Help me find a toddler stroller

[sent]

DS is about to turn 3. He's been in DD's old Uppababy Cruz but the seatbelt buckle has become extremely difficult to release. I don't buckle him in when we're out because I'm afraid I won't be able to release the buckle when it's time to get him into the car and come home. As a result, he is squirming and rolling in the stroller seat when he's getting bored and it's becoming dangerous. I was going to buy him another Cruz because I just love everything about that stroller, but figured why don't I see what else is out there before dropping $600 on a stroller he will use for another 2 years at most. He's around 30 lbs and he really needs to be contained so going without isn't an option for me. I thought I'd look for a stroller made in the USA but there's only one kind and the weight limit is 30 lbs. 

What other brands & models should I look at that have a decent sized basket like the Cruz? I don't want an umbrella stroller, that basket is probably the thing I use the most. 

[icedcoffee]

I was going to suggest the City Mini, but that basket sucks so maybe not that.

Honestly, at that price I'd write to Uppababy and get them to replace the straps/buckle. It's a little crazy to replace an entire $600 stroller just for that part. They should be able to replace and they should send you the piece for free, IMO.

[sent]

icedcoffee, I forgot about that. I just checked their website and they have 2 service centers about an hour from me. I have to take the kids out on the weekends after lunch anyways so I just made the first available Saturday appointment they have which isn't until Feb. 13. For $600, I'll deal with a rotating DS for a few more weeks.

[cricketwife]

I know you said you don't want an umbrella, but I would suggest at least looking at the Summer Infant 3D lite .  It has a great basket. You can find it for a much better price than listed here.   It might save you the buckle hassle without investing a lot in a stroller.  Or you might hate it if you really hate umbrellas! ;-) 

[Pilsy]

Jan 25, 2021 11:07:00 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

I know you said you don't want an umbrella, but I would suggest at least looking at the Summer Infant 3D lite .  It has a great basket. You can find it for a much better price than listed here.   It might save you the buckle hassle without investing a lot in a stroller.  Or you might hate it if you really hate umbrellas! ;-) 

This is nice! I've never seen an umbrella with a basket. Do I live under a rock? lol

[dcrunnergirl52]

I'd look around FB marketplace and see what you can find there. On my local FB marketplace, there are tons of nice strollers--Citi Minis, Bobs, Uppababy, etc. for under $100.

[dcrunnergirl52]

Also, in the Before Times, I was obsessed with our Mountain Buggy Nano for DS3. It was comfortable for him and folded up supersmall...so small that when we flew on planes, we put it easily into the overhead compartment.

[purplepenguin7]

i'd definitely look into getting the Cruz fixed, but if you still want a new one maybe look into the Uppababy Minu. The basket isn't huge but decent size for a lightweight stroller. I just got the Baby Jogger City Tour Lux on super clearance at Buy Buy Baby recently to replace my Cruz with something more lightweight and I like so far. The basket is pretty large but also not as large as the Cruz (we have the V2). www.amazon.com/Baby-Jogger-City-Stroller-Granite/dp/B079K49LJZ

[statgirl]

I had a city mini with my boys that I adored but it got destroyed when my car flooded. When I needed a stroller quickly for a 3 yo and didn’t want to spend much, I got a Kolcraft Cloud Sport. It was flimsier than an expensive stroller but the 3 yo and 6 yo fought over it. Plus, the basket was nice. I eventually picked up a citi mini on FB marketplace but used both at LegoLand. My parents had an older kolcraft at their house for babysitting (bought used). They are not fancy, but they work. www.kolcraft.com/product/kolcraft-cloud-sport-lightweight-stroller/

[joy]

My four year old goes in a collapsible wagon now. She was too confined and roly-poly in her City Mini. I use it back and forth to daycare, which is a 3 mile round trip.

[arehopsveggies]

My almost 3 still is happy in the Bob. My almost 6 likes to sit in it but I can hardly push it up hills with him. He has to hop out and walk for the steep neighborhood hill

We just got a push trike and my younger one really likes that. It had a good enough basket, and pushed ok on dirt when we went for a hike with it

[noodleoo]

Jan 25, 2021 11:38:27 GMT -5 purplepenguin7 said:

i'd definitely look into getting the Cruz fixed, but if you still want a new one maybe look into the Uppababy Minu. The basket isn't huge but decent size for a lightweight stroller. I just got the Baby Jogger City Tour Lux on super clearance at Buy Buy Baby recently to replace my Cruz with something more lightweight and I like so far. The basket is pretty large but also not as large as the Cruz (we have the V2). www.amazon.com/Baby-Jogger-City-Stroller-Granite/dp/B079K49LJZ

I had a Cruz and I switched to the UB Minu and I love it so much! My issue was that the Cruz took up my entire trunk and was kind of overkill for us since we mostly used it indoors for shopping, errands, etc (in the before times). I always hated my umbrella stroller so the minu is a great compromise for being small and lightweight but also has a decent basket and better handing. My tall 5.5 year old still fits in it too so I know it will last a while. The only downside is that it doesn’t sit up as straight as the Cruz could and DD2 doesn’t love that, but it is similar to a regular umbrella. 

