Need Help Deciding on a Stoller

I have the Orbit and think it is terrific! Very functional and really easy to use. I find the bag underneath to provide plenty of storage. I have convinced a number of friends to get it and they too love it.

I love my bugaboo stroller! I'm a first time mom also and tried the pre prego first and hated it! It took a couple of times to get use to the bugaboo opening/closing but since that it's been a breeze. The bugaboo also manuevers in tight spaces quite well.

I dont know much about the two strollers you just mentioned, but I am a Maclaren stroller person and those break up and down pretty easy and have storage underneath. The only problem depending on which one you get is if you hang bags on the handles it will tip over only if there is no one sitting in the seat. I have the double and single stroller and they work great. Good luck!

I love my bugaboo Cameleon but it is a nightmare for traveling. It is almost impossible to break it down for the bus, train, etc... especially alone. I need to buy a simple umbrella stroller for trips where we use transportation other than our car.

Good luck.

Hi S.,

I know that it is fun to go for the "status" stroller when you have the money to get one, but for a good quality, practical stroller that will be convenient to use, I always go for Graco. The more expensive strollers just can't compare to the extras that come with a Graco Stroller.

Ok now that you have gotten so much info- I am going to throw another idea in the mix... I would get a snap'n go to start with- to use with your car seat. I was given one, and thought- "what is this flimsy thing"- but ate my words and used it everywhere. I would also invest in an Ergo pack (we much preferred it to both the Maya sling and the Bjorn which were both hard on our backs). The ergo can go with you whereever- it takes up as much room as a windbreaker- light and very versatile- can be used front and back.
Congratulations on your first baby!! It is so magical- enjoy it all. S.

I love the Maclaren stroller for traveling but just came across a stroller called Rock Star Baby, it comes with a bassinet and a adapter for a infant carseat, you might want to check it out. Good Luck

I looked into the Bugaboo's extensively, and finally decided on a Mutsy. It's a European brand and it's available at Right Start & Bergstrom's [at least in Southern California]. The suspension on the tires is far superior to that of the Bugaboo's. We've tried it in sand on our trip to Hawaii and it worked exactly as we expected [and hoped] it would. It does look like a bulkier stroller, but traveling with it wasn't a problem at all.

We got the Cameleon-I haven't been very happy with it. It's fine when in actual use-my baby seems comfortable in it but it is a REAL pain in the neck to fold and unfold. I have gotten into more than my fair share of wrestling matches with it in the past 7 months and it doesn't seem to get any easier to open and close. If you plan to travel with it, I'd suggest going with something else. Congrats on your first baby-it is a wonderful thing!

Go for the one with storage. I am always stuffing stuff under the seat and get very annoyed when there is not enough storage space.

I'd suggest the Orbit - we have it and LOVE it. The bag that slides underneath the stoller can fit a lot of stuff - maybe more than you can imagine. We don't use another diaper bag when we're out with the Orbit.

Hi S.;

I suggested you to find some stroller that you're comfortable about it since you're traveling a lot with her. Finding a good quality stroller that makes you comfortable and happy will make a difference. I would like stroller that easy to open and close, has a good room to put things at the bottom because you wanted to free your two hands and focus on your baby and stroller. Good luck

A.

If I had it to do over, I would forego the larger ones. I found very quickly that I was tired of it taking up my trunk/back storage in the car and it is cumbersome to travel with. I travelled alot during the first year with my oldest son and fell in love with Maclarens. If you want some under seat storage with higher handles to push (Men love this), wider seat for when the child gets older and lightweight, get a Maclaren. I love them! However, you may want 2 strollers (I hate to tell you that), because when the child is real young the fancy umbrella stroller (Maclaren) isn't as good. It doesn't completely recline. Oh! not all the models recline. I think the cheapest two don't, but you'd have to ask. Hope those are helpful suggestions.

I have read everyone's comments so far, and since I am a first time mother as well, I don't really even know what people mean by a "snap and go" but I have an orbit and I tell you it is the best investment ever. My son is eight months now and we go everywhere with the stroller. We went to hawaii over the christmas holiday and were terrified about checking in the stroller and car seat at the gate because the whole thing had cost so much money...but it traveled just fine, and the under carriage storage went with us on board as out diaper bag chock full of stuff for the baby and us as well.

