How do you use your stroller?

Cubskers · August 2012

DH and I are expecting our first in January and are contemplating all the different options for strollers. One of the things we have working against us is height - I'm 5'10 and DH is 6'3. Lots of stollers are too short for both of us.

So, we're debating the merits of spending more on a nicer, more comfortable stroller for us (UBV or BJ City Select) or sucking it up with a travel system (which doesn't have the height issue so much) or City Mini (which works for me, not DH - but I LOVE the weight of it). Ultimately, I think it comes down to how we'll use the stroller, which I can fantasize about, but really can't predict.

So, I'm looking to you for advice - how do you use your stroller? Is it something that you think is worth investing in? Thanks for your input!

orangecurls · August 2012

I baby wear a lot, so investing in an expensive stroller would have been a waste for me. But one thing to consider is that resell value on a high end strollers can be pretty good. Also, the Britax b-ready free ride event makes the b-ready not that expensive. I think the b-ready has an adjustable handle. I have the b-agile and love it, but it may not be the best for tall people.

penguingrrl · August 2012

With my first two my stroller was a lifeline. I was in Manhattan and walked miles a day, so my strollers got heavy use. I'm curious to see how it will be with #3. At the very least I envision the jogging stroller spending much time on the sidelines of my older kids games (DD1 is starting soccer and t-ball this year and we plan to do 2-3 sports per year per kid).

watermelon830 · August 2012

For us we got a snap-n-go stroller first since it was cheaper and we could just pop the baby's car seat in it and go. Super simple and that way we could then see how we used the stroller the most. For us it is mall trips, trips to farmer's markets and zoos, walks around the neighborhood etc. We don't run so we knew we didn't need a jogger and don't generally go on rough terrain, but have found that our city mini did great at a pumpkin patch.

MrsJetSet · August 2012

I think it is largely up to the user.

We use ours all the time - shopping, at restaurants, walking around the neighborhood, etc. We bought the UBV because DH is 6'2 and we both really love it. UBVs will likely be marked down in a few mos. They are like cars in that they have a distinct ending to their model year and they all get marked down then. Last year we got ours in mid October for a great price but it was an even better price at the end of October. Whatever models you consider, goto a boutique and try them out. We thought we liked the B Agile until DH tried walking behind it and kept kicking it. He also could not walk behind it in full recline without bumping his knees. The UBV is not light but it really only matters when you are putting it in and taking it out of the car. For me, its not that big of a deal. It is not like I am carrying it around so weight doesn't really matter that much to me. Weight does not affect drivability of the UBV, in my opinion. I can easily drive the stroller in one hand and not have problems.

Cubskers · August 2012

orangecurls:
I baby wear a lot, so investing in an expensive stroller would have been a waste for me. But one thing to consider is that resell value on a high end strollers can be pretty good. Also, the Britax b-ready free ride event makes the b-ready not that expensive. I think the b-ready has an adjustable handle. I have the b-agile and love it, but it may not be the best for tall people.

Resale value is a good point I hadn't thought about. Assuming I could sell the UBV for 1/2 price, it makes the cost more in the comfort zone. We tried out the Britax before the free ride event was over, but I'm pretty set on the Chicco infant seat, so decided not to go that route. Thanks to everyone for your insights. Really appreciate it!

etude de la vie · August 2012

I have had about 5 strollers and made lots of mistakes.

I have ended up with the city select and a city mini GT elite (more rugged) Overall ..and I hate to say this.... You get what you pay for.

The city select is awesome because it is a single that converts to a double. We got a glider board for my DD and it can have car seat adaptor, bassinet attachment, seats can rotate and the handle bar is adjustable. I have had even 3 kids on this thing and it still went to the zoo. My only cons: space can be tight with two toddlers and they can harass each other, it's impossible to change a diaper while they are in the stroller (only needed in amusement park), and getting two toddler to sleep in this stroller was a nightmare because one could kick the other.

