Best strollers?

[DMickey28]

I love my Chicco Cortina! The car seat gets top safety ratings. The strollers is awesome. I can maneuver it one-handed. It stands on its own when folded. Easy open/easy close.

Some people complain that you can't put it in a shopping carriage, but you're not supposed to do that anyway. I think it's heavy so I've never used it as a carrier. I think being heavy is a good thing in a carseat. It does snap into the stroller easily, too.

There is a great book called Baby Bargains that I think every parent/parent-to-be should have. It's amazing.

The Cortina also has an adjustable handle. I'm 5'10" and my mom is 5'1" and we both use it comfortably.

I also got the Cortina travel system with my DS. He was born in April. I really love the Chicco products. I now use a Ct5, umbrella stroller with DS. The Cortina we use for walking in the neighborhood but the Ct5 stays in the car. I bought a Maclaren before the Ct5 and I hated it. I manuvered well and felt good but it turned WAY too quickly, almost out of control and it tipped backwards way to easy. You couldn't hang a shopping bag, nevermind diaper bag on the back of it, even with the baby in the front it was a tipping hazard. The basket was also useless, way too small. I fell for the Maclaren name. Luckily I wised up after a week and returned it and got the Ct5. It is very very strudy and rides just as well as the Maclaren. The basket underneath is a little bigger so more useful and I can hang shopping bags and/or a decent sized diaper bag off the back and it does not tip.

All that being said ... If I were starting again and getting a new carseat and stroller here's what I would get.

I would buy the New Chicco Trevi stroller. It's almost as fullsize as the Cortina but it folds down umbrella style and just a little bit bigger than the Maclaren Triumph and Ct5 that I have. It also will carry the Chicco KeyFit carseat. They now have the Chicco KeyFit 30 which is larger than the orginal KeyFit that I have. It will hold a baby up to 30lbs instead of the 22 that mine did.

I almost bought the Trevi instead of the Ct5 but decided because it was more of a fullsize stroller it wouldn't make as much sense as a more umbrella stroller.

You can get the Trevi and the carseat in a "travel system". That would be what I would do right now.

The peg strollers are good, I almost got that instead of the Cortina but the basket underneath is next to impossible to access because it has a X support across the top. I didn't think it was worth the premium price. The Peg car seat was also ranking less than the Chicco and Graco back when I was looking (a year ago.)

Good Luck in your decision. I really liked having the travel system with DS was little. The Chicco Car seat "techincally" does fit in the grocery cart up on top but like Carla said, that's not safe. It doesn't lock down like some of the other car seats but it does fit. It does fit just fine in the basket of the cart which is what I would do. It is a heavier seat but it didn't bother me at all. I was really pleased with it.

 

[Sir Ron]

I think I'm leaning towards a Chicco Cortina or the Peregro. Bethy even agrees now.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

I have 3 different strollers (yes, I know, I went a little overboard with this baby).

Nah, that's not overboard. I've got 7. One kid. My name is Nuttylawprofessor and I'm a strollerholic.

Overstock.com has Silver Cross strollers at RIDICULOUS prices

My girlfriend just ordered one. Shipping below $5 to boot

It is is beautiful. You can't go wrong with a Silver Cross

In general, a Silver Cross can be a great stroller, but they've had significant problems with their manufacturer in China. In addition, they can't seem to keep an American central distributor for more than a few years. When that happens, you can't get support for any defects or problems with the product.

I agree with the recommendation for the Peg Perego P3 and a separate Graco infant seat...the P3 folds up small and can hold any brand infant carrier. It costs around $250, which does not include the carseat. It's what I bought for my brother and his wife.

I love Maclaren, but they don't work with infant carseats since they don't have napper bars. I used a Maclaren Techno with my second baby and just took him out of the carseat and put him the stroller and I really didn't miss the infant carseat. You can only use it those carseats for maybe 6 months anyway.

I had a Graco travel system with my first baby and hated it. It was heavy, took up my entire trunk, and it steered like a tank.

Patty

P3s are fantastic strollers. Some of the 2007 Technos came with an attachment for a car seat. I saw one on clearance at The Right Start last weekend for about $219, which is a great deal for another great stroller.

off topic but CUTE BABY Helenabear!

