I saw someone had asked about double strollers so I thought this might be a good next product spotlight.
This is a place for FTMs to ask questions and S+TMs to share the wealth of knowledge they've accumulated on baby products. Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product to help streamline and make it easier to refer back. This week it's.... stollers!
Please use the prompts below to try to share as much relevant info as you can in a format that is easy for those reading to absorb/respond to. If you'd like to recommend/ask questions about more than one product, please copy/paste the prompts as needed.
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- Favorite [stroller]:
- Link/picture:
- Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
- What you like about it:
- What you don't like about it, if anything:
- Is there a [stroller] you don't have but are considering? Why?:
- Is there a [stroller] you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?:
- Additional thoughts on [stroller]?:
For FTMs
- [stroller] you're interested in:
- Link/picture:
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Re: Product Spotlight 2/19: Strollers
We're leaning towards the Graco Modes Travel System. Has anyone used this? Any thoughts on it?
Summer infant 3D lite
Bob revolution SE single
Review:
I can't say enough good things about the summer infant 3D lite. It's easy to use, reclines pretty far, has a decent size basket, handles excellent, and the handles are at a good height for tall people (I'm 5'11"). It also has a cup holder and small pocket for stuff (phone/money/etc). I used it when DD was really small because I could recline it and it still works great now at 21 months. This is my go to shopping stroller
The Bob is also nice. We take it with us camping and it did well on the hiking trail. Works well for jogging. We use it for outdoor adventures like fairs, the zoo, picnics, etc. I have taken it shopping (it was a jog to the outlet mall adventure) and it was fine but wouldn't be my first choice for stores because it's a bit bulky. Handles very well and I can steer with one hand, basket is roomy, I got the handlebar accessory for drink/stuff holder. Oh! And I got the car seat attachment which was nice for transitioning a sleeping baby from car to stroller.
Overall:
I would buy both of these again. They function great and have held up well (nothing broken, fabric is still good). I do like having different stroller options for activities. If you skip having a car seat attachment I think you could survive with either baby wearing or laying the stroller flat and keeping to smoother surfaces.
My future interests:
I really want to look into a sit and stand type stroller. I think DD will enjoy it. I'm thinking it would be ideal for trips to the zoo
Married 5/2015
BFP 11/27/2015 - EDD 8/4/2016
Baby Boy born 8/13/2016 ~ 8lbs 7oz
BFP 1/6/2018 - EDD 9/19/2018
Married 5/2015
BFP 11/27/2015 - EDD 8/4/2016
Baby Boy born 8/13/2016 ~ 8lbs 7oz
BFP 1/6/2018 - EDD 9/19/2018
bfp#1-10/29/12,EDD: 7/3/13. nothing found @ 1st u/s, natural mc 12/10/12. "Bean"
bfp#2-5/10/13! EDD: 1/18/14. "Peanut" Arrived 1/13/14. Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis
bfp#3- 9/26/14. EDD: 5/7/15. no heartbeat found @ 1st u/s, natural mc 10/23/14. "Little Bug"
**Psalm 139:16**
We do need a double stroller since we have a nanny who will push both kids around. I was thinking of the city select double stroller that we can add seats to as needed, so it can be a single when we are only using it for one kid and a double when we need it for 2. It’s $$$ though so I will look into other options. We have small doorways though so we definitely need an inline double and not side by side.
We also have the Gb Qbit LTE travel stroller which is great for taking on planes. It’s more expensive than a typical umbrella stroller but I like that it has a sunshade and fairly good sized basket underneath. It’s small enough to fit in an overhead bin so we don’t have to check it on long flights. My parents use it as their stroller when they watch DD 1-2 times a week, and we just take it from them when we travel (usually with them anyway).
Tell me where you use your stroller. I also babywear, and my older daughter will be 4 by the time this baby is born, so we'll always have a cart at the grocery store. We do not need a tandem. I'm sure I'll use the stroller a fair amount with the infant car seat, but once that's outgrown I think we use it minimally. But my brain is foggy lately and it's been several years since we were in that stage so remind me what all we might want it for?
Expecting again -- EDD 7/27/20
I urge everyone to remember something i learned in the Baby Bargains book...there is no “best stroller”. Different strollers work for different lifestyles. Really think about how and where you’ll be using it...around the neighborhood? Car trips? Indoors? Rough sidewalk? On busses or the subway?
We have the BabyJogger CitiMini GT...great on rough sidewalks, and small enough footprint to take on the bus or subway if it’s not rush hour. Easy 1-hand fold to carry up and down flights of stairs in the subway station, instead of waiting for the elevator. Small basket for stuff...but that’s not an issue if you’re traveling light enough to empty the basket to fold it up as needed! It takes up a lot of space in the car, so we have a different cheap stroller that we keep in the car and use for shopping trips when we’re taking the car.
