I need a crash course on strollers

Rochell

This might just be a dumb question...but here it goes anyway....

So i'm trying to look at strollers...i see the travel systems, the light weight, the umbrella, and the full-size.....WTF!? ....i'm leaning towards just getting a light weight stroller and getting a sep. car seat (a britax)...but i feel as though i might be missing something....i dunno...

someone educate me, please

kpv

Get the Baby Bargains book. It has a lot of good info.

holiday819

not a dumb question at all.  ok so with DD we have a travel system and let me tell you i loved it.  we have graco32 so it goes to 32lbs and/or 32in. which ever comes first, she is still in it and she's 15 months.  in my opinion, it was nice to not have to wake her up when running errands, when she was younger, i could just take her carseat in with me and if i wasn't going to use a shopping cart i just used the stroller.  an umbrella stroller is great when LO is older when they won't need as much if any support sitting.  and when you don't have a lot of things to carry.  another reason i like my stroller b/c it has the basket under and i can put my diaper bag and what not below.  the only thing about the travel system stroller i don't like is its bulky and takes up a lot of room in the back of my van.  which its something i can over look since i have a van and have excess storage available.  but to be honest its all up to you and what's right for your family.  hopes this helps.

MichelleL1118

Keep in mind that, although most convertible car seats are rated beginning at 5lbs, most don't recline far enough for newborns or support them well at all.

We're getting a Snap'n'Go for the early months, to use with the infant seat, and a City Mini (which is, I guess, a lightweight stroller, or maybe a very small full-size, I don't really know) to use as LO starts to grow. 

Mrs2DUCKSinLOVE

I've drilled all my mama-friends and they swear by the snap/go system for newborns. That way, you are not disturbing them when they are sleeping by moving in/out of the britax/ other stationary carseats. We plan on getting a snap/go for early months, then use the Britax/Bob for later.

alegaga4u

I laughed when people kept reccomending the Baby Bargains book (green cover for 2010) but I serioulsy would be LOST without it.  It has a fantastic breakdown of all types of gear and is unbiased.  They give Good,Better,Best options and it is a fantastic guide.  Get this before you get a stroller if possible. Also, going to see/test drive strollers in person is a great way to get more familiar with your options.  It helped me. 

Good Luck !

pmanolides

DH and I opted out of the travel system because even though its convenient to move baby seemlessly, it just seemed like they did every function just ok and not well. So we we'll up with 3 strollers- a Uppababy Vista (standard stroller), a Maclaren triumph (umbrella stroller) for when LO gets a bit bigger, and a jogging stroller.

kesrya

I am just learning about strollers too, so not a dumb question at all -- thank you for posting this!!!!

We will be gifted an infant car seat (Graco Snug ride) from a close friend and one base.  We are registering for a second base.  I'd like to get a stroller that is a travel system so we can use the snug ride with it and then have it change over into something we can use long term.  But it seems all the travel systems are sold in complete sets.  Is there a way to purchase just the stroller part that will work with the infant seat?

starsmaycollide

Don't get overwhelmed. Focus on what LO needs at first, then worry about umbrella strollers, etc when they are big enough to need that.  As PP mentioned, one advantage to getting an infantr seat and buying a Britax later when they are bigger is that you can put the seat right down into a stroller. 

We bought a Graco Snugride infant carseat, and bought the Snugrider stroller frame (it's the same thing as a snap and go, except it's just made for the Graco seats). This is a great option because it locks in easily, so we can take him out of the car and put the seat right down in there. It's light weight, so I can use it by myself with room to spare in the trunk-it's not bulky like travel systems. I 'test drove' travel systems in the store and can't get over how huge they feel. It's too much for me. 

When my son is big enough to need a new carseat, we'll buy a new, lightweight  stroller for him at that time.