I jusw saw a mint colored Peregro on Amazon for 211. http://www.amazon.com/Peg-Perego-Li...ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1202749004&sr=8-2
Is the one folks are recommending?

Yes, that is the full-service P3. It's stable, smooth to push, and has a smaller fold and lighter carry than most Graco travel systems. A similar stroller is the Inglesina Zippy, which is even easier to fold than the Peg.

If you want a lighter weight stroller that can accomodate a Peg car seat, try the Pliko Lite. Allbeebaby.com has them on clearance for just over $100. I've never driven the Pliko Lite, so I can't speak to its function.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

I think I'm leaning towards a Chicco Cortina or the Peregro. Bethy even agrees now.

I've never owned the Chicco Cortina, but I came pretty close. The only thing that stopped me was the low seat back. I have a three year old that still rides. She has plenty of room in the P3 though. The Pliko lite someone mentioned isn't great, I tried one out when Babies R Us had it and it lacked a lot of the features that make the P3 so nice - like adjustable handles, full hood, freedom harness.

 

[ckmommy]

After haivng 5 kids and about 30--yes 30 strollers--I would go for the snap and go (which I know looks funny, but is very nice, light and practical--then buy a Maclaren or P3. I have owned several Maclarens and 2 different Peg Perego's. I liked for different reasons at different stages in my children's lives. Good luck and have fun shopping.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

Well, I am very happy with my Graco Travel System! They actually were bought separately, but obviously go together. We got the newer Graco SafeSeat ($129)- which goes up to 30 lbs. The Graco SnugRide, and every other infant carrier out there only goes up to 22 lbs. However, it's not compatible with smaller cars (including our 2001 Honda Civic) so if you like the larger "bucket" seat, make sure it fits in your vehicle! Luckily we were able to borrow a Snugride for dh's car, although we have yet to need it.

The stroller we have is the Graco Quattro ($129), and I think it's pretty nice. The worst I've read on the reviews is that it's too big, but we have a mini-van, so I'm not worried about the size. We do also have a Chicco umbrella style stroller ($60) since we also wanted a lightweight one, but no review on that yet since it's still in the box.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

I've never owned the Chicco Cortina, but I came pretty close. The only thing that stopped me was the low seat back. I have a three year old that still rides. She has plenty of room in the P3 though. The Pliko lite someone mentioned isn't great, I tried one out when Babies R Us had it and it lacked a lot of the features that make the P3 so nice - like adjustable handles, full hood, freedom harness.

How does it compare to a Mac Quest? Is the Lite a good car/convenience stroller?

 

[Bob Slydell]

I remember going to Babies R Us, getting the scanning gun and agreeing to whatever my wife said she liked.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I remember going to Babies R Us, getting the scanning gun and agreeing to whatever my wife said she liked.

Lucky her- My dh had opinions on everything.

This is a good point though- I wouldn't BUY anything right now, but register for it all. We were pleasantly surprised with THREE very generous showers with this baby. I don't think we're going to have to spend any money on him for a year! Babies R Us is a great place to start.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

How does it compare to a Mac Quest? Is the Lite a good car/convenience stroller?

I have two Quests right now, I wouldn't give them up for a Pliko Lite. The Lite seemed ok but on the heavy side and I don't know that I would want it for a car/errand stroller. The Quest is so easy to use and easy to push, the Lite just didn't seem like it had it. I wish the Quest had a hood more like the Lite's though!

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

That was my instinct, but the closeout price on the Lite is so low.

Sticking with our Quest and Volo.

 

[Sir Ron]

I'm not sure if she'll have a shower. Her parents are moving to New Mexico this month (Dad is in the Air Force), her sister lives in Ohio, and her best friend lives in Florida now.Heck, we're moving to a new town about 30 minutes away. My mom would probaby do one but her house is being completely remodeled from the inside next month.

Bethy isn't the type to expect a shower... I'm assuming this is when I should start trying to find someone to throw the shower for her. lol actually that isn't a bad idea. She's a part of a women's group so maybe I'll talk to them.


But.. I think we'll buy the Perego stroller now and if she has a shower, register for the other stuff.