We also have had minor snap button issues with the fabric, caled orbit and the replaced the entire seat at no cost to us shipped us a new one and we shipped the old one back with in days.....they are a fantastic company and I know as a new mom it was just so much easier to figure out then those "snap and go" looking things with the stroller attached.

some people may think it is a "status" thing but I am telling you it is worth every penny. Especially since the whole thing comes with the stoller, car seat and base. We went so far as to buy an extra base so we could have one in each of our cars..that will double for the next baby when our son grown out of his infant seat and into the toddler we will plan to put baby number two in the infant seat.

hope that helps.

Hey there S.,
There are a lot of great responces to your question, but I think that Heather hit it spot on. You need to research what is really important to you in a stroller. Snap and Go is usually preferred. I didn't have a snap and go with my first baby, but my double stroller did and I loved it. Reclining seats were always important because we were always on the go. I do like Graco very much. Now I am using a triple stroller and I am tired of how heavy it is when folded up. We've also used single and double joggers. Seriously, we've had our fair share of many kinds of strollers. You also might want to think about how easy it is to clean the fabric -it will undoubtedly get dirty. Cup holders and storage were also a high priority to me. So I would suggest you start thinking about where you will be most of the time, what kind of errands you will be running, how easy it is to fold the stroller up and most importantly: where is the stroller going to be stored when not in use. Once you know all of that, you can narrow down which stroller fits your needs best. Good luck and CONGRATS!!
P.

We LOVE our Orbit! The pod below it is more than enough storage - it's our diaper bag! Getting the new toddler car seat next month.

We travel (NY, Aspen) and walk everywhere we can and wouldn't trade the Orbit for anything.

K (proud mommy of 7 month goofus Grady G)

i have two kids - 10 yr old girl and 4 yr old boy. the stroller i used for my daughter was just the one they gave me at my shower. i just wanted a 4-in-one, where its a infant carrier, infant stroller, toddler stroller and carrier. but when i had my son, my husband and i really spend time to look for a good one. one that would our baby and us. we finally settled on a pegperego. its light weight and you can easily open and close it with one hand. we love to travel and its so easy to pack and carry. even if you are travelling by air or land. hope this helps. have fun with your new baby!!!!

Hello S., I would suggest a Mclaren stroller. I have one that has gone through three children and is still in wonderful shape. They are sturdy and close to a small size - great to throw into your trunk or strap over your shoulder. Good luck!

S., The Peg Perego and the Bumble Ride are the two I would reccomend. Personally I have a Peg Perego and love it, very easy to fold and manuever! Don't waste your money on a Bugabo! You should be able to get a great stroller that will last for at least 4 years for under $400 any more money than that on a stroller is a little crazy (no offense to Bugabo lovers)! Get an easy one that has everyhting you want and does everything you want or in 6 mo you'll go looking for another one. You will need a tray for sip cups and bottle or snacks, believe me when they are about 8 mo or so all the infanty stuff just dosen't work anymore. Good luck with your first.

I just went on a trip with a 1.5 month old. For me, I was alone, and when walking through the airport I looked like this: I am holding the baby in a sling in front and also wearing a backpack, I am using one hand to help keep baby comfy while the other is pushing the stroller which is holding the carseat and the suitcase. Once I got to the security check I WAS VERY THANKFUL THAT MY STROLLER FOLDED UP AND DOWN EASILY and with ONE hand! Otherwise strangers would have had to help me. Strangers which on the way back were already giving me annoyed looks just because he was fussing and crying (he doesn't like slings). So if you are alone with no help I would go with that option.

Hi there.

I have the Peg Perego Pliko P3 and LOVE it. We also took it with us to London when my son was 9 months old and it worked fabulously. Believe me, when you're on vacation and dealing with a city mostly built before today's wheelchair access laws were even thought about, you want a LIGHT weight stroller. This fits the bill. It's also easy to open and easy to close. Has a nice handle on one side to I can easily put it in the back of the car. It easily reclines...using the word "easily" a lot here, but that's what you want...easy! My only gripe is that the basket underneath is impossible to put large items into. Other than that, though love it and wouldn't trade it for anything. Oh! And, I have also found that steering a stroller while carrying the child that is supposed to be in it (because they've just had it with being in it) is also much easier with two handles rather than a long bar handle.

