High-Tech Low-Tech

Geeks and nerds are usually known for loving all things high tech and modern. In our house this often holds true. 1337 D4ddy drools over tech blogs daily and if we could afford to have all the most up-to-date appliances and electronics we definitely would. Sometimes though, "modern" just doesn't work the way you want.

The offspring is seven months old now. We have been using disposable diapers the whole time. They're a wonderful modern convenience, just toss them when you're done and you rarely have to touch poop and pee. They're super-absorbent thanks to the miracles of science and chemistry. Unfortunately the leaking gel and gallons of trash they produce seem decidedly inconvenient to me, and you would think that science would find a cleaner alternative by now. Still, it sounds better than folding, wrapping and pinning those cloth diapers on. What is a mommy to do?

Whether it is out of desire for convenience, concern for the environment, or maybe just a love of innovation, cloth diapering has been reborn in so many new ways. Moms (and Dads!) have re-designed the diapers to fit any lifestyle. From gadgets that simply replace diaper pins to whole systems with adjustable one-size covers and optional disposable inserts for those times when you just can't use cloth, the old fashioned option is turning into a highly engineered piece of baby gear.

Maybe I'm just making excuses for introducing a decidedly old concept into our usually modern home, but I do know that if cloth had not been improved in recent years this Nerd Mama would not be traveling back in time. Sometimes great things are just an improvement on the old.

Fun Times with a Nerd Baby

Shopping for nerd baby toys is disappointing at best. Sure, there are plenty of nerdy toys in the world, but honestly most of them are targeted at adult collectors. Even the ones meant for children are usually only for kids old enough to be trusted with small parts. Nerd baby or not, I really don't want to take the offspring to the ER because she stuck a Lego up her nose, or swallowed a plastic laser beam. Even plush toys usually have button eyes or details that aren't really safe for an infant.

So far, our best solution has been handmade toys. There is of course Thu, the hand crocheted Cthulu that we received in the delivery room. The Nerd Mama isn't half bad at crocheting either, so I've whipped up a stubby little astromech droid and have a couple of Mario 'shrooms in the works. But the offspring isn't much interested in plain plush toys yet. She likes things that rattle or light up, or that feel interesting when she manages to stick them in her mouth. She has no shortage of these kind of toys, but how much fun would it be if her favorite toy was a Moogle rattle-headed blanket plush instead of a pink elephant? Sure, it would be mostly for my own pleasure at this point, but it would make for some fond memories down the road too.

Unsurprisingly, our non-toy play tends to find itself taking a nerdy turn. The offspring loves the motorboat or running game where we bicycle her legs, but at our house it is called "playing Bat-baby", because we run along to the old Batman theme song. She also loves to be held up and danced around, and D4ddy will have her dance to the Imperial March. The TV is enchanting to her when it's full of bright lights and movement, and of course super hero cartoons and D4ddy's video games are full of that. Even computer start up screens are a delight and make the offspring smile. Despite the lack of nerdy baby toys, there is no lack of nerdy baby fun to be had.

Geeks and Gadgets: No Boundaries

Anyone who thinks that a nerd only loves gadgets related to technology has never spent enough time around one. Watching D4ddy play with the baby toys and gear, it's clear that he just loves things that make life easier- or more fun. He couldn't wait to show off the high chair that folds to only four inches thick thanks to a series of sliding mechanisms. His favorite baby toy is the stuffed giraffe that not only plays music, but moves its head, with his second favorite probably being the elephant that plays music when its tail is pulled. It was amusing to watch him discover that the car seat had a canopy, because it was one more moving part that he got to put together and play with. And don't get me started on the geek-outs that he's had over the food mill attachment for our Kitchenaid mixer, which we won't even get to use until the baby is ready for her first foods. And I'm certain I can look forward to many more spectacles of geekery as the offspring grows and her toys become more complex.

I had never really given thought to how many baby items, standard as they may seem, could be considered "gadgets". And in the past there were probably fewer things that qualified. Once upon a time, a high chair was just a high chair, not a feat of engineering. There are some things that I still consider unconventional gadgets at best. But the spark in D4ddy's eyes is unmistakable. If you ever feel the need to question whether or not an item is a gadget, just hand it to your friendly neighborhood geek. (Most men qualify as geeks when it comes to gadgets, FYI.) If his face lights up, you have a gadget on your hands. It's actually kind of a fun game to play.

Nerdbaby Chic

I have spent a lot of time recently searching for baby gear to suit our nerdy lifestyle. I am frustrated with the lack of fun, geeky baby toys, but I'll get into that another time. One thing that I am finding absolutely overwhelming is the amount of clothing for the latest generation of nerds! Whether you want your baby to declare that "Daddy is 1337" or display Level 1 Human stats, there are dozens of choices for all types of nerds.

I'm sad to say that the offspring probably won't have a lot of geek gear for her first few months, if only because we are completely overwhelmed by normal baby clothes right now! Our clothing supply tapers off a bit around the 6-month sizes, so come springtime or so we'll probably start adding a few nerd onesies to her wardrobe. In the meantime I am shopping around.

Like most good nerd gear, it's not likely you'll find your geeky baby clothes in the store around the corner. Luckily there are a number of sites to choose from when shopping for the little nerdling.

• http://www.thinkgeek.com/ is always where I start when I'm shopping for my favorite nerds. Their infant selection is a little small, but stick with them into the toddler sizes and you will be rewarded. For Halloween and convention season, or even just for fun, they carry Star Wars costumes that should fit infants as small as six months.
• http://www.jinx.com/ has clothing for geeks and gamers of all ages, but they're definitely focused on the grown ups. Their "Level 1 Human" tee is a favorite, though, so I'm hoping they will come out with more for their mini-geeks and mini-gamers lines.
• http://www.cafepress.com/ definitely has the largest selection! No matter which search terms you use, be prepared to wade through dozens of choices, some of which may not seem related to what you want. Feeling creative? Cafe Press also has the option to make your own designs.