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Headed to a baby shower soon? Traditional gifts of knitted booties and burping cloths are a thing of the past. Moms and dads need gifts that will help them stay ahead of the curve because one thing is for sure, the little baby that's about to come into their world is going to be part of a generation that's hi-tech and totally wired. So help out the new parents by giving them a gift that's headed in that direction. Hi-tech mommy, Cat Schwartz is the gadget director for E-Bay and has some suggestions about what to buy new parents:
This is a really cool gadget that was invented by a dad who couldn't quite get the timing right on his baby's schedule. It's a multipurpose tool that helps keep you on track and remember when to do what. Forget about notepads and journals; the Itzbeen displays the time since baby's last feeding, diaper change, nap and more. It also has a light for rummaging around in the dark, as well as a right and left breast indicator so mom can remember which side she fed from last. Good job, dad.
This is sort of like a mood ring for your child that actually works! As a mom I like to think I knew why my son was yelling his little head off, but my husband swore by this gadget. Hold the WhyCry up to the screaming child and a light will turn on in front of one of the face buttons. Turn the device over and read the chart to learn what the face means and what you should try to do to calm the baby down. Amazing!
No more wires! This camera and monitor unit are wireless up to 300 feet and allow you to monitor your child from anywhere in the house or yard. I like this gadget because once the child is old enough to start playing independently, you can still keep an eye on them while giving them the space they need to grow.
"DadGear" Diaper bag($82, Dadgear.com)
Don't leave dad out of the mix. These diaper bags are made just for him and come in masculine styles like the messenger bag or backpack, both complete with whips windows and bottle storage. They make vests with bottle holders too!
Phillipe Starck Portable High-Chair ($200, Maclaren.com)
Hannspree LCD TV for Nursery($399, Hanspree.com)
These TVs are the perfect addition to any forward thinking nursery. The designs range from LCD TVs shaped like apples to ones shaped like fire trucks. So innovative and so darn cute.
($250, FAO.com
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Maclaren Stroller
This is a "build-it-yourself" baby stroller which Moms and Dads can design to their own specifications. It can start out as a stroller for an infant and go to a simpler umbrella stroller for an older child and you can use the web to create the exact color and material of your choosing. As Cat says, "gotta love a custom stroller".
Stokke Stroller
This stroller is really cool. I love how many functions it's capable of. When the baby is an infant you use the bassinet to get them from point A to point B. It's so comfortable that you can actually keep your baby in it at night for the first few month of life. I did, and it was great because I could move Jack all around the house when he was napping with no interruptions. As they grow they move into the seat. The seat can pop off and face either direction, which comes in handy when baby wants to see his mommy. Once they are comfortable facing out, they are at a height that is much taller than other strollers. I feel like Jack really liked being up high. The seat also moves up and down on the chaise so when you go to a restaurant you can actually push the stroller right up to the table and eliminate the need for a high chair! The design is amazing and the functions are endless. This is one futuristic stroller.
© 2012 MSNBC Interactive. Reprints
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