Enjoy!
-M

S. - my daughter just turned one year old and we have used three strollers.
We too traveled a lot with her from the time she was 6 weeks old and I found that using the Graco Snug Ride carseat with the Snap and Go stroller was a life saver for traveling through airports by myself. The Snap and Go Stroller has a lot of storage space underneath so I could put my two carry-ons under there and push her through the airport without being bogged down. Also, it collapses very easy to go through security. It was less than $70 if I recall correctly so I didn't feel too bad if it got banged up a bit when gate checked.
We also have a BOB - which we started using when my daughter was 7 months old. Got it at REI in Santa Monica. I personally love it - the one with the swivel front wheel. It is a bit wide for shopping but great for hiking, walks, etc.
We received the McClaren umbrella stroller as a gift and use it pretty much as a leave in the trunk stroller. The sun cover doesn't really stop the sun from getting in my daughter's eyes yet. She is one year old and 31 inches. Hope this helps.

Hi there, I have a 10 week old and we have the orbit. We love it. Its so easy to maneuver - even with one hand while your shopping with the other! I don't mind the smaller storage space; I feel the benefits outweigh that by far. Good luck to you!!

K.

I don't recommend either one if you are going travel a lot. Both strollers are heavy to lift in and out of vehicles and cars unless have an SUV. The Cameleon you will have to take apart to fold. I have not tried the Orbit yet. The 2 strollers are great for walking and malls.
The best advice I can give you is to go into a store that carry's both and have a sales associate demonstrate their floor model for you.

You must get the B.O.B.!!! I owned a Bugaboo, and honestly it's great, but definitely overrated. I now have the double BOB, and swear it is the best stroller ever, so much so that I'm responding to this.

We will get back on your request >>>>>>checking 02/05/08 1:07 am pst Bob & Iona

Hi S.,

I too had a terrible time deciding on a stroller before I had my children. In retrospect here's what I wished I had done; I wish I hadn't decided on a stroller until after I had the baby. Sounds crazy I know.

I loved my "snap & go". I didn't have it at first. I went out and bought it when my daughter was about 2 months old. I wish I'd had it on the very first day. They are inexpensive and will keep you going until your baby is old enough to go into a regular stroller.

The thing is until you have a baby you won't know what you really need. The sidewalks in W. hollywood are bumpy and broken up. It's almost impossible to stroll around in anything except a jogging stroller in this area. You need big wheels to get over those bumps! There are other questions too. Do you have a nice big area to park a big stroller or are you sqeezed into a tiny appartment? What kind of car will you be putting the stroller into? How about cup holders? Does the stoller have enough shade for walking in this hot climate? Do you like to stroll around the neighborhood or drive somewhere to walk? There is no perfect stroller, but depending upon your needs you can find one that will work pretty well for you. But I would wait until the baby is a couple months old to decide. By then you will really know what you need. Until then you're pretty much wandering around in the dark.

You will also want a "baby bjorn". After all my worries about which stoller to buy I had a little girl who HATED being the beautiful stroller we purchased. She loved being in the baby bjorn though.

Good luck!

H.

S.,

I don't have either but many of my friends do and flying with the Bugaboo is difficult. The travel case is bulky and expensive and you have to take the wheels off. In a word it's horrible for airports unless you want to send it down to baggage without a case and let the handlers wreck it. Check to see if the Orbit is easier if you plan to fly alot.

Good luck.
M.

We have the combo carseat and stroller by Eddie Bauer bought at Target

S.,

We have and love the Bugaboo Frog...went with the Frog because we weren't big on the Camelion fabric, too warm for S. CA. Anyhoo...it's a great, sooo light, stroller! We love all the positions and forward/backward options. The storage doesn't seem to great, but you can really put alot down there. Our only issue would be he 2 seperate pieces, a little slower to put up/down then a normal stroller. Overall, we LOVE it! I think though if I was traveling alot, a one-piece stroller would be more convenient...the Peg Perego Aria is light and has great reviews too.
Happy Shopping,
S.

