Mommy SOS | Strollers

1. For our first son, I wanted something simple when he was an infant, the whole travel system thing was huge so we had a frame that his car seat sat on it was PERFECT. After that I again wanted something small and easy, he’s not in it a ton maybe a few times a week for shopping and running errands. I try and leave him at home when I run (it’s my mommy time). Because of that I didn’t want to spend a lot. I picked up a Trensport stroller for $55 at Babies R Us and it’s perfect. We’ve had it about a year now and it’s for sure showing signs of age, it’s going to survive our trip to Disneyland this winter and then go :). But since he’s always walking now he NEVER uses it so I hate to pick up a new one just for the trip. I think I’ll do the same with our next one too.

2. The one we’re considering most seriously is the new Britax coming out in September. It’s going to be called the B-Scene. It’s the newer model of the B-Ready. The main difference is that it has one front wheel. My husband really likes strollers with just one wheel in front because they’re more maneuverable…
   Does anyone know anything about Britax or the current B-Ready? The only downside is that I don’t think any store in AZ carries them… 🙁

   • So Fun Brittany! Just make sure that front wheel swivles! I’ve heard of too many people who buy a stroller that is fixed in front and are super unhappy with it 🙂 Happy shopping!

     • Brittany,

       My Sister is a Britax representative/blogger, and she just got this stroller to review, and LOVES IT. Her review isn’t out yet, but if you want to ask her questions, she would be the best person! She just got back from visiting Britax’s main office for the debut, and got a great presentation! Her blog is http://www.tothinkistocreate.com

3. I was pregnant with our first at just the right time it seemed! It was right when Babystyle was going out of business and I ended up getting a Bugaboo Bee for about $50 (90% off). It wasn’t my first choice, but I couldn’t beat the price-and then actually some girlfriends ended up getting it as a gift for me. I wasn’t so sure about it because 1- it didn’t have a tray for snacks/bottle/water, and 2- it had a VERY small basket underneath. What I do love is that it is VERY light, it folds down in 1 piece, I can have my baby/toddler facing me or facing out, I can have the carseat on the frame or have the seat on the frame, the handlebar adjusts up and down. It is great. Lightweight, very functional. My son fits it very well (but he is small). It also manuveres so nicely! We also were given a Cosco unbrella stroller. I HATE IT. The brakes are difficult to use, it is hard to stear, it doesn’t fold up or unfold very well.

   Now we are having the hard time with if we get a double stroller or not? My son will be 16 months when our daughter is born in December, and I just don’t know if I will really use a double or not.

4. We registered for a Graco travel system when Luke was born and although it’s big and bulky, it got a TON of use! We also got an umbrella stroller which we didn’t use until Luke was walking. This is handy for quick trips to the store, Desert Ridge/shopping or getting through the airport. Even though he prefers to walk now @ 21 months old, it helps to have the stroller for him to sit in if we need to move quickly or through crowded areas. I also bought a jogging stroller (yes, so we have THREE strollers!)(oh and we have a bike trailer too!). I wanted something when the weather got nice and bought a “cheaper” jogging stroller since I knew our family would most likely expand within the next year and a half/two years. We bought a Schwinn and I’ve loved it. I actually prefer to go for walks in it as well and would’ve bought something like this earlier on had I known I would love it so much. I haven’t found it very practical though for trips to the store.
   Now we are on the hunt for a double stroller which we’ll need come December. And I think it’s time to finally get the stroller of my dreams! 🙂 Well, I don’t really dream about it but I have heard wonderful things about the Bob Duallie (not sure which one yet I’ll get yet). We tend to be fairly active outdoors when the weather is nice and I intend on using that puppy for the next few years at the very least so I would like to invest in something that will last. It has been highly recommended to me by other moms of two to also get a cheap tandem or sit n stand for store runs/airport experiences. Even though the older one may prefer to walk by himself, I’m not sure I would fully trust that system until he’s a little older so in the meantime, I’d like to have the option of buckling him in.
   I guess all of that to say: going back I would’ve opted for ONE stroller only – a jogging stroller with the option of carrying an infant seat. 🙂

   • Kristina – I’ve also heard great things about the Bob Dualie and obviously I’m a fan of Bob – HOWEVER – it is crazy wide. That’s the only thing that concerns me about it.. You’d just to have to go check it out first.

