Strollers...

[candelaria80]

I was browsing threads today and happened upon a lot of negative comments about strollers.
I am an occasional stroller user, DD never really liked them so we haven't used it too much, but I don't really get the hate? Is it because you should be wearing your babe? Is it too distant? Is it a physical development thing? I have to say, I sort of envy the mom who has the baby who can sit in the stroller quietly while she shops.
Can someone give me the low down?

[Ninetales]

It's probably a bit of all of the above. I think also a lot of times, people see them as overused. And sometimes they are. I can't comment for sure because I do have one - a frame that my car seat snaps into. I don't use it all the time. When we walk to the corner store to pick up a few things I like it because it has the basket for my stuff. On our big weekly grocery trip I wear her. When we walk alone I wear her, but if my mother-in-law is with us I use the stroller so Elsa can see us both. If she's sleeping I use the stroller, or if we're going to be quick, so I don't have to mess with her straps. I think I use it in moderation.

[tracymom1]

Sometimes I use a stroller and sometimes I use the Ergo. It just depends on my mood, DD's mood, what we are doing/where we are going, how hot it is outside, etc... sometimes she wants to be close to mama and other times she just wants her own space. I think that being able to respond appropriately to your child's varying needs is the entire point of AP parenting. I would never try to contain her in the sling if she was kicking to get out, nor would I leave her in the stroller if she needed some snuggles.

I don't get the hatred for strollers. I think they have their time and place - especially during toddlerhood when the kids are getting too heavy to carry around for long periods of time and get tired walking for long stretches.

Balance... its all about balance!

[Ldogg]

I'm another fan of balance! DD actually kind of loves her stroller (which I wasn't planning on using very much). I use it in moderation, and in addition to babywearing (which, unfortunately, she doesn't love as much, but I can get her to do it sometimes).

I mostly was not psyched about it because it seemed so complicated, and I hate having a lot of crap around the house. But I too don't really get why people are so vehemently against them, so thanks for your post!

[Nicole730]

I am not against strollers, but, for me, I am against carrying around the infant car seat. Whether that be in a stroller or just carrying it. I just think it sucks to be in a carseat to get to your destination and then just getting clicked out of the car and into a stroller and then back into the car. DS also never fell asleep in the car, so I would not have liked to leave him in there while awake at all. DD does sleep in the car, so I have occasionally brought her into a quick lunch in her carseat, if I was pretty sure she'd stay asleep the whole time. But at 3 months old, I've only done it 4 times. In addition to me liking to hold/wear my babies - I also hate how clunky and awkward I feel lugging that carseat around. With DS I did it like 10 times total.

We do have a small stroller we use occasionally that I like to store the diaper bag on. DS doesn't really like to sit in it and DD is too little.

[Snapdragon]

I KWYM OP!
the other day I was using a small stroller in my hippiesh town to do a couple of errands with my little baby. I was using it because my back isn't great right now and it was too much strain on my back to do the errands wearing him. I swear I got dirty looks form another mom when I wasmaneuvering it down some stairs into a store!! I wasn't sure if I was imagining it. I also kept thinking other people were judging me on it cause ds is so young. But like I said it was the best way I could manage. I was thinking the same thing as you- so what if I use this tool to get around? I mostly hold him so much of the day at home- I think it is lame when other moms act holier than thou and make judgements when for all they know everyone is just coping and doing the best they can.

[maptome]

DD loves the stroller and hates being worn, so we stroll. It's a no-brainer for me. I feel like some times people get two didactic with all this AP stuff. IMO.

[tzs]

while i sometimes think that a stroller can be a huge piece of equipment just to transport a small baby i love mine and use it all the time. so there.

listen, i would love to wear my babe all the time. it would be so much more convenient but i have back and other health issues that make it impossible. i don;t think it would be better that my back go out like it did while wearing her as a newborn and then not be able to hold her at all. plus, she loves it and the vantage point it gives her to look wherever she wants and there have been times when it has been an indispensible sleep device.

as far as carrying the carseat....although i've been theoretically against it (flat head, impeding gross motor development...) i had a winter babe and it was so much easier on both of us to not have to get her in and out of the seat in the freezing cold standing in a slushy snowbank. especially since she would never fail to fall asleep in there. once the weather got nicer of course i stopped lugging it around, those things ARE cumbersome.

[Nicole730]

Originally Posted by tzs

i had a winter babe and it was so much easier on both of us to not have to get her in and out of the seat in the freezing cold standing in a slushy snowbank. especially since she would never fail to fall asleep in there. once the weather got nicer of course i stopped lugging it around, those things ARE cumbersome.

I have had two spring babies, so not cold or snowy, which I'm sure would change my opinion. One of the times I did keep DS in the carseat it was below zero with the windchill and he was sleeping. There was no reason to expose him to that.

[Catubodua]

i don't understand the hatred either. i love mine, love it! and i am not going to apologize or feel guilty about using it.

the fact that i have one and use it doesn't mean i never hold my son or that i never wear him or i'm keeping him away from me. it just means i have this great tool that helps us get around.

[tzs]

to NICOLE730,
we're 'sconies too (milwaukee)! so i guess you understand the weather issues....

