Am I a carseat/stroller idiot?

AliBGood · March 2010

So I started looking at registering, and I think I'm either confused about carsetas and strollers or just slightly dumb - not sure which. I know there are some "systems" that are carseat/stroller/bank/carwash/six flags all in one (such as the Orbit system), and then there are other avenues which include just buying a carseat, buying a stroller, and adjusting to when the kid grows.

#1: Am I correct so far in getting this stroller/carseat stuff down?
and
#2: What do you recommend? Getting a "system" or just piecing it together?

My only personal must-have is a 3-wheeled stroller... I think they're neat looking...

GTJess · March 2010

I obviously have no personal experience yet but I just had this conversation with Heather (hthomas) cause i was confused about what to do. Should we do a travel system with the carseat and get a jogging stroller separately (I had been running around 3 miles 3 times a week before i got pregnant and want to keep that up), should we just get a jogging stroller like a bob or phil and ted's and the carseat adapter for that, etc etc. it seems like there are so many options and it got confusing.

So after discussing it with Heather, I think we are going to go with a Bob or Phil and Ted's (probably Phil and Ted's so we can add the 2 seat adapter when number two comes along) with the carseat adapter and then the baby trends snap and go if we are just going out to run errands, etc. I just don't want 8 different strollers lying around our townhome.

BottomStar · March 2010

As for the 3 wheeled jogging strollers, I thought they were awesome too and was dead set on getting one until a friend warned me that they have a horr ible turning radius and they're hard to maneuver in crowded places. It may not be a great option as your "one and only" stroller, and I'd definitely go to a store where you can test it out beforehand.

We ended up with the Chicco Cortina travel system, which would not have been my first choice because the stroller is a bit bulky, but it's what my husband wanted so I let him win this one.

Mrs.Guz · March 2010

I love my Graco Quattro Tour travel system. I believe I'm in the minority here though. Now that she's not using her infant seat anymore, we usually just use the Graco stroller for shopping trips. While she was in her infant seat we used it a lot more. We also have a Maclaren lightweight stroller that we use for travel and walks in the neighborhood. Love it, but wish I got one that reclined. My SIL just bought a jogging stroller for me on consignment and I will be using that for trips to the park, running, etc. I'm apparently a stroller whore, but each one is great for different reasons.

JoelsGirl07 · March 2010

I am in the boat of "piece it together". No one bought ANY of that stuff for us, so we bought a Graco seat that we LOVE and I got a used snap 'n go. I STILL (6 mon later) use the SNG from time to time (and it is AWESOME for shopping at consignment sales...I put a laundry basket on top) and I ALWAYS take it when we fly. I had coveted an Inglesina Zippy since before E was born, and when DH and I decided to buy a "real" stroller when he was about 6 weeks old I found a great deal and got that stroller. This is all we need. I did buy a jogging stroller (on CL for $40) for walks b/c the rubber wheels are much better on roads. I use carriers much more (although I am in love with my Zippy - which holds an infant seat) so I have tons of those.

Daisy22 · March 2010

We pieced ours together and I'm glad we did. We got the Chicco carseat we liked. We then got two strollers. This is where we went wrong. We got the bumbleride flyer and the BOB. We don't ever hardly use the Flyer. LOVE LOVE LOVE my BOB and use it every where. I've never had a hard time manuevering it in crowds or in tight spots. It's a lot easier to get through crowds or stores then my Flyer ever thought to be. I can push the BOB with one hand through stores. It was also a dream at Disney World in December. When the next one gets here we're selling our flyer and single Bob and just getting the BOB dualie.

We didn't get a snap-n-go b/c Bailey was out of his infant seat at 8wks. He HATED it and we switched him to the Marathon RF. If I was out by myself I had him in the babyhawk carrier or my ring sling.

