Need Help Choosing a Stroller

I would buy the BOB jog stroller with infant seat adapter. It's awesome how quiet it is going over any kinds of terrain...so you don't wake him! It's a little heftier but I think totally worth it! You could always buy a used snap n go for quick trips to the store b/c it folds so easily and quickly and it's lighter.
I have twins so I got a double BOB and a snap n go - the snap n go has plastic wheels so not good for long walks but easier to pull in and out of the car - but that is comparing the double stroller. I put my infants in the BOB in the recline position when they were only about 8lbs and they loved it. I couldn't get over how great the suspension was - and how light it is pushing!
Good luck and congrats!

You have post-partum-picky-brain! No stroller is perfect! AT least it's better than memory loss! I had a travel-system stroller from Evenflo that came with an infant carseat & base. I loved that big stroller and we used it until my so was 2 and then my hubby accidentally backed over it in the garage OOps! It was easy to close up - one button- the basket under the seat held about 4-5 grocery bags and the sun shade came in really handy. AND the seat liner came out really easy for washing. You can get one a TArget cheaper and they have samples to play with.

Hi S.,
It depends on what you think you'll be doing, whether you are active and go on walks and hikes with the baby. When my daughter was littler, I had a MacLaren quest because it is extremely light and easy, and I was mostly doing exercise in the home, but what a pain for serious walking! Every little bump was felt by my baby. But now I have to exercise with her in the stroller, so I bought a BOB revolution, which I loooooove. I think if I were to go back I would have bought the BOB from the beginning because it is really easy, comfy, and pushes like a dream. I would go with the BOB-I've seen many mothers adapt it for a newborn.
Good luck,
J

S.,
I had a tough time choosing as well for the same reasons. I hate to buy something twice. I went to a place in San Jose that had every stroller under the sun and you can test them out side by side. This is what I found, I found the Bugaboo Bee. It is new to their line but it has been great. It is light weight, folds easily, and I can throw it in the car with one hand. An adaptor can be ordered that will fit the Graco infant carrier. The Graco carrier is the way to go because it fits in the grocery cart and most all restaurant high chairs. The seat on the Bee can be attached facing forward or back. It has a nice canopy the telescopes out and a rain shield. This also has a single adjustable handle for taller people. The single handle make pushing this wonderful. I watch all the other mothers with their big bulky strollers with two seperate handle have to fight there way around turns. You should check out the company website. Around the East bay where I live I dont see very many Bugaboos but when I go to the Marina district in SF almost every family has one and I think it is because they are so easy to lift and squeeze in small spaces. This will save you from buying a large stroller and an umbrella stroller for travel. Best of Luck

Hi S.,

I know you said you don't want the Chicco, but I must say, I have the Sahara and my baby boy loves it. He loved the way he felt hugged in it. I cannot tell you how many people stopped me in the aisle of a store and said, "I love that carseat," or,"My sister got that one and I wish I did." My best friend had a baby 6 months before I did and bought a different brand, she regretted it ever since. She even wishes she bought a Chicco. It is a lighter carseat and a lighter stroller than many you will find on the market. However you are right, the only drawback is they will outgrow the carseat before 1 year old. My baby is almost 10 months old and I am looking for a new carseat now. The Chicco stroller is still awesome though, and I won't get another stroller until I need a travel stroller next year.

We had the Graco and it we found it easy to fold, load, unload, and open.

My daughter is 7 1/2 and we finally got rid of her stroller this past summer. We used it for her until she couldn't fit or wouldn't. Then she used it for her dolls. We also used it to haul groceries, we took it to farmers markets, and other moment when we needed to haul something.

We sometimes watch our neighbors dogs. We took it along on dog walks because the dog was getting old and tired on her walk. We'd put her in the basket and walk her home, while the young dog trotted along.

Hi S.,

I also have the Chicco carseat/stroller, and love it. We bought it because the carseat has the highest safety rating on Consumer Reports. I know you don't like that it won't fit into the shopping cart, but quite honestly, carseats are not supposed to be put in there anyway. In addition to the comment below about the carseat almost falling out of a bumped shopping cart, the teeth on a carseat are not meant to be locked onto a shopping cart...it can actually wear the mechanisim down. I know the idea is very convenient, but there are definitely ways around not being able to hook it onto a shopping cart.
I agree with the different posters...make a list of the things that are most important to you...then go test them out! That's the only way you'll learn what it is you like. Good luck!!

Hi S. I am also choosing a new stroller. I am about to have my second child in April and I am looking for a double stroller. I asked the very same question that you did and many of the responses were that lots of people liked Joovy. I am getting the Joovy ultralight caboose in sage.

good luck with your search

C.

