im bored and I cant sleep so I figured id ask a question.. how old were your little ones when you started using an umbrella stroller (if you used one) Today I went shopping with my mother and my 8month old.. we went to a few different stores. The stroller I have is the one that was part of the 3 in1 travel system thing I got at my baby shower.. you know, car seat/carrier/stroller. Seriously that thing was such a pain in the butt. Its heavy and doesn't fold up small at all.. I could barely get the damn thing in and out of my moms trunk and after the 4th time I was pretty much done with it. Not to mention that 2 of the stores we were in the stroller barely fit between some of the racks of clothes& stuff. Why cant all stores just have shopping carts with the little seat & buckle on the top.. My 8month old is finally big enough and sitting well enough to sit in the cart like a big girl.. but unfortunately today we couldn't do that.. when we left our last stop for the day I basically threw the stroller in the trunk and was like "thank god im done with that for the day!" My mom was like why don't you just get an umbrella stroller theyres so much easier, lighter, and they fold up really small. Which shes right.. but I wasn't so sure I mean my daughters only 8 months old and shes a peanut.. most people look at her and say "what is she about 6months" . well no shes 8.5months... those umbrella strollers look so low to the ground and flimsy. but It would be so0o0o much easier than using the one I have all the time.
Maybe its just because my daughter is so tiny but I feel like all the kids I see in these umbrella strollers look like toddlers
So how old were your kids when you started using one?
You can start using an umbrella stroller once the baby is able to sit up. Sitting up means their back is strong enough to not need the support of a full sized stroller.
My daughter started using an umbrella stroller around 10 months or so. They seldom used a stroller, anyway.
i use the jet stroller by first years. my daughter was 4 when i got it. i got it for trips and such because it was easier to pack and fold up. i also have a light weight stroller thats like a full size but smaller.
heres the one i have for my daughter-
http://www.target.com/p/the-first-years-jet-lightweight-s...
I think they were about six months when I started using the umbrella stroller. They were sitting up on their own. I bought my umbrella stroller at a yard sale for $3. It was like new. It was the same kind Wal Mart sells for about $20. Anyway, I used that stroller for both of my boys, and we took it everywhere, and I still use it for kids I babysit ten years later. Best $3 I ever spent!
As soon as they could sit up in a very steady manner, for an extended period of time. Easily by 8 months.
Don't go cheap on a stroller. The cheap ones have crappy wheels and very short handles. You'll want to toss it in the trash after about 20 minutes when you find out it's more effort than it's worth.
With my first, we couldn't afford a good umbrella stroller, so we hit the consignment shop and found a top knotch stroller for almost nothing.
If your baby can sit in a grocery cart then she can sit in an umbrella stroller.
We got a nicer umbrella stroller - a Maclaren - when my son was 7-8 months old. I didn't use it all the time, because I preferred my bigger one (more space to put my stuff and it's not that cumbersome), but the umbrella one worked really well for the mall and stuff. Your daughter is definitely big enough. I'd get one ASAP if I were you. : )
My son was about a year. Umbrella strollers are only flimsy if you buy the supercheap ones they sell at ToysRUs, etc. We spent the money on a good Chicco one (found a Babies R Us coupon) and we loved that thing. I used it a lot on public transport and would put in him a pack for the bus when I needed to fold the stroller up and board. Got around town all over the place that way: stroller, pack carrier for Kiddo and a diaper bag (usually backpack).
You do want to make sure the stroller is the correct fit for your height, though. When I was a nanny, many families had the little, cheap umbrella strollers which even my short self had to bend over to use. The Chicco that we had was great. We got a MacClaren a couple years later and I didn't like it as much-- didn't hold up as well and too tall for me.
We had the travel system too and like you, it just got to be too much. Plenty of room to carry it in the van, but still too much.
So, we bought a cheap umbrella stroller at a consignment sale. I HATED it. It was too low to the ground for me to push comfortably (and I'm only 5' tall) and had no way to store anything.
So, recently, at another consignment sale, we bought this one (http://coscojuvenile.djgusa.com/en/djgusa/cosco-juvenile/.... Much better! It has a basket for my purse and any other small bags, I can attach the diaper bag to the handle and store my keys and phone in the little mesh basket. We also use our wagon for some things, like if we're going for a long walk or something.
My daughter was about 4 months old. We go to Disney World a lot so needed something compact. We have a peg perego
if she is sitting up then she's good. get one - you will LOVE IT!! i hung onto mine waaaaay after he quit using it (and he walked at 9 months so we didn't use it for long) just because of sentimental value. by far my favorite "baby item". i was like you, i hated the big one. (PS, i didn't spend $80 either - i got the basic one from walmart - everyone is different i suppose - but honestly, it was the best $20 i ever spent! loved it!)
