Stroller Opinions?

[BabyCleo]

I was planning on just baby wearing and buying a stroller when Lily gets bigger (shes almost 2 weeks old now) and I have 2 bobas. We don't drive, so we need hands free for grocery shopping etc.

My DHs work all pitched in and gave us a $200 gift card to babies r us, and we are looking to put it towards a stroller now. We don't need anything else. Any opinions for one that would work with our needs? My DH wants one with a car seat so when his mum comes to visit us we can pop her in the car, and I want one that is front facing. We don't need a super expensive one as I will still be baby wearing most of the time. The stroller will be used mostly for walks or a mall trip or going out for dinner, where baby wearing isn't the easiest.

Thanks!

 

[Kitteh_Kat]

Just from my experience, we wasted over $100 on a stroller that has been used less than 20 times and is currently collecting dust in our coat closet (it's an Evenflo Aura that came with a matching car seat that fit into it for the baby stage). I wore her on my chest for the first year without a problem, then she went through a phase where she didn't want to be worn (looking back, I think it's because it was a cheap, sucky carrier that wasn't comfortable) so she either walked or we carried her without a problem, and now she brings me the carrier and gets all excited to be put in it. So I'm all about babywearing as much as possible, for as long as possible.

Strapping her on me makes shopping trips and going out so much easier than trying to navigate around with a stroller. We zoom by the other mommies while out and about. When she was little and we went out to eat, we either took turns holding her or brought her car seat in.

I did like the Aura as far as strollers go... we're just not really into strollers in general. You could always go to your local Babies R Us and check out the ones they have in stock as well.

 

[BabyCleo]

Thanks!! Even though we haven't been out much yet I totally agree, its so easy to baby wear!! Plus then no one reaches in and touches baby

Its good to know that you don't use it much, I doubt we will either. Im wondering about just buying a car seat to stow away for when people with cars visit. Did you like the Evenflo? I think that's one of the ones we were looking at actually

 

[Kitteh_Kat]

The Evenflo car seat we got was easy to use and install, much more so than the one we got from my former employer. I never had a problem getting her in and out of it, or installing it into a car (we used it mainly for when she needed to ride in a family member's car, actually). I never tried to put it in the stroller though, so can't say how easy that process is. The stroller was nice, just too bulky/heavy for my taste. Very durable and easy to clean!

 

[Scout]

Personally, I'd forget getting one with a car seat attachment and just get something light, small and easy to fold. I got a chicco liteway and have used it since birth (dd is 2 now) and love it still. We use it for the mall and zoo, and places like that. Daughter can get in and out on her own (a good and bad thing LOL) , but that's nice when we go to the zoo where she walks some and rides some. The seat reclines flat which was nice when she was a newborn. I know it doesn't fit what you were looking for, but I wanted to toss it out there since I like it so much. I tried out some of the travel systems with the stroller/car seat combo and I just thought they were bulky. Also, I didn't think I'd use the stroller all that much (have a boba3G I love) so didn't want to spend $$ on it (liteway is around $100), but I've actually used it a lot as dd likes riding more than wearing. Plus I like the basket on the bottom while shopping so I can stash my stuff.

 

[Ferry]

I bought a travel system and have to say I use it loads and really like it. We needed the car seat, so that's different from your situation... but I haven't carried anywhere near as much as I'd like because my back started to get really sore as he grew and I just couldn't do it (it wasn't anything to do with the carrier - I have three different kinds!).

The stroller section on mine folds flat which is fab for naps on the go... but my stroller only front faces and I wish that I'd gotten one that also faces me as he's only 4 months and isn't comfortable any more in the pram but gets a bit freaked in the fwd facing stroller if I have to have the sun hood open (where's Mummy!?!?).