Stroller Newbie About This Page:

[honeybee723]

I know there are a ton of stroller questions out there, and I've been browsing all of the posts, but I thought it would get my question answered quicker if I just asked it
Plus, it's a little on the non-Disney side of things.

My DD just turned 3 months today, and I've been starting the stroller search already. She's a good size baby (15 lbs. already) so I don't know how much longer her carrier/stroller combo is going to last...it can hold up to 22 pounds.

Anyway, I want to try to buy a stroller that I can use both at home and when I go on trips. I like to take walks thru our neighborhood, but I also want it to be easy enough to pack up and take to the mall or on vacation. You all seem to be stroller experts, and since this is my first child, I'm extremely overwhelmed with all of the brands out there. I thought getting other people's opinions would be the best bet.

Thanks everyone!

[Minnie-ZB]

This is a really great forum to get answers strollers:

Places to Go: Strollers! - Authors Denise & Alan Fields / Windsor Peak Press Book Forums

[eff051102]

What type of roads are in your neighborhood? Sidewalk or paved road? There
are some strollers with larger wheels that would work better for neighborhood
walking but not for mall or travel because of their bulk.

There are basically 3 levels of strollers: umbrella, full size and jogging stroller.
We had a full size travel stroller (with baby bucket that attaches) when DD
was a baby up to 14 mos. Once she was sitting up and getting around better we
downsized to an umbrella type stroller. It's heavier than the regular umbrella
stroller with more features but lighter than the full size. Now I also have a
seperate jogging stroller for our neighborhood (new houses coming in so
construction CR*P everywhere) and the larger wheels work better here. The
only issue with a jogging stroller is how it turns. If you go that route make sure
it turns easily.

Funny but I'm looking for a better umbrella stroller that is lighter than mine
but with some of the same options. It's a tough choice. I've gone to Babies-R-Us
often just to study their strollers and test them out.

Oh and with a little one that young you will still want a stroller that will recline
all the way for naps. Not many umbrellas will do that.

[mamapajama]

My daughter will be 1 year on Saturday & i just bought my 6th stroller. The first was a Graco metrolite, I think we used that twice. Too big too big in the car. We got a Graco stroller frame & that was my one true love until she got too heavy for me to carry in the infant seat. It is good up to 30 lbs but I couldn't carry her in it. We got a Combi helio as a gift but I ended up hating that-the way it wheeled was awful. So we sold all 3 of those on Craigslist. Then I got a Perego Pliko which I liked. All the features of a full size with the fold of an umbrella and the infant seat fit in it. I bought a Joovy Kooper for my DHs car & we LOVE that except for the lack of a bumper bar & the recline function could be easier and I just bought a Valco Buggster. This is my last stroller! (Well, maybe, LOL) Easy recline, removable washable seat liner & seat, big canopy, decent basket, zip out UV/bug net & winter boot comes standard, nice wide seat, good up to 50 pounds and has a removable bumper bar. And has a strap to carry when folded. Rides easily over our broken up sidewalks in our neighborhood but no big air filled tires (can you say flat tire?) Fold is annoying but no big deal. We are taking it to Disney instead of the Joovy. i wish it had foam handles though!
The perego pliko is a good bet for a younger baby, folds easy, reclines almost all the way back, fits an infant seat, canopy comes all the way down to the tray, easy to recline, easy to folds, stands by itself. Not too big in the car. BTW, we just sold the Pliko on ebay for $12 less than I paid for it...good resale value. One day i will design my own with all my fave features! Read up, read reviews, go to Buy Buy Baby if you have one near they have a lot more strollers in store than babies r us. Ask other moms you see for their opinions. It's a big investment & as you can see by my 6 in one year, sometimes you don't know what is good for you until you start using it.

[Carousel96]

Our travel system stroller that we got as a baby gift didn't get much use. It was too big and bulky. It alone filled the trunk of my car so much that it wasn't much use at the mall.
We didn't like umbrella strollers much. Yes, they have their place, but are less forgiving with a bigger child.
Our last strollers were purchased with Disney trips in mind. (the movers ruined one, so we needed to buy a second later) We got ones with padded seats that reclined, and a simple tray for DD / basic cupholder for us. Basket underneath and a sunshade. Not too many bells and whistles, but not a barebones umbrella stroller either. Both were by Graco.

If you don't need the stroller soon, just keep checking the baby section of Target or Walmart regularly. The thing I never knew (never thought about) is that strollers go on clearance simply because the manufacturer is changing the fabric. We paid less than $40 for each of our Disney strollers.

[honeybee723]

Originally Posted by mamapajama

We got a Graco stroller frame & that was my one true love until she got too heavy for me to carry in the infant seat. It is good up to 30 lbs but I couldn't carry her in it.

