How often do you really use your stroller?
Mike and I are trying to decide if we should get...
A travel system
A nice car seat and a separate, smaller, cheaper stroller
A nice car seat and a separate jogger stroller
My thoughts:
Travel System: I really can't decide if we will use a travel system. For the first couple months I can imagine putting the car seat in the stroller (although probably only for walks around the block), but after that I would most likely just leave the car seat in the car and put the baby in the stroller.
Moms, how long did you use actually put the car seat on the stroller?
Large Stroller: When I try to imagine when and where I'll use a large stroller, I picture either taking it to the mall (which is a rare occasion), taking it on a walk (more reasonable), or taking it to the park (rare). Since baby is due July 25th, that means there will only be about 2.5 more "warm" months to even use the thing outside until next April. That means I'd be taking our 2 month old baby to the park (and I don't know how often I'll be doing that if he's still so little). By the time next April comes, he will be almost 9 months.
Moms, what do you use your strollers for the most?
Smaller Stroller: This is probably what I picture us with the most. Something like in the following photo (Combi). Enough basket space for a small diaper bag, a couple drink holders, a reclining seat, good breaks, and small enough to store in a small car/small apartment. This one actually can hold a Combi car seat (which is pretty tempting).
Moms, is this one good for walks around the block? The wheels aren't great...
Jogger Stroller: Honestly, how often am I actually going to get out and jog with my baby? Especially when it's only going to be warm for a couple more months after baby comes (and you're not even supposed to jog with them in there until they are about 6 months old). Although, they do look easy to maneuver.
I know I asked a lot of questions in there, but if you have any good advice, especially for a "late-summer" baby I would greatly appreciate it.
I have a travel system and I LOVE IT. You will use it A LOT more than you anticipate, I promise. Carter falls asleep almost every time I put him in his car seat. It is sooo easy to just snap his car seat into the stroller and go [even at 6 months old]. Waking him up to put him in his stroller would not even be an option for me.
ReplyDeleteOur travel system also works as a plain stroller so if he is awake I can sit him in the stroller. I think it is the best of both worlds.
All I can say is I love our travel system. And we STILL use it sometimes. We took our stroller everywhere. If I just needed to run in the grocery store and get one thing really quick, I'd keep Cohen in the carseat, throw the carseat in the stroller and run inside (this was much easier and faster to me than dealing with all the straps of taking him out of the carseat and belting him in the stroller). Plus lots of stores don't have grocery carts, or they're inside the store so you have to carry the carseat which gets heavy. We always just have our stroller in our trunk. And for the first while they fall asleep in their carseat all the time and if you don't want to wake them up then you keep them in the carseat and put it in the stroller. Oh also, they can't support themselves in the stroller for a while (if it's sitting up) so we liked having him reclined in his carseat so he could look around and see everything instead of laying down in the stroller.
ReplyDeleteOkay I've rambled on long enough. But basically I just like the convience of the travel system and don't think I'd want anything else. I'm sure whatever you end up getting will do fine though.
And I don't have a jogging stroller because if I ever want to go jogging I'd rather just have preston watch Cohen so I can actually run, and not have my baby bouncing around. I've heard people like them though.
I have a Travel System and I would put the carseat in the stroller all the time clear up till Alexandria was to big for that car seat. I go on walks all the time. Being a stay at home mom, we get sick of the house a lot and so every summer we go on 1 sometimes 2 walks a day. This is my third summer and I am still using The stroller from the travel system and it is still in perfect condition. I also take it to the mall and pretty much any other store that will take more than 2 minutes. I recommend one with a basket that is big enough to hold a lot more than just the diaper bag. I will even walk to Macey's and put my groceries there. I could never imagine using a little stroller. I feel like those ones wear out and break easier and are just not as practical to me.
ReplyDeleteI didn't get a travel system. I didn't even buy a stroller until Cayman was 4 mos. old (he was born in the winter). So when I did get a stroller, I got a jogger that worked with my car seat. I actually really liked it and it did maneuver really well. I used it a lot when we went to museums and stuff (being out in DC, there's a lot to do and see), but they are huge and heavy. I did try to jog with it for a few months and it was awful, I mean it worked, I just hated pushing this gigantic stroller around. So I would recommend getting a small one that is easy to haul around. Unless you are going to be spending a lot of time outside walking on uneven ground, I would get a small, cheap and light one. We now only use one of those really small umbrella strollers (Cayman is a toddler now) from walmart $15 and I love that thing. I would recommend one of those when your little one gets older. I think joggers are overrated in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteNever have used a jogger, but I loved having a stroller that my car seat could snap into. At first I thought I would never use it, but that stroller has been so many places and gone through so much abuse. I have had it for all 3 kids :) The picture isn't working for me so I am not sure of what you are thinking of, but mine was the matching car seat/stroller combo. We always keep it in the car.
ReplyDeleteOnce they are around 2 I get an umbrella stroller that I run with and roller blade with. But they are cheap and I have had to buy one for each kid, thankfully $15-$20 isn't all that hard to spend.
Never have used a jogger, but I loved having a stroller that my car seat could snap into. At first I thought I would never use it, but that stroller has been so many places and gone through so much abuse. I have had it for all 3 kids :) The picture isn't working for me so I am not sure of what you are thinking of, but mine was the matching car seat/stroller combo. We always keep it in the car.
ReplyDeleteOnce they are around 2 I get an umbrella stroller that I run with and roller blade with. But they are cheap and I have had to buy one for each kid, thankfully $15-$20 isn't all that hard to spend.
Yes--travel strollers are the best. I just leave mine in the car and it's so nice, especially when we end up at Grandma's and want to go for a walk or end up being somewhere and it's so nice to be able to carry him in a bulky car seat every where--I agree you'll use it a lot more than you think and it will come in very handy. I also don't think that jogging strollers are that useful because when I'm running I want to go running on my own and not have to try and entertain him--running for 15 minutes on the treadmill is hard enough without him fussing, so it's easier just to leave him with my hubby. Plus, when you see Moms jogging and trying to get home while their babies are in the stroller crying, it just seems too hard.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the travel system. I used it almost the entire time Abby was in that stroller before she got a forward-facing one. It is SO nice if you are running errands to be able to take sleeping baby, in carseat, out and into the stroller without a hassle. The wheels are fine for walks and any strolling you want to do.
ReplyDeleteIf you are considering a jogger, get one with a wheel that moves in front (as opposed to a stationary wheel) and get one that a car seat can clip into.
Best of luck!
p.s. I LOVE my jogger too. We got it later, after I had been running for a long time with the travel system. We went running on the BYU track all winter long, since Abby was born at the end of August.
ReplyDeleteLoved my travel system!!! I actually bought the stroller used, and just bough a Graco stroller to strap into it. We saved quite a bit of money that way, and I always strapped my carseat into it! It was wonderful! (BTW, never buy a carseat used, they expire, but you probably already knew that)
ReplyDeleteI have that Combi stroller, and I love it! I didn't get it until my baby was almost two, but it is awesome. I'm pretty sure it will also fit a Graco carseat on it. It folds up twice so it takes up less room than othr strollers.
ReplyDelete