strollers..

LadyRed7

how did you all pick yours? Some are just so pretty, some are so expensive and some are just so clunky looking.

Where did you start your research? I was going to check out consumer reports, but i would love a good starting point. This is hard! 

Christina79

I had an idea of the type that I wanted (a 3 wheel jogger type) so I started first by reading reviews online at Babies R Us from buyers. Then I read baby bargains and tested a few out at a local baby store. There was a huge difference between the $100 one and the $300 one with the ease of use, folding down, smoothness of the ride, etc. When I found one that felt comfortable, the saleswoman showed me how to fold it down with 2 little steps and I was sold. So easy and compact!

Sunny70

I get the Green Baby Bargains emails every day and they sent one for a Baby Planet Endangered Species stroller, I missed it the first time, then did some research in Baby Bargains and online, then looked at what was available at BRU. The next time the Baby Planet ones came along I bought the Snow Leopard for $130.00 including shipping, I love it, it is functional and looks awsome.

Sunny70

Here's a pic of mine.

LadyRed7

thanks girls! It is so weird how some of the ones that look the same, have such a huge price range. I would like one that looks awesome, but of course safety and functionality are key.

MrsWanee

i looked at consumer reports first, and then baby bargains. baby bargains seems to rate theirs more frequently. once i had picked the model (i got the graco metrolite), i decided i wanted a pattern that is cute, but can work for both. i chose the birkshire pattern, which is mostly brown and tan, with a hint of green... and paisley. i like it a lot!

Art Teacher

MrsWanee:

i looked at consumer reports first, and then baby bargains. baby bargains seems to rate theirs more frequently. once i had picked the model (i got the graco metrolite), i decided i wanted a pattern that is cute, but can work for both. i chose the birkshire pattern, which is mostly brown and tan, with a hint of green... and paisley. i like it a lot!

 We just registered for the Graco Metrolite.  We picked a pattern that was black, grey, and orange ("Sacchi"), but I think I'm changing it to a blue and grey one called "Sterling."  Blue isn't necessarily neutral, but I liked it better than the other one.  Plus I want the Graco Snugride carseat and the stores around here only seem to carry some of the same patterns in the carseat/the stroller.  (The Snugride fits into the Metrolite.)  I liked both pieces because they are lighter -- I don't have a lot of upper arm strength, so I picked lighter pieces.  I carried my SIL's Snugride 32 and it was way to heavy for me. 

I think the book Baby Bargains is great for comparing products.  We used it when when we bought our furniture, too. 

 

AshNicole331

I'll be honest and say that one of the biggest reason we chose our stroller was because I loved the fabric We got the Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe in "Rittenhouse" (which is the black and white damask fabric). It got good reviews and that model was recommended to me by several friends.

The Quattro Tour is quite large, however, it folds down pretty compact.

honeybeee

A lot of it depends on your lifestyle.  Are you an urban/suburban, athletic, etc.  We bought a used Baby Jogger Performance for our serious running. Both DH and I run long distance, and a fixed wheel jogger is a must.  We also have a BOB revolution, which I will use with the infant seat and skip the snap n go type stroller, and we registered for a lightweight Maclaren umbrella stroller, which is much more compact and light weight than the BOB.

I used Baby Bargains, amazon and joggingstroller.com for my reviews.

LadyRed7

AshNicole331:

I'll be honest and say that one of the biggest reason we chose our stroller was because I loved the fabric  

LOL.. that is how i am! I go by what catches my eye and then from there. MH was laughing because we can't do that necessarily in this case.

I really didn't even think about how we would use it. We walk a lot, both through city streets and our neighborhood which is more suburban. My friend doesn't really like hers, (wish i could remember the name right now) because she says it almost has too many pockets/cup holders/etc. That is my fear to spend hundreds on a stroller that we hate.  

whitneyandbrook

I went mostly by the reviews in Baby Bargains. Before I read that book I had my heart set on the Orbit system, it got good reviews, but they rated the UppaBaby Vista higher, and many Bumpies have recommended it as well. We test drove it at the store and immediately fell in love. We are getting it in black. (I also liked the green, but thought I might get sick of it after a while)

BridetoJ

I picked the uppababy vista and love it. i did a lot of research and the uppababy had all the features and qualities I liked and looks good too! Luckily I live near the uppababy headquarters and got a new vista ffor $450. Good luck!

sherpa

Our friends gush over Maclarens so I started looking at consumer reports. ?I knew I didn't want an escalade size stroller travel system. ?I went with the Maclaren Triumph because it's a full feature stroller and it's an umbrella stroller. ?I LOVE IT. ?We also got the Maclaren Easy Traveler to snap the car seat into. ?The Peg Perego carseat fits well and when we grow into the Britax it will also fit into the Easy Traveler. ?

I have shopped for a jog stroller and decided to wait until after LO arrives before we buy one. ??

ctana

honeybeee:

A lot of it depends on your lifestyle.  Are you an urban/suburban, athletic, etc.  We bought a used Baby Jogger Performance for our serious running. Both DH and I run long distance, and a fixed wheel jogger is a must.  We also have a BOB revolution, which I will use with the infant seat and skip the snap n go type stroller, and we registered for a lightweight Maclaren umbrella stroller, which is much more compact and light weight than the BOB.

I used Baby Bargains, amazon and joggingstroller.com for my reviews.

This is pretty much the approach I took as well.  DH and I purchased a used BOB Sport utility jogger (fixed front wheel) for our runs, and we scored a gently used Peg Perego Pliko from a very good friend that we'll use with the Primo Viaggio infant car seat as our travel system.  We registered for a Maclaren and the infant adapter bar for the BOB.

 I too used Baby Bargains, amazon and joggingstroller.com!!! 

busybea

BridetoJ:

I picked the uppababy vista and love it. i did a lot of research and the uppababy had all the features and qualities I liked and looks good too! Luckily I live near the uppababy headquarters and got a new vista ffor $450. Good luck!

Oh my gosh!  You got such a great deal, lucky woman!  I was so in love with the Bugaboo until one of the salesmen at my local baby store very nicely showed me both the Bugaboo and the Uppababy.  WOW!  what a difference in ease of use.  I fell in love with the Vista and bought it, not to mention their customer service is beyond excellent!  When I got home I noticed the frame had a dent and I emailed Uppababy and they sent me a replacment frame the next day!  Being a CS mngr myself, I was VERY impressed!  )

bridetobe05

We got the Baby Trend Snap-n-go based on recommendations from friends.  It is very lightweight and easy to get in and out of SUV.  We got the Chicco KeyFit 30 for the infant seat, which fits the stroller.

I had originally wanted a travel system, but after comparing the two, I hated the bulkiness and weight of the travel system. 

We also got an umbrella stroller for when he is bigger.