Product Spotlight: Strollers

mrosek91 · October 2020

Today's Product Spotlight discussion topic is STROLLERS. This is another item that may feel a bit far out to plan for, but since they're big-ticket items we may want to keep an eye out for sales and deals!

Any stroller recs and tips and questions would be appreciated in this thread! Do you have a fancy splurgy stroller you love? Eyeing a double stroller and need help picking one? Are you one of those magical people who actually uses their exercise stroller and doesn't just have it collecting dust in a closet? Please share!

Prior and upcoming Product Spotlights

texas_t · October 2020

Guise? Guise? Guise. This stroller is probably one of my favorite baby purchases ever. My oldest was 3 years and 4 months when my second kiddo was born. There is no kid I know, under the age of 5 (and that's a loose cutoff) that doesn't get tired of walking and wants to be carried or ride in the stroller, so we knew we needed a stroller for two. I didn't want a sit and stand stroller, because I could still hear the complaining about standing. I also wasn't thrilled about the idea of a double stroller because Lord if those things aren't huge. Insert the discovery of the Joovy Caboose Ultralight. It's like a stroller and a half. It has a regular seat in the front that can also hold an infant seat. In the back, there is a bench seat that has a fabric attachment that makes a back for the bench or you can take it off and they can sit facing you and jump on and off (if you're at the zoo or something). Anyway, obviously I love this stroller. It fits easily in the back of our Kia Sorento. My youngest will be 2.5 when baby is born, so this will work perfectly. The only time I feel like this wouldn't work is if you had twins, Irish twins, or MAYBE an 18 month old. Take a look at it and test drive one at a store, we absolutely love ours.

https://tinyurl.com/y5dksacg

SkilledSailor · October 2020

Definitely not using any jogging strollers.

We have the B-Free and the B-Ready, both are Britax strollers. I honestly got the B-Ready used because I didn't want to take my nice stroller on a plane in case it got ruined. I deeply regretted that our first trip so now I take the B-Free everywhere and the B-Ready stays at my in-laws.

B-Free is great because it has an adjustable handle bar, lots of pockets and a bit storage area underneath. Rubber wheels are nice too. I do wish it could adapt to be a double stroller like some of their others can. For now I'm hoping the stand up board attachment will work since my 2 year old rarely likes to sit in the stroller anyway.

I found the B-Ready difficult to steer after having the B-Free which can be steered one handed. It's wheels are plastic which makes it a bumpier ride. Smaller storage area. It's a decent back up but I don't miss it.

mkc3888 · October 2020

we got the GB Lyfe travel system. We used the stroller until my daughter was 3. She can still fit in it, but she prefers to walk now. It's a bassinet and seat in one. It has straps to make it into the shape of a seat. It was easy and definitely one of out best and most used items. I will likely use it again for this baby.

yellingbanana · October 2020

Oh man, we’ve had so many strollers. With our first, we had a standard Graco stroller that you see everywhere, but that was 14 years ago. We actually liked it, it was durable and my husband could comfortably walk while pushing it, you’ll find that some strollers are just designed for women, and most men have to slouch to push them.

We had a sit and stand with our second, and I hated it. It’s wheels were too small so they sucked in gravel or grass, and got stuck everywhere.
I had a Peg Perego second hand, and it was my favorite by far. It was perfect.

With our third we went for the jogging stroller. I got a Graco one because it’s what was comfortable for both me and my husband. Did I jog with it? No. Was it easy to maneuver? Yes. Also heavy and awkward to open and close. And takes a ton of space.

I also have a double stroller that I got on Amazon, can’t even remember the name, but’s it is about that memorable.... eh.

This is the one ticket item I really recommend that you splurge on. Get a good one that you really like. We literally have 4 strollers out in our garage, but I’m reminiscing about my Peg Perego, and I think I’m going to go for it. Then I’m starting to wonder... how often will I use it if Covid is still rampant and there isn’t a vaccine? Sigh.

Also! Make sure you get a more basic small/umbrella stroller for traveling or quick trips that you can leave in the back of your car. Not the super cheap flimsy ones, but target has a $30 one that is great for traveling.

texas_t · October 2020

@yellingbanana Yes about the umbrella/travel stroller. We got one when Babies R Us was going out of business and we just have to gate check it at the airport.

yellingbanana · October 2020

I wish there was a place I could go try all these strollers out. I’m a little lost without Babies R Us this time around.