[sent]

Jan 25, 2021 14:28:54 GMT -5 joy said:

My four year old goes in a collapsible wagon now. She was too confined and roly-poly in her City Mini. I use it back and forth to daycare, which is a 3 mile round trip.

What brand of wagon do you use? How is it over bumpy sidewalks? We sometimes walk to our downtown and I have a goal to eventually go grocery shopping regularly by walking, so a wagon is appealing. 

[joy]

Jan 25, 2021 23:03:53 GMT -5 sent said:

Jan 25, 2021 14:28:54 GMT -5 joy said:

My four year old goes in a collapsible wagon now. She was too confined and roly-poly in her City Mini. I use it back and forth to daycare, which is a 3 mile round trip.

What brand of wagon do you use? How is it over bumpy sidewalks? We sometimes walk to our downtown and I have a goal to eventually go grocery shopping regularly by walking, so a wagon is appealing. 

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08F55MSWX/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_6?smid=A4H8FJQUX78UW&psc=1

It’s fine on everything - bumpy sidewalks, grass, etc. my kid doesn’t mind bumps so I can’t say if it’s a silky smooth ride. She pretends it’s a car, she lies down with blankets, we bring toys. I like it so much more than I ever thought I would!

[noodleoo]

Jan 26, 2021 7:24:37 GMT -5 joy said:

Jan 25, 2021 23:03:53 GMT -5 sent said:

What brand of wagon do you use? How is it over bumpy sidewalks? We sometimes walk to our downtown and I have a goal to eventually go grocery shopping regularly by walking, so a wagon is appealing. 

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08F55MSWX/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_6?smid=A4H8FJQUX78UW&psc=1

It’s fine on everything - bumpy sidewalks, grass, etc. my kid doesn’t mind bumps so I can’t say if it’s a silky smooth ride. She pretends it’s a car, she lies down with blankets, we bring toys. I like it so much more than I ever thought I would!

Wow, your arm doesn't get tired pulling the wagon over 3 miles?  We have a plastic wagon and use it for short trips, but I find it a lot more uncomfortable to pull than pushing a stroller.

[joy]

Jan 26, 2021 12:23:41 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Jan 26, 2021 7:24:37 GMT -5 joy said:

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08F55MSWX/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_6?smid=A4H8FJQUX78UW&psc=1

It’s fine on everything - bumpy sidewalks, grass, etc. my kid doesn’t mind bumps so I can’t say if it’s a silky smooth ride. She pretends it’s a car, she lies down with blankets, we bring toys. I like it so much more than I ever thought I would!

Wow, your arm doesn't get tired pulling the wagon over 3 miles?  We have a plastic wagon and use it for short trips, but I find it a lot more uncomfortable to pull than pushing a stroller.

No. My shoulders ached from pushing the stroller, honestly.

[sdlaura]

Someone will have to pry my Bob and Double Bob from my cold dead hands. I love those strollers, and my 6-year-old still wants to sit in them. Basket is not huge, and they're a pain to put in the car. But around the neighborhood they can't be beat.

[sent]

Jan 26, 2021 17:18:50 GMT -5 sdlaura said:

Someone will have to pry my Bob and Double Bob from my cold dead hands. I love those strollers, and my 6-year-old still wants to sit in them. Basket is not huge, and they're a pain to put in the car. But around the neighborhood they can't be beat.

That's how I feel about my Cruz. DD still wants to sit in it and she's 7. 

Bonus I should really use a cane or walker when I go out walking because of my subtle balance issues, but pushing the stroller is the best balance aid I've found. I've decided that even when my kids are done with it, I'm still going to use the Cruz to go on grocery shopping walks to our downtown. Way better than using a walker. 

[brooklyn]

I’d definitely look into a wagon style “stroller” like Veer or Wonder Wagon.

[sent]

Jan 26, 2021 23:24:12 GMT -5 brooklyn said:

I’d definitely look into a wagon style “stroller” like Veer or Wonder Wagon.

Yes I was looking at the Veer and it's also $600 so same price as a new Cruz. But I guess I would get more out of it since I could keep it for the in-town errands in line of using the cane after DS is older. 

OK now I'm very tempted to get a wagon.