I refuse to use my powers for evil

Over the past few weeks we’ve been doing some casual research on the baby gear we may need to acquire now that number two is on the way. When little man was first born we didn’t buy a whole lot of stuff because our good friends down the street had a little boy a few months before us and would lend us things as their son grew out of them.

To me the biggest racket going is the proliferation of baby gear in all shapes and sizes. Places like Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby are filled with overpriced stuff that you either don’t need, or need for such a short period of time that when viewed against its cost seems ridiculous.

For instance, we borrowed a bassinet from our friends that little man used for the grand total of 20 nights before we transitioned him to his crib. As little sleep as one gets with a newborn in the house, I got even less because I’m a light sleeper and would listen to hear him breath throughout the night. My only saving grace was moving him to his crib and getting him set on the monitor we have that has a motion sensing pressure plate – easily one of our best investments.

While we have opportunities to borrow some short term need things from friends who have children, one thing we will definitely need to purchase is a double stroller. The other night my wife was looking online and reading some reviews when she found one that she really liked.

In taking a look at it, I knew it was going to be pricey, which surprised me because my wife is generally as thrifty as they come. Not seeing a price on the site she showed me, I proceeded to ask how much this particular model costs. While I expected it to be expensive, I wasn’t prepared to hear that it was $600.

Still in shock, I asked her if she was serious about wanting a stroller that cost that much when there were probably a number of suitable alternatives that wouldn’t require a payment plan. Without hesitating she deadpanned: “Well, can’t you get someone to give you one? You’re a dad blogger and they gave one to this mom to review.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, as I would venture to say that it is less likely that the company that makes this thing would approach me about doing a review than it would be for us to cough up $600 for a stroller. Even if I had the cash to spend, it would be a cold day in hell before I actually spent that kind of money on something I’ll use for only a few years, if that.

Out of morbid curiosity I checked out the review written by the mom blogger and a few other links that came up in the search. One of the tid bits I gleaned from my reading was that this particular stroller was the one favored by Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner and Dave Grohl.

Really? Dave Grohl? Hmm. Well, if he has one, then I must have one now too, because that it how I roll (pun intended).

The next morning I was joking around on Twitter about the cost of the stroller and it elicited some hilarious responses. Weasel Momma asked what size engine it had or if it came with someone to push it. Others remarked that for that price it would to have auto-braking, airbags, a coffee maker, GPS, power steering and uphill assist.

For me, that would be a good start to the list of things this stroller would need for me to consider buying it. I’d also add iPod and Bluetooth integration and a retractable 20″ LCD TV with DirecTV and the NFL Sunday Ticket as must haves.

What do you think of the proliferation of baby gear? Is there anything you had to have regardless of cost?