Carseats and Strollers

[dancerjodi]

I know that preference for these items is akin to religion, and some people spend more time researching than they do buying a home. I want to be informed but not obsessed. Using our Consumer Reports online membership has been extremely helpful in this. The things I think we would be looking for:

-rugged but not too rugged (we would walk a lot in our hood)
-strong but not too huge (wide or bulky or heavy), would need to do well at conventions, restaurants, that kind of thing
-practical for a long time (with newborn and older), or is this just setting us up for something that is just ginormous?
-not overlly complicated - I'm not so good with mechanical things

I know that this may be a tall order to fill. I'm partial to the Uppababy from what I've read/seen (like that it has a removeable bassinet that's flat, like how it faces front or back, looks simple/roomy, like that it is a local company and is a greener product). This is one co-worker's favorite while another favors the Bob stroller (sold at REI and LL Bean: rugged). My sister started with a Graco but has a ton of diff ones now I think. A friend loved her Jeep stroller that was since discontinued, but I don't know how that worked for infants.

Then there is the working with the carseat option. I like the idea of carrying kid from car to stroller and not disturbing them, but I'm not sure if I want to be lugging this ginormous heavy bucket around (why I liked the uppababy bassinet). But that couldn't click in a car seat. Or could it? There are whole hosts of 'car seat adapter' things noted but I don't know if that's for a seat bucket to fit on a stroller or if its for a stroller bucket/bassinet to fit in a car seat.

What do you love? I am prepared for a million different opinions, but I'm just curious what they are. Thanks in advance! :)

I am so not technically inclined in this way. My needs are simple, which is often my downfall (it took us forever to find an entertainment center that we both liked - one that worked with all of Brian's components but was simply a rectangular wooden box with doors we could secure later if there was a baby crawling around, and one that fit our decor). :)

We're going to register at Target and Amazon.com. I know that Target doesn't have a ton of options and Amazon has everything, but we're going to have to test drive some big stuff first (probably at Isis Maternity or Babies R Us first - though does that huge discount baby furniture place in Reading sell strollers and car seats?). Babies R Us is just too overwhelming and not very guy-friendly, so we aren't going to register there, but we may end up resorting to checking them out to find the big things (that we'll be buying for ourselves anyway). I figure one online and one brick and mortar is plenty for peeps that may want to get us goodies. I also love how you can add things from other sites to your Amazon lists via their neat toolbar. :)

Comments

[tigira.livejournal.com]

I must have missed a post - congratulations!

As for my preferences, I can't even remember, anymore. I haven't even needed a car seat for almost two years, now (he's been in a booster seat), so I have really forgotten. Besides, there's so much new stuff out, now, that what I had would be obsolete, anyway.

[dee-cee.livejournal.com]

We have the Graco system, which may not fit into your requirements.

What we liked is that we could pick up and carry the bucket part around, which made MR very transportable from the car, to the restaurant, into a snap-in stroller, and even into a snap-in swing (OMG I loved that thing).

What I liked about it was that to me, it lowered the separate STUFF we needed in our small house.

[dionysia.livejournal.com]

"does that huge discount baby furniture place in Reading sell strollers and car seats?"

They do indeed. Or they did 5 years ago. ;)

We got our Zooper stroller there, as well as our crib.

The Zooper was kind of neat, because if you reclined the seat all the way, you could fit the baby bucket on it to make a travel system. We used the Graco baby bucket that snaps in to the base. We bought 1 baby bucket, but 2 bases (one base for each car).

[buxom-bey.livejournal.com]

I've seen the Uppas around and fell in love with them, but found the cost to be prohibitive. We went with Baby Trend; a car seat/stoller fram combo. I took a lot of time a Babies R Us testing out the different styles and I found this one to be the simplest to use. Also, when we didn't get the stroller at the shower, I picked one up for cheap off craigslist.

The drawback is that we will need a different one when Roo's older. For me it was worth it. The ones I saw that span the age diffference seemed bulky, and given the stairs at our place I want somthing that can live in the car. The stroller frame colapses very compactly and when she's older we'll get a imple umbrella stroller (probably off craigslist) that I can sling over my shoulder when needed.

