found a bed online from a no name retailer that we fell in love – a cute white trundle day bed. While they were a little cheaper at first, their shipping was absolutely terrible! After some searching online, my husband found it on Amazon for a few dollars more and free shipping, selling us rather quickly! Our daughter has been in her new White Finish Trundle Mission Style Day Bedfor about two months now. Here is what we think so far about this cute bed.

Assembly of the Trundle Mission Style Day Bed

When the White Finish Trundle Mission Style Day Bed first arrived at our house, I have to admit, I was very intimidated. It came in three very large boxes, and I was so thankful I was home since the UPS guy was nice enough to carry it into the room for me. While it looked intimidating, it really was fairly easy to put together. I was able to put the whole bed together in about an hour and half working on the bed myself. I was determined to get the bed together myself while my husband was at work, especially since the little ones were down for a nap. Since I am not the handiest of people with tools, I expect that someone with a bit more experience could probably put the entire bed together in under an hour. The hardest part of getting the bed together is getting it out of the box. I had never seen in my life a company that used so much tape on their boxes!

While the bed was very easy to put together, finding a mattress for it was another matter entirely. I was planning on using the extra pillow top mattress we had in the garage, but it was too high for the top of the bed. On the bed, this mattress (which was about 15 Inches high) was nearly as high as the headboard…oops! After doing some measuring, my husband determined we needed two 7 inch deep mattresses – one for the top of the bed and one for the trundle. We were able to order one 7 inch mattress for the trundle and we are waiting for the other one to be delivered. Right now, my daughter is just using a step stool to get on and off the bed; something that she claims makes her like a real princess!

Quality of the Trundle Mission Style Day Bed

The hardest part about buying the Trundle Mission Style Day Bedwas deciding which finish we wanted for our daughter’s room. We thought the bed was the easiest to buy first since it allowed us to use it as a piece of furniture we could match for everything else. We were very tempted to buy the cherry finished Trundle Mission Style Day Bed, but we decided to go with the white bed since we were worried about matching other cherry finishes in the figure (we have dark wood in our household). I have a feeling we are likely going to buy the Black Finish Trundle Mission Style Day Bed later for our son when he outgrows his crib. As for the look of the bed, it is the typical white finish you see on most children’s furniture. I was worried it might be an antique white at first, but I was relieved to find out that it could be easily matches with anything else.

So far, I am very impressed with the quality of the bed. The White Finish Trundle Mission Style Day Bed is made of solid wood and wicker, making it extra strong without looking too boxy or clunky like some other day beds I have seen. Even the shelves are built rather nicely, but I don’t think it will be able to be used long term as a dresser for my daughter. It seems to more be designed for little treasures and toys than lots of clothes. If you want to use it as a dresser though, it will likely be fine until your son or daughter is about seven or eight. After that, I would recommend getting an actual dresser.

My biggest concern with the White Finish Trundle Mission Style Day Bed was the fact it had a trundle. While I loved the idea of having another quick bed for when she had company, I was worried about the quality. I have never known anyone with a trundle bed, but I thought it was a very interesting theory. After having one though, I can tell you that it really is an ingenuous idea! It is very sturdy and can also be pushed into the bed with all the coverings still on it, making it perfect for those unexpected sleepovers!

Kid Friendly Trundle Mission Style Day Bed

Once you have the right sized mattresses for the White Finish Trundle Mission Style Day Bed, it is very kid friendly. My four year old was able to get up on the bed with ease when we tried the 7 inch mattress on the top of the bed. From what we have seen, it is really the perfect height for a big girl bed. The same seems to be true for the trundle bed. We are able to easily pull it in and out from the bed with ease, especially since it is on wheels. We have had no issue with this so far.

What I really liked about the White Finish Trundle Mission Style Day Bed compared to other beds is the fact that it does have built in storage. We are still using the dresser in the old nursery for her, but I expect it would be perfect for holding little girl clothes. For us, the built in storage has been another place where she can shove toys and coloring books.

What Other Think of the White Finish Trundle Mission Style Day Bed

So far, the White Finish Trundle Mission Style Day Bed has been working great for my family. My daughter loves her big girl bed and she feels like a real princess on this bed. She even loved showing off the trundle friend when her best friend came over last week to spend the night. I have been very happy with the quality and can’t wait to find other pieces to add to my daughter’s bedroom. Here is what other parents and grandparents are saying about this White Finish Trundle Mission Style Day Bed.