The city mini GT side by side is awesome for two toddlers but I never used it as a single or with a baby. It turns on a dime, has adjustable handlebar (regular city mini doesn't) and has a parent console already added! My cons: it's heavy, heavy, and heavy!

Our first stroller was a travel system (Chicco) and it was alright. I hated the sunshade, the cars eat often got stuck, and it was bulky. When I got pg with #2 it was useless. We also had umbrella stroller and DH hated it since he is 6'2" and had to bend down to push it making it really uncomfortable. We had a combi and the wheels popped off going up a curve. Also had a Phil and Ted but didn't like how the second kid was almost sitting on the floor, couldnt see anything, and their feet were in your basket making it useless.

Check out baby gizmo on YouTube (holly Schultz) she does amazing reviews on all strollers and outs kids in them of almost every age. It has been a great resource

HeyJune · August 2012

Think about where you go and what you do now. Do you use public transit? Do you walk everyday outdoors? Do you run errands in town using a vehicle? Those types of things don't usually change just because you had a baby.

I use mine for a few scenarios but these add up to at least 2 or 3 times a day even with our 2 year old:

- When I need my hands free and my child contained safely, especially if I'll be alone (in a doctors office, when shopping, running errands, walking/jogging for exercise, places I know I'll be standing in line, times when we will be out walking all day like vacations, theme parks, or festivals)

- When my child is too tired to walk and needs a nap

I mostly wore my baby in a front carrier until she could sit up on her own (age 6-7 months). I don't use my stroller at stores that have shopping carts or at restaurants since they both have a secure place for my child to sit and be buckled.

TeacherVicky · August 2012

I use my stroller daily (we have the UBV).

We go for at least two walks a day (sometimes 3), I use it when I go to the mall (and other stores), I use it to go to the park, etc. I basically use it to transport DS outside of the car when we don't use a shopping cart.

gimmietimmies · August 2012

All of our strollers have had lots of use, and some have different purposes than others. Just a thought, if you're both tall, have a look at the Mama's and Papa's Sola, it's very versatile and works very well for tall people.

pamiva1 · August 2012

I use our umbrella daily for errands (a mcclaren volo) and a bj city mini double for walks with both kids. When I first had my oldest daughter I tried to make one stroller work , but it's really easier for us to have an umbrella and a walking stroller.

MouseInLux · August 2012

We drive everywhere because of where we live. At the grocery store a stroller doesn't work so I baby wear. I go an daily walks with the dog over rough terrain and need two ands for the dog, I baby wear. We go on vacation to a city there are masses of people on the street that din't see strollers and walk into them (yes I've had it happen a few times) so DH baby wears. I jogged (before an injury) I used an old but good jogger ($50 used). If you think you need a stroller the the UBV look for a used one, better value for your money...we got a bugaboo frog for less than half the list price and still in good shape !

traveling turtle · August 2012

My son is 21 months. We've only had a car for a week now, so most of my experience is pre-car. We walked or rode public transport everywhere and we used his stroller 99% of the time. We have a nicer, big stroller and used the basket to put groceries and such to carry home. We brought this stroller on a trip and had it loaded with our luggage, his needs, a big picnic blanket and 4 bottles of wine that we bought on vacation and it made it easy to get around train stations with him and our stuff.

When we went to the states we bought an UB G-luxe and we use that stroller exclusively for travel. Well, we did. Now we keep it in our car. The first few days we had the car we did put our big stroller there, but we don't use strollers as much when we're out somewhere that we have to drive to get to. So, we just keep the umbrella stroller in there when we need it. We don't keep the big stroller in there because we still walk and use public transport and I prefer to use the big stroller for that and don't want to worry about where it is when I need it.

Cubskers · August 2012

Thanks to each of you for your replies - they've been helpful. We live in a suburban area, so no public transit for us. Sounds like it wouldn't make much sense as I only see the stroller needed for evening walks, malls, etc though I'm not sure how much I'll baby wear.

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