Any suggestions? Seattle area.

mkc3888 · October 2020

@yellingbanana nothing is as good as Babbies R us in my opinion, but buy buy baby is the only thing I've seen similar. Do you have one nearby?

mrosek91 · October 2020

We got the Graco Air 3 with out first, I loved the fact that if the baby was sleep I could just click the car seat into it and didn't have to wake him. It was also really light, and easy to maneuver. We still use it the rare times we need a single, and it's great.
When #2 was born we got the City Mini double GT, and it's also great. A bit bulky, and heavy, but nothing unreasonable for a double stroller and it fits through your standard doorway when open. We also bought the convertor that allows us to attach the Graco car seat. We decided to go for the GT because we regularly go on a walk that requires us to go "off path" over some dirt and tree roots, but if you're planning on sticking to paved roads I know some people who are very happy with the regular.

gusgus14 · October 2020

We got a BOB jogging stroller with out first and love it. We've never actually jogged with it but it's great if you're not strolling on pavement (or even if you are). We aren't planning on getting a second or a double for the twins. We don't go a lot of places where we need strollers and the zoo is probably the only place I see us going earlier on. We're going to get the car seat stroller/cart thing that goes with our infant seat since it's right around $100 and that way we have that and our BOB for walks during maternity leave (our oldest will be at daycare). Then when the new babies are old enough we'll just get one of those big wagons that you can strap them into. Those are expensive but we'll sell off some of the newborn stuff once we're at that point to fund part of it.

yellingbanana · October 2020

@mkc3888 just looked it up and there IS one! It’s about a 45 minute drive (pending no traffic). But I’d say that is worth it!

texas_t · October 2020

@gusgus14 Have you seen these? https://www.bestbuy.com/site/baby-trend-snap-n-go-double-frame-silver-black/6381849.p?skuId=6381849&ref=212&loc=1&ref=212&loc=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8rT8BRCbARIsALWiOvSy1KuhPs4OfNf7rwpQrBsXRuodvhnssZj74oNcmeazuo_wQDbUU2QaAlMSEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

gusgus14 · October 2020

@texas_t I had not! Might be something to look into.

texas_t · October 2020

@gusgus14 Just a thought in case y'all want to go for a walk for something during maternity leave! You may be able to find one on marketplace or nextdoor.

ckmb_1250 · October 2020

@texas_t @gusgus14 I’m definitely getting one of those snap n go’s for when I don’t want to lug and entire stroller around.

Wondering though if anyone has had a side-by-side double stroller with a bassinet attachment that they’ve liked?? That’s what I’m leaning towards this time, maybe a CityMini.

kiki047 · October 2020

Wooo this is the spotlight I've been waiting for. Please excuse the dumb questions from this FTM...

1. Bassinet - how important is it/how often will I actually use it vs. just keeping them in the carrier? Granted I'm envisioning having somewhere to go, which would necessitate taking the car/baby being in the carrier, and who knows what that'll be like with Covid. If we were just walking around the neighbourhood I'd assume I'd use a bassinet in the beginning. Andplusalso some of them are detachable so I could potentially also use the same bassinet inside with a stand. Actually useful or nah?

2. We anticipate we're going to travel a lot once it's safe to do so but realistically that could still be 12+ months away. At what point would you prioritize a good travel stroller over something to push around the neighbourhood/keep in your car? How many people realistically have more than one stroller for this reason?

alexandraseattle · October 2020

@yellingbanana the buybuybaby in Tukwila is worth the trip!!

alexandraseattle · October 2020

We love our uppababy vista. I’ll be getting the attachment to add another baby and the skateboard attachment too for when my son is a little bit older.

texas_t · October 2020

@kiki047 We have 4 strollers, lmao. A Britax B-Agile (that came with our Britax carseat as a travel system), a jogging stroller, a travel stroller, and the Joovy stroller and half. I haven't used the B-Agile with my second at all, but I used it all the time with the first one. A travel system is great bc we didn't have to purchase any additional parts to pop in the carseat. We didn't use the travel stroller with our first until he outgrew the infant seat. Then, the only time we used the travel stroller was when we flew bc you can gate check it. We still take it with us when we fly even though we have two. (I wear the youngest and push the 5 year old in the stroller because it's WAY easier at the airport). Jogging stroller we would take on a walk because it was easy to push because of the rubber wheels. And you probably already read my rave review regarding the Joovy. Basically, it just depends on you and your preferences.

