One of the biggest purchases that you will make for your baby is a stroller. There are so many options out there in a wide range of prices. What makes one stroller worth one thousand dollars? How do you know you are purchasing the correct one? After having two kids of my own and trying out just about every stroller on the market – Below is candid advice on what you should look for in a stroller and why you will wind up with at least two strollers!
Before you go to your local shop and start test driving strollers – It’s a good idea to think of your needs and how you will be using this stroller.
Where do you live? Will you be carrying the stroller up and down stairs, in and out of a car? Do you live in a city and will be walking a lot? Do you live in an elevator building where the elevators are old and small? Do you have an older child and need a stroller add-on? All of these questions should come in to play BEFORE you begin your search. And remember, just because your best friend tells you that their stroller is the “best” stroller – whats good for her – might not be the best for you. You only know what you know. Not everyone has the luxury of trying out or owning multiple strollers – so you tend to love what you have. Below we have answered the most common questions that we receive in our inbox daily.
What is a good stroller for trekking up and down stairs?
If you have an infant and live in a walk up – you might want to consider a lightweight stroller such as the Uppa Baby Gluxe (13.4 lbs), Maclaren Globetrotter (10.6 lbs), Britax B-AGILE (16.5 lbs) or Baby Jogger City-mini (16.8 lbs). All of these strollers recline so baby can nap, folds easily and are light enough for you to carry up and down steps with a baby in your other hand. SO how do you decide from our above picks? The deciding factor for you could be price – as they range from $150-$280 AND the weight capacity when your child is in the stroller.
I am constantly in and out of a car with my baby. What are the best travel systems or lightweight stroller for me?
We LOVE the Orbit Baby Infant system. The seat is a carseat that docks into the base in your car and the frame folds easily for you to toss in the trunk of your car or taxi. The carseat docking system makes it easy to transfer your sleeping baby onto the frame without waking her. And its one less bulky thing to add to your trunk. If the orbit system is not in your price range ($940), you might want to consider a “snap and go” type of system if your baby is still in the infant car seat. Graco, Joovy, Baby Trend all make this type of universal frame that accommodates your car seat. If you are out of the carseat stage – any of the strollers that we mention above for stairs also work great for cars.
I live in the city and my stroller will be my main mode of transportation. Suggestions for a multi-purpose all-in one stroller?
There are several strollers that fit this need. The Bugaboo Cameleon ($889) is an all-in-one versatile stroller that is suitable for newborns and will last into the toddler years (37.5 lbs). The cameleon offers 3 seat options – by using the carseat adapter, the bassinet (included) and the reversible toddler seat. The swivel wheels are great for city strolling and big enough to handle all the bumps, curbs and off-roading in the park. The Uppa Baby Vista is another favorite amongst city dwellers. It has all the versatile features of the bugaboo cameleon – however the Vista was really built with a city parent in mind. The enormous basket is great for storing all your needs for a day out, the sunshade generously covers the seat and the one handed recline is a nice touch.