Father's Day Tuesday: Expecting dad wants... a Wii
Today's Guest Dad is expectant father and Sun reporter Gus Sentementes, whose first child is due in October.
Gus has recognized already that once the baby is born, entertainment will shift homeward. So, as long as baby gifts are being given, why not a Nintendo Wii, he asks? Here's his post...
(Photo of Gus Sentementes holding ultrasound picture courtesy of Gus Sentementes)
"My wife and I have slightly different approaches to 'stuff.' I knew it from the moment I met her about seven years ago. And it further hit home about three years ago, when we playfully sparred over the little zapper gun at Bed Bath and Beyond, while registering for wedding gifts at the store in Towson.
"For her, less is more. For me, less is more, too -- unless I can think of some possible scenario where I could use it.
"Fast forward to last weekend. We're registering again. Except this time, it's for our first child, who'll be crashing our Double-Income-No-Kids party.
"We don't have the courage and mental stamina to walk into Babies-R-Us. So my wife, Karen, and her mom start poking around online. They register. They add stuff to the list. They keep a few things off the list that they know some relatives have promised to buy for us.
"I check in occasionally with them, but I keep a safe distance. We debate over certain items, like baby strollers ("Don't we want one of those heavy-duty jogging strollers, so we can have a smooth ride on city streets?" I ask. "But when do we ever jog?" Karen says.)
'Hmmmmm. Good point.
"We debate over the high chair. She likes the kind that straps onto an existing chair. Takes up less space. I can't help thinking that our child deserves his own dedicated, free-standing high chair, goshdarnit! But, in the end, I see her point. For our rowhouse, space is a premium; let's try to limit the baby furniture as much as possible.
"In the end, I feel that the one area that I can deftly handle is the technology associated with babydom these days. Last week, I bought a video camera. Baby memories for posterity? Check. Digital camera, for high-quality stills? Check. Online video album? Ready to go. Baby audio monitor? We agreed on one.
"It was while contemplating what types of technology I could bring to bear on this baby experience that it hit me: My wife is gonna be home for three months. We're gonna be homebound, together, for awhile. Downtime and exercise will be scarce. So, why not register for a Wii? Or better yet, the new Wii Fit?
"I threw it out there to my wife and mom-in-law, and they gently laughed at me (or rather, they laughed at the idea, I like to think.) Would it be appropriate to register for a video game console, even one that encourages you to get up off the couch and move your arms and legs? Stories abound lately about couples who have a Wii and play together. Those who Wii together, stay together. Our neighbors, who seem happily married, Wii together. So do some of our other married friends.
"So, I went online at Babies R Us and tried to add the Wii to the registry. And I couldn't do it. Was I doing it wrong? I don't think so.
"Which brings me to the point of this whole blog post: Let parents register for a Wii! It is shortsighted on the part of the Babies-R-Us/Toys-R-Us conglomerate to not allow our dearest friends and family the opportunity to offer us an escapist respite during the early months of raising an infant.
"We are parents who will spend tons of time at home -- Wii need a diversion!!"
Comments
Ah, yes - but you are lucky in that you are parenting in the city ... where there are tons of things to do so that you don't become TOO Wii-dependent! (though I wouldn't mind Wii-ing every now & then, I admit)
check out http://parentzing.wordpress.com
and gocitykids.com
they are about parenting in the city. i've been trying to keep up on all of these resources and ideas because i am afraid that we will be stuck at home TOO much!
Posted by: kari | July 29, 2008 10:01 AM
If you guys live in the city - you need a jogging type stroller. I too thought that we could just use a simple umbrella type stroller that wouldn't take up half of the living room in our townhouse. I used the Graco snugrider for about 2 weeks before I gave up and bought a BOB. The sidewalks in this city are not made for babies in umbrella strollers. Granted our baby comes to work with us to go to daycare everyday and it's a 30-minute walk each way. If you're not going to walk that much, maybe you could get away with a small stroller and mostly using your baby carrier in the beginning. But I'd do yourself and favor and register for a jogging stroller.
Posted by: Cara | July 29, 2008 10:36 AM
My younger son just moved away to start his first real job, so we obviously had our babies pre-Wii. My then-boss gave us a set of wineglasses on pretty much the same theory of home entertainment (which we exchanged for something more baby-specific).
