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STMs-Let's talk strollers/car seats/travel systems

ChartheStarChartheStar member
in May 2014 Moms
Hi All,

I'm a FTM and feel like I'm spinning my wheels (no pun intended) when it comes to registering for a stroller/car seat/travel system.  I feel like every time I get close to making a decision I start to doubt and second guess myself.  Does anyone have any practical advice that may help in my decision making?  I do plan to have another child within the next 2-3 years so I'm trying to take that into consideration since I know some models convert into doubles (ie the Britax B-Ready).  I live in a medium-sized city and my neighborhood is very walkable so I hope to take lots of walk with baby--possibly even use the stroller to go grocery shopping with baby since there are several grocers nearby so I'm thinking that the size of the storage basket is important. Also, I like the idea of having a bassinet option for long walks so that baby isn't strapped into a carseat for unnecessary periods of time.  That being said, I'm very interested in baby wearing so I'm not sure how much I'll want to use the stroller.  Another thing that's making it difficult to choose is how compact the stroller is when it folds down and how much it weighs.  I drive a station wagon so I do have a reasonable sized trunk (not huge) but I also have a 50 lb dog to take into account who normally rides in the back on road trips.  Anyone have any tips for me?

I was originally looking at the Graco Click Connect Modes but now I'm leaning towards the Britax B-Ready (although I have yet to see it in person which stresses me out).  Another option is to just get a car seat and a snap n' go.  Cost isn't a huge concern since my parents have very generously offered to cover this expense but for their sake I don't want to go crazy on one of the super high end $800+ strollers--especially if it turns out I don't use it that much.  As you can see, I'm all over the map.  Any advice?  Pretty please!! :)
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Re: STMs-Let's talk strollers/car seats/travel systems

  • spinsoffresonancespinsoffresonance member
    edited January 2014
    Not sure if this is a good option for you, but this is what we did. We started out with the Chicco Keyfit 30 car seat and the car seat caddy. We used that as our main stroller for 10months. I live in the city, walk everywhere (including the grocery store) and don't really use the stroller much at all. 90% of the time I babywear. Around 9-10months, DD started outgrowing the infant car seat. We got a convertible car seat and a lightweight stroller (Chicco echo from target). If you're like me and you end up wearing baby much more than using the stroller this is a good option because we never had to buy an expensive newborn stroller, instead we spent $100 on the Keyfit caddy and $80 on the stroller. Today is actually the first day that I took DD to the grocery store in the stroller and not in the carrier, carrying a baby inside, a toddler outside and groceries up the hill is starting to be a bit too much!

    ETA you could start out with just a snap n go until you figure out where/how you use the stroller, then you can see which stroller is best for your lifestyle.
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  • danabsddanabsd member
    edited January 2014
    We have the Britax B-Ready we used as a travel system for the first 8ish months which is when we got an umbrella stroller.  We really love the B-Ready, I walked to the grocery store to grab a couple things all the time.  It has a nice large basket and a really smooth ride.  We also knew we wanted 2u2 so having it convert to a double when the time came was important to us.  I am really excited that my toddler can hop into the bottom seat and the top can still be a snap n' go like travel system.  I also really want to buy the bassinet option for it this time around as well.

    Recently Lucie's List posted the Double Stroller guide preview and this is what she had to say about convertibles.  Obviously, more will be explained when the actual article comes out.  I added pictures because i think it helps in comparing. :)
    Convertible Strollers (can be used as single or double)
    1. Britax B-Ready ** BEST

    https://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/baby/detail-page/c26-B003OBYTHM_3.jpg 2. BabyJogger City Select ** MOST VERSATILE

    https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61eYll%2BXE3L.jpg
    3. Phil & Teds Navigator



    Phil and Teds Navigator in many Configurations
    4. Phil & Ted's Dot -- Fits best in small trunks
    Similar to above?
    5. UPPABaby Vista
    https://site.pishposhbaby.com/vistaconfig.jpg
    Another article here: Comparison of hybrid strollershttps://www.totsonthego.com/images/Comparison.jpg

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  • MissLadyTayMissLadyTay member
    I think you have to go to a store and play with them to figure out what you like and care about. We were about to buy a Britax on Amazon but after playing with ten different kinds in the store we really preferred a Peg Perego. Turns out maneuverability and easy one handed open/close was more important to us than having the option of tons of different configurations. Glad we didn't buy based on amazon reviews alone.
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  • JKTTC1JKTTC1 member
    We got our b ready about 2-3 months ago and love it! Wish I had got it from the beginning with DS! It's big but folds up with the bottom seat still connected which was important to me.
    Also gt it with the infant seat or second seat free which wAs a big deal!
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  • ChartheStarChartheStar member
    danabsd said:
    We have the Britax B-Ready we used as a travel system for the first 8ish months which is when we got an umbrella stroller.  We really love the B-Ready, I walked to the grocery store to grab a couple things all the time.  It has a nice large basket and a really smooth ride.  We also knew we wanted 2u2 so having it convert to a double when the time came was important to us.  I am really excited that my toddler can hop into the bottom seat and the top can still be a snap n' go like travel system.  I also really want to buy the bassinet option for it this time around as well.