I write a blog about things to do and buy in the bay area with babies and kids. I did a write up on strollers you might find helpful :0)

http://bayareababyblog.blogspot.com/

I know you said no Chicco, but I LOVE my chicco. I had a Graco first and hated it. The Chicco brand is superior in quality, customer service and you can tell someone with kids created it. I love that the seat goes flat for sleeping baby, the foot rest adjusts 180 degrees. The handle moved for different heights. The snack tray has an insert for snacks and drinks that can be washed and the whole front comes off. The canopy goes all the way down. The basket is large. Also, the carrier snaps into the stroller tighter then any other stroller I've seen. The woman at "The Baby Warehouse" in Petaluma put the carrier in the stroller (without a baby in it) and swung the stroller around, in the air by the handle of the carrier and it did not snap off.
Also, after seeing someone at the grocery store bump into a shopping cart with a care seat "attached" to the front of the stroller, I will never do that again. It actually unclicked from the back rest and started to fall over. I know it will be a pain, but I plan to put the carrier in the cart with out next one. If the mom wasn't close by it would have fallen to the ground with the baby in it.
Sorry so long, especially for a stroller you don't want...but for some reason I'm very passionate about my stroller =O) The price isn't bad either.

The best stroller ever - the Bob stroller with rotating front wheel. Manuevers better in the mall than any stroller we've had, including the Peg Perego and Graco. It's so durable and doesn't weight much more than a regular stroller. You can purchase the attachment bar that accomodates any infant seat. Plus, it can go off road and be used for jogging. Pricier than the ones you mentioned, but if you invest in this, you will never have to buy another stroller again

You mentioned the car seat not fitting into a grocery cart - how about a different approach? Check with your vehicle mfg. and find out what car seat they recommend. If they won't, check the CHP or local police dept. They have trained units to help put car seats into cars, and would probably have some advice. I know you are looking for a stroller, but, obviously, for an infant, it is combined with a car seat.
As far a new stroller when she is a toddler, my guess is you'll want a smaller, lighter stroller at some point and will get a 2nd stroller.

Hi S.,
I don't have much advice - only this - the Chicco doesn't fit in the grocery cart but it is crash tested at speeds of 65MPH whereas the others (like Graco) are crash tested at 35 MPH. I have a Chicco (my little just turned one) and the grocery cart thing is funny - I couldn't see over the darn thing but I would just put her in the big basket part and make do with the room I had - if I was alone and shopping, I didn't want to get too much, anyhow. Good luck! It is a big decision and i hope you find the right one for you.

I love my BOB walker/jogger. It has an infant carseat adaptor bar that can be purchased separately. It is super easy to manuver, not too heavy, can be used as an everyday stroller or if you are into hiking or jogging. The big air-filled tires provide a comfortable ride on concrete or off-road. We purchased a bag for travelling that fits the BOB perfectly because we would rather have our BOB when on vacation than a cheap umbrella stroller. There are other accessories for BOB's if you look at the website. Hope this helps.

Hi S.
If I could do it all again, I would have chosen the Mclarin ( not sure how to spell it.) Because you can use it from infant all the way to toddler years. It is light and compact, but yet very sturdy, It leaves you with plenty of space in your trunk because it folds up like an umbrella stroller. I think it even reclines all the way flat. Which is great for when you are at the park and don't want to use the dirty changing table.

My experience is for short trips with a toddler, it's easiest to use the light (and cheap) umbrella strollers. I use our larger stroller for our daily exercise walk (1 hr) and for long outings where I need to pack food and have a comfortable place to contain her for longer periods (like fairs or parades). We have some dirt trails in our regular walk route, so I'm happy with our Jeep 3-wheeled stroller (not the exercise bike). It does well with uneven pavement or dirt, and has lots of storage for longer activities. You should match your stroller choice to your lifestyle and how you will use it, but don't worry about infant vs. toddler needs. Most strollers work well for both, and a cheap umbrella stroller in addition to your regular stroller will give you flexibility with your future antsy toddler!

I love my Bumbleride Flyer. It looks cool, but it also manoeuvers well. I like that I can move the canopy back and forth, and that the handle is adjustable. It also reclines all the way down and the seat is pretty long. My 2-year old can still nap in it comfortably. It comes with a car seat adapter. It doesn't have a snack tray, but that's never been a problem as my daughter used a snack trap.
The negatives are that the basket is a bit small and somewhat hard to access, and the wheels sometimes squeak. But we usually spray a little WD-40 and that takes care of it.

I love my graco. My son is now two and we still use it alot. not as much as we used to becasue he prefers to walk. I prefer to walk than to drive if it is within a reasonable distance. We have done everything from hike, to shop with it, all with no problems. roomy basket and easy to use. One down for it is that the sunshades are small. We purchased a extender one and love it.