Hi, once I opened the bugaboo 2 times, it became a breeze - very simple to go places with and use. The fact you can use one hand to maneuver it is VERY useful! But it is not reasonable for traveling via airplane. Its not as easy to check in. But the Bugaboo Bee (the new one) is.

S.

I am a mother of two with another on the way. i am not a fan of the bugaboo strollers, I think it's a status stroller. If you plan on having more kids you don't want all these big, expensive items around. I love the Peg Perego Pliko P3 it is compact, small wheels, easy to handle, cup holder and tray which I love, and cute. The storage is a little small but I use hooks so I don't always have to bend down. It is pricey but worth it not as pricey as the bugaboo. We have the Combi double too which is great actually cheaper than the Peg. I also like the Peg products. My older daughter still loves the P3. Just my thoughts..Try them out
Good Luck
S.

I am a mother of an 11 month old and my only advice on strollers is that you will probably need two. Here are the reasons, i have a lightweight Combi/McClarren style for my car and then a jogger that is bigger but better for nieghborhood walking. Unfortunately, although the Bugaboos are the hip things to have, most of my friends have not given them the best overall ratings, i never bought one because of constant complaints about storage and portability from my mommy friends. the good news is that I started with the Graco Snap and go for the first 4-5 months and it was all i needed to start. Then after that we transitioned the snap and go into my husbands car and i got the new carseat. My son is 23 pds and is still able to use the snap and go in my husbands car for errands around town, which saves us from moving it back and forth between cars.

Strollers...I would insted invest in some good slings...the baby preferrs these anyway, and they are much less cumbersome than a stroller (especially in crowded places!)

Hi!I have a 14mo old dtr,along with a 15 and 13 yr old and I love the chicco C6 stroller is wonderful!It has been great from when she was 2mos old to present and will continue to meet our needs for some time.It is a lightweight stroller that reclines and is really comfortable.it folds up like and umbrella and has a shoulder strap and carry case for travel.They sell them at Target and at BabiesRUs about 60$We love it.The only downfall is a small storage basket under stroller.It is hard to get anything big into it.
Well,I hope this helps.We absolutely love this stroller!
Jennifer,mom of Lily,C. and Sara.

Hi S....I have the Peg Perego infant seat and pliko 3 stroller and really love it. Here's are the benefits...the stroller folds like an umbrella stroller, is lightweight but solid, easy to manuever, reasonable size basket underneath, and you're able to use it with a newborn. When the carseat (which is one of the few with side impact protection) is hooked onto the stroller you can close both canopies so that the baby is completely enclosed inside. This is great for helping the baby sleep and for keeping strangers' hands off your little one.

We looked at the Bugaboo, but thought it was rather cumbersome and seemed to take a lot of work to get it in and out of the car. Just my opinion...hope this helps.

Good luck!

Hi,

What ever you do, get one with out umbrella style handles...you always need to use two hands to push it straight...also get one with a handle bar the is high enough to push with out being bent over ( when the baby gets bigger, it really hurts your back to push bent over.)

The snap and go works so great in the first few months, mainly because you dont ever have to pull out your baby from" car seat comfy" to a cold stroller, great advise from Heather.

I liked the simple Cloth slings ( feels like a womb to the baby, you can get the on the internet, even taylor made to your body look on craigs list) but stay away from the big canvas types in the stores, they are way to bulky, I mean who wants to carry patio furniture style fabric around their shoulders on any given day ? .

The baby bjorn type coulden't keep my babies asleep comfortably, and their legs were cold . Try them both my husband preferred the front pack.

Love H.

Hi S.,
I actually stopped women with strollers on the street to ask them what they thought. That's a good way to research. After all the research, I went with the Peg Preggo Pliko - the one that you can snap the infant carrier into. It was great and not too heavy and easy to open and close. I think it costs less than the Bugaboo too. We traveled with it to NY and it was great.

When my son was about 8 months old and able to sit up well on his own, I bought a smaller McClaren stroller (more like an umbrella stroller) that was even easier to travel with.

Good luck.

L.

I have the Bugaboo Cameleon and really like it, however, I do sometimes wish I would have gone with the Orbit for the one reason you are against it - the storage! When you collapse the Bugaboo, almost everything in the storage basket falls out. But with the Orbit, you can cinch up the basket so stuff won't fall out.