5. Oh my gosh, I wrote a lot! 🙂 I also forgot to mention that the dual tandem jogging stroller concerns me only because I can’t imagine having a toddler sitting in the back bottom seat. Maybe baby #2 won’t be as “curious” as Luke is but Luke would never sit back there without complaining! Perhaps someone with two has had a good experience and can share … I’ve always been curious about it!

6. We’ve had….probably more than a dozen strollers in the last 5 years. Yes, I have issues. I also have three kids! So with each child brought new choices and new options. Here’s my take.

   My still absolute favorite stroller that I have owned is the Graco Quattro Tour. The simple fact being it does and has everything. Big basket, cup holders, key and sunglass holders, food tray and cup holders for baby, reclines into three different sitting/laying positions…I could go on with features for a while. That said, the only negative about it is it’s big and heavy. I sold mine a little over a year ago and replaced it with the Quattor Tour Duo when I was expecting my third.

   I used the Duo for about 4 months. It’s now in the garage. While I love all the features, it’s big, bulky, heavy and my 2 year old prefers to walk. So I started researching again and fell in love with the Peg Perego Vela stroller! It’s got a sleek design plus enough features to make me happy plus lite and compact. However, it was a little out of my stroller price range (you couldn’t find them on sale ANYWHERE!) and with the rate I go through stollers my husband just wasn’t willing to indulge me. So with LOTS of research, we ended up with the Dream On Me Tripod stroller – which – I love. So, I’m a happy mommy again with a simple lite compact sleek looking stroller at a very reasonable price 🙂 Until I find the next one… Hah!

   Now can we talk car seats?

7. When I was pregnant, I eventually decided on a Graco travel system, firstly because it was a brand name that I recognized (not that I had necessarily heard good things about it), it was around $200 (so it was a price I could afford for both a stroller and a car seat), and finally, it was pink. All that being said, I really didn’t like it, the car seat/infant carrier was great and we used that constantly for a year, but the stroller was a major pain. It was supposedly easy to fold and unfold, but getting in and out of the car was a lot of work when I was running errands by myself (well, with my daughter). I really don’t like the Graco brand now, it’s not something I would go back to and especially would not buy another travel system.

   When my daughter was about a year old, I bought a very cheap umbrella stroller and this was great but mine was definitely only worth it’s $20 price tag – somethings I would consider the second time around would be the height, mine was too short and I was constantly hunched over to push it and because it was so light weight, there was no storage on this model (not even a cup holder!) because any extra weight would make the stroller tip backwards.

   One last thing, at the year mark, we bought a Britax car seat (the Marathon) and it’s absolutely the best car seat in the world. I have the most confidence in this brand, though I have not bought a stroller from them. 🙂

8. Oh, boy! Did you have ANY idea what you were getting yourself in to when asking ME about strollers?!?! HA! If only you knew, Joy, or have you heard the stories from Stephanie?!?!

   Having quite the frugal, yet research guru-type hubby that I do, he was VERY involved in the process of finding us strollers. Yes, I say strollers because we have had more than our fair share and we only have 2 kids under 2 years of age right now! We have friends that have all types and we compiled the pros and cons ourselves and looked at the baby bargains book before registering/purchasing.
   I’m a tad embarrassed…oh wait, what do I care….I have to admit that I had 4 dbl strollers, a regular snap n go, an umbrella stroller, a baby trend jogger, and the Graco metrolite one that matches our car seat all at the same time!! HAHA!! Yes, you read that right….8 strollers in our possession at once! Now before you freak out and call me crazy, mind you, all but 2 were purchased off of craigslist at Kid2Kid consignment stores, or given to us by friends, so we didn’t have to PAY for them all (hints again, why I say we are FRUGAL!) We have since sold 3 of the doubles, put away the umbrella, snap n go, and metrolite ones, trashed the baby trend jogger, and just use our FAV (which I didn’t mention above and you’ll have to wait till the end to read about!) We have had the double sit n stand, graco metrolite, umbrella stroller, baby trend jogger, Graco double, Safety 1st double, baby trend snap n go, and our FAV (read below!)