I am in love w/ my USED Bugaboo and am getting a BOB double when my little one is born in May (already have a 2 year old). Yes both are expensive but look online at craiglist and you will be amazed by the people selling them. I couldn't live w/out our stroller and use it everyday! Good luck!

BABY JOGGER CITY MINI is the best light weight stroller out there. it is an easy fold,high seat back, huge canopy and takes a cars seat.

you can go to www.letsgostrolling.com to check it out and the store is in downtown oakland if you want to check it out.

Hi S.,

It looks like you've already gotten a lot of advice, but I have to put in my two cents. I LOVE my Graco Metrolite. It is extremely light, can push with one hand (one mom said that and I totally agree with her), super easy to fold and you can also lift it with one hand. My almost 4 year old still uses occasionally it and my 5 month old uses it often. It has held up extremely well (the black canopy faded a bit, but that's the only thing) and I love how much the basket underneath holds. It holds a ton!

I also have a BOB Revolution and love that to bits, like another mom said. The only problem is that it doesn't have much storage space, if you need that.

Finally my sister had the Chicco brand and was very happy with it. After 2 years a wheel broke off and they sent her new parts, no questions asked. So we know their customer service is good.

I agree with the mom that said to figure out just what you are looking for. For me I wanted something lightweight with a big basket and a tray (the tray is key when they get to be about 8 or 9 months old!) The Graco had all that and I am still very happy with it, almost 4 years later. I would not recommend going with the huge travel system. Most moms I know say they used those for a month or so then moved on to a smaller stroller. Another reason the Metrolite is great :)

Good luck!

I've found that one stroller just can't suit all my needs. I rely on my heavy duty BOB Revolution for daily neighborhood walks, but bought a Maclaren Quest to use when we're traveling because it's lighter and easier to transport. Good luck with finding the stroller that's perfect for you and your family!

I have 2 kids ages 6 & 7, and one on the way due at the end of the month. With my first two kids, I had an Evenflo travel system stroller, it was great! I actually just lucked out with that one as I picked it because of the pattern, and not really any other features. The seat did fit on the grocery store cart and worked well. It was easy to steer and opened/closed with one hand! I LOVED IT!!! I had friends who had paid much more for their strollers than I had, and they didn't steer very well, and didn't have the one hand feature like mine had. They really weren't very happy with their pick afterward. (they also picked for the pattern) - needless to say - when I registered this time, I went in and took the strollers off the little rack, pushed them around the store, opened them, closed them, checked out the car seat how it latched on to the stroller and stuff, I ended up registering for an Evenflo Travel System Stroller again! To me, they are the best, but if I were you, I would go into the store and push them around check them out and open and close them, all that stuff and be sure that you like it! Good Luck!

i went to a store and played with every stroller there. toys r us has a good selection. i eventually got a jeep, but it dosen't have a carseat conversion...

what i deemed important was how well i could fold it up, and pick it up and get it into a trunk. this is easily overlooked, so heft your favorite stroller up to shoulder height a time or two and see if you can manage the thing. also, i am not a fan of the small plastic wheels, i like air filled, but thats because i like the all terrain style of stroller. you gotta think about what you want to do-travel, walk in the neighborhood with, hike, camp, ect. and good luck. i like the jeep.

I think one of the first things you need to do is figure out what you want from a stroller. And second, figure out how much you want to spend.

Does size matter? Do you have a small trunk? Do you exercise alot? Need something for walking/running? Those are the types of things I would consider when choosing a stroller.

One suggestion would be to get a 'snap and go' from Babies R Us while you decide. They're super cheap ($50?), are easy to break down, and are totally practical with an infant carseat. Once your child gets older, you can decide what type of stroller will best fit your needs (and the needs of your child).

My best friend is really active. I suggested that she check out the Bob's Jogging stroller. You can purchase an attachment that allows the infant seat to click on. Then once the child is bigger, you can take that part off. They're super easy to put up and down, and honestly, they don't take up much room when walking through aisles while shopping.

Before my daughter was born, I swore to my husband that I 'needed' this expensive stroller system. It starts off as a basinette or you can click on your infant carseat. Then it also converts into a 'normal' stroller. While I still love it, I found that it wasn't that practical as she got older because the shoulder straps were too big and there was no way of making them smaller. So as soon as she figured out how to take them off, she would try to stand. SO not good. So I now I don't think big systems are necessities at all.

