Tricked out, modified, and hacked baby gear

Some of the items we acquire as new parents are truly useful, while some are disappointments. Some have a long shelf-life. (Ask me how long my kids slept with the white noise machine running at night. Eight years.) While some are for only a three-month phase before they’re outgrown.

Here are a few inspiring images of projects by parents that have taken innovation into their own hands.

This was a Pack n Play until the owner cut the mesh sides out, stretched a fitted crib sheet over the mobile on top, and called it a toddler bed. (Source unknown – it appears that the original site is no longer up.)

This Cozy Coupe has been converted into a Batmobile. Unbelievably awesome, don’t you think? (Details and “before” picture are at SweetCSDesigns.)

This crib served it’s purpose and was reborn as a desk, as documented by the parent who blogs at A Little Learning For Two.

These IKEA hackers took a very plain changing table and modified it to hide the baby gear that would be stored underneath and made a black pad for the top of the table. So clever. See their post for details on the whole suite of IKEA stuff they refashioned.

When you no longer need a stroller, you can use it to wheel around unwieldy Halloween costume props. (via DamnCoolPictures)