Stroller Advice

[BMG580]

First, I don't want to get into a discussion about strollers and if they are good or bad or what. I hardly used a stroller with my DD but I am finding that with a very mobile 18 month old son I NEED to use a stroller for some errands. The library, for instance. The problem is that we have a McClaren Quest stroller and there is sort of a bar in the front of the seat underneath his legs. He can simply push his feet against that and gain leverage and stand straight up out of the straps.

Is there any lightweight stroller that is reasonably affordable that will allow me to tighten the straps on him enough that he can't escape? The McClaren straps are very loose and they are on the tightest setting. I don't want to squeeze him, I just want a stroller in which the straps actually will function for a young toddler. We have never owned any other stroller, so I am clueless.

Thanks!

[sewchris2642]

He needs to learn to stop doing that. It's not going to matter the brand/style of stroller you get, he will still do the same thing. With the same results of tipping the stroller forward and down on top of him. The average 18 mo is capable of learning to sit in the stroller correctly.

[denimtiger]

Originally Posted by Charbeau

First, I don't want to get into a discussion about strollers and if they are good or bad or what. I hardly used a stroller with my DD but I am finding that with a very mobile 18 month old son I NEED to use a stroller for some errands. The library, for instance. The problem is that we have a McClaren Quest stroller and there is sort of a bar in the front of the seat underneath his legs. He can simply push his feet against that and gain leverage and stand straight up out of the straps.

Is there any lightweight stroller that is reasonably affordable that will allow me to tighten the straps on him enough that he can't escape? The McClaren straps are very loose and they are on the tightest setting. I don't want to squeeze him, I just want a stroller in which the straps actually will function for a young toddler. We have never owned any other stroller, so I am clueless.

Thanks!

I have a Graco one... don't remember the model, but it's an incredibly common one, and inexpensive. It comes as part of a set, with the infant seeat, but I'm pretty sure you can purchase the same or similar model without the travel system. It's easy to operate, has nothing for her to push up on, and you can optionally have a "five point harness" in the straps. The tray also lifts up and over so that a toddler can climb in and out independently when you're ready for that (but you always have to use the straps -- they could slide right out without them).

It comes in about 9,000 different colors. :-) I'm sure you can find it or a similar one in every single store that sells strollers, including secondhand stores.

[elmh23]

We have the Jeep brand umbrella stroller. I think it was $30 at Babies R Us. You can tighten the straps down pretty far. Might be something to look at.

[Drummer's Wife]

My Peg Perego P3 is an awesome stroller, and it has a 5-pt floating harness that is near impossible for escape artists to get out of.

[Fuamami]

Yeah, we have the $10 evil empire generic umbrella stroller with 5-point harness. It's very lightweight. I just hate it because the handles are too short.

[mamalemon]

The P3 isn't cheap, but I agree that it is a fantastic stroller and holds kids in tight.

[SparklingGemini]

Along the same lines of the PP Pliko P3 is the Aria. Its less expensive brand-new but I frequently see them for sale on Craigslist.

We have one and are only now starting to get more use out of it. You're right, some errands are better with a wiggly toddler entertained in a stroller!!!

On a sidenote, one of the things that's helped me at the library is browsing my local library's online catalog and putting a lot of stuff on hold before we ever make a trip. Then I can be assured to get what I want! And the Aria is great and VERY lightweight(7lbs?)

[BMG580]

Originally Posted by SparklingGemini

On a sidenote, one of the things that's helped me at the library is browsing my local library's online catalog and putting a lot of stuff on hold before we ever make a trip. Then I can be assured to get what I want! And the Aria is great and VERY lightweight(7lbs?)

This is what we generally do but we moved to a new state a few weeks ago and had to get set up with library cards yesterday and it was a bit of a nightmare. And the library had all sorts of resources for my 4 year old DD (child sized computers with games, neat puzzles, etc.) and we just couldn't try anything out.

Thanks for the tip about the Aria! I will start looking on Craigslist.

[BMG580]

Originally Posted by sewchris2642

He needs to learn to stop doing that. It's not going to matter the brand/style of stroller you get, he will still do the same thing. With the same results of tipping the stroller forward and down on top of him. The average 18 mo is capable of learning to sit in the stroller correctly.

Sigh. I am not sure if you are sincerely trying to be helpful or you just wanted to be judgmental. It would have been significantly more helpful if you had included an idea of how to keep him in his stroller. I can't say I blame him for not wanting to sit in it, his older sister is out and walking and able to do a lot of neat things because she isn't confined and he wants to do those same things, age appropriate or not.

[ScootchsMom]

I second the jeep stroller that BRU carries. It was fairly cheap, around 30 - 40 bucks, more sturdy than a regular umbrella stroller and the straps go pretty tight, though it is not a 5 point harness. I used it a lot with DD, especially at the mall and the zoo and it worked well and I saved it for DS to use when we no longer use the sit n stand. It was also the only cheap stroller I could find that I could comfortably grip and walk, I have long legs.

