Moms, how often do you REALLY use your stroller?

beka0404 · July 2011

My husband and I are at a bit of an impasse about buying a stroller. He thinks we should opt for a travel system and move up to a double stroller later, while I'm more prone to buying an adaptable stroller (like the Baby Jogger City Select) and separate car seat and just being done with it. Cost-wise, I think they'd be similar if we have a second child. My husband's main argument is that I've been drinking stroller kool-aid and that I wouldn't use it for much more than walks around the neighborhood (ETA: we live in an exurban neighborhood and have to drive everywhere). I guess I'm somewhat clueless, because I couldn't think of any other examples - besides the mall - of where I'd use a stroller.

So... my question is this: Where and when do you use your stroller?

LMH1209 · July 2011

I use mine most days that it's not raining, super cold or super hot (most days in spring and fall and three or four days a week in summer). I'm a SAHM in an urban-ish neighborhood, though. We can walk to our music class, the library, parks, the grocery store, the farmer's market, etc. I rarely take the stroller in the car now, but I did take our smaller stroller in the car quite a bit for shopping trips for the first year or so. (We used a frame stroller for the first six months and then switched to an umbrella stroller.)

DS generally rides in the cart or walks in places like grocery stores and Home Depot now. I rarely take him to the mall now because he has no patience for my browsing. I just wait to go alone or buy online.

I know a few people who have the City Select and like it, but I don't particularly like it. The type of double you like will probably depend on how close together your kids are. If I were getting a double for walking around the neighborhood and had kids closer than two years apart, I'd get a side by side (maybe the City Classic double). For mine, knowing that we won't use the stroller much until spring, when DS will be almost three, I'm planning to get a Joovy Caboose.

Qmommy · July 2011

I predominately use the stroller for walks around the neighborhood but have used it a few times to run into a store. I usually wear my DD in the Ergo or let her walk now that she's walking. In grocery stores she sits in the cart with one of those shopping cart covers.

Linds1224 · July 2011

First off I have the City Select and I love it. You could always buy it as the single with the car seat adapter now and then if/when you have another baby just buy the second seat for it.

As for where I use it .. malls, walks around the neighbourhood, quick trips to the store where I dont need a cart .. mostly when we go for day trips to the zoo or amusement parks but we have a 3yr old in the mix.

dottymobo · July 2011

Seriously, I've used it maybe 25 times now total, with most of those being fairly recent. Lately he gets really excited to see it, but today was the new record for actually staying in - two 15 minute trips. Usually he wants out in a minute or two. I personally find using a carrier much more convenient, and DS has never been a sit and chill in the stroller kid, so I imagine I'm on the low end of stroller use.

hanna mae · July 2011

I am not fond of the travel systems. That's just me though and my preference. I'm also not one to keep my infant confined to the car seat and move them in/out of the car... then leave them in the car seat while at the mall/drs/walks/etc. Just one of my quirks. I always take the baby out and actually tend to carry him/her in my arms. I also have a moby wrap that I will probably use quite often. I did with my youngest dd.

That being said, I have a single stroller; a double stroller and a jogging stroller. The single I've had for a long time. The double I picked up when I was pg with my 6 y/o (also have an 8y/o) and then the jogger we picked up at a tag sale when I was pregnant. I'd planned to use that a lot with my dd - but it doesn't fit very well into the van w/o taking it apart.

I'll probably be getting rid of the double and single strollers that we have. I want/need to get a 3 seater to accommodate for the 2 I sit for plus my 19mo old.

Anyway I use my stroller for walks around town, to the park, at the mall, flea markets, and then when I pick up my older kids from school (use it to contain the 3 toddlers)

EveryNameIWantIsTaken · July 2011

I use mine all the time. Zoo, mall, walk to park, science center, really anywhere that isn't a grocery store or whatever. DS has really been liking getting in it lately, and I love having the basket for my purse and a cup holder for my drink. We'll be getting a double of some sorts for when this baby arrives.

jhenry1204 · July 2011

I have a travel system that we use when the trips are going to be a bit longer and want LO to be comfortable. But honestly, I mostly use my $10 Cosco Umbrella Stroller the most. It folds easy, unfolds easy, is light weight, sturdy, and not HUGE like other umbrella strollers (we have an expensive one that I've used once). I looooove my cheap stroller!

capulet · July 2011

I used ours literally every day for about two years when we lived in a fairly urban area. We only drove to buy groceries or leave town; otherwise we walked. I also traveled with it a lot, on planes and trains and subways; for this reason, once DD was old enough to use an umbrella stroller, we got a lightweight Maclaren because it folded up easily and was light enough to take everywhere. Before that we snapped her carseat into a stroller frame - we never had a travel system stroller and I don't think it would have been practical for us.

