Do we really NEED a stroller right away?

bestmaid6

I'm not 100% convinced that we will use, let alone need, a stroller right away. 

We could use a baby carrier when talking walks or running errands in the Summer/Fall and by the time he can sit up on his own in the stroller it will be Winter and we probably won't be going out very often. I think we could probably hold off on purchasing the stroller until next Spring/Summer. 

Any moms have advice or experience on the topic? 

iristony

It depends on your preference.  I know plenty of people that just use the Moby or Ergo for first few months.  Personally, I loved being able to keep son in car seat early on since he slept so much and just click seat in stroller.   But then again, I am sure baby will fall right back asleep on your warm body.

If you feel like you need a stroller, you could always run out and buy one.  Trust me, I was always looking for excuses to shop and get out of house the first several months- and still am!

snansley

By carrier do you mean carseat or acutal carriers (sling, Ergo, etc)?  The carseats can get heavy to carry around so you might be more comfortable with a Snap n Go frame (secondhand would be fine).  DS hated the ERGO carrier until he got bigger.  The infant insert made him too hot, but this was Atlanta in the summer.  He did fine being hauled around in his infant carseat. 

We already had our stroller so we used it early.  I think you could get away with not buying it right away.

Mrs.Husband

I think it depends on your lifestyle. We are very outdoorsy, active people, and we live in a walking city. DS2 is only 11 days old, and we're already going out on daily walks with the stroller. I did do one 2 mile walk with him this past weekend in the Moby and it was TOO MUCH on my weakened core. We have the infant carrier adapters for our Uppa Baby, Bob and City Select, so depending on the situation I can just click DS2 into the stroller and be on the go. I'd recommend at least a click n go (or whatever they're called) so that you have it available if needed in the beginning (quick trips to the store, etc).

inque223

I think it really depends on your lifestyle.  I walk daily around out lake and would not enjoy wearing lo during the entire 2-3 mile walk.  I also plan on getting out and about...stores, parks, etc.  Not something I would want to do without a stroller.

I'm sure you can not get one...and just go and buy one if you feel the need after LO has been here and you have a routine. 

orangecurls

I still don't have a proper stroller and my son is 7 months old.  I do have a snap n go for his infant car seat that I use when he is sleeping or when I go to the mall and need somewhere to put the diaper bag or someplace to put him while I try on clothes.

I use the baby carrier primarily.  We go on daily walks and I love having him so close to me.  And I think it is good to wait, in a year or so, you'll better know what type of stroller you want.

Edit:  Oh, and I had a Moby for the first few months and now I use an Ergo.  Both are great carriers. 

EvelynHawaii

It really depends on the baby. DS hates being in a baby carrier but loves his car seat. My suggestion is at least by a snap and go stroller frame for the car seat and then once little one outgrows that buy a stroller that fits your needs.

krisim

I had a snap and go and used that alot.  I started going on walks within 2 weeks of having DD.  I also had a moby and that didn't work out well for me (dd didn't like it). 

If you don't think you'll do much walking/exercising, I think you could get by without a stroller for awhile. 

mishu917

Many strollers comes with a bassinet or recline feature that allows you to use it for a newborn. We use our stroller everytime we go out and we couldn't live without it!

darmca

We got a travel system and I plan on taking him for walks daily. We have a beautiful park at the end of the street with tonnes of walking trails and there is a grocery store, pharmacy, and gym within walking distance of my house so I can run over to the store to pick up a few small things or walk over to the gym (they have child minding).

UGAbride

We do, but I guess it could depend on your lifestyle.  My boys always fell asleep in the car in the early days, so I just put the carseat in the stroller and carried on.  I wouldn't want to have to take the baby out of the carseat for quick errands (like walking into the preschool to get my older boys, post office, library, etc), so it's much easier than taking them out of the carseat, getting them into a sling/wrap, and then having to get them strapped back in again.  Plus, when I'm out doing something, I usually don't want the baby "in the way" on the front of me...it's different if I'm just out for a casual walk and there's nothing I need to focus on, or out in the yard watching the boys play, but if I'm in the library bending down for a book or whatever, it's kind of a pain to have the baby attached to me and nowhere to put them down for a second.  Even just digging through my purse to find my wallet to pay with the baby in the way can be a hassle, I just need personal space when trying to get stuff accomplished

Kimee13

I was never a fan of wearing DS, and couldn't have lived without our stroller.  Our main stroller came with a bassinet and that was a lifesaver for the first few months when I needed to get out and about - LO slept in there for hours while I shopped away at the mall.  At 8 weeks we used our umbrella/travel stroller and that worked out great too. My advice is to definitely start out with a stroller.

FacciaBella83

Technically, the only baby transportation you NEED is a car seat because the hospital won't let you leave without it.  Past that, it depends on your and LO's preferences.   

For me, I'm a rookie, so I'm going to have both the Ergo and the stroller to alternate between, depending on the situation.  From what I've seen with other moms, that car seat looks a bit heavy/awkward to carry around all the time.

The suggestion from the PP's re: the stroller shell that the car seat snaps into...  this might be a nice compromise if you don't want to get a stroller right away but still want the convenience of one at your disposal. 

BrendaLou1969

We bought the stroller that you click the car seat into.  We got it for 60 on amazon.  We thought it a good "starter" to see if we really wanted/needed a stroller.  Once the baby gets older and has good head control we may buy another if we use it or not.   We thought the $60 price tag was a good compromise since we were so undecided as to needing one or not.