We also have a wagon for when the new baby is old enough to sit in it. It has straps for 2. We got it for DD’s first birthday and I don’t know if I would have used it with her any younger though.
Mostly I plan to babywear when shopping / pushing a shopping cart, but a stroller could definitely work at the mall, not that I go there too often. And again, not that I'm seriously into my running right now, but where I live is a bit more rural now and there's not really sidewalks. Only part of the path I'd be walking is paved / a bridge, and that's just to access the trail... Thoughts on what might be a better fit? Or either one should be just fine?
If you can, find some in store that you can practice folding and see how big/heavy it is. Even if you end up walking instead of jogging I think you would like the Bob or something equivalent for your described setting. I got mine on a Black Friday sale
bfp#1-10/29/12,EDD: 7/3/13. nothing found @ 1st u/s, natural mc 12/10/12. "Bean"
bfp#2-5/10/13! EDD: 1/18/14. "Peanut" Arrived 1/13/14. Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis
bfp#3- 9/26/14. EDD: 5/7/15. no heartbeat found @ 1st u/s, natural mc 10/23/14. "Little Bug"
**Psalm 139:16**
The BOB is a beast but I love it. I use it for Stroller Strides classes, long walks, and zoo/parks trips. I rarely use it around town because it's huge and I prefer to babywear. I haven't unboxed the Duallie yet (bought it during Black Friday when it was on sale) but I'll probably send my single BOB up to my Parent's house once I do. I have run, offroaded, and generally beat up my BOB and it's in fantastic shape.
The GLUXE is an awesome umbrella stroller that we mainly use for travel. We have the UB travel case for it which means uppababy will repair/replace anything that gets damaged while flying with the stroller. It also fully reclines and has a huge sunshade. It was pricey but worth it.
My Nuna Mixx was wonderful but I just didn't use it once we were out of the infant seat phase. I loved that I could click the seat in easily to the ring adapter which is why I got it in the first place. Once DS was out of that seat we realized it was completely unnecessary to have that many strollers and got rid of the Mixx.
We had the Nuna Pipa infant seat for DS but also got rid of that because they don't make an adapter for the BOB which is now my main stroller. We have a Britax infant seat for #2 now that will snap into the BOB when we need it to.
BFP #1: 1/23/2012 DD: Born 9/20/2012
BFP #2: 12/30/2017 DS: Due 9/10/2018
I’m just realizing that I will likely not be needing an upgrade like I’ve been thinking... I thought I wanted a sit n ride style. But, really we stopped using the stroller at thhe local animal park because dd could easily walk the whole stretch. And she’s probably ready to bike or walk the street w me too... plus exercise is really important for her and I have totally slacked on that. I love the jeep stroller, but it is ssoommee ugly compared to what they have now!!
bfp#1-10/29/12,EDD: 7/3/13. nothing found @ 1st u/s, natural mc 12/10/12. "Bean"
bfp#2-5/10/13! EDD: 1/18/14. "Peanut" Arrived 1/13/14. Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis
bfp#3- 9/26/14. EDD: 5/7/15. no heartbeat found @ 1st u/s, natural mc 10/23/14. "Little Bug"
**Psalm 139:16**
for the price and has held up well. I like that you can use it early on as a frame stroller only so it’s less bulky when LO is still in the infant seat. Had I known we would be having #2 so soon I probably would have splurged on a nicer single that works as a double. They have a Bravo for Two that is more like a bench seat/stand option, and I fear that won’t work for a 17 month old.
Im most interested in the Contours Options Elite for a double. It will accept our Chicco Keyfit seat and is less money than the City Select. Also, I’ve heard it allows for a little more leg room for the kids than the City Select, which is important because DS is already off the growth charts and hasn’t slowed down! I pushed one around at our BRU the other day and rather liked it (the basic model, not the elite, which I suspect I will like even better). My uses are basically around the neighborhood jaunts, zoo walking, and while shopping. I may want a double jogger later on, but I’ll cross that bridge as an “exercise equipment expense.”
ETA: I also just scored a gently used radio flyer wagon with the two seats so I have a feeling that may be used more next summer as well when this LO is able to sit supported. I think that will end up being our go-to for space saving reasons when they are bigger and still want/need a break to ride.
Wit DS, we used the Aton Q car seat which is compatable with the Uppababy Vista and the Maxi-Cosi clips. We loved this set-up and it also made traveling easy—my mom lives in another city so she got the car seat base and we traveled with the seat itself. It made transitions pretty seamless. The few times I had to emergency-install the Aton Q European-style (no base), it was really easy to do (my car died and my friend had to take me to a work event with my son on a weekend while my husband was out of town, and we got stranded at an airport and had to rent a car (he was too little for a rental car seat).
MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks
DS born 9/13/16
BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
We have the Britax B-agile stroller and our toddler will be almost 3 when this baby arrives. He already won’t sit in a stroller much unless he’s totally exhausted, loves walking.