In the last 5 years, if I had to give one of the strollers away, it would be the jogging stroller.

yellingbanana · October 2020

@kiki047 and @texas_t we also have 4 strollers! One jogger, one double side by side, and two sturdy toddler ones - summer 3Dlite (I like this one for everything!), and I think our other one is Babytrend (because we forgot our stroller on a road trip to San Francisco). We’ve been through a lot of strollers though. My husband likes the jogger (Graco click connect), but it’s so awkward and big I just use our summer one. But I still want a better one... can’t help it.

littlelibelula · October 2020

@kiki047 to be honest about bassinets my first baby spent a long time in a graco
Pack n play but if I had had a bassinet I would have used it a lot, but I would recommend a stand. I found my crib obselete for a while, since the pack n play was so useful as a sleep space. So a bassinet can be useful, not only for the stroller.
However, since I didn't have the bassinet I used the carseat attachment and he slept in there a lot more than recommended.

I bought mine thinking it would be like my car, but then I realized that my neighborhood had no sidewalks to get to the mall just a 10 minute walk away, and strollers don't fit in buses here. Insert rant here. So I thought I wouldn't use it. But it turns out it was great for just wandering around the neighbourhood, I would totally recommend one especially if walking will be part of your post partum plan.

@alexandraseattle We have an uppababy Cruz, but sometimes I wish it was a Vista. But I got it second-hand and Vista is a little harder to find. But the attachment options are pretty exciting.

The funny thing about this is, I loved my stroller, but then got into babywearing and I'm wondering if I will just not use my stroller. Maybe I'll baby wear the baby and push the toddler.

texas_t · October 2020

@littlelibelula I'm an avid babywearer and wore the little and pushed the toddler quite a bit! It's still nice having the Joovy we have because there are definitely times we ride and wear and ride and wear in the same outing, lol.

kiki047 · October 2020

Thank you ladies!

@texas_t ok that makes me feel better about the possibility that we'll eventually have more than one lol. This being our first, we are looking at strollers like the Uppababy Vista or the Baby Jogger can convert to a double or triple, and I added the Joovy Caboose to the list too. I like that they have the accessories to add-on to the configuration as needed. I do also plan on babywearing but I'm pretty petite and I travel with a lot of crap so I feel like I'm going to always want some kind of stroller even if I'm just popping out quickly.
@littlelibelula thank you for the tips on the bassinet. I would definitely get a stand for it, so that part is really appealing to me. We definitely plan to walk a lot, especially since I'm due end of May so the weather will be nice in June, andplusalso if Covid is still around I think outdoor socially-distanced walks/hangouts will probably be our socialization method of choice over indoor gatherings.

nbcarlson · October 2020

I saw the Graco Modes Nest travel system that looks really awesome, anyone have insight?

yellingbanana · October 2020

I’ve had a few Graco infant seats and travel systems, I’ve liked them overall. I like the seats better than the stroller but it’s also been a few years and they seemed to have updated them quite a bit.

I’m debating if we should get a Graco or Britax travel system. I think I’ll be going to Bye Bye Baby to check them out with DH.

asf0613 · October 2020

as a FTM, it seems like the best way to go is getting a travel system, and then getting something more travel friendly if needed? any arguments against travel systems?

asf0613 · October 2020

also to add, it seems like all travel systems come with an infant seat good for up to 35lbs...so i should expect to buy a larger seat as well for the car to go with my travel system?

texas_t · October 2020

@asf0613 I'm confused about what you're asking! If you buy a travel
system, it typically comes with the stroller, infant seat and a base. So the only thing you should potentially need now is a base for another car. You shouldn't need to purchase another car seat until you're tired of lugging them around in an infant seat, which will be way under that weight limit of 35 lbs.

asf0613 · October 2020

@texas_t sorry that was definitely confusing! i've been down a rabbit hole of car seats and strollers!!!

i guess that travel system becomes the most cost effective option as opposed to buying just a stroller without coordinating infant car seat? is there any reason not to get a travel system then?

texas_t · October 2020

@asf0613 Some people are particular about a stroller and don't like the coordinating seat and vice versa.

