Need Stroller Recommendation

[dcrunnergirl52]

DS3 is 17-months old and hates our old Citi Mini. It's a 10-year old Citi Mini that I got used from a friend about 4 years ago when DS2 was 2.5 years old after our brand new Citi Mini stroller was stolen at the zoo. At the time, we didn't anticipate having a fourth kid, so I just needed something inexpensive to bridge the gap until DS2 could walk everywhere.

Needless to say, the stroller has taken a beating and DS3 hates that the seat doesn't sit fully upright so it's hard to see things. He's sort of perpetually laying at an angle and basically screams when we even take out the stroller. I'd like to find something new since he'll be in a stroller for a while. Other factor is that we're traveling to London, Paris, and Disneyland Paris in August, so I need something that travels well in cities, folds easily, and isn't huge but preferably also has the option to recline if we do naps on the go.

And, while we're at it, any recs for baby carriers for a 17-month old for traveling around Europe? A backpack carrier? Tula? This is all new to me b/c all my kids hated being in carriers as infants, so we just never used them.

[boiler717]

I would look at the Uppababy Minu

[expectantsteelerfan]

It's been a while since I've stroller shopped, but for my kids we had a Combi stroller that was lightweight, folded super easily, and had a shoulder strap to carry it when it was folded. It held up well through 2 kids. I loved using it when traveling (could easily fold it and carry it up and down stairs or onto buses without taking up too much room).

[dcn]

Uppababy g luxe reclines!

[rupertpenny]

I have an uppababy Cruz and it can sit very upright and also reclines well. It is big to travel with, but it’s a great everyday stroller for us. If you think it’s too big I’d definitely look at the Minu.

Our travel stroller is a mountain buggy nano, but it does not sit very upright so your son may not like it. And honestly, it isn’t much less annoying to carry up and down subway stairs, etc that our Cruz which is what I’d be worried about in London and Paris.

[bcv513]

There’s a hack to get the city mini to sit up straighter. You just need luggage straps. If you google there’s a video that will walk you through it.

[icedcoffee]

There’s a hack to be able to put a Cosco car seat on a mountain buggy nano at he airport so I’d consider that since you’ll be traveling a lot.

sanctuarymama.wordpress.com/2015/09/10/mama-hack-mountain-buggy-nano-and-toddler-car-seat/

ETA: I haven’t owned it so I can’t give personal experience

[namasteak]

MacLaren stroller and toddler Tula

[joy]

Jun 2, 2019 9:19:10 GMT -5 bcv513 said:

There’s a hack to get the city mini to sit up straighter. You just need luggage straps. If you google there’s a video that will walk you through it.

Oh! This is nice to know. My two year old doesn’t care exactly as she just sits herself forward, but I like that there might be another way! Thanks.

[gigem]

It is hotter than hades in Paris in August you should bring a stroller fan, also baby wearing is tough here in the heat, walking a ton with no shade (no trees) (plus the metro is like an oven it is awful) so get a really breathable carrier if you can

[caramia]

A cheaper option: www.amazon.com/XL1-BEST-v2-Lightweight-Everyday/dp/B0786T2KNT/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=zoe%2Bstroller&qid=1559505919&s=gateway&sprefix=zoe%2B&sr=8-3&th=1&psc=1

It reclines, sits up pretty straight, is supposed to be able to fit in overhead airline bins (we didn’t try that) & is lightweight. Not a ton of storage space though.

[dcrunnergirl52]

Jun 2, 2019 14:23:34 GMT -5 gigem said:

It is hotter than hades in Paris in August you should bring a stroller fan, also baby wearing is tough here in the heat, walking a ton with no shade (no trees) (plus the metro is like an oven it is awful) so get a really breathable carrier if you can

Hotter than Florida in August? We did Disney World in late August last year so have lots of fans and cooling towels. I was thinking about bringing them but now that you say this, I definitely will.