” Just bought this bed…great for the price as it is varied around the country from different sites. Some had it for as much as $800. Set up was a breeze as I had my family totally involved in the “building” of the bed. The best way to get this done is to systematically lay out all of the parts and follow the directions…it was simple. It looks as good as it does in the photo and its very sturdy. There was a question of the actual color from the photo in the picture. We thought it was a bone white or even light beige. It is absolutely a white white which was perfect for our decor. There was one thing that we were unsure of and couldn’t get a straight answer…the size of the mattress for the trundle. We mistakenly bought pillow top mattresses (THE most comfortable mattress around) which was 9″ and the bed with the sheets and comforter did not go under the top section…bummer. No sweat – instead of bringing the mattresses back, I had the bed built up by 1 1/2″. I had my carpenter father-in-law do this and he made it extremely safe for his grandkids. It was better than returning anything and it still looks great…and a great space-saver for their 13 x 10 room.”
” The bed is a great space saver and a very good value. Well constructed for the price. I love the storage drawers (although they are not quite the quality of the rest of the bed…..the interior bottoms feel a little cheap). The trundle section needs a mattress that is 6″ to 8″ thick in order to close. Overall very pleased with the bed…..esp for the price. It is my toddler’s new “big boy bed.”"
” Great bed, our daughter loves it. Took less than an hour to put together, most the work was already done, just a few bolts and screws left. Solid wood and a great finish. Packages were double wrapped on the corners making it a bit difficult to open, but ensuring no cracks or scrapes on the wood. Very happy with purchase.”

More Reviews of the White Finish Trundle Mission Style Day Bed

Want to read some more reviews on the White Finish Trundle Mission Style Day Bed? Read reviews written by real parents and grandparents just like us here!

Where to Purchase the White Finish Trundle Mission Style Day Bed

While Amazon at first glanced looked to be more expensive on this bed, it was actually the cheapest online once shipping was factored into the equation. Quite a few places were charging ridiculous shipping for this White Finish Trundle Mission Style Day Bed, mostly since it came in three boxes. While it may have taken an extra week to arrive, I considered it worth it since I saved over $100 on this bed with shipping alone! It was also great having the bed shipped right to my door, since I don’t even think I could fit these boxes in my SUV. In my opinion, buying it from Amazon was a win-win all around for my family!

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In our opinion the best way to buy the Calico Critters Calico Critter Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car is in a set. In this parent review of the Calico Critters Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car we will discuss why we love this Calico Critters set and where you can find it at the best price.

For our family, one of the most exciting holidays is Easter. While many families only go overboard on gifts during Christmas and birthdays, we make a big deal out of Easter as well. Our daughters always know they are going to get a really big, fun gift for Easter. This year, we decided to do a Calico Critter theme since our daughters absolutely love these sets! Even though part of our Easter surprise was ruined before Easter with the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor arriving early in its box, it was still a very successful Easter, with our girls getting the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor, the Calico Critters Country Tree House, and the Calico Critters Calico Critter Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Set.

While the other two sets were mostly for my oldest daughter, we decided that our youngest needed her own set as well. Knowing that our oldest made out like a bandit this Easter, we decided to get her a unique, traveling doll house for Easter that her sister would absolutely love to share with her – the Calico Critters Calico Critter Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Sets. I wasn’t for sure at first how well this gift was going to go with her, but I was quite happy when I saw her squeal just like her sister when she saw this set. So far, here is what my two girls and I think of the Calico Critters Calico Critter Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Sets.

Affordably of the Calico Critters Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Set

Before we discovered the Calico Critter sets, we were originally planning on my youngest daughter getting a small Barbie house and maybe a Barbie car for Easter. She is slowly getting into the whole Barbie phase just like most girls her age. When we saw just how expensive and cheap many of these houses were however, we were unsure if we really wanted to invest in another Barbie house, especially with her older sister having so many. Instead, we decided to go a different route when we saw the Calico Critters Calico Critter Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Sets.

Unlike the other sets which were sold in our local educational toy store, we could not find the Calico Critter Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Set anywhere except Amazon and specialty toy stores online. Even worse, most places didn’t even sell this as a set, but with the Convertible coupe and the camper being sold separately. If we went this route, the set would be more expensive than the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor! Luckily, we found this special set on Amazon for under $130, making it cheaper than any Barbie house and car combination we could find online. Even better, the Calico Critter set was better made, making it seem like an absolute bargain for our youngest!