   Here’s a look at some that we’ve had and some pros/cons to each…in my opinion, collective opinion from friends, research and also Baby Bargains. Take it for what its worth to ya!

   Sit n Stand: pros are that it is smaller in length and weight to most double strollers out there but still let’s you have it for two kids. Price is usually good too. Most of my friends like the Joovy Caboose or the baby trend ones. Cons are that it may not be good for those that have an older child that isn’t quite ready or independant to sit still in the jump seat or stand. Most of my friends have one of these but then again their kiddos are more like 2 -2 1/2 yrs apart and my 17 month was not ready to be in the “jumpseat” by the time little sissy came along! Otherwise, I hear AWESOME things about these!

   Double sit n Stand: Pros are that it is more compact and smaller in length and lighter in weight than normal double strollers, usually priced better too (we got ours at Target on sale for $100), and has the extra seat in the back that can be removed to expose the jump seat and stand like the regular sit n stand when the kiddo is ready. This is the one we would have kept (but sold off since we stuck with one you’ll hear about below). Cons are that it is longer than the regular sit n stand. That in my opinion is really the only con as it will grow with your kiddo from double seat to jump seat to stand. (Side note: the jumpseat DOES have a belt, just no back for them to rest and lay in).

   Regular double strollers are just straight up bulky no matter what you go with (travel systems, stand alone strollers, etc). We had the Graco one and also had the Safety 1st one. The Graco is just like any other dbl stroller, so not going to talk much about that. The Saftey 1st was actually pretty cool as the front seat could snap out and reverse in order to face the child in back! We actually didn’t know that about the stroller until we went to sell it, but again, sold it since we decided to go with another. It was also a bit more spacious than one like the Graco or whatever. Again, these are ALL BULKY and HEAVY and overall, tiresome for mommy’s to get in and out with two kids waiting in the car!

   There are also the double strollers that are side by side, which I personally would not get only because I know of a few friends out there that don’t like theirs or from seeing mothers in stores struggle to get through aisles of any department store and grocery stores and also through doorways. (When I see a mom with one of these, I don’t know whether or not to laugh in amusement as they try and get around, cry to feel sorry for their struggles or what!) Not extremely user friendly in my opinion and observation! It also does not allow a car seat to snap in and I’m all about, don’t wake baby if you don’t have to, and keep him/her in their seat!!! I’m more about picking up baby in their carrier, snapping them in the seat, and off we go!

   Several of my close friends have even more deluxe double strollers than listed above. I like to call our one friends’ stroller the “Mini tour bus!” Seriously, it is so big! I crack up at her when she gets the kiddos ready to go some place! Sure, the seats can turn in both/any direction and its neutral in color and a GREAT jogger/off pavement option, but WOW….Might as well make your own zipcode for this little number! (I honestly don’t know the real name, but can find out if you are interested!) THey love it, so I know they’d swear by it, but again, unless you work out every day and are used to lifting 45-50 pound strollers in and out, I wouldn’t go that route!) Another close friend has a version of a BOB and she loves it. Seems to have alot of parts and takes time to get it all “set up” and ready to go, but she loves it and my research, frugal hubby approved of it too…just not for me!

   Then…DRUM ROLL…there is the Phil and Teds Sports Stroller, which is a jogger, has the car seat attachment piece, and an attachable second seat that sits UNDER and behind the other child! IT IS INCREDIBLE!!!!! That’s the stroller that made us the envy of some of our dear friends! Seriously, they offered to buy it off of us straight up! Pros: It is light weight, easy to store, quick set up, less “pieces” to attach than some out there, fits in trunks like a dream (many of the double strollers won’t, so keep that in mind!), has fun colors to choose from, can be used for jogging and outdoors, can fix the front wheel or make it swivel, can self propel itself forward, and very versatile as double strollers. (The dbl seat can either be attached to the back bottom (to accommodate a carrier infant seat up top) or can be attached to top when the other seat is reclined to a bassinet feature for the sleeping sibling! Cons: it is super expensive (in this frugal mom’s opinion).