Ultimately, for a first baby, it is one of the best deals. We got the Britax set and we used the infant seat with our first and second kiddo, so it was an especially good deal!

yellingbanana · October 2020

@asf0613 I love travel systems! I’ve been researching some since it’s been 4 years since my last little. Things change a lot in that time!

The infant car seat up to 35lbs is usually good until you’re baby turns 1 or so, depending on their height and weight. Then you get the bigger infant/toddler car seats that go up to usually about 50/60 lbs. I usually end up with a Graco travel system, then a bigger Britax toddler seat. But I’m considering all Britax this time. Or maybe something fancy, idk. Once we find out the gender, I’ll be going to Bye Bye Baby to try some out, with DH because he likes sturdy strollers.

mkc3888 · October 2020

@asf0613 we got a travel system last time and really liked it. I plan to use it this time too. I just need to see if I can find our bases for the carseat and make sure it's still clean since it was put in storage without being in a bag or anything. It was definitely most cost effective for us.

mimser · November 2020

Does anyone have feedback on the Mountain buggy swift? This is what I think we'll go with, if I can find any, they seem a bit hard to find this year..

spartan4life · November 2020

@asf0613 we have the Chicco KeyFit travel system and really liked it. I felt like the carseat had good reviews and high safety ratings.

asf0613 · November 2020

soo we actually made a decision here and bought the uppababy vista! i just need to get the carseat but will wait on that.

i bought it yesterday and was popping on here to show the great deal i got and share it (link in spoiler) but now its out of stock. might be worth signing up for email alert though for such a good deal:

https://www.albeebaby.com/uppababy-vista-stroller-henry-blue-marl-silver-saddle-leather.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=googlepla&gclid=Cj0KCQiAqdP9BRDVARIsAGSZ8AldzvMQp5kQT_1V6QbjaxLOXV-ZBXzSp7KA4_UHV04RWQYdUCMTGVIaAod4EALw_wcB

mimser · November 2020

Good job @asf0613!

ec1212 · November 2020

@asf0613 that is a great deal!! We got the Cruz (well, we registered for it and our amazing family generously got it for us). Oddly excited about it. Most of our friends here have it and feel like it's the best for all the various street/park surfaces we'll travel over. Living in a walking city, we'll use the stroller more than we use our car so very happy to be getting it. Registered for the infant car seat as well. We'll get the Britax click-tight when he grows out of it.

ccmrc143 · November 2020

Throwing a wrench in the stroller discussion here—I’ve been reading that it’s perhaps smart for FTMs of infants to just buy an infant car seat + a stroller frame (with Graco you can get any of their infant seats plus either their 3 or 4 wheel stroller frame for like $89). That way, when you are actually ready for a real stroller without an infant seat, you have time to truly know what you need and want. Has anyone gone this route? Thoughts? The biggest problem I see with it is that it only works for baby #1!

texas_t · November 2020

@ccmrc143 I feel like that's a lot of effort, lol. I'd just go to Target and push around a stroller and find the set you like! Lol. Also, I'm lazy.

mrosek91 · November 2020

@ccmrc143 we never bothered with that, it just seems like another thing to spend money on, and to find storage for. Also, you never know when they're going to be ready for the stroller, for us it felt like all of a sudden one day it was oh you're big enough let's just put you in the stroller.

littlelibelula · November 2020

@mrosek91 Exactly!
Mine was in the stroller within a week.

Mind you it was the Uppababy Cruz and it has a really good incline, although not 180° and babies aren't supposed to sleep in the car seat, because they need to be flat on their back for SIDS prevention. So you really need a real stroller from day one. I really wanted the Vista because it automatically came with the bassinet, which a great attachment for sleeping. But I'm cheap and good only find a second hand Cruz at the price I wanted.

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