When did strollers become a status symbol?

[Anonymous]

We started out with a bunch of free/cheap mish-mash of strollers. The best stroller we had was a beat-up Macleran, which handled better than any stroller we'd used. Our kid grew out of it so I asked around which stroller people liked based on a couple of things (recline and sun shade, etc.), and everyone said City Mini.

That City Mini changed my life, and when I see other parents with City Minis, I think that they know what's up. They understand how this stroller changed life as a parent. That stroller made me more sane. It operates smoother, over terrain and curbs better, and it navigates with one hand. When I see parents with cheaper strollers, I hope they have the same experience we have, but I don't think they do. I think "If they only knew what spending the $250 would do for your quality of life."

A lot of people don't have $250 to spend on a stroller, so it then becomes a symbol of status. On the sad day we are ready to give ours away, I am going to give ours away.

[Anonymous]

PP here. I have a Graco UrbanLite, it has worked for me. All new moms I knew had Citi Minis and raved about them...so I went to a store to try it out. I just didn't like it. I guess I don't know what's up, oh well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here. I have a Graco UrbanLite, it has worked for me. All new moms I knew had Citi Minis and raved about them...so I went to a store to try it out. I just didn't like it. I guess I don't know what's up, oh well.

Now that's another scenario, but it sounds like you made a good pick for you. That would be awful if some of those City Mini parents didn't like the strollers they paid more money for. Seriously. I keep telling myself one of the best parenting investments we made. It was actually DCUM advice that made me buy one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's not true. In the 80s, Yuppie parents may have bought more expensive strollers but they certainly weren't a status symbol or "cool."

As a mother to a kid born in 99, I agree. The "baby product as status symbol" thing started with cribs in the later 90's. Suddenly you had cribs that came in odd shapes, or that had other furniture built in, or that converted to full sized bed. Then carseats became a status thing. Britax came on the market a few months after we bought our convertible and changed everything in the carseat market. Strollers got out of control in around 2003 when the Bugaboo Frog came onto the US market. Before that there were definitely nicer and less nice strollers, but the difference was in things like how easily they pushed or folded. They all looked more or less alike. The Frog changed all that.

Mom of kid born in 1998 and the above is my experience. In 1998 the 'expensive' stroller was the Peg Perego, carseat was the Britix - only 1 model available at Buy Buy baby and furniture from the status conscious baby store name that was next door to Houston's on Rockville Pike. Can't recall the name. The bugaboo frog was the market changer.

[Anonymous]

18:43, was it Lewis of London? I remember that store, and the beautiful European prams they had there. Seems like so long ago they closed.

[Anonymous]

2002 or 2003.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:18:43, was it Lewis of London? I remember that store, and the beautiful European prams they had there. Seems like so long ago they closed.

Not the pp, but I do love European prams. Silver Cross is probably the ultimate status symbol. Occasionally I will see one in London. Huge, seemingly impractical but they definitely turn heads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the Bugaboo is awesome for city living, but I really don't see the appeal of the Uppababy strollers. I don't think they handle well at all. I much prefer my City Mini GT. I live in the burbs and its perfect for getting in and out of the car.

I'm sorry, PP, but I'm going to assume you don't have much experience with the Uppababy Vista, because it kicks the pants off the brands you mentioned for maneuverability and durability. It folds easily, rides well, and is all around a wonderful stroller, with great rear tires and details down to the quiet magnetic check-in flap. It's an entirely different class of stroller than the City Mini GT. I understand people who take issue with the Uppa price, and its corresponding expensive accessories, and I respect those who just won't spend that much on a stroller. But pretending you "much prefer" a City Mini for any other reason is silliness. I'm not into status symbols. I don't wear expensive brand name clothes. My economy car is seven years old. But everyday, I am glad that I splurged on the Uppa.

lol. You seem very defensive about your stroller choice.

[Anonymous]

Please don't think my Vista is a status symbol. We didn't own a car for the first two years of it's 4.5 year life. I've done many a Target run, filling that basket to the brim. It now pushes 60 pounds of kid an average of 5 miles a day. It's my workhorse and I love it.

Or, you know what, think what you want. I'm too busy patting myself on the back for making such a wise stroller purchase to care what you think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please don't think my Vista is a status symbol. We didn't own a car for the first two years of it's 4.5 year life. I've done many a Target run, filling that basket to the brim. It now pushes 60 pounds of kid an average of 5 miles a day. It's my workhorse and I love it.

Or, you know what, think what you want. I'm too busy patting myself on the back for making such a wise stroller purchase to care what you think.

^me again.

Just wanted to say I would HATE said stroller if I had to regularly stow it in a car or deal with more than a couple stairs. So...stroller purchases are truly a "YMMV" purchase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:lol. You seem very defensive about your stroller choice.

These "status stroller" purchasers almost always are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's an entirely different class of stroller than the City Mini GT.

Yes, and a Rolls Royce is an entirely different class of of car than a Volvo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:18:43, was it Lewis of London? I remember that store, and the beautiful European prams they had there. Seems like so long ago they closed.

That's it! TY... yes, they sold the Silver Cross and I remember the round crib on display that cost 8K.

[Anonymous]

My UB Cruz was a gift from my mom. BOB sport utility jogger was a gift from MIL. If I ever had to get a baby item myself it was hand me down, freecycle or used. Only bought.new diapers/wipes.

My mom insisted on getting me a nice stroller because she said she only had chincey, falling-apart ones in yhe 1980's.

[Anonymous]

10yo maclaren folding stroller (hand me down)
5yo Phil and Ted running "heavy duty" stroller (consignment sale)
Chico key fit on second kid (registry)

My husband made the comment that if they are for status we are going for the "old money" look!

To be honest, I see 25 strollers a day parked in front of our upper NW daycare and couldn't tell you about a single one or their parents.