   Why did you get it then, you may ask?!?!? We only got it since my hubby found it at the REI garage sale for $40….yes, you heard that right! The secret is out! We got ours for $40 dollars in PERFECT condition!!! And the hubby got the extra attachments and second seat on ebay inthe same color making the total $80 on a normally $550+ dollar double/jogger stroller! :0) Can we get a WHOOT, WHOOT! :0) In all honesty, I am one frugal momma and my hubby is one research techy, so although we NEVER would have paid the price to get the Phil and Teds, we secretly both thought it was AWESOME and love, Love, LOVE it today now that we DO have it!!! Even I must admit…yeah, its probably worth the money!

   Kristina, it really depends on the way you “sell the kid” on the car seat (one on the bottom). Bella is a busy body herself, but we make a big deal of her being able to ride in the back and she thinks she is so cool to be able to do so. Its not like they can’t see out at all (they can look both sides, up, and lean head out to see forward), and she has never once had a problem with getting in and loves it. For the times she DOES want to walk, we just let her get out, but then it frees up some more space for us to put our bags or cameras, or whatever in her seat when she does. So, we see it as a win-win!
   We plan to keep the metrolite (because it is a nice stroller and matches our car seat), so we can sell it as a travel system when we are done with it. We also plan to keep the snap n go as we love that too, and may use that in the future…depending on how our next kiddos are spaced out! The Phil and Teds one, though…will be in our home for years and years to come!!!!

   So, there you go, Joy and Steph! HOpe you enjoy the read if nothing else! :0)

   • LOVE all of the insight!!! Thanks Kelly!

9. Ok. I need to preface this w/ the fact that I know very little about this stuff b/c I’m not yet a mom. But, aren’t those both jogging strollers? Can they be used as every day strollers? Do you gals have both a stroller and a jogger? Just checking into what I’ll need when the day comes that I need this stuff 😉

   • Tori – you’re right – they are both jogging strollers. But we use them as our every day strollers as well. Some people do have both but b/c we have limited space I can only have one.

10. Yay! I absolutely LOVE strollers and who hasn’t done over a million hours of different kinds, websites, reviews etc! I am VERY pleased with my single stroller!! I was a little unsure at first since the brand wasn’t as nice as some others but I have not been disappointed at all and matter of fact I am VERY sad to think about giving it up when baby girl #2 comes next month. We have the Kolcraft Contours four wheeler and like I said … couldn’t love it more! It was really decent priced under $200! It has such a strong frame and HUGE back foam wheels so you don’t have to fill them up with air. The can handle any type of terrain 🙂 The front wheels are much smaller which makes for the most amazing steering. Seriously I can steer this thing with my pinky 😉 It was great when G was a baby because it has an infant seat attachment so all you have to do is load the car seat in and your ready to go. Once they get a little older you have the option of the toddler seat which fully reclines and has a snack tray that swivels to make loading kiddos much easier. This toddler seat can face away from you OR towards you LOVE that! The basket is HUGE I would do all my shopping with just the stroller and load up the basket with all the groceries, bags, etc. It has a parent cup holder which is wonderful!!! Our newest excitement we realized just last month that we can take it to the beach! If you pull the stroller backwards it rolls right through the thick sand… so fun!!! We aren’t planning on getting the double too soon because I have to admit I am very sad to stop using this one and I am going to try everything to make it work haha 🙂