FWIW I highly reccommend doing some serious hands on research at Babies R Us. They were very friendly and all their stuff is accesible; you can sit in the chairs, wheel the strollers, check out full size assembled cribs, carry the car seat, etc. As for "guy-friendly" depends on the guy and you know yours best. Jon didn't want to step foot in the store, but at least came to test out the glider we got before purchase. His brother on the other hand came with me once and was zipping around like he owned the place.

One last thing I will mention is this. We saw one at PAX and I had to have it. They're dicontinued, but I eventually found one on craigslist. It is the most versatile and awesomest of awesome things evah!

[nepenthedreams]

You might need a few strollers over time. The Graco carseats and the snap&go are great for the first few months, because of that ability to take the baby from car to stroller and into the house and so forth. The snap&go is inexpensive, often available on craigslist, and very very light. To me, it's the early equivalent of the umbrella stroller. The umbrella stroller, like the G-Luxe, is light, easy to fold, and can be thrown in a car trunk, slung on your back for a bus ride, or taken onto a plane.



On the other extreme, you have the big strollers. I have an UppaBaby Vista and love it. We walk a lot around Somerville and we needed something that oculd take the uneven pavements. The UppaBaby can even go off-road - though not as well as the Bob. The UppaBaby has a huge underside carriage, which we use at the farmer's market and other places - which to me makes it much better than the Bugaboo. I also love the reversibility of it. We used to take lots of walks where I would chat and sing to him. Now of course he faces out to the world and loves that. The Uppa is also great for being adjustable to height. Even at 5'8, many strollers are too short for me.

Now, the Uppa Baby probably does have a carseat adapter (I think I've seen it) and the bassinette is gorgeous though we never used it as we got it at 6 months in. I had previously convinced myself that I didn't need a fancy stroller until I realized that strollers are like cars and the more expensive strollers last longer and feel better.

Another amazing stroller brand out of Germany is the Teutonia. We used it in Germany and thought it was just as awesome as our Uppa. Though it's not local, you may see it on Craigslist if you are shopping there - because people don't know about the brand, it's often cheaper than it ought to be.

Think of whether you want more kids and whether the stroller can adapt to two kids. I know the Uppa can - don't think the Bob does though.

To do more test drives, if you don't see the one you want at Isis in Arlington, go around the corner to Wild Child, where they have a lot of strollers and car seats too.

Babies R US is typically 10-20% more than Amazon. Good choice to go to Amazon for your registration.

The Baby Furniture Warehouse has some strollers and - I think - carseats.

Are you also considering a baby carrier? The Bjorn, t hough very popular, is not the best in terms of the baby's position or the parents' back. I love my Ergo but I've tried another really nice ones at DiaperLab (the brand I liked there was BabyHawk - it was awesome). When Kai was young, I carried him a lot rather than use the stroller - he was happier that way - and it was easier than lugging a big piece of equipment around - plus I used it in the house, to keep him attached to me and happy so I could do other things. Some people like slings, some people like the mobywrap - at diaper lab, they have some of each kind and the store manager runs the Boston Babywearers. I definitely liked having the option of the carrier or the stroller, and sometimes I had both with me.

Discount

[dee-cee.livejournal.com]

Speaking of BRU? We also discovered that Toys R Us was 5-15 dollars cheaper for the SAME THING at Babies R Us. So nonsensical.

[dancer.livejournal.com]

I added a Moby wrap to our registry, though I'm thinking now that we should try those out in person too.

I didn't realize that DiaperLab carried things beyond Diapers. I should make a trip there. In concept I love cloth but since our babe will most likely be in a daycare out of the house they won't be an option during the days once I'm back at work (at most places). Brian is also very freaked out by them (not me, since my Mom used old fashioned cloth and pin with all of us and I was old enough to help care for my brother when he was born).

Thanks!

[nepenthedreams]

It's mostly diapers, but they do have slings, Babyhawks, meiteis, and moby wraps. And great diaper bags. They also have quite a few mother's products, like re-usable breastpads. If you're in the neighborhood, it's a great place to shop as they are usually willing to spend a while explaining all the products to you. they even let me put kai in the babyhawk and carry him on a walk around the neighborhood to see if I really liked it (I really did but I wasn't ready to spend money on it when my Ergo is still perfectly functional.)