Durability & Set Up of the Calico Critters Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Set

While the Calico Critters Calico Critter Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Set comes with a lot of pieces, it really is as easy as just opening up the box. We had almost no setup, other than teaching my daughter how she could set up the car seat and seatbelts in the car. Even hitching the coupe to the family camper was something my daughter was able to easily figure out on her own. We spent more time worrying about where to set up the houses than we did this car. It was really cute seeing my daughter towing the camper with her coupe while we were setting up the mansion.

Like most other Calico Critter sets, the Calico Critters Calico Critter Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car are very well made. The car itself is made out of durable plastic and looks like a retro, old fashion car. Similar to the houses, I expect these to be more of an heirloom type toy since they were built to last. Everything in the car worked perfectly, including the seatbelts and car seats. My only disappointment is that the doors don’t open, but this is typical for most doll cars.

Kid Friendly Calico Critters Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Set

Nothing was better on Easter morning than seeing my daughter open up theCalico Critters Calico Critter Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Set. Since her set came with everything she needed, she was able to play with the set herself right away, making it the perfect inclusive starter set for someone who was getting into the Calico Critters for the first time. In our living room, my daughter was having impromptu camping trips, with the family of three cats having picnics and later a tea party as they went to visit my daughter’s monkey friends in the Calico Critters Tree House. Unlike the Barbie camper, it truly looks realistic and allows children to feel like they are having a true camping experience with Calico Critter friends.

What I liked best about the Calico Critter Convertible Coupe was the fact that both girls could easily play with it together. The car holds up to six figures, allowing my daughter’s Calico monkey family to go on car trips with my youngest daughters kitties. Even better, we were able to use the car as an important tool for teaching them why it is important to use seat belts and booster seats for little kids. As a learning tool, it is absolutely priceless! We also never know how we are going to see this car, since the girls sometimes like to have the roof on the coupe, and other times, use it as a convertible.

In the Box

• Camper
• 35 accessories include plates, cups, pots, pans, sleeping bags, & board games
• 3 Whisker Family Cats
• Coupe Convertible
• Removable Booster Seats
• Seat belts
• Detachable luggage

What Others Think of the Calico Critters Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Set

In our household, we couldn’t be happier with the Calico Critter Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Set. Both of my daughters love playing with this Calico Critter set and often have their furry friends going on fun camping trips throughout out house. Currently on Amazon.com, the Calico Critters Calico Critter Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Set has a 5 star rating, making it one of the most popular Calico Critter sets sold on their site. As a starter Calico Critter set, it is absolutely perfect for any little girl. Parents and grandparents have also had a lot to say about these Calico Critter sets. So far, here is what they have to say about the Calico Critter Camping Caravan and the Convertible Coupe Car…

” We got this for our 6 yo for Christmas to complement the ever-growing collection of Calico Critters toys. I have been rabidly opposed to plastic toys throughout my childrens’ childhood. I assented with Calico Critters only after the children were past the “mouthing” age. They are not likely at 6 and 8 to chew on this or any toy. The car itself is surprisingly heavy and with all the little features, such as opening doors and spinning wheels, you might expect it to be lacking being plastic, but this toy is heavy and very well made, sturdy. It is better constructed than most – and I DO mean most – of my son’s toys by companies whose SOLE business it is to make cars. I am very impressed with how sturdy this toy is. It will last for a very long time. The car has so many cute little features that it is apparent that a lot of thought went into how a little girl would play with this and designed accordingly. The little baby seats attach facing backwards, so the little babies can “chat” with the teen Critters sitting in the back seat. The adorable little wicker suitcase can be removed from the back of the car and opens up to be packed with tiny little things. This is a BIG car and a wonderful addition to any CC collection. I It is a little more than I would pay, but the price is really justified in the quality and possibility for longevity and creative play. Love it.”
” I bought this for my daughter for Christmas. She loves it so much. She puts Calico’s, Lalaloopsy Dolls,and Squinkies in it. I have to say that I am really impressed with the Quality of this car. I am hoping that we can pass this down to her kids one day!”
” My daughter loves this car. It was a great bargain for calico critters. We also bought the Calico Critters Camper that attaches to the coupe car. My daughter has hours of fun with this toy.”
” I bought this for my daughter’s fourth birthday, she absolutely loves it and says it’s her best present we have ever bought her! It comes with a lot of little accessories and extra storage area under the rug. This toy was worth every penny we paid!”
” I had one purpose when I ordered this caravan, a nice New Years gift for my daughter. But I got really confused when I got the package. Should I give it to my precious daughter or keep it as a collectible for myself? The Caravan is awesome. It’s filled with detail, the kitchen, drawers here and there, little boys room and secret compartment under the rug, oh man, I’m so excited.”

