Now that we know we're having a girl, Leslie and I can begin in earnest our search for the coolest in baby gear. The question is: where do we begin? There are so many awesome baby items out there, so many would-be essentials for the discerning cool baby, that it's hard to prioritize. Selecting these items, and in doing so reflecting one's own values, is a delicate balancing process, full of parental hand-wringing. What stroller will you choose: the fashion-forward status of the Bugaboo, the regal and functional refinement of the Maclaren, the run-of-the-mill sensibility of Graco or Chicco, or the self-expressiveness of one of the quirky new brands? Will you buy a fancy Italian changing table, an Ikea special, or something off eBay? Will your baby wear only organic cotton and cloth diapers, or will hand-me-downs and Huggies do? As you make these choices, other people are definitely watching. And judging.
The easiest way for me to get involved in the value-laden decision-making process for baby gear purchases is through onesies. Onesies are a baby staple; I am told that young babies go through several of them a day. Because you need a lot of them, it's easy to take a flyer on fun ones. And because you can buy a onesie with essentially anything you want printed on it, onesies provide a convenient forum to express whatever values you want to convey. What are your aspirations for your child? What influences prevailed upon your own childhood? What is your vision for the world? All of these topics are ready material for onesies.
Thus, my personal hunt begins for the finest onesies, the onesies that will distinguish and identify Baby Harvey as my own. My first fatherly act was to buy a 3-pack of Oakland A's baby jerseys. What's next? Guns N' Roses? Pee Wee Herman? Ghostbusters? Barry Goldwater in '64? I welcome your suggestions.
Posts
Thomas thinks this next photo looks like me when I fall asleep in the car....
