I have a few friends who have both a regular stroller and a jogging stroller and say that they have ended up using the jogging stroller most of the time. Most tend to say it's easier to maneuver, folds up easier and just overall easier. I'm wondering if I should just go for the jogging stroller first and wait on the regular stroller... any input? I have been trying out a few different strollers that belong to friends and I think I might like the jogging stroller better but this is also trying it out without LO in it yet! Any comments or suggestions are welcomed! Thanks!
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Re: jogging stroller vs. regular stroller
I was a nanny for awhile and I have a one year old. If you often use your vehicle for errands and plan on bringing your child into stores/doctors offices/etc. in the stroller, I can honestly say that I would get an inexpensive jogger AND a basic compact stroller that holds a car seat. If you're looking to save money, you can often find joggers in consignment stores or on Craigslist. I tend to be a "less is more" kind of person when it comes to baby stuff, but we found that we really needed both.
Here's what we use each stroller for...
Jogger: Daily running and walking. It can get wet, dirty, muddy, and faded. I can leave it in the garage if need be. Ours is easy to fold but it is too bulky and heavy to lift in and out of the car often.
Basic compact stroller: Used it with the car seat daily up until baby was 9 months, take it in stores almost daily, use it for running errands that I need to have my hands free for, keeps my child contained at doctor's office, folds very compactly and is lightweight (If you get a bulky stroller you will quit using it early on. I've seen this happen over and over with my friends. A jogger will not be easy to use in a store or doctors office due to the big wheels and wider turning radius.)
I liked having both.
I have the snap n go for the infant carrier for the first 5-6 months. Basically we use it until we can't carry baby and infant carrier anymore because it is just too heavy.
I have a single jogging stroller but I believe it says babies should be 7 months before using it. Babies don't have enough head control for the jogging strollers. I like the big wheels on the jogging stroller but for shopping, errands, etc it is too big and bulky to be packing up in the car (minivan in my case). On this stroller, the wheels do not swivel, so that is a pain when shopping, etc.
I have a double BOB jogging stroller because my first two sons were 17 months apart. This thing is awesome around the neighborhood or when DH comes with me. It weighs like 32 pounds or something and is way bulky to take somewhere.
The only thing I need to buy is a medium sized stroller for after the snap n go. Something light but not the $20 umbrella strollers. Something with a basket and comfy for the baby but not too big. I had one, but it was stolen
With DS we had a snap and go for the first 6 months or so. Then we used a Baby Jogger City Series for walks around the neighborhood and excursions outside (and travel). I bought an Aria OH to keep in my car for shopping and quick trips inside where I didn't need/want a big stroller.
This time around I still have the single stroller and got a double city mini on craigslist for when I have both with me. I'm hoping that is all I need (I don't jog, but liked the air tires on the other stroller for walks around the neighborhood).
So I'd see if you can get away with a snap and go or umbrella that reclines all the way for a newborn (if you are walking alot). Keeping the baby in the car seat for hours on end isn't really good so if you plan on using the stroller a ton before s/he has head control look for a stroller with a full recline.
This is what I decided on. I also decided that I may not need a jogging stroller - I can jog during lunch breaks at work, or while DH can watch LO, so I decided to look for a stroller that would be good for everything else - light weight, sturdy, and good for neighborhood walks. This one seemed to fit the bill. I couldn't justify the money for a BOB (even the used ones on CL have been about $350 where I live) when I wasn't even sure how often I'd run with the baby.
These are my plans also-snap n go for first year...then BOB jogging stroller and an umbrella stroller.