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Where to Purchase the Calico Critter Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Set

Even though we originally planning on buying our Calico Critter sets at our local toy store, they were very expensive and didn’t carry the Calico Critters Calico Critter Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Set. Since we were determined to get this set for our daughter, we ended up bringing our search online. Amazon was one of the few places online that carried the Calico Critter Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Set and sold it cheaper than purchasing these two sets separately. Even better, we were able to get this set shipped right to our door, making it a stress free purchasing experience. With great prices and amazing customer service, why shop anywhere else?

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In our families, there are three large gift giving holidays – Birthdays, Christmas, and Easter. Being a bit religious, we likely go a bit overboard on Easter, but it is a very important holiday to my family. Usually after church, my daughters go on large Easter egg hunts to find colorful eggs and their Easter surprises. Usually we try finding gifts that will fit in their basket, but this year, we decided to really surprised our daughters with some Calico Critter Sets. Both of our daughters seem to have fallen in love with these sets, especially after playing with these sets at friend’s houses.

After searching online for a bit, we ended up purchasing the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor, the Calico Critter Country Tree House, and the Calico Critter Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Set. To my husband, my parents, and myself this was likely going to be the biggest Easter ever. Unfortunately, our big surprise was ruined when I heard my daughter squeal when she opened our front door to play outside and found a very large box from UPS….the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor. It seems that Amazon and all other places online ship this large house in its original box. Oops! While I wish we knew ahead of time, the looks on my daughters’ faces were priceless. Their only disappoint was that meanie Mommy and Daddy wouldn’t let them open the house until Easter. They had to live with only playing with the tree house (yes, we are such mean parents, letting them play with one of their Easter gifts early!).

Now that Easter has finally come and passed, we have got to watch the girls play with the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor and the Calico Critter Camping Caravan & Convertible Coupe Car Set for the first time. So far, here is what my girls and my family think of the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor!

Affordability of the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor

One of the biggest things you need to remind yourself when purchasing Calico Critter items is that they are expensive, high end toys. These toys are built to be family heirlooms rather than a toy that is going to be tossed away or donated in a few years. While the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor was very expensive, even as a joint venture for my mother and myself, it was well worth it. The house itself is made with sturdy plastic and has a lot of historical charm. The faux brick walls on this Victorian style house are truly beautiful, looking like nothing I had ever seen out of a toy. It is the same quality you would expect out of the Sylvanian family toys from years ago. Even the windows look like old fashion stained glass.

The only complaint that I have with the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor is that it didn’t come with much of any accessories. The only things you get are a chandelier that lights up, the railing for the top of the roof, and other normal windows and doors. All you are really getting is a very large, beautiful dollhouse. If you have other Calico Critter items, this is fine, but if you don’t, you may need to invest in buying a Calico Critter family and some furniture for the house. Once you have purchased some furniture and a family though, most of the investment is finished. All the furniture and toys can be intermingled with other Calico Critter houses and toys, making it a great investment.

Durability & Set Up of the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor

Like most Calico Critter items, the hardest part of the setup is getting it out of the box. The Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor is in a very large box and weighs somewhere around 15 to 20 pounds. It is a bit heavy for a kids toy and bulky, but that is what makes it so great for girls. Opened, the house is very large, with the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor having dimensions of about 36 inches x 9 1/4 inches x 20 Inches. As you can guess, that takes up quite a bit of space but also gives your daughters and her friends quite a bit of playroom. When you are done playing, the house closes up nicely since it has well made hinges. Best of all, it looks like an normal, elegant Victorian house on the outside when closed, making it look more like a intricate model in your daughter’s room rather than a toy.

The only thing I would really be careful about with the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor is a smaller child. Many of the pieces are very intricate and delicate, making them a choking hazard for younger children. As well, some of the pieces can be broken with abuse, making it the perfect toy for older little girls. The recommended age range for the toy is 18 months and older, but I would very much recommend watching small children with this toy.

