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MNHQ

What do you think are the most iconic parenting products of the last 10 years?

190 replies

JustineMumsnet · 21/04/2011 14:59

Hi all,
We've been asked by Angels and Urchins magazine to suggest the most iconic parenting items - things that have arrived on the scene during the last ten years that are truly fabulous or you can't now imagine parenting without. So, great design, practicality, beauty.

Your thoughts would be most helpful.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 21/04/2011 20:08

I'd say the maxi cosi cabriofix, and grobags - yes they were around before in various forms, but not as iconic or ubiquitous. My half-brother is 9 this year and I remember my stepmum raving about grobags like they were an amazing new thing. And probably bugaboo/Phil & Ted's. Bottles in a short, squat shape with clear teats rather than long thin ones with latex teats. (And the next 10 years will be yellow, BPA free bottles until they invent something else or various coloured ones will be popular)

I don't think I used any of these though apart from the short, clear bottles.

Agree with Nintendo DS, in the same way that a gameboy was in the 90s. And the DVD players in cars. High backed booster seats with cup holders?

triskaidekaphile · 21/04/2011 20:10

Had an antilop for one of my twins (now 12). Quite strikingly little has been invented in the last 10 years!

triskaidekaphile · 21/04/2011 20:12

Yes- I do think grobags are new. And very useful/well designed.

Panzee · 21/04/2011 20:15

Formula in cartons?

OkeeDoeKee · 21/04/2011 20:16

Baby sleeping bags definitely.

When DS was born 11 years ago my Mum, who'French, wanted to buy me one as that is what they used in France. We had a real problem finding any anywhere. In fact I think she ended getting a family member to send one over. Eventually Blooming Marvellous produced one (available in only three colours, pink, yellow and blue).

When DS2 was born 4 years later they were pretty main stream and an absolute godsend.

stressheaderic · 21/04/2011 20:16

Tried to think before reading what others had posted. Would def say grobags - just don't think we'd have had the 8pm -8am sleep since 10 weeks old without them

Everyone I know has a Bumbo but no-one I know really raves on them.
Trunki was a great shout, whoever said that.

I still think the best bit of baby kit I used was the car mirror so you could see baby (and baby could see you) in a rear-facing carseat.

moodymama · 21/04/2011 20:17

Blackout blinds have definitely saved me some sleep.

Loved my antilop chairs too, IKEA definitely great for non-rip-off baby stuff.

Soft play.

triskaidekaphile · 21/04/2011 20:22

All those are older than 10 years, moody. Sorry, feel like I'm being a spoil sport! But am really struck by the nothing new under the sun thing...

MarioandLuigi · 21/04/2011 20:24

The portable black-out blinds are new surely.

thefirstMrsDeVere · 21/04/2011 20:25

yes! Formula in cartons. Brilliant idea. Though I think it might be frowned upon.

They came in when my DS2 arrived. He was placed with us in an emergency (he was my OH's neices baby). As he had to travel backwards and forwards and she was unable to make up a bottle safely, formula in a carton was a life saver (probably literally).

I bf my birth children but DCs 4&5 were weaned onto formula it was my luxury to buy it in cartons for those couple of months.

LeninGregg · 21/04/2011 20:41

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midnightexpress · 21/04/2011 20:46

Balance bikes balance bikes balance bikes.
P&T double buggy
grobags

LeninGregg · 21/04/2011 20:46

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LeninGregg · 21/04/2011 20:50

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LeninGregg · 21/04/2011 20:51

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LeninGregg · 21/04/2011 20:52

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LeninGregg · 21/04/2011 20:53

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FrameyMcFrame · 21/04/2011 20:59

doidy cup
baby hammock
antilop high chair
crocs

all clever design classics of recent years

mondayschild · 21/04/2011 21:02

Know quite a few of these have been mentioned already, but they stand out to me as being ubiquitous and/or iconic:-

Maxi-cosi car seat
Grobags
VTech First Steps BabyWalker
Ella's kitchen/Plum pouches and Organix finger foods
GroEgg room temp monitor
Braun in-ear thermometer (could well be more than ten years old though)
Tommee Tipee Tip-it-up cup

There's probably loads more - will have a think!

hotcrossbarry · 21/04/2011 21:03

ooh, agree on the trikes. and the travel cots actually.

what about the brush baby toothbrush? that's got us through a few months of absolute jaw-clamping shut refusal to let us brush his teeth. love it.

DH just said 'decent disposable nappies', but as I guess that's all relative, I'm not sure it counts. but god, I'm glad for them. My parents lost too many washing machines to the old terry nappies 20-30 years ago, and they always remark on the disposables we use for DS as if they are the most marvellous thing on the planet!

when were doidy cups first introduced then? nobody seems to have heard of them where I live, and I ended up ordering loads for people who were too dumb to work the internet who didn't know where to get them.

mondayschild · 21/04/2011 21:03

Oh yeah - would agree with trike-with-handle. Can't move for them round here at the moment - DS loves his.

triskaidekaphile · 21/04/2011 21:06

yy- balance bikes and crocs would count- yay! And cbeebies. I'm still stunned at how little of the stuff we're mentioning was invented in the last 10 years though.

triskaidekaphile · 21/04/2011 21:10

Not sure when doidies were invented but know they are over 10 years old as I had them for my older children. Also had travel cots, antilop highchair, buggy boards...

Swangirl · 21/04/2011 21:11

Phil and Ted buggy
slings
baby sleeping bags
balance bikes
Children'sTV channels ie cbeebies
Nintendo wii and ds
Playstation
peppa pig
Fifi and the flower tots
mirco scooters
3-in-1 Trikes

Crapbankerswife · 21/04/2011 21:20

tripp trapp, ella pouches, scooters, pelican bibs that roll away, and the whoozit toys, lamaze brand toys and dare I say it, that v-tech walker, sing it with me now, hello puppy calling do you want to...

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