Strollers - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[prairie girl]

As much as I wanted someone to just tell me the 'perfect' stroller, everyone was right in saying we need to decide what we wanted/needed and try them out. That became my obsession this last weekend with a number of store visits & tons of internet reading & video watching.

We've decided to go with the Britax B-Agile http://www.britax.ca/strollers/b-agile. It has bigger wheels than a typical stroller, which is good for our winter sidewalks, but not huge air filled tires which would take up too much space in our small car trunk. We also liked the Baby Jogger City Mini, but both of us noticed we were kicking the metal bar between the rear tires. Plus the B-Agile clicks together when folded more easily and stands up when folded. Also, the videos on the company website were super helpful in understanding how it works without having to rely on absent or pushy store salespeople. As a newer product (I think it first came out for 2011), we don't expect to find one second hand.

We will also buy a cheapier umbrella second hand.

In terms of used options, I also recommend checking if your local community has any 'auction' sites on Facebook. I've just discovered (and become obsessed with) one in my city. It's basically a FB group where people post items for a limited time auction and at the end time of each auction, the highest bid wins. This site has lots of baby items & clothes being listed. So far I've seen lots of great deals.

[scowgirl]

We got overwhelmed trying to decide on strollers and car seats this weekend, and decided to go with Consumer Reports advice and Amazon reviews and stuff. For strollers, we ended up registering for the Baby Trend Expedition LX for a jogging stroller (it was so much cheaper than the others that if its performance is even halfway decent I'll be happy), and the Mia Moda Facile for a more portable stroller. Hope it works out!  Of course, if we don't receive them as gifts, then we will have more time to figure something out anyway.

[XanaduMama]

Which car seat did you decide on?

[scowgirl]

The Chicco KeyFit 30 for the infant seat, and we put the Graco Nautilus on the list too just in case someone feels the need to buy us one now for when the baby is older (I doubt it).

I'd definitely hear arguments to the contrary, though, if anyone has any... still time to change the registry. I pored over the car seat thread but was unable to come to a conclusion on the infant seat for whatever reason. I considered the convertible seats (would probably be nice in our small-ish cars) but was too nervous about not having the removable infant carrier feature. Car seats have been probably the most daunting thing to decide on, since I am having to go from knowing basically nothing whatsoever about them, to deciding what the safest option is for my baby. Too much pressure! 

[XanaduMama]

Well, you're going to need a convertible in between the infant seat and the Nautilus, assuming you're wanting to keep your babe RFing as long as possible (at least 2 years is now recommended, or to the weight limit of your seat). The Nautilus is FF only. So that's something to consider in deciding to go with the bucket seat rather than starting with a convertible--you'll eventually need a convertible anyway. ds was very quickly a giant baby and outgrew his bucket seat by 4mo or so, I think it was. Personally, what I tell people is that they should try to borrow an infant seat (if they're determined to go with that option), and rather register for a good convertible with extended RFing capability. Another option (which we did sometimes when dd was little) was to use the convertible seat from day 1 and keep a bucket seat thingy in the trunk for the rare occasions when you might want a seat for baby outside of the car, like in a restaurant.

They're all more or less as "safe" as one another, with the exception that the longer baby RFs, the safer; and the longer they can stay in harness FFing, the safer.

ETA: I see the Chicco has a weight limit of 30lbs. Realistically, your kid is likely going to outgrow the seat by height long before s/he hits 30lbs, so you're not going to be able to use this seat until your LO is 2 or older, which is how long you want them to be RFing.

[Altair]

We love the Bugaboo Bee. Not the cheapest stroller, but a good stroller is a MUST in NYC because it is basically your car. It has to hold a weeks worth of groceries and anything else you pick up along the way while still being able to push daily and not tip over! We lived on a 3rd floor walk up when we had him so we got a maclaren volo also for me alone on the steps or for the subway.

[scowgirl]

This is good food for thought... I thought I had the terminology down but it seems I was still confused. I also didn't think of the outgrowing by height issue even though I remember now that it was mentioned in the car seat thread. I guess I need to do some more research. Thanks!
 

Originally Posted by XanaduMama 

Well, you're going to need a convertible in between the infant seat and the Nautilus, assuming you're wanting to keep your babe RFing as long as possible (at least 2 years is now recommended, or to the weight limit of your seat). The Nautilus is FF only. So that's something to consider in deciding to go with the bucket seat rather than starting with a convertible--you'll eventually need a convertible anyway. ds was very quickly a giant baby and outgrew his bucket seat by 4mo or so, I think it was. Personally, what I tell people is that they should try to borrow an infant seat (if they're determined to go with that option), and rather register for a good convertible with extended RFing capability. Another option (which we did sometimes when dd was little) was to use the convertible seat from day 1 and keep a bucket seat thingy in the trunk for the rare occasions when you might want a seat for baby outside of the car, like in a restaurant.

They're all more or less as "safe" as one another, with the exception that the longer baby RFs, the safer; and the longer they can stay in harness FFing, the safer.

ETA: I see the Chicco has a weight limit of 30lbs. Realistically, your kid is likely going to outgrow the seat by height long before s/he hits 30lbs, so you're not going to be able to use this seat until your LO is 2 or older, which is how long you want them to be RFing.

[Altair]

There is always more to know about car seats, it's a never ending learning curve!  I'd stick with getting an infant seat now if you see yourself ever using it outside of the car (or if you travel or want to be able to install it in other cars) and then worry about what convertible will work best for your car and baby's size when you outgrow it. It can be hard to make car seat decisions that aren't immediately in front of us! 

We've been happy with the Graco snug rides (had a 22 last time but doing a 30 or 35 this time) for the infant seat.  When he didn't like being in it anymore (by about 7-8 months if memory serves me correctly) we researched what would work for his long body and our car and we got a True Fit Premiere, which we've been so happy with.  It kept him RFing until 2.5, when he outgrew it RFing by weight.  

If you do want to get a convertible from the beginning, make sure you double check with the car seat board as to which ones realistically fit a newborn (because the shoulder straps must be below the shoulders when RFing, so some of the seats say they fit a newborn but the shoulder straps are too high).  There are many that you can use from the beginning.  If you're going to be traveling the first year, an infant seat does make that much easier!  

[scowgirl]

Response on car seat thread--thank you so much to you both for all your help!

[lbkw]

Just my preference on strollers - I lean toward the ones that have a single handle so you can push one handed if needed.

It's hard to get on an umbrella stroller, though.