11. HIIII me again! I have to also comment on how much I LOVE my umbrella stroller. We have the Volo by Maclaren! Of course we didn’t pay the full price we bought it from a friend but I can understand why these are so pricey! We originally bought the Cosco lightweight because it would fold up really small and thought it would be a good one to have NOPE! I took it back and returned it to Kid to Kid for credit. We would kick the stroller every time we walked and it was VERY short so when we got the Volo we were in heaven. The stroller is nice and tall which helps us (5’10 and 6’1 parents) It steers like a dream even on our little uneven sometimes unpaved side walk. Lately I have been using this one since it is so light I can lift it out of the car with one hand! The seat is nice and roomy for my bigger little girl, the canopy is nice and big, the basket underneath is fairly large for an umbrella stroller and I can break it down in a second without even having to bend over… which is nice when you are 8m pregnant 🙂
    So I definitely recommend this one as a great umbrella stroller !!! Yay 🙂

    • Thanks so much for the insight! I’m considering getting an umbrella stroller… just to have something that’s small and compact.

12. Joovy Caboose Ultra…AWESOME!!! It’s a sit-and-stand type that folds pretty flat (although it’s still a little wide…just really flat!). I got this one when my 3rd was born and the older two were 25 months and just turning 4 years. It holds an infant seat and my toddler could sit (and be buckled in) in the back. Still use it occasionally 3 1/2 years later! Just today I pushed it with one hand through Sky Harbor with my 3 YO in front, 5YO (super slow walker) in the back, a big car seat balanced on top (no child in it haha) and 3 backpacks in the basket while I pulled our suitcase behind! No problems! 🙂

    My only advice would be to pay the extra for the Ultra version! It has different wheel bearings (or something like that) and turns a lot easier. It also comes with a soft drink/stuff holder that (surprisingly) was super versatile and usable!

13. Oh, this is too much fun! I researched everything a lot (maybe too much!) before registering and I’ve been so, so, so, so happy with our stroller. Did I say I liked it yet?!? I wanted something that would work from birth and grow with her so I didn’t have to buy a new stroller every year and I was successful in that. I decided on the PEG PEREGO PLIKO P3 and I have loved almost everything about it! I did also buy a SILVER CROSS umbrella stroller about a year ago that I have used a lot in the past year. It’s been really great and comfortable for simple trips around the mall. I picked it up on shnoop.com for $35 and that was money well spent!

    Here’s what I love about the P3:
    * It steers like a rockstar – It has really comfortable handles that are ergonomically correct and I can steer using just one hand. When we first put it together, the wheels seemed really cheap but after using it for 4 years, they have been great for all types of terrain.
    *It reclines all the way back. This was especially important when she was really young and we still love it. She would sleep her normal nap time because she was comfortable and lying all the way back. We even took it to Disneyland last year when she was 3+ and she still took naps in that stroller!
    *It has an awesome shade canopy. This was really important to me especially since we live in the #2 skin cancer place in the world and my daughter was really fair.
    *It folded down really easily and I could do it with one hand after practicing.
    * It is compatible with almost every infant carrier.

    There’s only 2 things that I hate about the stroller, but the likes totally outweigh the dislikes:
    * It has a really poor excuse for a cup holder. It’s in the wrong place so I always bump it when I’m folding the stroller down and it’s not big enough to hold a big water-bottle or large drink.
    * The basket underneath is pretty hard to access. It’s decent size but when the stroller is reclined all the way, you basically can’t get anything out of it. I ended up hanging my purse & diaper bag from the back of the stroller.

    In a heartbeat, I would still buy this stroller again as the positives definitely outweigh those few negatives. I’ve traveled with it in the airport, taken it to Disneyland, taken walks on dirt roads, and used it just a few times at the mall 🙂 It has gotten 4 years of lots of use and abuse, but I plan to use it just the same for our next kiddo! Plus Peg Perego has an awesome customer service dept so I’m sure if something breaks, they will stand behind their product – even if it’s been 4 years!

    When we were expecting our second child and my daughter was 3, I did my research again and picked up a JOOVY CABOOSE ULTRALIGHT. Kylie still wanted to ride in a stroller but didn’t need to be strapped in or recline so this was perfect for us. It has a padded seat with a strap for the big kid, a big sun canopy, it fits an infant car seat, but also has full seat with recline and 5pt harness for when baby is out of the carrier. It’s easy to steer even though it is a double and it’s super simple to fold down – just a bit heavier to lift into the car but it was my arm workout!

