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If your BFF was about to have her first baby and asked for your opinion on the most practical stroller or travel system for a new mom, what would you tell her - and why?

Tags: pregnancy, stroller

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Initially we registered for a Graco travel system, but if I could go back and do it over again I would have purchased the carseat and bases separately and just bought my BOB Revolution (with the optional carseat adapter accessory). I can't imagine needing any other stroller. 

 

While I wasn't incredibly unhappy with the Graco system at first, I didn't realize how much I really did dislike it until I got the BOB. The BOB is MUCH easier to maneuver (like, you can steer it easily with just a couple of fingers, and going in and out of non-automatic doors on your own is a piece of cake), you can take it anywhere (the Graco off-road somewhere like the park or even on a gravel path was a pain - if it even rolled at all) and the BOB fits in both our trunks with room to spare (the Graco only fit in mine, which rendered my husband's car useless if we needed the stroller). Since we bought the BOB about a year ago, the Graco has been in the basement collecting dust and we have no plans to pull it out again. Also, this particular model has a dual front wheel, so if your friend is a jogger it's simple to lock the front wheel for a safer jog. Even if she's not a jogger, though, I still recommend this stroller. Worth every penny. Plus, from all accounts I've read, the resale on the BOB is great, so I just plan to trade up for a double if/when we decide to have another.

 

I will say, the only thing I like better about the Graco is the amount of under-seat storage. That is one thing that the BOB lacks, but I can count on one hand the number of times this has been an issue.

The Peg Perego Aria is a great all-around stroller. It accommodates most infant carriers, it only weighs like 7lb or something ridiculous, it's easy to fold, stands when folded, has a full basket underneath, and a snack tray for baby. We added on an aftermarket parent organizer on the handle. Just don't hang a super-heavy diaper bag on the handle or it'll tip. Just sayin'. ;)

 

That said, I also LOVED the Snap N Go wheels the second time around. And a good all-terrain or jogger has its place, too! ;)

Maybe I should have done more research on strollers, because I have 3 of them! Haha one is a simple one, better for toddlers (I don't know the brand) One my Aunt gave me and it has that basket underneath perfect for the diaper bag, and it came with a carseat that snapped into it (a must have for newborns because, I'll be honest....I put my daughter's carseat in a different stroller so it was just setting on top, and when I went over a bump her carseat FLIPPED OVER ONTO THE GROUND!!!!!!! Swear to God I had a hard attack, and I was EXTREMELY lucky that the handle was up so it blocked her from hitting the ground at all. BIG LESSON LEARNED)

But I also have a jogging stroller, because regular strollers just do not survive going faster than a brisk walking pace. SO I would tell your friend if she can find a jogging stroller (assuming she likes to jog or go up a lot of hills/hiking??) that accomodates a carseat (either one that comes with it or one that VERY SECUREY sits into it) and then adjusts appropriately as baby grows, that's the one to get. I know this is relatively helpless since I didn't give any specific names, but that is the best "type" I can give :-)

"Heart attack" Not sure why I typed hard attack lol. and it wasn't literally setting on top, it felt pretty secure but obviously wasn't when going over a bump
Because I drive a small car, trunk space was an issue.  We got the Graco SnugRide rear-facing car seat, and then got the stroller frame to go with it.  It's perfect for us.  You just snap the car seat out of its base and drop it into the stroller frame.  It takes up very little space and we've gone everywhere with it!  Now that he's outgrowing his rear-facing seat we will have to look at something else for a stroller, but we will miss our Graco stroller frame!
Our baby girl is just turning 5 months and we got her Mamas and Papas Sola stroller. She loves it and we love it. It's all you need. Great for long trips, comfortable for baby, adjustible positions - it's great!
Love my Chicco KeyFit 30...easy, fairly light, stylish and great safety ratings.  Pretty decent price too.  Have no complaints.  Love that the seat goes up to 30 pounds...get more use out of it.
Oh, the Kolcraft Contours Lite stroller is another great one, and it's only a little over $50 from Amazon!
We ended up with a Bugaboo Bee, which is good for city living (not too heavy, easy fold-up, one-handed-steering). The handlebar height is adjustable, which was super important to us (my husband is 6 foot 4). The seat lies flat so you can use it straight away with an infant. And it stands up to just about everything--fast walking, curbs, rocks, etc. It was probably one of the most expensive things I have ever purchased in my life--I think $600 by the time we got the drink holders (I think those might have been a ridiculous $24 each). It's a pretty good stroller though. And we do use it every single day, so the cost over 21 months (so far) is kinda justifiable....
I LOVE my Graco Metrolite travel system. We looked at several and found Graco had really good safety ratings and was reasonably priced. The infant carseat snaps right into the stroller which is very nice. We also looked at a Chicco but when we compared the weight of the two, the Metrolite won out because I am short and not She-Ra so I love that the Metrolite is much lighter compared to the rest- and still has good safety ratings. So if the weight of the carseat and stroller matter, I highly recommend the Metrolite. It has a good size under basket and adjustable handlebar (I'm 5'2 and hubby is 6'3) so it works for both of us.
I also like the Graco Snap n Go (mentioned by Marissa). SOOO easy and much less bulky than a travel system. You just snap the car seat in the top and it is very lightweight. I would recommend a sit n stand for later, especially if there is more than one child in the family.
I would recommend the Chicco Cortina Travel System with Keyfit 30 carseat.  This is the highest rated carseat on consumer reports and it is super easy to use and lasts forever! It goes up to 30 lbs so technically your baby will be in it until after they start walking. It easily snaps in and out of the base in the car and works great for a smaller car. The stroller folds and unfolds easily with one hand, it manuevers great - its offroad capabilities are fab - really smooth on grass and dirt --like at the park.  It is a little heavy but it is really solid and sturdy - does not tip over.  There are a lot of nice strollers out there, but if you really want to check them out, go to a store like Buy Buy Baby where they have a great selection of different brands and test drive them, so you can see which one will work best for you.  Personally I love the Chicco, but to each his own!

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