Ill second (third, fourth?) the ladies who’ve endorsed the Summer Infant 3Dlite as a great umbrella stroller. We’ve used it tons for airport travel and once we’ve gotten to our destination and much smaller to throw in the car than our britax.
We have the Nuna Mixx- I love that our infant seat (Nuna Pipa) clicked right in- super easy. It's very easy to get up and down, switch the seat from front facing to back facing etc. Very easy to push, comfy for my son. I've loved everything about it.
The newer version is the Mixx 2- https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/nuna-mixx2-three-mode-stroller-with-all-terrain-tires/4564698?origin=coordinating-4564698-0-2-PDP_1-recbot-also_viewed2&recs_placement=PDP_1&recs_strategy=also_viewed2&recs_source=recbot&recs_page_type=product
We also have a BOB stroller for Stroller Strides which I love- if you do any running/jogging I highly recommend this brand. We got ours on Offer Up- great condition. But they can be $$$ brand new.
And for an umbrella stroller we have the Baby Jogger Vue (Got on Zulily). This has been AMAZING for travel. It is cool because the seat is reversible, not many umbrella strollers can do that. It's not the most attractive lol but my son loves it.
Now comes the dilemma of switching to a double stroller! I love the Uppababy Vista but it's pricey. I am also looking at the City Select Lux- anyone have this one??
For FTM's if you plan on having more then one I'd advise getting a stroller now that can become a double- I wish I had done this!!
Cost: $350 and up
What I like: Everything. Seriously. It is so well made and I love that they’re made in Italy, not China. I also love that the seat reclines to be fully flat. Something I didn’t like about other strollers, even $$$ bugaboos, is that if your kid falls asleep, they’re just tilted back in a seated position, rather than being able to really lay down. Another perk is that you can actually fold it and lift it into your trunk with one hand while holding a baby in the other. There’s also a large storage area underneath - which is awesome - and the seat can switch easily from front facing to rear facing. One last thing is that it drives really well! It has a very smooth ride, tight turning radius (helpful when we lived in NYC and had to navigate narrow grocery aisles) and you can easily steer it with one hand. After almost five years, my daughter still fits comfortably and we still use it for trips to Disney - and she can still curl up on her side when it’s flat and take a nap.
What I don’t like: Nothing. I don’t ‘love’ the green color we got - kind of a bright green apple - but now it comes in Aquamarine which I think is gorgeous!
For S+TMs:
Daughter #2 - Oct 2014
Daughter #3 - Nov 2016
Baby #4 - Sept 2018
I love my stroller. Wouldn't recommend it with twins or Irish twins, but we bought it when my son was born, and it's awesome. It converts to a ddouble, and unlike many that do this, it still steers great with the second seat. You do lose the basket with the second seat, so that's why I wouldn't use it for twins. I just hang bag off handle in this case. One hand fold, and the front wheel locks for jogging. I wouldn't use it for hard core tons of running, but our 2-3 miles 1-2 times per week it works great. The wheels aren't air filled, so they can't pop. Seats lay flat for a newborn. I didn't use it with an infant seat, so I can't speak to that.
Only complaint is that the canopy is only OK, and doesn't rotate forward to block a low sun in front of you.
It was $400-500 I think, and that included the second seat. It was the only thing I splurged on, because I couldn't have two strollers at the time due to space so I needed a do-everything type.
If I had had another couple hundred to spend, I would have gotten the voyager by them.That is twin ready, it folds with both seats attached, stands up while folded, and both seats can be removed and used as separate bassinets/cots to carry.
DH: 32
Married 7/18/15
1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16
Team green turned BLUE!
2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18
Team green turned PINK!
Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
For FTM’s, consider that your LO may not fit the infant seat as long as you like. DH and I are on the smaller side and in no way expected to have an off-the-charts baby, but we did! He was clearly uncomfortable in the infant seat by 6 months (and very hard to carry) and we had to switch to the Graco 4ever (highly recommend, btw). I’m glad we didn’t get a separate frame stroller for this reason (my stroller converted from a frame to a normal full seat stroller, so I did have the option).
For a travel system convertible stroller, my favorite is the Uppa Baby Vista. It is extremely pricey though, so a decent alternative (a bit cheaper) is the Britax B-Ready. If you do a lot of in door activities (I.e. shopping), you'll like these two strollers. I like mine and kept it. But I do a ton of outdoor walking as I live in a walkable area, so I prefer a jogging stroller.
For a jogging stroller, I've tried a few and NOTHING compares to a BOB. NOTHING. Hands down my favorite stroller of all time. I plan on buying the double one before this second baby comes in September.
The city mini double is a decent double stroller, but again does not compare to the BOB for ease of push, ride, just everything.
This is a good link to learn about products. She has a great one on travel system strollers: https://www.lucieslist.com