That is exactly what I have now...the Graco SnugRide. I love it, but it is only going to last so long. I definitely am looking for something with a recline, and we have paved roads in our neighborhood, however, we are in the process of looking for a new place...who knows what the roads will be like where we end up moving too.

We have to go to Babies R Us this weekend, so I think I'll take a look at the strollers while I'm there. Hopefully they'll have the Perego Pliko for me to check out, and maybe that Valco Buggster you mentioned.

There are just so many options to look at and I guess you don't really know exactly what you need until you know you need it

[Linnynad]

I will try to keep this brief..........I had a Graco travel system which was great until DD was too big to be in the carrier and had to now sit in the stroller. The seat of the stroller looked as if it tilts foward a bit, looking like she was always falling or should I say sliding out of it. Also the actually seat part where her butt goes was small for a full sie stroller. So for our first trip to Disney with her, she was 14 months and I bought a Evenflo stroller( the patter was being discontiuned so it was cheap) this seat is big and more room for her to chill out in. Lays totally flat while she is sleeping and also the canopy on it covers the WHOLE stroller. Sooooooo when we went to dinner at Tonys in MK before the fireworks and Spectro, she fell aslep in her stroller, we laid the seat all the way back, shut the canopy, and she was sleeping like a princess for the whole time. Even the monorail trip back to the Poly.
My thoughts are, if you are already pushing a stroler through Disney, the size dosen't matter. What does is having the space for all you need for your little one, while you are comfy as well. When they are little and you need more "stuff" for them, I say go full size. Once they are older, I'm sure an umbrella would be fine.

[Linnynad]

Oh and one more thing...................if you know you are going to be out in the parks late with your little one, bring the jammies with you and change them into them at some point. This worked great for us, because on the ride back to the hotel she would always fall asleep, and now she was in her jammies, so it was a smooth transition.

[ImGoofy3mmc]

If your looking for a light weight stroller that is going to last as your baby gets bigger I would look into a MacClaren. If you want something more mid-weight I would look at some of the graco ones out there. Make a list of what you want in your stroller for example one that reclines all the way may be important to you, or you might want one that folds up easily... after you have an idea of the type of stroller you want picking one out will be easy. Good Luck!

[shannonwellnitz]

Even the monorail trip back to the Poly.
My thoughts are, if you are already pushing a stroler through Disney, the size dosen't matter. What does is having the space for all you need for your little one, while you are comfy as well. When they are little and you need more "stuff" for them, I say go full size. Once they are older, I'm sure an umbrella would be fine.[/quote]

I agree but keep in mind if you are not staying at a monorail resort you have to pack this baby up to get on the buses, that is a pain in the butt when you are also carrying a tired/sleeping baby.

[minnie025us]

I have had 13 strollers.. I think.. I lost count after my 6th one. I have had the gammut of Gracos to an Uppa Vista. First trip to Disneyland I took my Pliko P3 which at the time I liked but was harder to push for long periods and as she got older it was harder to push because of the weight issue. We got the Uppa Vista for long days out when she was younger but it really is too big and bulky for an older child.

I asked my stroller forum (yes I'm obsessed as my DH's wallet can readily attest to LOL) for recommendations. We went to our local boutique and tried out several. I already at the time owned the Valco Buggster (which I sold -- b/c of my height 5'0" it was harder on me to push. ) and I test drove the Baby Jogger City mini...

I fell in love! I absolutely love the recline 180 flat recline plus ventilation for recline position (for those hot days/walks ) . The canopy is WONDERFUL! My dd at the time of our 8 day trip to Disney World Nov 08 was 2 1/2 at the time. She loved pulling the canopy which reached all the way to her snack tray all the way down when she needed to nap. I would just push her around the WS or where ever we were and she would nap peacefully without me being afraid that the sun might hit her and wake her up. The single hand collaps and fold is so easy. We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside and took the bus everywhere .. I always waited until my mother had boarded the bus before even collapsing and never had a problem. I had several dads ask about my stroller once on the bus. LOL.. The basket is big enough for a nice sized diaper bag and you have additional storage using the net bag on the back of the seat. ( We used this area for bibs, towels, anything we needed that was light for easy access. I also have the parent snack tray .. The push is completely one handed and easily glides across any of the roads in Disney.. If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Angela

[5SOXFNZ]

I have the Graco IPO and it! I too had a Graco travel system, a Duo Glider, a Combi and one other I can't remember! Once I got the IPO all the rest went out the door. I used it in Disney in June for our 2 year old and it was great. Folds up small for the busses and easy to manuver. Basket to carry things, it reclines, has a sun shade and a 5 point harness. my sister and Best friend also bought them on my reccomendation and both love it also. The price tag isn;'t bad either...I think I paid $89 at Babies R Us.