While 'Strolling' Through the Park One Day

Before Hubby and I went to register I did some research on a few items. Let's face it, I am clueless when it comes to Baby Stuff. Sure I know they have strollers and car seats. But who knew there would be so many different ones out there.
How do you pick one out? What kind? What brand? What are the different features?

Before I got pregnant, you get the kind of stroller that you plop the kid in and push....end of story.

Hubby didn't even want a stroller.
"I'm just gonna strap the kid to my back and go." He declared.
"Um, kids grow and get heavy."
"Well, by then, it'll be walking."
He saw no need for a stroller. We're big walkers and I know that we/I would use it extensively.



I stared searching on-line for strollers. HOLY MOLY! There are a lot.
- Lightweight
- Standard
- Jogging
- Travel Systems

I ruled out the lightweight (umbrella) strollers as they're not used for infants. Babies need to be in a flat position for back support. In a few years, I'll get one.

Jogging Strollers with tire wheels, hand-grip brakes, all terrain suspension system (something I wish our car had) was ruled out, well because neither one of us jogs. We live in NYC, if I need a suspension system to maneuver on the sidewalks, I'm not walking on the right streets.

Travel Systems (stroller that comes with a car seat that attaches to it) are very popular and standard strollers are my two options. And even in those two categories, there are lots to choose from.

I'm not into 'keeping up appearances', so the look was secondary to me. In my eyes all strollers (like cars) look the same. I looked at safety features first. Which strollers got the best ratings for safety? Stability is key for a stroller. I don't want to be taking the child out and it giving way and falling. No child of mine is gonna topple over on my watch! I also learned that a five point harness system (how the kid gets strapped in) is the best.

Here's the things to look for:
Safety/Stability
Harness System
Handles - are they adjustable? if not are they at the right height for you
Wheel placement - When walking do your feet hit the wheels
Foldability - Is it easy to fold and unfold?
Storability - Is it gonna take up most of the trunk space in a car?
Weight - Can you lift it without getting hernia?
Convenience Features - Basket (is it easy to get to?), snack trays, cup holders, sun shades, etc.

Strollers come in different price ranges from 'never thought I'd spend that $ on something and it's not a few pairs of shoes' to 'HOLT SH*T!! Why are there 4-digits before the decimal on that price tag???'
Obviously, I eliminated the 'I need a bank loan strollers'

I made a list of strollers with the best ratings, pros/cons and in our price range and Hubby and I went to 'test drive' them.

The travel system stroller that gets the best safety ratings - Graco Quattro tour - was quickly ruled out. That stroller is built like a tank! Unless I transformed into Wonder Woman, there was not way I can lift it....to put into the car trunk.
Call me a wimp, I don't care. In the past, I hurt my back lifting things....so get off my back!

Anyway, hubby hated the travel systems. He quickly gravitated toward the 'cooler' looking strollers.

Sheesh, I'm looking at safety, harness, etc. and he's looking at color and style!
He really liked one stroller in particular. I didn't have it on my 'list' cause it's a three-wheeled rolling (jogging) machine. AND I DON'T, nor do I intend to JOG!
He loved the foldability of it. I'll admit, no other stroller folds like it.
"But, I don't know anything about this stroller. I didn't study it's safety rating or read reviews." I said.
"But look how it folds! It's so cool." Hubby said as he folded and unfolded it 10x.

"Okay, don't break it. Let's go look at the Peg-Perego P3."
In that class it gets top ratings/reviews. It's certainly not the cheapest stroller out there and not the most expensive either. At $330 it's the most I'm willing to spend on a stroller.

"How do you fold this thing?" Hubby exclaimed as he tried to squeeze the handle bars, press on the wheels, bend the base. He tried everything to fold it but unscrew and dismantle it.
I found an employee to show us how it folds. It's a button on each handle bar, you squeeze them and press the stroller in. Hubby did it a few times. Weak me, couldn't press and squeeze at the same time :-(

"You can't fold it. I don't like it!" He belted. "That's it! We're getting the other one!"
"But, but, but....Can I at least read up on it. I want to make sure it's safe. I want to read what other people have to say about it."

The reviews are in:
It's a well liked stroller. Safety is excellent. It gets high marks in all categories except one: The seat doesn't come to a full upright position or lay fully flat. So you can't put a newborn in there unless they're in a car seat (which easily attaches to the stroller).

We went back and looked at it again and the P3. Besides the folding issue, I really like the P3 because the seat seems sturdier and lays flat as opposed to the stroller we're getting/putting on the registry.

Yes, Hubby is getting the stroller he wants.
http://www.babyjogger.com/city_mini_sngl_dtl.aspx

I noticed, Halle Berry and Salma Hayek have the same stroller. I'm joining the celebrity trend.

Oh and on our way out of the store, we stopped in the Bugaboo corner. There's a reason, why they're called Bugaboo. When you see the price tags your eyes Bugout and you go Boo.
Before entering that section, you go thru a credit check and leave a piece of ID at the front. Hubby wanted to know what makes those strollers $1,000. I kicked the wheels, tried to bent the handle bars, I pushed it over to see if it would bounce back on its own.
Hubby tried to fold it, and tried again and again. What the heck, how do you fold this thing?? I think he broke something trying to fold it, but never figured out how.
We concluded, when you want to fold/unfold a Bugaboo, you call the 'helpline' and someone comes and folds it for you. That's what you're paying for right?