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.... strollers!

Feel free to 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.
For S+TMs:
For FTMs
To view past Product Spotlights or view the upcoming schedule, see here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12W-wdzJDfeyz4DBXRWUkr2b4PPkpHQ7G_RiVLWTaHCo
Re: *Product Spotlight - Strollers*
We have the Burley Solstice jogging stroller. I really like it. I felt like it was pricy (~$350 or so with the “infant car seat adaptor”). It’s worked well on walks/runs around the neighborhood and the zoo. The ride is nice and smooth and we’ve done a little bit of off roading in it, lol. We don’t take it anywhere else though since it’s rather large. If we’re going somewhere with a lot of people in a smaller area (ie a mall, European cities 🤣) I’ll usually just babywear DS (even now, lol).
For those who will have a toddler/infant what are you guys planning on doing? Double stroller or just a stroller board? I’m thinking that I’ll just wear new baby (and push DS in the stroller) until he/she is like 6mo and by then maybe DS can listen/obey enough to do the stroller board? DS would be almost 3 by the time new baby is ~6mo. Good or crappy plan? Lol!
You can buy a stroller “caddy” which is just a frame for your infant seat to snap in which I loved to have because it was so light and easy to use with a newborn. But a regular stroller (can be a frame for infant seat and normal stroller too) can almost always be used to snap an infant seat into as well. I liked having the caddy frame because I didn’t want to start wear and tear on my regular everyday stroller so early in the game.
The strollers that have the pram looking bassinet need a regular seat too for when the baby is older. We started using the regular seat when our son was 6 months. Most don’t come with the pram; it needs to be purchased separely but I do know that the uppa baby does come with the pram.
i hope that answers your questions. Let me know if I can clarify anything.
Many strollers have adaptive pieces that you buy separately for a specific car seat. So you can mix and match a bit, but it’s sometimes easier to stick with the same brand as they fit together perfectly. I had a separate stroller “Chicco keyfit caddy” that was specifically made for the Chicco Keyfit30 car seat that was perfect for grocery shopping and keeping in the trunk of my car. I had the “city mini jogger” that was really lightweight and manageable with 1 hand, and nice for longer walks and the mall, etc.
Infant car seat / stroller combo - called a travel set? I think. You can buy them together in a set and the car seat clicks into the stroller. Useful for when LO is little. Easy to move LO from car to stroller when they are sleeping. Which they do a lot when tiny people (but not toddlers). The ones you buy in sets (car seat/stroller) are not empty frames when you take the car seat out. You can buy just a generic stroller frame for a lot of different brands of infant car seats.
No. Regular Strollers do not lie flat. I think there are some more European style prams out now that will be stroller like (ie kid sits upright) and will also lie flat. They are usually more expensive though.
eta more.
Newborns need to lie flat/be supported (in the car seat) until they can basically sit up unsupported-ish. That’s usually around the 6mo mark.
Any recommendations for a stroller that would be good for off roading/camping but not overly big? I would most likely only be using a stroller when camping and walking my daughter to school but will probably babywear doing that a lot.
LOs (but even those ones have adaptors that will “work” with the infant car seats). It sounds like you’ll have the space for a larger, sturdier stroller with “real” wheels rather than those plastic ones which makes maneuvering so much easier! Also, re: traveling. I baby carried DS all around Europe and Hawaii when he was 9mo and 11mo. IMO (and DH’s) it was so much easier to get around public transport, airports and all the cobblestone streets on foot than with a stroller. We got a rain cover for our carrier (and there’s a winter cover that we don’t have and won’t need), so you can be sure LO is snuggly dry & warm when you’re baby carrying.
I have a bugaboo cameleon for the 1 year old. I also used an adapter w it while he was mostly in his car seat. This is for short trips where the 3 year won’t tire out. The maneuverability is fantastic with this stroller but everything else sucks- it’s heavy and takes up a ton of space. And basically, you have to disassemble it every time you want to put in the trunk. For what it is, it’s not worth the price (I think it’s $1800 between frame, seat, canopy and fabric).
We use a BoB double stroller for zoo, parks and jogging. It’s fantastic and the kids love it, so I am assuming it’s more comfy. I love it. I also used it w a car seat and adapter for walks early on. Only downside is that it’s super heavy and takes up a lot of room. I have an SUV and when BoB is with me, there’s literally no room for anything else! I think I got it for $450 or so when BBB was having a sale.
The stroller that gets the most use is our Uppababy Vista. I keep the spare seat in the trunk and it’s really versatile. I use it for museums, supermarket, Costco etc. any place where the kids have to be contained. Only downside is that it’s hard to maneuver when it’s converted to a double. I do think you get the most bang for your buck since it converts. It’s sort pricey though- I think all in, about $1100? It’s been a while.