[akind1]

I have a Maclaren, which is basically a fancy umbrella stroller. DS loves it, most of the time. I do wear him in the ergo or moby too, depending on the mood. Could I live without it? probably

now, bucket seats and travel systems . . . I don't love them. I have a bucket, but it is staying clicked in the car, now that DS is sitting well on his own. It was convinient for restaurants before he wanted to be "at" the table with us. and to put in the shopping cart for trips. but we don't use it anymore. I carry him now. I really, really, hate carting the bucket. But that is a personal preference.

You have to use what tools you have to parent the best you can. Strollers, carriers, whatever.

[catters]

Did anyone see the movie "Away we Go" ? In one scene Maggie Gyllenhaal is very opposed to strollers, "Why would I want to PUSH my baby away from me". LOL. Humorously, she was portraying a character living in the city in which I currently reside (known for its hippie friendly vibe).

*sigh. I love strollers. They have lots of good uses. I'm not a huge fan of infant car seats, too clunky, but I have two small children and a stroller is a necessity. I walk my stroller (with my children) to the grocery store, down to the parks, for exercise and even to just get out of the house, etc. If I'm just with one child and don't need to carry a ton of stuff, I'll either let them walk or I've got the Ergo, or sometimes I'll just put them in it to calm them down and unwind as we make our way through the neighborhood to see what we can see.

Sometime this stuff gets nuts.

[Katie T]

Originally Posted by tracymom1

Sometimes I use a stroller and sometimes I use the Ergo. It just depends on my mood, DD's mood, what we are doing/where we are going, how hot it is outside, etc... sometimes she wants to be close to mama and other times she just wants her own space. I think that being able to respond appropriately to your child's varying needs is the entire point of AP parenting. I would never try to contain her in the sling if she was kicking to get out, nor would I leave her in the stroller if she needed some snuggles.

I don't get the hatred for strollers. I think they have their time and place - especially during toddlerhood when the kids are getting too heavy to carry around for long periods of time and get tired walking for long stretches.

Balance... its all about balance!

This exactly!

[treeoflife3]

I really like using strollers... not when my bebe was still in an infant seat really, but now that she is bigger. She loves riding in it and it is SO much easier to use than wrapping and tying and dragging fabric on the ground to wear her. I love babywearing but I'm just not very good at it and the bigger she gets, the harder it gets.

Plus, I think she prefers her stroller anyway.. at least for awhile.. then she wants to be held or to walk.

[paintedfire]

Originally Posted by catters

Did anyone see the movie "Away we Go" ? In one scene Maggie Gyllenhaal is very opposed to strollers, "Why would I want to PUSH my baby away from me". LOL. Humorously, she was portraying a character living in the city in which I currently reside (known for its hippie friendly vibe).

I love that movie! I considered her role to be especially funny considering that she was a breast-feeding, cloth-diapering mama herself. She remarked on this in interviews, too, if I'm not mistaken. It was meant to be taken as a satire, and I thought it worked. I still can't think about sea horses without laughing.

I live in Brooklyn, so I plan on buying a stroller and using it some, but also slinging quite a bit. To be fair, my babe won't be born until January so they could hate the sling and love the stroller or vise versa. We shall see.

I'm currently leaning towards a Bugaboo Cameleon because it looks like the perfect farmer's market shopping cart.

[november]

For me, it's just another one of those 'everything in moderation' mommy gadgets. WONDERFUL in certain situations but shouldn't be used as a crutch. It gets hot, hot, hot here this time of year and I flat out cannot wear DD all the time. Sorry, she's over 18lbs, it's 95 degrees and hotter (will be in the 100's soon), and that's not comfortable for her OR me if we're going to be outside for a long period of time. I tried to wear her while grocery shopping but she's much more content in the cart where she can turn, wiggle, and gawk at people more easily, lol. She is very much going through a I-dont-want-to-hold-still phase so babywearing has gone down a lot lately. I haven't tried wearing her on my back yet so maybe I should see if she digs that a little more than front carries now.

However, I can count on one hand the number of times we've used the stroller so I'm not going to beat myself up over it, lol!

[octobermom]

My current LO overall would rather be sling/wear her than be in a stroller however there are times I do use it and I'm VERY happy to own one. My first LOVED her stroller and wasn't too keen on being worn when say on an outting. I forced her to deal with being in a sling because it was sosposly the best... I no longer care I'll do what feels best for us and the situation I'm in.


Deanna

[Snapdragon]

can anyone recommend a good small stroller for a relaly LO (almost 3 months)?
I got this one I love but for one thing. It is a cosco umbrella type-ish- nice and small and light and it has a good sun visor and stuff- but the handle on it is so short it is nearly impossible to push! I have no idea why it is designed that way. I would love something similar but w- a higher handle. I ahve tried ammending the handle but it didn't turn out great
http://www.coscojuvenile.com/usa/eng...lla-Strollers/
similar to the 1st one on here but different color

[akind1]

the maclaren's all have nice high handles, and you can get one for not to much $$$ the one I have is this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Maclaren-Quest...5654396&sr=1-8

Target has some nice options also. There is a Maclaren (pricier than mine, which I chose because it is useful from 3 months and has a recline feature) that has adjustable handles.

DH is 6'6" and finds the handles to be fine height wise, as do I and I am not even 5'