recommend your stroller

[CloudBee]

Here are some features I would like, even though not all of them are available on the several I have narrowed down thus far.

-lightweight
-fairly trim once collapsed
-reclines
-forward and rear facing
-preferably not a bulky jogger, but is smooth on grass
-bassinet included is a plus
-compatible w/Maxi Cosi Mico a plus
-comes w/infant seat adapter a plus

Here are the strollers that we are considering:
-Quinny Zapp Xtra
-Quinny Buzz
-Phil & Teds Smart Buggy Bassinet & Stroller Bundle
-City Mini
-BOB Revolution (need to read up on weight/how it collapses)
-Britax B-Agile (would also purchase the bassinet)

We won't use the stroller daily, and may not even use it every weekend. This makes me more hesitant to splurge on say, the Quinny Buzz though I think it is my favorite.

We travel often, but I'm not sure if we would just use our Ergo and/or bring along a really small umbrella stroller for travel.

[Deleted]

For the little I used it, the Chicco Liteway I have works well. It is: lightweight, fully reclines, very trim folded.

I used a Snap n Go when he was in the infant seat and HIGHLY recommend it. You can get one used, it resells well, and it's just so convenient for the early weeks or months. And kicked ass for travel.

[dcrunnergirl]

I'm not that familiar with single strollers (we have a City Mini Micro single that I LOVE but we've only used it twice in about 1.5 years), but I don't think a BOB Revolution would meet those needs. BOBs are big strollers and they don't collapse down that small. Unless you're only using it to go to like fairs, festivals, hiking, the beach, etc., it probably wouldn't meet your needs. We have a BOB Revolutin Duallie, and while I LOVE LOVE LOVE it, it's not convenient in a lot of places.

[pugz]

love my City Mini but it is not smooth on grass, the City Mini GT likely would be a better fit for that kind of thing, also adjustable handle on it since you and your H are different heights I believe. Collapses with one hand and has a car seat adapter.

[Deleted]

We have a BOB Revolution and while I love it, it definitely doesn't fit into the small, trim and lightweight category.

We've had a lot of snow so far this winter, and people suck about shoveling their sidewalks. I've actually found it much easier to wrap her up in a Moby and go walking. That way I can hold onto the dog too. And she stays warmer cuddled against me.

[ssmjlm]

DH has been doing the stroller research and like Pugz he likes the city mini GT the best.

[karinothing]

Love my UppaBaby Vista. it has all of these things

reclines
-forward and rear facing
-preferably not a bulky jogger, but is smooth on grass
-bassinet included is a plus
-comes w/infant seat adapter a plus

I love the rear facing feature!

As you know we did not use a snap and go becuase I don't believe the car seat should be used outside the car. (I think you mentioned similar feelings). We have a UppaBaby GLuxe for our lightweight stroller. I love it as well.
I don't knwo what the maxi cosi plus is so I have no idea.

[Deleted]

I find that people that don't believe a car seat should be used outside the car didn't have babies that fell asleep every car ride, but were light sleepers that woke any time they were moved to something else.

[ilikedonuts]

City Mini and the BOB don't have a seat that switches the way that it faces.

The new City Versa switches, but it just got recalled (not sure the reason for the recall).

I used a stroller frame to snap the infant car seat in. So much easier and lighter weight. When you add an infant seat to any stroller it gets so bulky.

That being said, we have a City Mini GT and love it. I hate the wheels on the City Mini. Loved the wheels on the City Elite, but found the Elite just way too big and bulky. The Mini GT is a great mixture of both strollers. ETA: And we needed a stroller with an adjustable handle like the Mini GT has because I'm 5'1 and my husband is 6'5.

[pugz]

Squirms has yet to actually sit in the stroller seat, we always just pop the infant carseat onto the adapter

[Saudade]

We have a B-Agile and a City Select. I love the City Select but it is heavy and bulky. I still love it. We have a b-safe carseat that attaches to the B-Agile and that worked fine but DS *hates* being in a car seat and so it was always kind of stressful. We got the City Select when he was 5 months old and it made strollering so much more enjoyable.

[karinothing]

Dec 17, 2012 9:17:17 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

I find that people that don't believe a car seat should be used outside the car didn't have babies that fell asleep every car ride, but were light sleepers that woke any time they were moved to something else.

ha ha. We actually never once attempted to move him in the car seat. So, I am not sure if he would have stayed asleep? But his car sleeping ratio was 50/50 probably.

