Hard to handle SN umbrella stoller

[Anonymous]

Oh my. DD is 5 and has long outgrown the heightyweight requirement for a Citi Mini. I had 2 (one used) so XH and I could move with her and not have to swap all this stuff. But we were so lucky insurance covered a SN stroller. List price is more than $3k. Yikes. On measuring, it was supposed to fit in my trunk better and also his trunk. It is lovely, but fits in neither trunk. With the Citi Mini, I could support my SN child and fold, unfold the stroller with a small arm movement. With thia new stroller (we have had it for 6+ months), I need both hands to get it folded and unfolded. It is hard to get it up our stairs. I could helpd DD up the stairs and take the Citi Mini up with my other hand. She needs help. And if I have groceries, forget it.

I am just looking for stories or tips.

[Anonymous]

Maybe try a regular larger stroller. My son fit in his old cheap jogger (instep) and umbrella until after 6. The Mini seems a bit small. Maybe take her to the major stores and look at regular strollers. If she doesn't need huge support, maybe an umbrella stroller like an UPPA.

[Anonymous]

Tell us your child's current height and weight, and the brand of stroller that did not work for you.

Generally, special needs strollers are not lightweight like brand name baby strollers. You are not going to be able to lift them with one hand and fold with one arm movement or do the things you talk about. Those days are gone.

I would not buy a special needs stroller without demoing it and trying to put it in your trunk. Your child's PT should be affiliated with a DME supplier who can demo strollers and other medical equipment and your child can sit in them and you can try folding them and carrying them.

You need to think about your back, especially if your child has a permanent medical condition. Special needs moms have a lot of shoulder and back issues.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for being willing to talk this out with me. DD is 60 lbs at 5 years, and let me figure out how tall she is. I am blanking. My family is huge. I am the short one at 5'10", my parents are taller, my brother 6'8". My 11 yr old nephew and my 5 yr old DD are taller than most kids. I will measure her today and figure out her current height.

We already have this SN stroller that insurance paid for. Our insurance had 2 companies we could chose from. We met with them both. They did not bring models we could look at. They brought product books. There were measurements, we both measured our cars. Based on what rhe sales person told us, I had several inches more trunk room. Not true. The reality is that I probably have to spend 15 minutes folding the stroller up so it fits in my trunk. I have no idea. No one has 15 minutes to spend in a parking lot fighting with a stroller with a child in the car.

Decision was made. This stroller is supposed to grow with DD and accomodate her. If I paid for a jogging stroller, I think I'd only get a few months or a year out of it?

I will look at some other options. It is just me and DD with the stroller, so no extra hands.