    Our adoption fell thru 6 months ago and my daughter is now out of a stroller completely so I’m selling the Joovy Caboose Ultralight for what I paid for it – $150 (reg $239 on Amazon). If anyone wants to try it out or buy it, contact me at www (dot) theholthouse (dot) blogspot (dot) com.

    • Hey Becca – thanks so much for your insight. Quick question – I”m having a hard time locating the Silver Cross Umbrella stroller online. Can you give me an more details? Is Silver Cross the brand?

14. Hey! Wow, you are right, these comments are SO awesome and helpful. I think some stroller makers would LOVE to get this kind of feedback.

    I pretty much LOVE the most expensive strollers out there, and so the experience I have had with strollers has been OKAY, but I would tell you that if I could have spent 500-600 dollars, I would probably love those ones WAY MORE, but that couldn’t happen. We never bought the travel systems for either child because we got AWESOME hand me down car seats, and neither one of my kids liked being in the car seat (YAY for me). So, I often am babywearing one, and then have one in the stroller. Thatcher at 6 months is just starting to like sitting in the stroller with his sister 🙂

    We got the Chicco Cortina with Capri, and it’s a great stroller for the price! I loved the BIG basket underneath, the cupholders, the back that lays down, the one handed fold down, the tilting handle. Chicco just introducted the Chicco “cortina together” https://www.chiccousa.com/gear/strollers/cortina-together/cortina-together-fuego.aspx
    which I think looks pretty awesome. I like the brand, and their prices 🙂

    I also have a 20 dollar lightweight stroller from kmart that’s bright pink and really ugly and I hate it. I would LOVE a nice light weight, but it does the job. The part I hate the most? It’s the shortest thing ever, I KILL my back walking with it!

    Double Strollers-
    I have the Jeep tandem (with the little steering wheel in the front) and I hate it. It’s HUGE, so hard to maneuver and swivel, and turn. There is so much front weight on this thing, it takes FOREVER to turn or move anywhere. I can’t even lift it myself, and it BARELY fits in my trunk. I also have a hard time with the tandems because if I put Capri in it with one of her friends, they are always pulling at each others hair, and constant fighting ensues. I bought it second hand for like 30 bucks? I’ll be selling it soon.

    I also have a lightweight double by Peg Perego. It’s a little older, and I bought it second hand (maybe 65 bucks?). I have a hard time folding it down, but it’s really compact, lightweight. It doesn’t have any cupholders for Mama, but has great trays for the kids. It’s side by side, and I like it OKAY.
    However, I will soon be selling it too.

    Lastly, my Sister is giving me her “old” stroller, it’s about two years old, and I can’t wait (it’s coming this week!) . It is the Indie Twin double stroller by Bumbleride.

    https://www.amazon.com/BumbleRide-2010-Indie-Twin-Stroller/dp/B0036UK41Q

    I’ve used it before, and it’s the smoothest ride, large basket, super tall, lays flat, and it’s just beautiful. Unlike another commenter, I like the side by side, because with the tandem’s I feel like I am pushing a giant bus. Yes, it’s harder to fit through door ways, but I would rather have the “easier to push” option then the “easier to get through doorways” option. AND, it also solves my lack of jogger stroller dilemma. Because it’s considered a jogger too! It’s easy to fold up, and pretty light for its size, but it is pretty big. I’m hoping it fits in my trunk :). Although, the accessories are really expensive (just like the stroller), I wanted to buy the snack pack attachment, and I just looked- it’s 50 bucks!

    If I had my pick, I would go with Britax’s latest double, and the Phil and Ted, and City Select ones. I love the idea of the kids being able to turn and look at each other. My daughter keeps my son SO happy, and she can get him to giggle, and so if he could see her- that would make my life so wonderful!

15. I’m eyeing on the Bob Revolution Flex as one of the best. It is compact but packed with features that will suit your needs. A large canopy, an adjustable handle bar, safety accessories, roomy seat and extra storage to name a few. It’s a 5 star rating for me. 🙂

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