I am just paranoid and read some article once about car seats decreasing the supply of oxygen to the baby and was told not to use them for longer than I had to. lol.

I just popped him into the sling all the time and he was always asleep within 1 minute of being put in there.

[w2w]

Dec 17, 2012 9:14:33 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Love my UppaBaby Vista. it has all of these things

reclines
-forward and rear facing
-preferably not a bulky jogger, but is smooth on grass
-bassinet included is a plus
-comes w/infant seat adapter a plus

I love the rear facing feature!

As you know we did not use a snap and go becuase I don't believe the car seat should be used outside the car. (I think you mentioned similar feelings). We have a UppaBaby GLuxe for our lightweight stroller. I love it as well.
I don't knwo what the maxi cosi plus is so I have no idea.

We have an Uppababy and I love it. It is not trim when collapsed, though. And it is harder to collapse than some other strollers (for instance, the City Mini).

If you don't think you will use the stroller a ton, I would go with the City Mini - very reasonably priced and everyone I know who has one loves it.

[Deleted]

We just bought the b-agile for #2, but have been using it already.

It is really nice. It is extremely lightweight, folds easily and is very small when folded. Super easy to push and maneuver.

So far the only things we don't like are that it doesn't sit all the way upright and that you do have to buy accessories separately. But for $189 on Amazon, we think its great.

[CloudBee]

Dec 17, 2012 9:08:57 GMT -5 @cookiemonster03 said:

Why is forward/rear facing important?

Interaction and visibility. Personal preference.

[hannamaren]

We have the Peg Perego Skate. Similar to the Vista.
The carseat fits into the stroller
Has a basinette
Seat goes rear and forward facing
Large sunshade (vista is larger)
Flat bottom part for bags which I prefer so you can put a box of diapers or a purse, etc.
big wheels - drives on everything well

Does not fold small but easily fits in my Civic trunk and front seat when the trunk was full.
Heavy - cant lift it up stairs easily, but I manage even with my chubby baby in there.

[CloudBee]

Do any of you with the B-Agile have the bassinet?

I'm not a big fan of carseats on strollers. I know, I know, I bet half of you are thinking "just you wait". I much prefer the idea of a bassinet, even if it means moving a sleeping baby. Most of Europe seems to manage without snap and go strollers/carseats.

I really want my kiddo to be flat and have room to stretch out vs. having been in the car for a while, and remain contained in the carseat.

One of the appeals of the Quinny line is that it comes with snap and go attachments for our carseat. Thus if we end up wanting to snap it on, we won't have to buy that accessories. That, and the fact that the Buzz rear faces.

The bassinet for the Phil & Ted's stroller looks very narrow, where the Britax looks like it could be used for a longer timeframe.

I'm happy to see the City Mini GT suggestion. I had not looked into that model. Thanks!

[Deleted]

I love the City Mini GT. I have been using it for walks since DD was a month old (the website says it can be used from birth when fully reclined). I recline her completely and use this to support her head/neck:

www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=538682&cm_ven=RKG_GoogleBase&cm_cat=OSA_Non-Brand&cm_pla=GoogleBase&cm_ite=GoogleBase&orderType=2&utm_source=RKG_GoogleProducts&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=product&utm_term=GoogleBase

It works great. We use the car seat and SnG for errands and shopping...but the wheels suck outdoors. I am so glad I went with the GT instead of the regular City Mini for this reason.

[starlily]

I'm pretty happy with my Uppa Baby Vista.

I used the bassinet all the time - never even bought a car seat adapter. J feel asleep during car rides, but was never bothered by the transfer from car seat to bassinet.

[carolinagirl831]

I was torn between several strollers, because there is no perfect stroller for all situations..
I wanted to Uppa baby because it had all those features - switchable facing, bassinet, ec.t but it doesn't fold up that small or super easy and it's alot more money than the others

Then i thought i wanted the city versa or uppa baby Cruz but I think the wheels suck on both of these and the seats are alot smaller than the other ones i was looking at .. I expect to have a tall child since DH is 6'6

The wheels were important to me because while I don't want a huge jogging stroller, I want something that is smooth on most surfaces and for walks ect.

Finally I landed on the City mini GT. The wheels are so much better than the regular city mini, it has a hand brake and adjustable handlebar for me and DH's height differences. It has a car seat adaptor and you can purchase a bassinet if you want too. The only thing it doesn't do is change facing positions. To me the seat in looked more comfortable than the versa and bigger for an older child. The City mini GT folds up so easliy with a one handed fold. I decided that, ease of use, and the better wheels are why I want this one.

