Bugaboo

[Anonymous]

What's so special about the Bugaboo anyway?

[Anonymous]

We did not get one - the price just seemed like too much of an extravagance at the time - but I wish we had.

For one thing, it's good from birth until 4 years of age. It also hold up very well if you use it for extensive urban use.

We lived in Brooklyn for the first 2 years and went through 2 Maclaran's in that time - the wheels just wore out (we could have replace the wheels, but other things broke on the first one as well). Would have been less expensive in the long run to have bought the Bug.

[Anonymous]

On the other hand, the seat is really cramped if you have a taller child. We had one and switched to a Maclaren Techno XLR around 20 months out of necessity.

[Anonymous]

In my opinion, the Bugaboo is a status symbol.

Since baby was born, I have purchased:

- A snap-and-go stroller frame - very lightweight and easy to use when baby was in an infant car seat.
- A top-of-the-line jogging stroller - BoB Revolution - cannot recommend it enough.
- A lightweight non-umbrella stroller with a huge basket - this is my everyday stoller and it is great - full recline, several accessories came with it (sunshade, rain shade and cold weather boot). Baby naps in it great and it only weighs around 15 pounds. It is also MUCH easier to get into a car than the Bugaboo (from watching friends struggle)

All of this and much, much more was had for a heck of a lot less than a Bugaboo!

[Anonymous]

To the previous poster, which umbrella stroller did you get?

[Anonymous]

i dunno about status symbol ... we got ours on Craig's list used and think it's one of the greatest baby gear related items we have ... the bassinet was great in the beginning for our DD's naps. We then used the graco seat attachment and finally the upright seat .. She always seems comfy and sleeps easily when reclined. The wheels are great on bumpy DC roads.

I guess it comes down to where you live and how much you'll use it ... i use it for walks to the grocery store, 2 hours walks, etc. We rarely use the car so folding it (which does take practice) is not much of a concern.

[Anonymous]

We did not buy the bugaboo stroller several years ago and have regretted our decision ever since that moment. We had to settle with a subpar chico stroller. As a result of purchasing the wrong stroller, our child scored lower on aptitude testing than many of the children in our neighborhood that had the benefit of the bugaboo stroller in their early development years. We are worried that our child may have to attend a state school for college.

[Anonymous]

We bought a Bugaboo and while I don't consider it a waste of money, I don't know if I would have bought it if I had to do it over again. The main reason I wanted one was so that we'd have one stroller (we have enough other baby gear crowding up our house w/o having different strollers for different stages). With the carsear adapter, bassinet and regular seat, it's like 3 strollers in one.

I soon realized that it's pretty heavy, not so simple to collapse, and takes up a good portion of my trunk that I often need for other things, like groceries. It also takes up a lot of space, making it hard to push through aisles or clothing racks if you're out shopping. I stuck with the Bugaboo through the carseat adapter phase, but as soon as DS was big enough to sit up in a stroller, I bought a Maclaren to keep in the car. It works out so much better for errands and outings--no comparison. However, we still use the Bugaboo almost daily for walks around the neighborhood and for that purpose, it's awesome. It's gotten tons of wear and tear and is still in mint condition and the big wheels make it really smooth and easy to maneuver. It's the perfect stroller for city dwellers who won't be folding it up and putting it in their car very often-- I don't think there's any stroller that can compete for this type of use. But if you're like me and need something to walk around in the neighborhood, but also use for outings in the car on a regular basis, you might as well stick to a carseat frames troller, a lightweight stroller and a jogger (and depending on what models you buy, you could end up spending as much as you would on a Bugaboo).

[Anonymous]

for those considering a bugaboo, you should note that there are different models. the cameleon is the one with the bassinet and big wheels and everyone complains that it's heavy and not easy to collapse. but there is also the bee model which is lightweight and great and easy to collapse and adaptable with the graco snugride carseat. the bugaboo models vary in prices but they are all good quality, just depends on what you're looking for. we have the bee and think it's great.

[Anonymous]

FYI - the chameleon is not the only bugaboo that has a bassinet. there are also the frog and gecko models. all bugaboos, including the chameleon, frog and gecko are compatable with the graco snugride careseats. we've enjoyed our bugaboo. it's perfect for city sidewalks and for families who run most errands on foot and do a lot of walking daily. i don't think it would make a great suburban stroller if you're planning on using it in and out of the car a lot.
their customer service is amazing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the previous poster, which umbrella stroller did you get?

I had a Zooper Waltz (non-umbrella stroller) and I love it. Full recline and large basket. Also fairly lightweight.

I also have a cheap-ish umbrella stroller - Chico C5 - it is OK, but the basket is not big enough and umbrella strollers don't recline enough. My toddler will nap in the stroller for even longer with more recline!

[Anonymous]

The bugaboo bee RULES!

[Anonymous]

How does the Bee work with toddlers? We need to replace a Maclaren when our new baby arrives, and I'm wondering if the Bee might be the way to go. I just want to make sure it will go the distance with this child.

[Anonymous]

What's special about the Bugaboo?

1. Smooth ride -- the big wheels and suspension system mean that it takes bumpy sidewalks really well, which is great if you are trying to walk around with a sleeping baby/toddler in the stroller. Strollers with cheap plastic wheels are very bumpy. Every time we use it, even inside, I always enjoy the way it handles. (And I didn't want a jogging stroller).

2. Height adjustable handle -- on the chameleon model. I hate, hate, hate the way most stroller handles are so low -- and I'm only 5'8 -- but on most I was hunched over and stepping on the wheels as I walked. The Maclaren Techno has a height-adjustable feature, as do a growing number of other strollers, but I've never seen one that goes as high as the chameleon. Great for tall parents.

3. Versatility -- you can switch the seat so that your baby can face toward you or away from you. I have used this feature so many times and am always grateful to have it. Also, you don't have to buy a separate snap n go, since it takes the Graco Snugride and I think one of the Peg Perego carseats with a simple adapter. Our son has outgrown his infant seat but we loved having this option when he was still in it.

There are cons, of course, other than the price. It is large and takes up space in your car. It does not have one-hand fold, and comes apart in two pieces. It's kind of hard to travel with -- we have the travel bag, and have used it successfully, but it is HUGE. You don't want to leave it outside anywhere (at least I didn't) because it could get stolen.

The status symbol thing, I don't get. I don't buy things for status symbols, I buy them for their usefulness. If I had been able to find a less expensive stroller with the above features, I would definitely have bought it. But at the time (almost a year ago), the Bugaboo was the best option for the things we wanted in a stroller, so we got it. I'm honestly a little embarrassed about the status symbol aspect of it -- worried that people think bad things about us for having one. But, oh well. We have it and we enjoy using it.

[Anonymous]

PP here. All of the above relates to the Chameleon model. Am also curious about the Bee -- maybe for #2 we'll consider adding one.