Posted by: Dahlink | July 29, 2008 11:31 AM
Honestly, whether you need a jogger depends on your lifestyle. Some parents love that you can hit the trails with baby, while others really dislike how big and heavy jogging strollers tend to be. You'll never know until you start strolling with baby.
What I would get is a child carrier. It's the alternative when you're in a crowd and maneuvering that stroller just doesn't appeal.
Posted by: Sally | July 29, 2008 11:33 AM
Consumer Reports has a lot of advice about what products are smart, safe gifts for new babies, and what items to leave off the list, such as doorway jumpers and co-sleepers.
Funny, they don't make recommendations of safe gifts for new parents, but their reviewers do note the Wii Fit is a lot of fun.
Posted by: Liz Kay | July 29, 2008 12:06 PM
My several-months-old Wii has gone completely untouched in the five-and-a-half weeks since my son was born. But part of that is because it's in the basement with the TV, and we don't spend much time there at the moment since the kidlet's daytime setup is on the middle floor and his crib is upstairs. Perhaps someday I will MarioKart again ...
Posted by: sarahkk | July 29, 2008 12:26 PM
Have you looked at the xbox 360 in terms of family gaming? You should look at some of the things they have lined up for this fall's update (live gameshows, streaming netflix which can be watched with other users)
Posted by: Shawn | July 29, 2008 1:51 PM
Seriously, if anybody knows how I can get a Nintendo Wii put on some type of baby shower gift registry, just shoot me an email at gus.sentementes(at)baltsun(dot)com. Thanks for all your tips!!!
Posted by: Gus G. Sentementes | July 29, 2008 3:57 PM
First and last time visitor to this blog if this thread is indicitve.
When did it become ok for people to pressure their family and friends to purchase expensive gifts to entertain new parents. Having a baby is a choice you made and nobody should have to feel burdened to "celebrate" the event by purchasing toys for you.
Posted by: jane | July 29, 2008 4:25 PM
You can set up a baby registry at Amazon, and you might be able to add a Wii there (if they are in stock).
Posted by: sarahkk | July 29, 2008 4:35 PM
Jane,
When they're not catching up on sleep or feeding their little one, new parents need a diversion or two at times to make it through their day with an infant. That is all that I was acknowledging here. I certainly don't intend to pressure anyone I know (family or friend) into buying us a Wii or any other pricey gift. That's just absurd. Who feels any pressure when looking at a baby registry? Just don't buy it.
Posted by: Gus G. Sentementes | July 29, 2008 5:18 PM
Gus told me he wanted a Wii for a baby gift, too, and I think I might have said, "How's it feel to want?" or maybe I said, "Yea and I want to be the Queen of Sheba."
We laughed and moved on. No pressure there... I think Gus was using some levity there, Jane.
Although, it makes me think, heck, I'd be willing to give Gus a Wii if he would just promise me that I won't have to play any shower games...
Posted by: dan thanh | July 29, 2008 5:54 PM
I think the Wii is a great idea for two reasons:
1. New parents often forget to take care of themselves, too, and end up too frazzled to take the best care of their child. Thinking about how to make time for yourself after you have a baby is good planning.
2. New parents often forget to make time for each other, and the relationship suffers due to the demands of the baby, the lack of sleep, the massive change in lifestyle. Thinking about how to create new opportunities to do something together, for no money, at home,,,another good idea.
Oh, and: 3. It's pretty darned fun. I'm a lot better at Wii tennis than real tennis. And it's fun to make Mii avatars of your mother-in-law, co-workers, etc.!
Posted by: Baltomommie | July 30, 2008 3:04 PM
I wouldn't object to any person buying a Wii - its great fun.
It's the idea of including it on a registry for a baby that seems odd. In fact the idea of a registry for a baby seems odd on its face. Buying a gift for someone should be a thoughful experience - selecting an item at random from a Target (which would be my suggestion if you do want to include a Wii) registry seems so cold. Feel the same way about registering in general and felt the need to comment as Gus' post seemed to incapsulate exactly why I find it tacky
Posted by: Jane | July 30, 2008 4:41 PM