    Recently Lucie's List posted the Double Stroller guide preview and this is what she had to say about convertibles.  Obviously, more will be explained when the actual article comes out.  I added pictures because i think it helps in comparing. :)
    Convertible Strollers (can be used as single or double)
    1. Britax B-Ready ** BEST

    https://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/baby/detail-page/c26-B003OBYTHM_3.jpg 2. BabyJogger City Select ** MOST VERSATILE

    https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61eYll%2BXE3L.jpg
    3. Phil & Teds Navigator



    Phil and Teds Navigator in many Configurations
    4. Phil & Ted's Dot -- Fits best in small trunks
    Similar to above?
    5. UPPABaby Vista
    https://site.pishposhbaby.com/vistaconfig.jpg
    Another article here: Comparison of hybrid strollershttps://www.totsonthego.com/images/Comparison.jpg
    Thanks, this is great!!

    MissLadyTay- I agree it's important to test things out in-store.  My husband and I have been to several different stores in the area but for some reason none of them stock the b-ready.  Very frustrating.  

    For those of you who bought the B-Ready, did you get to test it out in-store?  If so, which stores stocked it??

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  • LindsayB0505LindsayB0505 member
    If I could do it again I would have gotten the Baby Jogger City Select so that I'd just need the second seat.  That being said, DD rarely will ride in a stroller anymore so I don't think a double is worth it or needed for us. 

    I have a Bumbleride Indie that i love and we had the carseat adaptor bar for when she was little and still in the bucket seat. 
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  • MamaLlama14MamaLlama14 member
    Trying things out in-store is important so you can see how they handle.  We went with the City Select and I do love it, but- I didn't use it when DS was small because I got the Snap N' Go for use with the Graco Snug Ride 35.  Could i have gotten the adapter bar for the City? Sure.  But I found the Snap N Go to be lighter to tote in and out of the trunk, and it had a much bigger basket- this was important to me when he was younger b/c my diaper bag was much fuller.  As DS got bigger and I left the house with less, I didn't worry so much about the City's smaller basket.

    Also- I'm a huge supporter of babywearing and I don't think that wearing LO means you don't need a good stroller.  Your DH might not want to wear the baby, or a grandparent or sitter might still use the stroller even if you don't use it as much as you would otherwise.  I have the Ergo Organic and the Beco Gemini- both wonderful.
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  • TecheBTecheB member
     BabyJogger City Select 
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  • Turn4CindyTurn4Cindy member
    MissLadyTay said:

    I think you have to go to a store and play with them to figure out what you like and care about. We were about to buy a Britax on Amazon but after playing with ten different kinds in the store we really preferred a Peg Perego. Turns out maneuverability and easy one handed open/close was more important to us than having the option of tons of different configurations. Glad we didn't buy based on amazon reviews alone.

    This! I went into the store and was between the Peg Perego book and City Select. The Peg drives like heaven and folds easy and flat. I love it. If I decide to have a second soon after, I'll go back for a City Select because I like the arrangement of the seats better than the Britax. It's all about your preference!
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  • KageerKageer member
    I have a baby jogger city select and love it. You can also buy a ride along board so I will able to push all three of my kiddos at once if I need to.
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  • danabsddanabsd member
    For those of you who bought the B-Ready, did you get to test it out in-store?  If so, which stores stocked it??
    BBB has all the strollers. :)

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  • danabsddanabsd member

    Kageer said:
    I have a baby jogger city select and love it. You can also buy a ride along board so I will able to push all three of my kiddos at once if I need to.

    I thought only the UBV had a 3 kid configuration?

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  • CiaoBabyOHCiaoBabyOH member
    We recently bought the Britax B-Ready on Amazon and it arrived yesterday!  We bought it on Amazon after testing it out at our local Buy Buy Baby.  When we went to BBB, we planned to 'test drive' the Britax B-Ready, City Select, UppaBaby Vista and the Peg Perego Book Plus.  We decided against the Book Plus because it can only accommodate 1 child.  We liked the UppaBaby Vista, but the price tag was a bit more than we budgeted for.  Between the City Select and Britax B-Ready, we chose the B-Ready because it was easier for me to fold and we didn't need to spend extra money on an adapter since we chose to register for the Britax Chaperone car seat (also don't need an adapter for the B-Safe car seat).  If you choose to use another car seat brand with the B-Ready, I believe you can but you need to buy an adapter.  I know many strollers offer this, but I am also glad the B-Ready has the reversible seat.  Hope that helps with your decision!

     

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  • ChartheStarChartheStar member
    Thank you all for the great information.  Guess it's time to make the 80 mile trek to the closest BBB.
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    Once baby is here, ALL THE CHAMPAGNE will be mine.
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  • NorthernGal248NorthernGal248 member
    I ended up going to BBB and lookng through a ton of strollers and am going to go with the Bugaboo Cameleon. I know that it's extremely expensive, but it seems like the best stroller that will take me from the street to the beach to the gravel roads without breaking down on me. The Bugaboo also has the Donkey stroller which is great for more than one child.

    That One Gal From Alaska :)

     

     

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  • KageerKageer member
    danabsd said:



    Kageer said:

    I have a baby jogger city select and love it. You can also buy a ride along board so I will able to push all three of my kiddos at once if I need to.



    I thought only the UBV had a 3 kid configuration?

    No you can do three with the two seats and the ride along board
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