Now we live in a small town where we can easily drive and park everywhere, and DD is old enough to walk short distances on her own, so we use the stroller a lot less. But it is still nice to have. Since our kids will be four years apart, though, we won't need a double stroller. I'm not sure what I would have done differently if I'd known from the beginning we wanted two close together.

MrsT624 · July 2011

I stopped using my travel system stroller over a year ago. I LOVED it when DD was little and in the infant carrier, but it was kind of big and bulky. I bought a nice umbrella stroller that I use all the time and keep in the car. If you like a different stroller that will grow with you more, I would go with that one over a travel system for sure.

BFab11 · July 2011

We've used ours (travel system stroller) on occasion; walks, mall, Dusneyland, etc, but not all that often truly. I didn't use it a single time until he was over 6 months old because I wore him when we were out to prevent stranger grabbing, and I didn't wan to make him sit strapped in his car seat in the car, then the store, then back in the car, etc.

nark · July 2011

I use mine several times a week to jog around the neighborhood or walk her to daycare. Also use it when we go places like the zoo, or on weekend trips. When DD was small we used the Snap-N-Go A LOT when we left the house- made it really easy to do stuff while keeping her in the car seat. Also used the snap-n-go for air travel (but really we carried her in the Moby & used it to hold our hand luggage & the car seat so we didn't have to haul it around).

Cherryblossoms07 · July 2011

I used my travel system stroller every day before DD turned 1. We walk the dog and it was great for that. When she was younger and it was colder or she was sleeping I could canopy the top and still take the dog for his walk. She got a wagon for her first birthday which she now loves it more for walks than her stroller. If we did not have a dog that we take for walks then the travel system stroller would have been a waste of money for us.

We don't take the travel system stroller out very often (especially now that she is older) because it is too bulky. We bought a little umbrella stroller for most day trips and I use it occasionally (the mall mostly). It stays in the back of my SUV.

JNicMTek · July 2011

We had the snap n go for the infant seat, and it worked out great for us. We would use that fairly frequently, enough that I would miss it should it not have been an option. We take walks and also, for malls, it's much easier. We went there a lot through the winter, just to get out of the house for a bit. We had a semi-cheap stroller after the snap n go, and I wish we would have just gotten a nicer one from the start. It was a pain, and DD hated it. We found a great, reasonably priced jogger, and it's amazing. I don't jog, but the ride is smoother and DD is much more comfortable in it. She actually likes to ride in it now. We take walks in the neighborhood, especially with the dog. For us, a good stroller is a must.

jmdallacosta · July 2011

We had the travel system for my first son. it was very bulky and difficult to maneuver at times so when my son was big enough, we purchased an umbrella stroller and used that all the time.

With my second son, we got a sit to stand stroller. It was also big, but it was easy to use and my kids loved it.

This time around, we decided to get the snap and go car seat stroller and get a good umbrella stroller.

canadadrea · July 2011

We have a 15 month old and use our stroller for everything!

We have a britax B-ready stroller which we love and since we are expecting we are going to purchase the optional second seat for our older child - since he likes to walk a lot now rather then getting pushed. We also have the car seat that matches for the LO which is nice because on this stroller the upper seat comes off and the car seat just clicks into it's place. I like the infant seat/travel system just because it is so much easier then waking a sleeping baby to transfer them from car to stroller/home... The infant car seat is also much safer for infants then the convertible ones...

canadadrea · July 2011

Oh I mean to add, the nice things about the britax is that it has big wheels so it works great on all terains really... we use it for shopping, walking, being in the park (for play or festivals), and obviously it's great at the mall. This stroller is really comfy for our son too and he sleeps in it no problem as well.

indomesticbliss · July 2011

I have a BJCS and I use it all the time. I do not use it for walks where we live-our neighborhood was built in the 1930's and it's hilly, so it's much easier to use my jogger for our walks (FWIW, we walk about 4-6 miles, so it's not a light stroll, the stroller would be great for a light walk!) I do use it for shopping, when we are out and about, etc....

We started with a chicco travel system and I hated it. In comparison to the BJ, it felt cheap, didn't handle well, and honestly, my kid HATED it. I could keep him in it for about 5 minutes and that was it. We bought the BJCS when we started TTC #2 and it was so worth every penny. My kid loves that I can lay him back to eat his sippy or relax, I love the height of the stroller and how easy it is to use. Also, the storage is great! I tried a McClaren umbrella for travel and it just didn't work for us.

IMO, a travel system just isn't worth it if you are thinking of 2 in a stroller. There are other options than BJ (Phil & Teds, Britax, Uppa, etc...) I also found with a TS that I NEVER took it out other than the mall because it wasn't the easiest thing to manuver. With the BJ, I use it all over the place. I guess it's up to you to decide what your schedule will be like and how much you may use a stroller.

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