Six months for running in and out of places. When out walking etc I use regular stroller, but even that one is not huge. Took me forever to decide on stroller. Wanted one that was easy to open, light and could be used for a few years. I have an umbrella stroller for quick stops. My granddaughter is now 10 months old. Have been using an umbrella stroller since she is 6 months. I would get a better type lightweight umbrella stroller type. Easy to use but better then the $14.99 ones. My new car I bought in 10 minutes lol. I knew what I wanted.
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I agree with everyone else that she sounds old enough now. And I second the motion of getting the Chicco - mine lasted through both kids and was still like new when I gave it away to my cousin. It was totally worth the extra money to me.
My DD was probably 6-8 months when we tried her out in the basic stroller from Babies R Us (which we used til she outgrew it). Your mileage may vary. You can get a more stable stroller with straps vs just the "t strap" over the waist and between the legs. If I did it again, I'd get a Chicco or similar with a basket on the bottom, but I overall really loved having an umbrella stroller in my car. My car is not huge, and neither am I, and the travel system stroller was just too much, though I think Chicco is a good brand. I tell people that had I do-over, I would have gotten a snap n go and a good umbrella stroller instead of the travel system.
If she's sitting up confidently on her own she's old enough for an umbrella stroller. I totally suggest it. They're wonderful.
Oh, she's totally ready for an umbrella stroller!
http://www.buybuybaby.com/product.asp?SKU=16320633&RN... is the one I use. About $80, weight capacity is 35 lbs, although I have put my 39 lb son in it as well.
We've had ours for about 3 yrs. Incredibly light weight. I never bring my travel system's stroller with us anymore.
I had an umbrella stroller that could actually recline - that made it easier to use when they were younger. 8 months is fine, but if you can find one that reclines, I highly recommend it!
She is old enough! I think the type of umbrella stroller depends on how you will use it. We chose to only use our cheapy umbrella stroller for short walks around the block or to the shoppette at the end of the street. If I had an umbrella stroller that was more heavy duty with the hard back, I would have taken it around town with me. If you want to use it often, I would go with a higher quality one.
Around 6-8 months. I hated my travel system type stroller too. I am not one to carry a bunch of stuff around anyway so the basket in the umbrella stroller was just fine. I have a Maclaren and I love it. Do not buy one of those cheapo ones. A good umbrella stroller will be just as tall as a regular stroller, have a basket underneath and recline. Chicco is a great one too!
We got a smaller stroller for our grandson after a point... it isn't the 3 in one, but it does recline a bit..... it offers more support than an umbrella stroller, also.....
You might look into one of those... it was really handy, folded nicely, and was lighter weight and easier to maneuver than the bigger stroller. We found it used at a garage sale for about $10 ........
We got one when our daughter turned three. Maclaren is the best...
We have a large SUV so had no issue with travel system stroller but we also had a jogging stroller so we had numerous different ones that worked.
My younger daughter was around 6 months when I KNOW I had her in one. I won't use the big stroller at an airport (they used to not be able to gate-check the big ones, so it's probably just a mental block on my part), and I had to fly to attend my grandmother's funeral. I guess she was around 6.5 months, but still. Either way, if they're able to sit supported, then they should be fine in an umbrella stroller. I don't know if there is any "official" criteria, but that's what I would start with. By 8.5 months, she's definitely fine for the umbrella stroller. :)
Around 6 months when they could sit up. Even the tiny ones.
Get a Chicco, not $20 one. Will use tilage 3.
You just brought back memories. Thank you. Yeah, I had the "basket style" car seat DH got me and a huge convertable stroller MIL got me. You know the creepy navy blue one that look like you could hit them with a Mack truck and nothing would happen. They look like something straight out of a horror flick. Well the car seat was too heavy for me to carry, so DH wound up carrying it and discovered the same thing after 2 weeks. We wound up using the basket part just to take him in to daycare. Later got a free loaned car seat from the Dept. of Transportation and gave it back when he got too big for it. The stroller MIL got us was only used twice. I just found it easier to carry DS everywhere without anything and just strung bags on my arms or used shopping carts. Did get an umbrella stroller ASAP, but don't remember exactly when. Loved it. That $14.95 was the best investment ever! Not only light weight and easy to use, but DS didn't cry in it like he did in the horror flick stroller....Why? Because he could see everything. He was a tall skinny sleepless baby, that started talking at an early age. Everyone thought he was older than what he was. The only caution I would give you is that I saw one lady's umbrella stroller tip onto the pavement, because she hit the side of the sidwalk when trying to go up a ramp.