We also got the upppababy Gluxe umbrella stroller- we went with a nice umbrella stroller because its actually tall enough for my DH to push, has nice comfortable padding and reclines

[carolinagirl831]

i know everyone likes the snap and go... but it is so short, and has bad wheels, it doesn't push great.

[h]

I thought rear/forward facing was really important to me before I had kids, but I have never missed it. I wore my kids more often than not when they were really little. By the time they were in strollers much at all they were old enough that they wanted to be looking about at the world. I have been really surprised at how little we have used strollers overall--a super expensive stroller with all those features would have been a huge waste, even with three kids using it.

We have a BOB Revolution, and while great for hiking, walking around the neighborhood, or jogging, I would not want it as my primary stroller, especially if I would be getting it in and out of a car regularly.

We have an old MacLaren Quest, and I like it. Very light, folds up small, easy to travel with and get in and out of cars with, etc. But it's just an umbrella stroller--no bassinet, rear facing option, etc.

[Deleted]

The BOB revolution doesn't fit anything on your list. It reclines I guess and is smooth on grass but it is not lightweight, not trim, it's definitely bulky and heavy, it doesn't rear-face, no bassinet, etc

I LOVE ours but we do not collapse it generally - it stays upright in our house for runs and trips around the neighborhood. It is very smooth and I love how it handles but I don't think it is what you want. At all.

We used a snap and go in the beginning which we loved bc of how light it was but it was not super comfortable to push.

[Deleted]

I have a quinny zapp. Its super ligth weight and folds up real small. It also comes with a travel case in case you wanted to bring it on the plane or something. And you dont have to buy an adapter to use it with the maxi cosi micro. It was a hand me down from a friend who used it all the time for 2 kids and it still looks perfect. She lives in an urban environment and waked all the time and took it in stores with no problem.

I have a bob revolution as well. That stroller is a beast and really probably best suited for jogging. I wouldnt want to lift it in and out of my car all the time.

[Deleted]

Def not a Bob. I love my jogger (Baby Jogger) but it is the opposite of lightweight. I used it for outside, and used a Maclaren Triumph for inside and/or travel.

I'd get a City Mini GT with your requirements. I wish I had gotten one instead of the Zippy Inglesina. I am considering selling the zippy and maclaren and getting a city mini when we have #2.

Edited to past tense bc I dont use any stroller now. ha

[GailGoldie]

The Baby Jogger City Select is fabulous- and if you have a 2nd can easily become a great in-line double stroller with stadium seating (vs. seating the 2nd below the front seat like phil & teds and others do).

I have owned about 14 strollers - and the Select has been my favorite- as a single and a double. Love the hand break, love how i can turn the seat different ways, huge storage underneath- great ride, etc.

[nabum]

We have a bumbleride flite and a BOB. The bumbleride is only 14 lbs, comes with a carseat adapter, the option to purchase a bassinet, and is an easy (albeit 2 handed) fold, reclines, includes a cup holder, etc. This stroller is great for trips to the mall, travel, etc.

The BOB is our primary stroller. I love it because I run with it, and we live in an area with a ton of hills and trails.

[sewpinkgal]

We have a City Mini and a BOB. I love my BOB, but only for running and for walking around our hilly, non-sidewalk neighborhood. Otherwise, we use the very light and easy to fold City Mini. We had carseat adapters for both and a bassinet for the City Mini. In fact, I even bought the bassinet because of how much Starlily's daughter seemed to enjoy being in her bassinet. Yeah, J never acted like that in it. My colicky/refluxy kid was not easy to sleep, so we never moved him to the bassinet from the carseat.

I think you need to figure out just how important facing you is because otherwise, I'd say the City Mini GT + bassinet might be a great option for you.

[CloudBee]

Dec 17, 2012 15:04:05 GMT -5 GailGoldie said:

I have owned about 14 strollers

[anna7602]

Dec 17, 2012 8:58:17 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

We travel often, but I'm not sure if we would just use our Ergo and/or bring along a really small umbrella stroller for travel.

Just reacting to this piece. We have never traveled with anything but an Ergo or an umbrella stroller. And really, the umbrella stroller was just to have in case a high chair or changing table wasn't available (so it being light & compact was of the utmost importance). The Ergo was pretty much DD's primary mode of transportation on vacations until she was walking a lot on her own.