I also got a Maclaren when we were traveling. I will say that is the BEST umbrella stroller I've ever used. It's SUPER easy to put up and down, and it's great for your back. Try pushing the $12 one, and then use a Maclaren. It's a dream! I keep it in the back of my car at all times and it hardly takes up any room. (don't forget, a baby isn't supposed to use an umbrella stroller until they are around 6 months)

So all that to say, if you're not 'set' on anything in particular, I'd go with a 'snap in go' for now, and a Maclaren for later (but I know you said you didn't want to buy 2 strollers). For joggers I'd check out the Bob's, or Phil & Teds.

Good luck with that! I know it can seem really over-whelming, but you'll find something soon!

We have the Graco Metrolite which you can have the child sit up in or when they are still in their snugride carseat you can snap it into the stroller. Does not fold up real small like the Maclaren, but you can put the carseat in it and then when they get bigger you can put the kid in their on their own and it reclines.

Hi S.,
I have a Bugaboo Frog and have absolutely LOVED it. It had an adaptor for a baby seat (we used the Graco infant seat), and then it had a pram-type basinette for when my daughter was too little to sit up on her own, and then it has a really comfy seat for when she got older. She is 3.5 now and I still use it. We've taken it everywhere with us - as far away as Hawaii, across the lava fields, and this thing has held up like a champ! It provides a very comfy ride for Baby with its shock-absorbing wheels, and it's a snap to set it up to go across snow, sand, whatever. It's also extremely maneuverable and turns on a dime (handy at the mall!). In short, it is worth its price tag - and you can buy them used on eBay or Craigslist as well for a big discount. I'm amazed at how hard we've used ours and how it still looks like new - no creaks or groans like the stroller we had with our older daughter (one of those Graco travel systems that lasted about 6 months before it fell apart!).

Good luck in your search!!

I love my BOB stroller. It was pricey but the suspension and smooth ride is incredable. The craftsmanship is very high quality and I expect to be using it for many years and all my children. I used the car seat adapter bar to snap in my Graco SafeRide while my daughter was an infant (but it works with lots of different car seats). Now she's 18 months and still enjoys going for rides. It's roomy and comfortable for her (rated for kids up to 70lbs) so I expect she'll be happy with it for several more years. I use it nearly every day to walk a mile down our gravel road, I've taken it off road on hikes, and I've used it while shopping, and it has always worked wonderfully in all situations. It folds easily, but may be too big for the trunk of a car, I have a Tahoe so it's not a problem. I have no regrets, think it was worth every penny, and recommend it to all my friends. You can try them out at REI but I found mine online for a little less.

If you have the Graco baby carrier I would go with the Graco stroller. I really like it. It's easy to open and close and you can push it around with one hand (the major selling point when I was buying). Just a side note, you will probably find that you won't need the stroller much when you are out and about because most places have shopping carts you can put the kids in. And as the kids get bigger you will most likely go to an umbrella stroller (my mom told me the same thing, I didn't listen and bought the big stroller and now I never use it except for really big excursions). The Graco will last through the toddler years, my 3 year old still fits.

Hi S.,
Choosing a stroller is difficult when there are so many factors involved.
I started out with a Baby Trend Travel System with my first and I really like it, BUT I haven't used it in months. That's because I walk alot. So we invested in a jogger that really works great for that. When I got it, I also invested an extra $20 for a basic umbrella stroller to keep in the car. That has worked great for me, until recently.
Now I'm expecting #2... and I will definatly need yet another stroller.
The question you need to ask is: what are you using it for primarilly? Do you need to be able to tote your 5 year old too, or will another baby follow?
This time I'm looking at the Contours Options Tandem Stroller, I think the wheels are big enough to handle the ups and downs of sidewalks and the street, but it's also is very flexable for using with one or two kids; has a car seat cradle. The biggest complaint others have about it, is it's weight and that you have to remove at least one seat to fold it up.
Happy hunting.

Hi S.,

I have the Bob Revolution and I LOVE it. I don't even use my Graco anymore. It is so easy to push. I use it for everything: running, walking, shopping, etc. I've had it 2 1/2 years now. good luck.

J.

I have a bugaboo chameleon and love it. I am pretty sure that I will continue to use this one for our next baby. Our little one is now 22 mos and the stroller is in great shape even after heavy use.

Light for a full-size stroller, one-handed very easy pushing, has a basinet that was comfy enough to use as a moses basket around the house. All of the covers are machine wash. It has attachments that you buy separately for most carseat brands. Once you get out of the basinet stage, the seat is adjustable (full recline, medium, and upright). The seat is relatively high up, so the baby can see and your back doesn't get hurt. I use it for trail walking and my husband jogs with it. The handle is height adjustable so short people and tall people can both use it. It comes with a rain hood, mosquito netting, basinet cover.

Downsides: $$$, needs both hands for unfolding/folding, folds into 2 pieces so not good for city/bus use, small storage basket.

Bugaboo started making a folding stroller that is less pricey after we got ours which you may want to check out too.