[catters]

I might try just getting something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Evenflo-Chest-...8791710&sr=8-3

It's just a chest clip that would keep the shoulder straps closer together. Your MacClaren is a rockin' stroller, I'd keep it! This only costs five dollars, so might be a better option than a new stroller while you work on keeping him happy in the stroller. My DS is turning two this month and sometimes it is a wicked struggle to keep him in his stroller for when the times call for it. I invariably keep DD in her Moby right now (she's 2 months) and my son is a wild one. There's no way I can keep up with him if he decides to bolt, without jiggling my daughter all around. KWIM? Sometimes the stroller is REALLY important. But he totally does that squirming up to standing thing and I know what you mean about almost coming completely out of his straps. I have a Bugaboo and the shoulder straps clip in right at the crotch belt, so there is nothing across the chest, he can get out of them in a snap, so I think I might get one of these too! Good luck!

[LaughingHyena]

DS is 2 1/2 and can climb out of our quest, even with the straps on the tightest settings. Fortunately he's only demonstrated the ability a couple of times.

The chest clip posted by a pp looks like it would work. I also considered shortening the straps. Pinch the excess and sew across. I tried it out with a safety pin and it seemed like it should work.

We actually used our reins (http://www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stor...atalogId=11051) and attached them to the loops on the quest (they are on the webbing just behind where the waist straps go through the cover)

For us it was a short lived phase, only a few months till DS was able to behave out of the pushchair.

[NicoleCS]

Maybe this should be a new thread - but I agree here and would love some advice on this issue too!

It would have been significantly more helpful if you had included an idea of how to keep him in his stroller. I can't say I blame him for not wanting to sit in it, his older sister is out and walking and able to do a lot of neat things because she isn't confined and he wants to do those same things, age appropriate or not.

So how do we get our little ones to stay seated in the stroller. DD2 is an on-the-go babe. As much as she thinks she loves her stroller, as soon as we start out - she wants out...

[Polliwog]

I had that problem with our old stroller so I got this one (except it was on sale and it's grey.) http://www.amazon.com/Evenflo-X-Spor...8806888&sr=1-1 I really like it. Polliwog is not able to get out of it at all.

[mbhf]

I'm not sure how the Quest's straps adjust. I have a Volo though (Maclaren's most stripped down stroller, about $100 at Target) and the straps were super long. It had three sets of shoulder slots. I threaded the straps through the top set towards the back of the stroller, then back through the bottom set towards the front of the stroller, then back through the middle set towards the back of the stroller. That way I was able to get them tight enough on my tiny 2yo. It even fits my 9mo, though she of course doesn't want to ride in it.

[lindberg99]

Are you totally set on using a stroller? I found that at that age, it was much easier to keep a toddler contained in a backpack carrier. My kids were generally happier in the backpack than in a stroller. I don't know what the difference was, maybe that they were up high?

[BMG580]

Originally Posted by lindberg99

Are you totally set on using a stroller? I found that at that age, it was much easier to keep a toddler contained in a backpack carrier. My kids were generally happier in the backpack than in a stroller. I don't know what the difference was, maybe that they were up high?

I am pregnant and he is 27lbs. It just isn't comfortable to carry him for long periods anymore, the Ergo, wraps and MT have all really stopped being functional for me for the time being. If I weren't pregnant this is the route I would be taking!

[SimonMom]

I have a 18 month old who squirms vigourously until he's out of his stroller. He's very intent on getting out and running around. However, he can't get out of our single stroller that has a 5 pt harness with a chest clip.

I disagree that a child this age can learn to sit in a stroller. Maybe the poster who posted that does not have a child whose sole intent is to get out of the stroller now. I have three very very active children and energetic children, and actually the library is one place that my child loves and freaks out if he can't be down playing.

On that note, can you find a way for your toddler to be out and walking around at the library. I go with my toddler, 3 (almost 4) and 6 year old, and we manage. It can be tough, but usually I follow the toddler around while he plays and my other two will play quietly and look at books. I guess it depends on your library. Ours is very much set up for children of all different ages.

Alternatively, how about one of those backpack harnesses. I never used one, and acutally disliked them, until this summer at a major amusement park, and it was a lifesaver! My toddler could walk around and not get lost, and he was so happy to be able to do so! And he would NOT have been happy to sit in the stroller or hold my hand.

HTH!

[sewchris2642]

Originally Posted by Charbeau

Sigh. I am not sure if you are sincerely trying to be helpful or you just wanted to be judgmental. It would have been significantly more helpful if you had included an idea of how to keep him in his stroller. I can't say I blame him for not wanting to sit in it, his older sister is out and walking and able to do a lot of neat things because she isn't confined and he wants to do those same things, age appropriate or not.

No, it wasn't judgmental. I meant it sincerely. But I can't tell you how to keep him in the stroller. That is going to be different for every child and every parent. One of my children always just sat in the stroller quietly, no reminders at all. One had to have a warning at least once to remain in the stroller. And one was a constant struggle to keep in the stroller, 5-point harness or not. Any trip in the stroller meant stopping every 5 minutes (or less) and physically putting him back into the stroller. Or turning around and not going (fortunately that was a real choice; there was always someone home to watch him). Until he learned the self control he needed to sit in the stroller. My granddaughter, Lindsay, knows that if she sits in the stroller, she can walk the last half of the block back to the house at the end of the trip. You will tailor your approach to your child. I would think that teaching your child to sit in the stroller would be cheaper than buying another stroller which would probably not solve the problem. As long as there is a foot rest/bar on the stroller, your child will stand on it.