Do I need a stroller for the first 2 months?

ErikaLynn75 · January 2014

Here's my dilemma:

We have a Baby Trend infant seat that was a barely-used hand-me-down. I've had my eye on a BOB jogging stroller for a while, so when they went on sale on Amazon the other day, I went ahead and bought one. But I'm pretty sure the infant seat I have is not compatible with the BOB. And it's recommended to wait until 2 months to use the stroller without an infant seat (which still seems early to me, but what do I know? FTM)

I really don't want to buy another infant seat just to be able to use it with the stroller. I was hoping the only car seat we'll have to buy could be a convertible one that can last longer, and this hand-me down infant seat could just be a Plan B for the early weeks in case it's really difficult to get a newborn in and out of the carseat, or if we need to have a seat in both cars.

So my question is this: Am I going to be ok with no stroller for the first 2 months? Is it reasonable to expect to be able to carry him in a baby carrier if we go anywhere? I hate to think I won't be able to get out to take a walk during June or July (it may be too hot for baby-wearing?), but I don't want to spend a lot of extra money for something that's only needed for 2 months.

asparagus95 · January 2014

Find a Snap and Go at a local consignment shop, probably around 20 or 30 dollars.

ksyknelvr73 · January 2014

That's hard to say...for me, I used my stroller for walks during maternity leave. So maybe not the first couple weeks while I was still recovering/healing and getting the hang of things, but as soon as I felt up to it, I started walking around the neighborhood. But I have to say, if you chose to walk first thing in the morning or later in the evening, then you could probably baby-wear and it wouldn't be too hot and you don't need the stroller.

pistolpackinmomma · January 2014

1.) depends on your lifestyle
2.) if you do use the jogger at 2 months without an infant seat you will need to only walk. I was allowed (per pedi) to jog with DS at 3 months but he had to be in his infant seat with the neck support insert that came with it. It will be 6-9 months before you can jog with the baby directly in the stroller.

spacepotatoes · January 2014

We're planning to get a stroller frame for the first few months, then switch to a stroller.

One, I think it's going to be a lot easier on me in those early months not to have to deal with stroller folding/lifting. And two, we didn't really like any of the strollers that came with the travel systems we looked at enough to commit to any of them. The strollers we'd prefer are separate so we'd rather just buy the one we want when we're ready for it (unless someone buys it off our registry).

sammy.k · January 2014

I loved my stroller!! The second it was warm enough we were out walking twice a day. He slept so well and I got a workout in. I suggest a snap and go as well. Being it May I think you'll use a stroller more than you think.

MrsT2008 · January 2014

I could have never not had a stroller at any point. In the beginning, I used a snap-n-go type stroller that the infant seat snapped into. I didn't start using my regular stroller until 4-5 months.

DaisyTortilla · January 2014

We had the same issue you will be having, with DD. We carried her around everywhere in the carrier for about 3 months. While it saved us money from buying another stroller, she got heavy! (Carrier was 12lbs alone plus her weight) DH carried her around most of the time. But I honestly wouldn't have done it any other way. We were short on money, and we also didn't want to have a huge stroller everywhere we went. (Like the doctors office, too small.) So, ultimately it is what you need the most.

ckandi007 · January 2014

Agreed with the Snap n Go. A Bob is heavy to lug in and out of a car (we kept it in my husband's car).

spinsoffresonance · January 2014

I didn't have a stroller until DD was 9 months old. I did have a snap and go for the car though, but we only use the car once a week if even that. Mostly I wore DD in the baby carrier everywhere. I got really good at eating with a baby strapped to my chest!

frasey · January 2014

I used my stroller a lot during the first few months. DD was born in Jan, so I went to the mall a lot. This spring, I plan to take the kids on outside walks, and would prefer to take the stroller.

I think its reasonable to leave the baby in the bucket if you're going into the grocery store (put the seat INTO the cart, not on the top part! ) or a restaurant, or a very quick trip into the store, but those things get heavy, FAST.

OP you're actually having the same problem I am - we have a BabyTrend car seat, but our new stroller doesn't have an adapter for it. Im hoping I can borrow a compatible one from a friend but otherwise Im not too sure what we'll do...

runningyogimama · January 2014

Pretty much agree with all of the points previously made.

We used our stroller from the second day home, when we went for a walk. DD wasn't a huge fan of being worn since she was a little hot box, so baby wearing wouldn't have worked. And it's sooooo nice being able to just take the infant seat out of the car and snap it to the stroller and not wake the baby up those first few months! You'll want to get out of the house just to go somewhere, and I know I needed to so some shopping for the post-baby, not in maternity but not in my regular size phase.

bumpuser9353653 · January 2014

Totally agree with @kitchencolors . The snap n go type stroller is perfect for early onthego outings. Newborns sleep so much that there will be times when you just want to transfer the infant seat to the stroller base and go about your business. They get heavy fast, so until about 6 months, I would stick with a snap-no-go stroller and a baby carrier.
And FWIW, DD was born in June and I was fine in the Moby wrap for mile-long walks. You're not going to want to be out walking at the hottest part of the day anyway. Plus a carrier is perfect for around the house :-)

ErikaLynn75 · January 2014

Thank you all so much! I had considered a snap and go stroller, but was still afraid to spend the money on it and then never use it. I never thought to look for a used one, but I bet if I start looking now I can find one cheap by May.

I am hoping to do the babywearing thing, but as a FTM I just don't know how it will go or whether the baby will like it. And now that I really think about it, I want to be able to take walks in the first 2 months!

It makes a lot of sense to have the snap and go for quick trips out in public, even after 2 months. I'm not sure why I couldn't quite put that together in my head until you all chimed in.

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