Kid Friendly Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor

When you see this dollhouse set up, you can easily see why the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor is a girl’s dreams come true. This beautiful, Victorian house consists of nine large rooms spread across three floors, as well as a large balcony and roof. If you want one dollhouse that can handle multiple girls, this is it. The house is built to handle multiple Calico Critter families, and we already have four families living in this house, including the monkeys that came with her Calico Critter tree house. The way the rooms are built, they are perfect for little and big hands, allowing parents to easily manipulate things in the house along with many small hands. I have to admit, I have even got lost playing with the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor with my daughters since it is very easy to get caught up in the toy and the beautiful world it builds with the house and it’s accessories.

One of the really cute things about this dollhouse that my daughter loves is the light up chandelier. This chandelier can be moved throughout the house and can be placed in every single room, allowing girls to make any of the rooms look elegant. Girls can also play with the chandelier right out of the box since the set comes with 2 AA batteries. We are seriously considering spending the extra ten dollars and getting another chandelier since the girls are busy fighting over where the chandelier should hang.

Looking at this dollhouse, it is easy to see why many older children continue playing with the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manorinto their teen years. It is not childish and is the type of toy you could easily build a room around. It is very elegant and sophisticated, reminding me of the beautiful wooden Victorian houses you see in little girl’s bedrooms in movies. For the price, it really seems like a great deal since it’s the type of dollhouse that girls can play with for years and then eventually pass down to their own children or siblings.

What Others Think of the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor

Even though this dollhouse is a bit costly, it is more of an investment if you have multiple children. Not only can my daughter play with this dollhouse, but her younger sister and brother. Already my youngest is looking forward to eventually inheriting this beautiful dollhouse if my oldest ever gets tired of it. I have a feeling she will be waiting quite awhile though, since so many teens seem to love the look of this gorgeous house! Currently, the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor has a 4.5 out of 5 star rating, making it one of the most popular dollhouses sold on Amazon.com. Here is what other parents and grandparents are saying about this cute Calico Critter mansion…

” This manor is so much fun!! Our eleven year old son and our fourteen year old daughter even play with the Manor under supervision, of course from our nine year old daughter. I also love to play, at 47 years old. I know that it is expensive, but once you see the size and sturdiness of the Manor, you will understand the cost. We found this item more “family building” than the Wii System. Thank You So Much!”
” My daughter loves Calico Critters. I was stuck trying to decide between the clover leaf manor and the Tree house. Both look great in pictures but honestly, pictures do not do these products justice. I hate to spend a lot of money on dollhouses because they look so cheap. Calico Critter stuff is expensive but when you see the items in person you can tell right away that they are not cheap. The manor and the tree house are both well worth every penny. They look amazing and they are built well. I purchased the manor over the tree house because the manor has 9 rooms which my daughter would like better since she is all about furnishing rooms and accessories. The tree house only had 4 rooms. I may still get the tree house for her on another occasion but for now we got the Manor. Its awesome. I highly recommend this house. I only paid $200 for it and it really looks like a $200 dollhouse. I know it will last long and my daughter loves it. I’m amazed at her imagination. She can play with this house quietly for hours!”
” This was a huge surprise for our daughters, ages 7 and 3. This is large enough for both to play and decorate on their own. We chose this large manor because of the flexibility it offers for the girls to decorate, the durability if offers, and it looks even better in person.

The box arrived in perfect condition and in a timely manner. I would highly recommend this product as it will be one we will have for many years to come. We have had other smaller houses before, but this really allows the girls to make this their own with the choices and options they have for their rooms. This is great!”
” My daughter loves Calico Critters and this is the best and biggest house for holding all the pieces and providing endless hours of fun. This was the best price anywhere, and it came within a week. Having the house allows my daughter to have a lot more fun arranging everything and keeping her playing in her room by herself.”

Other Reviews for the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor

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Where to Purchase the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor

While they had the Calico Critters Cloverleaf Manor at our local toy store, we were shocked just how much they were charging for this kids toy. They wanted over $250 for this dollhouse. Since this was the big item on my daughter’s wish list, we were determined to buy it, but not at this price! On our way back, my mother checked Amazon and found they were selling it for nearly $70 cheaper than our educational toy store. Not only that, but Amazon would ship it for free right to our door, allowing us to have a stress free shopping experience. Since I buy all of my toys through Amazon, I was delighted that they had this dollhouse! With Amazon’s great customer service and prices, who wouldn’t want to purchase all of their toys at Amazon?

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