Stroller / Car Seat

daisy333

Let me begin by saying that I still have a lot of research to do... but I was wondering if some of you could help me narrow it down. 

Did you register for a travel system or a separate car seat/stroller?

I am thinking I do not want a travel system, but do not really have an idea what which car seat / stroller would be the best.  Please tell me the pros and cons of what you have or registered for.  (safety, ease of use, cost)  TIA!

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all depends on how much you want to spend. there are some good cheaper strollers- and some amazing expensive ones. There are really just too many to narrow down without knowing a price range/budget.

I'm not a fan of travel systems at all -they are bulky and not the best quality stroller - they just match and give the convienence of puting the car seat in- but MOST strollers do have car seat adapaters- and you can get a snap and go which is the best way to go early on- esp for quick trips - b/c it's SO light and simple.

I have a Phil & Teds for my DS and love it.  For the twins I got a Valco Trimode which is similar to the P&T (but obviously i got the double version). and love it, too - got it on Craigslist for $400 less than retail.

I prefer 3-wheeled all-terrain type strollers - they will drive really smooth over anything, steer great, etc.  But having a small snap and go is also key if you have a big stroller like this. When they grow out of the SNG an umbrella stroller is also key to have for quick trips.

war_eagle

If you don't have the book Baby Bargains, I highly recommend it for researching all of this stuff. ?I don't plan to do a travel system, but want to do the Graco safeseat infant carseat because it accomodates baby's for a longer period of time. ?I'm still undecided on a stroller, but think I will use one of those snap'n'go's for the first few months (frame that a carseat snaps into).

MrsDeLovely

I'm going to use a snap n' go until the little one is big enough for an umbrella stroller. I'm always on the go and a travel system just won't work, especially over the summer months.

smiles88

We are going with a Graco Safe Seat 32, since it can hold a baby longer then traditional carseats. 

Our stroller we haven't picked up yet. It will most likely be a 3 wheeled since where we live there is more gravel paths. There is a Kolcraft contours option 3 that we are thinking of. It is compatible with the safe seat, durable (friend have one they use on the trails) and under $200. 

For me functional is more important then if the patterns match. I feel the travel system might be to big and bulky for our needs/

KateVA

I agree with the first post.  I think travel systems are dumb and way too bulky. 

I have a valco trimode as well and I love it. it can be converted into a double stroller, like the phil + ted's. I also got it on Craigslist for half the retail price.

i would get a snap n go for the beginning months, then either a jogger if you think you will need it or a nice lightweight stroller, like the Maclaren.

jmurach

We're also planning to use a snap n go with a graco snugride 32. I had been leaning towards a travel system, but we went to BRU the other night and pushed some of the travel systems around and then tried out the snap n go. The snap n go was so much lighter and easier to maneuver. We'll have to get another stroller when the baby outgrows the carseat, but we're going to wait on picking one out until after the baby comes so we can have a better idea of what we'll use the stroller for most.

emaria

we got an easy walker sky jogging stroller (orig. $500 but we got it for $230 from mamabargains.com).  we're going with the maxicosi mico car seat (which i think is $160 or $170) that will attach to the easy walker. 

AndiG

We used the Chicco Travel System with DS (#1) and its been great.  However, now that we are in the market for a double stroller I am wishing I had thought ahead and purchased something like the Phil and Ted's stroller the first time around. 

robynlesley

Dumb question... is Snap and Go a brand or just a type of stroller? I know I want one of those basket-type car seats that you can take off the base and it goes on a stroller frame but I don't see "snap and go" on websites. I presume it's just a type... haven't been to a baby store yet (waiting for my big u/s).

MrsDeLovely

I believe the Graco is called a snap n' go, but there are several brands out there with the same product. It's just easier to call them all snap n' gos

robynlesley

Thanks!  And I'm really going to have to go to Babies R Us in late March/early April to figure this stuff out. My SIL is the expert, so I may ask her to go with me (though my husband doesn't always want his big sister's advice).

Pecas13

We're using the Baby Jogger City Mini...lightweight, easy, compact fold, and carseat adaptable.  Plus it reclines for a newborn, so we wouldn't have to use the carseat.  LOVE IT!

peeper72

We spent the entire day yesterday in various showrooms lugging around weighted babies in infant car seats and trying to break down strollers one-handed. I was totally ready to drop some cash on an Orbit system until I tried to lift the car seat portion!

 We ultimately decided to go with the free Peg Perego car seat we're soon to be the recipients of (otherwise I would have gone with a Graco). We're going to get the Maclaren Easy Traveller for quick trips around town and a Bob Revolution for more rigorous walks (with a car seat adapter) and for when I can start running again. When she outgrows the infant carseat then we'll do a Maclaren umbrella stroller and still the Bob. 

From what I hear from women around here they love the look of their big stroller systems but pushing them around city streets, up hills, and maneuvering retail aisles and restaurants is a complete nightmare. People actually roll their eyes when they see these monsters coming. 

MrsBeckaT615

We're getting the Maxi Cosi Infant and Convertible car seats. To go along with them, we'll get the Maxi Cosi Foray stroller as well.?

?

I'm a huge advocate of Maxi-Cosi. I was in Europe and happened to see an extremely bad accident. You couldn't even recognize that the metal was a car anymore. The only thing that survived was the infant in the Maxi-Cosi car seat. And.. I'm sold. ?

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jen1177

We used the Graco infant car seat and also had the matching stroller that it clipped into. It was a Graco Glide, very easy to move and one handed to put up and take down. However, now we will be looking at double strollers.

I had been registered for both the matching car seat and stroller as the travel system, but Connor came a month early and the day before my shower, we didnt the travel system at the shower and my aunt had asked what we really needed and I told her a carseat, we bought the matching stroller later...more expensive that way though.

Mrs.Hooper

Graco Quattro Tour Travel System...LOVE IT! Carseat holds up to 32lbs stroller up to 50. We paid $ 189 all together with tax.

 

 

mrs.jimbob squarepants

"we got an easy walker sky jogging stroller (orig. $500 but we got it for $230 from mamabargains.com).  we're going with the maxicosi mico car seat (which i think is $160 or $170) that will attach to the easy walker"

 Ditto for us....also got the carrycot to go with the easy walker for the first 6 mo.