Stroller advice

[Anonymous]

We are having our first in a few months and a bit overwhelmed at stroller choices. We're willing to spend a bit more for a great stroller that will last over time, but the difference between a $4-500 and $1000 sysem is hard for me to figure out! Any thoughts, especially on the Micralite Toro vs Bugaboo vs Quinny vs Stokke? We want something that a carseat can snap into for the first few months ...

[Anonymous]

Having owned many strollers, I think stroller needs change over time, so you may not want to put all your money into one (or even one system). Definitely recommend one that the carseat snaps into - but you can get a cheap one of those. Then one that lies back completely for baby to nap (or a bassinet-type). Then a really light weight one for when they get older and want to get in and out easily.

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

As a mom of 3 in 3.5 years, I have owned 8 different strollers (single and double). Please don't make the same mistakes I made! What I recommend for the first few months is the simple snap-n-go type stroller (Kolkraft, Graco, MacLaren). There are several different types and they usually accept any infant car seat. The baskets are usually very roomy and it's so easy to keep it folded up in your trunk. Once your baby hits about 2-3 months old, you may enjoy walking with them in a sturdier stroller for walks around your neighborhood. Some things to keep in mind: are you urban vs. suburban, do you want a stroller to handle different, uneven surfaces smoothly, is the stroller going to be kept in your car vs. house, do you want to use the bassinet function as a place for baby to sleep instead of purchasing separate, free-standing bassinet. You should get a stroller that can either recline or lie flat to use with this age.

Spend some time looking at strollers and try folding them, lifting them (obviously being careful since you are pregnant). Go to a store with a good selection (such as Great Beginnings) where you can get good advice and really try them out. I have a Bugaboo Cameleon (which I got with my third) and honestly believe if I had this from the beginning I might only have had a light weight stroller for travel in addition to the Bug. It is a great stroller for city surfaces and even more uneven surfaces. I don't run with it but do brisk walks and it handles great. The folding can be a pain but since I have a mini-van, I just literally throw it in the back all put together. I also really like the Quinny Buzz which you can use with the Maxi Cosi car seat. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at [e-mail].

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

just make sure you get one with the front wheels that turn, otherwise you will have a hard time taking corners (like me...).

[Anonymous]

We love the Orbit. It's on the expensive side, but definitely worth it. It comes with a car seat and base, but you can also buy the bassinet and for when the baby is older, the toddler car seat. www.orbitbaby.com. Best of luck in your search.

[Anonymous]

We have the Quinny Buzz and we love it. I love the Maxi-Cosi car seat that goes with it and we love the Dreami bassinet that goes with it as well. We bought it specifically because it was supposed to have good suspension and handle our bumpy sidewalks well, and so far it has. It's sturdy but maneuvers like a dream and I can open it with one touch. My daughter seems to love it, too.

It doesn't have much storage, though, but it's my first stroller and I don't have anything to compare it to, so that part doesn't bother me as much. We like it enough that we will probably also buy the Quinny Zapp for travel (even though I think the Buzz would be okay, I think the Zapp will be a lot easier for trips and such.)

We also loved the Orbit Baby system, but in the end, the Quinny handled just as easily for me, if not better, and I wanted a bright color. I "test-drove" strollers and thought there definitely seemed to be a difference between the cheaper strollers and the more expensive ones.

[Anonymous]

I became obessed with strollers during my pregnancy. I'm not sure why but it became the one purchase that I was totally invested in. We ended up with The Quinny Buzz over the Bugaboo because the bassinet seemed like a waste of money to me. I will say that you should run run run to get the Snap N Go or a similar system for the early days and to leave in your car. You won't want to deal with taking a big stroller in and out of the car or a baby in and out of the car seat.

I like my Quinny but in retrospect I wish that I had listened to the salesperson at Great Beginnings who told me to wait until the baby was a few months old. to pick out a stroller. Downside of the Quinny is that I think the sunshade is too small/doesn't provide enough coverage. I ended up buying an after market sunshade. Other than that the stroller rocks!

[Anonymous]

Our "travel system" (a Graco) was huge and bulky. Our jogger (a Jeep) was the same. We just ditched them both, got a Phil & Ted's Classic, and LOVE it. (Our son is 17mo, and the Phil & Ted's can be turned into a double when #2 arrives).

[Anonymous]

Where is Great Beginnings located?

[Anonymous]

Gaithersburg, MD

http://www.greatbeginningsonline.com/

[Anonymous]

i LOVE my uppa baby vista stroller
bought the peg perego car seat adapter and have a great travel system
it is big and bulky, but i dont care i love the look, i love the ride, i love it love it love it
customer service is awesome (we needed to replace one wheel)
and it has a bassinet, and its not that expensive
woudl def buy again

[Anonymous]

I totally agree with the poster who said stroller needs change over time. My DS is only 8-months and I already have three strollers: Chicco full size stroller (which the car seat snaps into), a jogging stroller (which is heavy and not practical for every day use), and a Combi umbrella type stroller (good for negotiating smaller spaces and traveling). I certainly don't want three strollers, but I just couldn't find all the functionality I wanted in one.

[Anonymous]

Don't buy an Aprica. I hate ours. It was okay with an infant, but became impossible to steer once my son hit 20 lbs

[Anonymous]

Well for us, we got the Graco stroller (yes, car seat attachment came with it and, of course, snaps right in).

We opted for this choice (about $120 I think...got it as a baby shower gift so not sure of exact price) because by the time your baby is no longer an infant and more of a toddler (about 14 months - which seems like a long time, but it's only a few months post car-carrier) the baby can fit in a $20 umbrella stroller (way smaller and way lighter).

Plus, unless we are at the mall or going for a long walk, we hardly use the stroller because DD LOVES to walk and can't stand being confined so we don't really use the stroller that often anymore.

So, for us, I'm glad we didn't spend mega bucks on something that really doesn't last that long (relatively speaking).

[Anonymous]

I started with the bugaboo Frog, I now have a Bob revolution. If I knew then what I know now, I would of skipped the Bugaboo and gone for the BoB. It does have an attachment for the car seat. Great stroller from birth to 75 lbs. The Bugaboo is for up to 40 lbs, which is not enough life for something so expensive. I would get a Mclarren or Quinny Zapp for an umbrella, really light stroller. That would be it. Good luck chooses, there are so many and so many more opinioins