[gigem]

Hmmmm, no not quite as hot (I’m from Clearwater) but in France you cannot escape anywhere into the cold a/c like you can in the US so it is hard to get a moment to cool down. At night it cools down a lot (like 20 degrees drop) but during a heat wave it will barely cool down by maybe 2am. Usually those last about 3 days and then it will rain and break the heat. Defi bring your cooling gear! A Disney hotel would have a/c and other big hotels do as well they just don’t blast cold air the way indoor spaces in Florida do.

[dcrunnergirl52]

Jun 2, 2019 9:57:02 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

There’s a hack to be able to put a Cosco car seat on a mountain buggy nano at he airport so I’d consider that since you’ll be traveling a lot.

sanctuarymama.wordpress.com/2015/09/10/mama-hack-mountain-buggy-nano-and-toddler-car-seat/

ETA: I haven’t owned it so I can’t give personal experience

Thank you so much for posting this. We just got back from 10 days in Europe, with 4 plane rides, 2 trains, multiple car rides, etc., and this hack saved us. DS3 was happy sitting in this stroller with and without the carseat attached, it made it so much easier to travel through the airports, and we were so happy to have his carseat to put him in on the planes, trains, and cars.

[scm1011]

Jun 2, 2019 7:25:31 GMT -5 dcn said:

Uppababy g luxe reclines!

We just borrowed a friends for our trip to Spain and it was perfect. Sits straight up but also reclines, lightweight and easy to carry on off the the metro. I’m thinking of buying a used one because my DS has similar complaints about the City Mini.

[expatjen]

We love our Zoe stroller. Easy and super compact fold, sits up straight and reclines almost flat, big sunshade, and vent near the head to let some air in. we just took our 22 month old (and 9 year old) to japan in July. It was deathly hot. Thankfully this stroller was a big help. I couldn’t carry around the baby in the heat - it was too hot and we both would get super sweaty and uncomfortable.

[larzhope]

Aug 25, 2019 19:10:03 GMT -5 expatjen said:

We love our Zoe stroller. Easy and super compact fold, sits up straight and reclines almost flat, big sunshade, and vent near the head to let some air in. we just took our 22 month old (and 9 year old) to japan in July. It was deathly hot. Thankfully this stroller was a big help. I couldn’t carry around the baby in the heat - it was too hot and we both would get super sweaty and uncomfortable.

Do you have the compact zoe or the full size one? I am debating between the two

[pokerface]

Aug 25, 2019 22:31:43 GMT -5 larzhope said:

Aug 25, 2019 19:10:03 GMT -5 expatjen said:

We love our Zoe stroller. Easy and super compact fold, sits up straight and reclines almost flat, big sunshade, and vent near the head to let some air in. we just took our 22 month old (and 9 year old) to japan in July. It was deathly hot. Thankfully this stroller was a big help. I couldn’t carry around the baby in the heat - it was too hot and we both would get super sweaty and uncomfortable.

Do you have the compact zoe or the full size one? I am debating between the two

You didn’t ask me but we have this one. I love it for all the reasons listed above. It can’t be my only stroller as our daily walking area is worse than cobblestones, but for most US cities and for airport travel it’s perfect.

www.zoestrollers.com/p/zoe-xl1

[achi]

Would you consider something else in the Citi family - like the Tour? It folds so well for travel. I don't personally have one but my friend who travels often does and she really likes it.

[Deleted]

Jun 2, 2019 6:48:47 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

I would look at the Uppababy Minu

This is what I was going to say. It’s $$$, but I saw one in the wild the other week and it looked super nice. It’s basically a lighter, trifold version of the Cruz, so it fits in overhead bins for flights.

I want one because I want a more compact stroller for travel, but I don’t want an umbrella stroller because I love the ease of one-handed pushing of my Cruz.

The Wirecutter rated the Minu as the best travel stroller but also recommends the Mountain Buggy Nano for a cheaper option ($200 vs. $400).