GBpack25 · March 2010

I also preferred to piece it together. I looked at some of the travel systems and the strollers seemed very bulky and not very well made. I bought an infant seat and then the BOB. LOVE the Bob. I got an infant seat adapter for it so I could snap the infant seat in and didn't need another stroller. I used this exclusively until she was about 8 or 9 mos old- then I also bought an umbrella stroller.

slwprincess · March 2010

You are not dumb. This is a very confusing subject and you will get a different answer from everyone. Here's my two cents- a travel system is nice to have if you find one that you like, but you certainly don't HAVE to have one. You can always just get a snap n go frame and put the infant seat in that. I will say that I have thoroughly enjoyed my Graco Metrolite travel system. I cried when Gavin outgrew the infant seat b/c it was so convenient. And that is still my favorite stroller because it's light, reclines, is easy to steer, has a snack tray, cupholders, and storage basket. But even as much as I love it, I am selling it on Craigslist. The pattern is pretty popular and is being phased out so I want to unload it while its still popular. Also, I want a bigger infant seat next time... this one only went up to 22 lbs- I want one that goes up to 32 lbs for the next baby. Haven't decided if I'll do the big travel system again or not. I know I don't want a huge double stroller, but I might do a sit n stand. Decisions, decisions.

ebearwife · March 2010

Depends...

If you are a jogger/athlete who RARELY shops at malls like me....BOB Revolution with a car seat adapter is the way to go. Both DH and I jog with P and go to the park almost every chance we get. Its an investment so only get it if you intend to really use it. I am getting the Duallie with #2 and keeping the single. I will probably NOT be getting another double stroller. Although if you get the BOB and its a big fat FAIL then you can usually sell it on CL within an hour for pretty close to what you pay.

If you like to go to the mall a lot - I would go with a "travel system" or the snap n go and NOT get the BOB (or whatever jogger you like) unless you are also a runner. If you are made of money, then Phil and Teds, Orbit, Bugaboo or something fancy like that.

We got a Maclaren something or other "umbrella" with a recline feature when P was old enough but we rarely use it. I like to use my BOB much better, even though it is a hefty monster SUV of a stroller. We will keep the Maclaren but honestly its going on CL as soon as #2 is not interested in stroller rides any more.

If you have room in your house and you like strollers then get what all you want. If you hate clutter, decide the one that best fits your needs/budget and get that one and deal with the hassles associated with trying to use it for a purpose its not well suited...ie BOB at the Mall. Some people like to wear their baby instead of wrestle with a stroller, so look into that too. I wore P to the store usually. She fussed too much in her car seat when she was really little.

almostanO · March 2010

great advice has been given already. I am a piece it together kind of girl. We went with a bugaboo and graco sungride 32 (they don't fit together.) I wanted a stroller with adjustable handles because dh and i are tall. We also walk a ton. For a running stroller i have a baby jogger performance series because I have hear to get a fixed wheel so it doesn't rack.

if i was having a baby right now I would check out the new tetuonia, 2010 uppa baby vistaand the newest baby jogger the city select. I know two of these expand for #2 and just came out.

https://www.babyjogger.com/city_select_lp.aspx

kbrickell · March 2010

Completely a personal preference. I had the travel system with the first child and a single jogging stroller. Love the jogging stroller hated the travel system.

So for child # 2 two we opted for the snap n go and then got the Bob revolution duallie which maneuvers great even in crowds.

kbrickell · March 2010

Oh and we also have an umbrella stroller with a tray and canopy now that she is out of the infant seat, we actually used this very same stroller with our first so it has been a great investment at only $40. I used to use this for plane travel and quick trips to the mall.

keg · March 2010

I'm a piece it together fan too, but my situation was a little different. However, I think there is a lot of value in getting a snap n go frame to start off and then once you get a sense of what you want to use the stroller for (do you go to the mall a lot, use it more for outdoor stuff, etc.) then you can get your "real" stroller. And it may be that you have a couple different ones for different purposes. I started with a double snap n go frame and was very sad when I had to retire it. Now, I have a Phil and Ted's I love for outdoor activities, the mall, or anywhere else I want to have a narrow stroller that deals equally well with carpet, dirt, and grass. (It's a 3 wheeled stroller that has a great turning radius). I also have a lightweight easily-folding stroller that I use for quick trips into Target, etc.

SunshineGirl07 · March 2010

Loved the Snap n Go.

It was easy to maneuver and move around crowded places.

Maclaren light weight stroller- Well worth the money spent

I had my true "OMG, I'm pregnant and I don't know what to do" moment when I was looking at carseats. I would absolutely do the infant seat over the convertible again because of the portability.

Good Luck!

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