You might find a daycare that does cloth but it's easier to start disposable and switch to cloth than the other way around. We didn't try cloth until 4 months of age, once the 12-15 diapers per day part was passed.

[bellebet.livejournal.com]

Hi there. Just lurking from a semi-defunct LJ of a friends. Just be aware that whatever you go with for car seats, the national recommendation has changed. You need to look for one that will be rear-facing up to two years old or until they reach the weight limit. (This is what I do for a living.) So if you're looking for one that will last you the longest, look for one that's labeled "convertable," meaning it can be used rear facing and front-facing. http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS

They also did a major recall on drop side cribs, so be aware of this when you're looking, especially in second-hand, consignment and discount stores. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11260.html

And finally, congratulations! Enjoy being pregnant. I'm sure you'll be a great mom.

[panzerkunst.livejournal.com]

Um - did I miss some major announcement??

[gattirenata.livejournal.com]

well... i don't buy strollers. never have. but... i've been around soooooooooooooooooo many different ones... you have nooooo idea!!!! i never did pay attention to their names and brands tho, otherwise i could write a book!! =P

but the latest one i've been using is the bugaboo! but boss loves it and around this area EVERYBODY HAS THEM. i have no idea on the cost tho... but... the thing looks like it will last forever!!!
AND you have one base for all stages in your baby's life.
since i don't buy them i have no idea if everything comes together, or if you buy the "add-ons", but you can easily snap the carseat, or bassinet, or the toddlers seat... or... whatever that is called LOL
it has 2 big wheels, and 2 small in the back so it's easy to push it everywhere. (some strollers you just can't go on sand, or dirt, or grass for example) and this past week my boss even added the toddler "go along" part (that's not the real name hahah that's just how i call it!!!) now they have the baby on the carseat snapped on it and the 2yo can ride along standing up!! easy for him get on and off cause you know... 2 year olds are always changing their minds hahaha

it looks complicated to open and close but it's really not. you can basically do it with one hand!!
well... now i'm curious to see how much they paid on that thing....

[dancer.livejournal.com]

Heh, Bugaboo is one of the more expensive ones: $800 and up!

I was reading a Baby Bargains book the other night that had a whole section dedicated to Bugaboo-like strollers that don't cost quite as much. The UppaBaby (the one I was eyeing) was in that list, though also expensive ($600) not as bad.

It is a complete racket! I'm trying to find the balance between good and high-quality and just paying for a cool thing or a brand thing. :)

[gattirenata.livejournal.com]

HOLY MOLY!!! geez... i had no idea... i mean... i sort of thought it was expensive... i mean... i've never seen seen anyone call a stroller by its "name" like these ppl talk about the bugaboo!!!
and really... it is quite awesome!!! but... 800 bucks?????????????? i had no idea a stroller could cost that much!!!
does it have gold and diamonds hidden in there somewhere????? o.O

[lsl.livejournal.com]

I don't know how you feel about baby wearing. We found that with one baby it was a lot easier in most situations to use a baby carrier rather than a stroller. Tiny infants don't fit well in strollers and shouldn't be in ones that don't recline all the way. Plus most infants prefer to be carried/held anyway. And later when they are bigger you don't really need the full recline (not even for sleeping the stroller).

I would suggest starting off with a lightweight inexpensive simple snap-and-go stroller frame for the first 6 months or more (as long as they are in the bucket type car seat) plus a baby carrier of your choice. Then when they are older you can re-assess your needs.

I would suggest trying out as many different types of carriers as you can either from friends or a store or Boston Baby Wearers. But make sure you have someone to help you adjust it and explain it, some of them are simple but there are tricks that can make all the difference in comfort.

We have a few different carriers that you are welcome to try out, but nothing in the newer or expensive styles. You can even sew your own, there are patterns for several types online or you could copy from a friend's. Our carrier collection is heading off to resale this fall (if we can get our act together) but I'd be happy to pass stuff on to someone I know first.