One more thing - both the bugaboo and the uppababy have baby bassinets for when baby can’t sit unassisted. Tbh, I rarely used the bassinet and just kept them in their car seats. So much easier, especially depending on terrain.
I guess with #3 on the way, I’ll be baby wearing more. Our outings are all day outings typically so my 3 year old gets tired and wants in the stroller. I prefer it though- as one pp mentioned, it’s nice to
keep them contained for as long as possible!
DS: 18 months
Dx DOR AMH .2
<a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Pregnancy"><img
I will say it totally depends on what you want out of it to decide which route to go.
I love my frame stroller for when babies are in the infant car seat. So super easy and light. I have 2 doubles. 1st one is a macclaren and is side by side so my that my oldest is so big we don't use it and baby shouldn't be in it until 6 months I believe is what they recommend. I also have a single lightweight stroller and use it for quick trips or zoo visits or what not.
I have a city select also and like that because you can convert it to your needs. I have the bassinet adaption which is amazing when little but it's only good up to 20lbs but amazing for outdoor walks so baby doesn't get over heated in car seat. I also have 2 toddler seats and really like that they adjust for taller or bigger kids. The canopies extend a good distance to keep sun off legs.
I also have the piggy back board so my oldest can ride by not be in a seat so if she gets tired she can rest.
Only bad thing is stroller is kinda big and heavy and can be annoying remember which attachments to bring. Plus everything is a la carte so it can be kinda expensive depending on fabrics materials and attachments. Plus you can't use coupons on those brands if you purchase from a buy buy baby store.
I say if you're planning on having 2 close together invest in the city select/uppa vista/bugaboo donkey type stroller because their pros far out weight the cons and you use them for a long long time and they are durable.
If you have a more specific question please ask because I feel like I could go on and on and on forever.
1st Baby 5/12/17, Henry
If I want a car seat that can clip into a stroller, do I need to buy a stroller and car seat that are the same brand? Not necessarily. For your big box brands, yes. For your higher end strollers, there's a zillion different adaptors and you can typically mix and match
Will the stroller just be an empty frame without the car seat? Depends on the stroller, but typically no. Typically the carseat clicks on above the seat. So if you remove the carseat, you'll have the stroller seat.
Do strollers that lie flat with a bassinet looking thing (or like an old fashioned pram) adjust to be diagonal or do you have to buy a new one later? If it has a bassinet, it also has a regular seat. The bassinet is the best option for a newborn as it lies flat, which is safest. You can continue to use the bassinet until baby outgrows or is able to roll over/ sit up.
How long do new babies need to lie flat in the stroller? Until they have good head control.
For instance, we use the Nuna Mixx2 with out dude. It comes as the stroller frame and then you can click in either the car seat adapator, the bassinet, or the seat. We'd do the carseat for quick stuff like CVS or grocery, the bassinet for longer things like shopping, and then switched to the seat (which does lay flat!) when he got older. We also used the bassinet for overnight sleep in our room the first couple months as its approved for overnight sleep
1st Baby 5/12/17, Henry
Some sources for validity and because I'm clearly that person
https://csftl.org/using-rear-facing-only-car-seats-safely/
https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/Car-Seats-Lower-Oxygen-Levels-of-Newborns.aspx
1st Baby 5/12/17, Henry
1- I would like to have a stroller for those first few months where baby can face me instead of outwards-any great suggestions?!
2- my son will be 4 when this baby comes. He stopped using a stroller when he was probably around the 2 year old range, however, we will bust it out once in a while if he’s sick and wants to go out on a walk, and will be bringing it to Disney World. The only time I can think I would need a double stroller is for the zoo or huge outings. Any mommas have a suggestion!? I’m thinking I would probably use a carrier for baby, and let my older son ride if needed, and skip the double stroller, right?
thanks!
@lillywonderland sounds like we are on the same page... I suppose baby can ride in the stroller and a carrier can always be in tow just in case!
I have a triple stroller that I'm looking at the Joovy Big Caboose. It has 2 seats and a sit/stand option for my oldest if she wants to. She will be 3.5 when this baby comes and can get tired so I like having the option with this one. Also it comes with an infant seat connector so I could put the baby's carseat in there too.
Second kid: Dec 2021
First kid: Sept 2019
So overall - you felt the seat-converting-bassinet (wanted to make sure we are on the same page) worked for what you needed it for? I'm a FTM so I have 0 idea how babies like things, hence the worry about the cardboard bottom. We wont be using it as an overnight bassinet, just for longer walks in the stroller
Second kid: Dec 2021
First kid: Sept 2019
Second kid: Dec 2021
First kid: Sept 2019