So I am debating on getting a double all-terrain stroller (like a jogger but the front wheel will swivel) and it's made me think of how horrible stroller shopping is. Does the perfect stroller exist? When my first was born we thought we just HAD to have the stroller that could fit the car seat in it. While it was a great stroller we only used it with the car seat a handful of times. Then when #2 came along we went cheap and got 2 umbrella strollers and a little gadget that connected them. I started dreaming of my double jogger stroller after a 2.5 mile walk one morning with the kiddies in the umbrella strollers...no fun at all. This would be our 3rd stroller though and I can't really seem to convince myself that going through 3 strollers in 3 years is very affordable or practical. I know some moms that have gone through LOTS of strollers.
I know some opt for the sit and stand version...what do you like best? Is there a certain brand that you love? Do you think it is outrageous that some strollers are $800?? What would you recommend to new moms? Personally, I would tell them to buy a double stroller from the get go and make it an all-terrain one at that...but that's just me.
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Strollers, strollers, strollers! We've also had our share of strollers within the last 3 years, the latest being a sit and stand one (a two-kid stroller with a normal seat with tray in the front and a seat in the back that also has a standing platform for a little older child). We were debating between this and a jogging stroller, but went with this one because I was scared of having them so close together for long walks - it seemed there would be a definite possibility of sibling violence. But, I'm glad we did get the sit and stand one because it has been a lifesaver with our 3-year-old. She can sit when she's tired and get out easily when she wants to walk. Before we could barely keep her in the stroller, but now we can go on really long walks. Anyways, we've been thinking about getting a jogging stroller too for running, but I'm not sure if it really works with two kids - how do people make it work? Is the little kid in the pair safe?
I have yet to find the perfect stroller for me. We have gone through our fair share of strollers too. When Ian was an infant I just bought one of those stroller frames to set his car seat in. We loved that. It still had cup holders, a basket underneath for your purse and bags, was super light weight, didn't take up much room in cars, and was easy to maneuver. My stroller pet peeves are... if they are too heavy, the wheels are hard to turn, are too big to maneuver around a store, and don't have a cup holder or a large enough basket. I have a serious jogger stroller, it was a hand me down. We use it almost everyday to go on neighborhood walks but it doesn't collapse so we can't take it anywhere! It was free. We usually use the umbrella when we go places but I don't want to take it to Disney World because it doesn't have the cup holder or basket. What to do. I don't have the double issue for a while yet. My friend has a double jogger and her kids seem to survive being near each other. I will ask her about it. I wouldn't suggest a jogger to a new mom as their only stroller due to the size, weight, and difficulty taking it to malls or stores. I guess everyone's needs are different.
Well, I don't know if I really have any advice on this area, but here's my 2 cents. When I had my first baby, I got a Combi, it came with all I wanted, and I could fit the car seat in. The back lays down, so when my little guy was small and out of the car seat, he could sleep or whatever. What I have LOVED about my stroller is that it is compact. It is basically a really nice umbrella stroller. It has survived us being extremely rough with it, numerous trips to Utah, and miles and miles of walking. I have loved the light weight, and compact way it folds up. It has a strap so when it's folded up, I can carry over my shoulder. It is VERY easy to maneuver around malls, it never hits the clothing racks :), and I can manage it myself. I've already decided that when baby #2 rolls around, I'm getting the double (one in front, one in back) Combi. My only complaint is that I wish the basket underneath was slightly larger. I don't have the jogger issue because I also got a hand-me down, and we just invested in a bike trailer/jogger/stroller. So, I think we are set. This is a great question though!
My first stroller was an Evenflo travel system with the infant carseat. I hated everything about it except the huge basket underneath that was easily accessible even if the seat was reclined all the way back. But-my first stroll around the park was a disaster!!!! I got to the farthest side and the back wheel just came off!!!!! my baby was maybe 2 weeks old so I was still miserable and of course I had her in the carseat in the stroller.
Next we bought a cheap umbrella like stroller except it folded in half instead of gathering like an umbrella. I liked it better since it was small but had a basket under the seat and a mesh basket for keys/cups/phone on the handle. But then # 2 came along and we barrowed a graco dual glider which I hated more than the Evenflo. I felt like I was pushing a tourist bus wheich would be impossible to turn if the older, more heavier, child sat in the front. The basket underneath was impossible to get to, and there was no cup holder for the thirsty me! We tossed the strollers with our cross-country move and just recently, when we were faced with the dillema of hanging around Washington DC for a week with 2 toddlers, my husband bought me a sit-n-stand. LOVE IT!! Everything about it. The only thing I would change is put big jogging wheels on it! It's shorter than the dual glider so it's like phushing a short bus instead of the traveling tourist bus. The basket is huge and easy to get to. There are 2 cup holders and a little compartment with a snap shut lid. I love the tray on the front seat because it can come off easy, and open from either side!! Also, the straps are a 5 point system so you can put your baby securely in the stroller. It can hold a carseat if you have the adapter bar, but then you can't use the sit-n-stand part. So there you have it. And I have tried to run with jogging strollers singe and double, but I am a running snob and I like to be able to move my arms freely and you can't do that and stear, too. But the big wheels are great for off roading! Not so great for shopping. OH!!! I go shopping with the sit-n-stand and I have put 2 gallons of milk in the basket underneath and when my oldest doesn't want to ride I use the seat to put things (diaper bag, cooler, suitcase, coats, shopping bags-we learned a lot of handy uses for the stroller in DC.) So there you have my thoughts.
OK, I am at the same place Shalee is. The only problem is that I have 2 boys and I can tell you right now that a sit n stand with my guy is just going to have me running after him with a stroller!! Does anyone have any good jogging strollers? I was thinking about one like Shalee is talking about but they are spendy!!
Actually, I found a lot for $200...which I realize isn't pocket change but also isn't nearly as bad as I was imagining ($800.) I'm looking at the instep safari but I don't know??! It looks like the sit n ride is about $118.
I'm so glad this topic got posted...I'm in the same boat. We have our "green stroller" (the graco travel system that the carseat can snap into). We also have the awesome "orange stroller", which we bought in germany after seeing how small it can fold up (it is called a Quinny and it folds up so TINY!). and then we also have "the window stroller" (a burley bike trailer with a jogging attachment) it's nice because geoff takes it out for bike rides, and I use that for running and for long walks--we bought a double right away since we figured eventually we'd need to put another kid in there. right now we just put Quinn and her gigantic stuffed clifford dog in there. :) i dont' think there's any such thing as the perfect stroller...but i'd love to be proven wrong. at this point i'm contemplating a sling or a baby pack for this new baby (to be born in sept) and the orange stroller for Quinn? oh i don't know!! i think i didn't help but at least you're not alone, shalee!
This is a good question. I love my umbrella strollers for when I'm in a hurry or going somewhere where's there's not a lot of space. But I really want a good double stroller too that has a basket and drink holder, etc! The one I have is horrible! It seats one child in front of the other and it's just too long and bulky. I hate pushing it! So... avoid that one! :) Otherwise I've heard of people who just love the sit and stand ones or if you can find one skinny enough with the kids sitting next to each other I think that's what I'd go with. My only concern about those is if it fits through doorways!
Great question! We know we want a sit & stand one, but I don't know anyone who has had one. Have any of you heard recommendations?
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