If you have and Expedition type SUV (no trunk space) and a great stroller that fits..

[Belle5]

...I'm looking for one! Now the specifics: for a newborn--want one that FULLY reclines. I had read that the Graco City Lite fully reclined (lays flat) but after checking it out today--it doesn't. I wonder if I'm ever going to find one that fits the bill at any price. Hope you can help me!

 

[deb305]

This is purely a personal opinion, but having had one child with Asthma, and another infant with tummy problems we have never used a fully reclining stroller. Even the doctor had us put a wedge between their springs and matress to lift them a little.
When we went to WDW we took our stroller for the 1 year old so it would recline some for sleeping. If you are getting a new stroller for WDW, some of the things we wished our by now old stroller had were:
Sturdy wheels with tight turning space
Cup holders
Lots of storage under the stroller
Cup holders
Easy to fold
cup holders
Very padded interior for comfort
cup holders

It's great that you are bringing your SUV. Disney transportation, especially buses, make you fold up your strollers. Try juggling the stroller, diaper bag, jackets etc, and the kid. If it is not crowded the monorail and the larger boats sometimes let you "roll on". Beware the parking lot trams make you fold the strollers and store them on the spacious floor before you. (Just a little sarcasm).
Good Luck
PS ours was an old standard Graco

 

[deirdrefitch]

I have an Exped, and am trying to figure out how to get all our luggage inside for a trip from Texas. Good Luck looking for a stroller. I love the vehicle, but wish it had more trunk space.

 

[Belle5]

It's hard to teach an old dog a new trick. This will be my 6th child and we have used a Combi carriage (and others) in the past that fully recline. I have never been satisfied with less than a fully reclining stroller having used both kinds. Peg Perego has a lovely full sized stroller that fully reclines. ( It's just not going to fit in that tiny trunk of mine. ) The babies just rest so much better lying flat -- like they are in a bed.
We've taken to the kids (ages 5-16) to WDW as infants and agree that transportation is a bugger with babies in strollers.
I'm just trying to find that one in a million stroller that is compact and reclines. I'm at the point that cost is not a real factor. Anything is cheaper than buying a new vehicle just to cart the stroller around!

deb305,
All of my children have varying degrees of asthma. I had not heard that sleeping flat caused asthma flare-ups???
Belle5

 

[Belle5]

Deirdre,
We bought a luggage carrier for our Expedition and just love it! It makes all the difference in the world to free up the interior space. We bought ours at Sears and have used it many times.

 

[BevS97]

Look at the Chicco 2002/3 or Trekking - this is an excellent stroller, it folds up umbrella style so it should be ok in your car and on the tram, but it reclines flat (I totally agree with the baby being flat, by the way). It is quite spacious so will last quite a while. Nice big wheels so easy to push. The handles rotate so when your hands get tired you can try a different position.

Mine didn't come with a basket, but I think some of them do - if not you can get a net basket which you can attach. We also had a net bag which went on the back of the stroller which worked well. No cup holders, but I believe you can buy cupholders which will clip onto any stroller.

We had one of these for our eldest dd, and thought it was excellent. We are going to get another for our newborn due in August.
Take a look here Stroller World - I know nothing about this company, but you can see the models I mean

Bev

 

[mrsltg]

I have a Perego and it's great. I especially loved it when my DD was an infant.. it reclines to several positions, and you can use it as a carriage (baby facing you) or a stroller.

Enjoy your trip!

Erin

 

[jlieblaw]

We recently bought an Instep Safari TT (I believe that's the complete name). It's actually a jogger but it reclines which is nice when you're child falls asleep in the park. Also, the front tire sits under the stroller so you don't have to worry about tripping people with it. It has a basket underneath and a compartment on the back of the stroller. It has two cupholders and a small compartment that closes. The handle adjusts to fit different heights. The seat has a removable pad or cushion. There is also a removable snack tray for the child. It makes tight turns and rides really smooth. The front tire can be locked so it doesn't swivel depending on the terrain. The weight limit is 50 pounds which means you can use it for quite awhile. We love it (as does anyone in our family who takes our daughter out in it). We wish we had it when our daughter was born. We ordered it over the internet but some stores to carry it (Baby Depot). Also, we drive an explorer and the stroller is in there at all times. If we need more room, we turn the stroller on it's side.

 

[Belle5]

mrsltg,
Is your Perego one that will fit into a small trunk when folded? If so, whatis the model? Thanks!
Belle5

 

[jel0511]

Belle5 - I have a Peg Perego that lays FLAT and folds up VERY small. It's called the Peg Perego Pliko. It's an EXCELLENT stroller, and I highly recommend it. It is very sturdy, and is a breeze to use. Another umbrella type stroller that lays flat and folds up small is the Maclaren. This is also an excellent stroller, but the padding is a little lacking, and I personally wouldn't use it for a small infant, if that's what you're looking for. The best place to buy any stroller is www.strollersforless.com They usually are priced lower than Babies R Us, and offer free shipping. I'd go to your local Babies R Us and try this stroller out. To make it recline fully, you need to unsnap the hood from the back of the stroller, just remember that when test driving it!!!!

 

[Belle5]

jelo511,
Thanks for the information! When I went to the site and read about the Pliko it never says in the description that it fully reclines. (Just that there are 4 positions.) On the Maclaren site it will clearly tell you that the Maclarens fully recline. I'm very glad that you mentioned that the Maclaren padding is not good. I'm assuming that the Pliko's is???

 

[Belle5]

The Chicco looks wonderful but, again, in the description it does not say that it fully reclines. Which model do you have that you know really does lay flat. I think the description says "3 position recline".

 

[NotUrsula]

I haven't measured it exactly, but in eyeballing my Pliko, I would judge it at somewhere between 168-172 degrees at full recline. The padding on the side wings is quite thick, nearly an inch, but the seat and back padding is about 1/3 in. (If you think about it, it can't be too thick or it won't fold compactly.) At full recline, the seat is partially supported by the back of the hood, so taking the hood off will allow it to drop another couple of degrees. The footrest is stiff plastic with a hinge in the center. (Mine is a Sherpa model, BTW.)

I also have a Maclaren Vogue, which is their mid-range model. It reclines to about 150 degrees, and the padding is about 1/3 inch all the way around. The footrest is a soft rubber sling.

The Pliko folds into more of a true rectangle, as the seat folds outward and flattens. The Mac is thicker on the handle end, as the seat folds inward on itself, so the padding does not project down toward the back wheels. I find that the Mac slides into smaller spaces more easily, as the wheel end is only about 7" thick, while the handle end is about 11" thick. The Pliko is shorter when folded, about 37", while the Mac is 42" long.

 

[Belle5]

Thanks for the helpful details!

 

[jel0511]

I'd agree with NotUrsula's assesments on the Pliko. With the exception of the LARGE carriages, you're not going to find any type of smaller (umbrella) stroller that completely reclines to 180 degrees. The Pliko and the Maclaren both have approx the same full recline, they are both hampered by the support and folding mechanism on the back of the stroller, inhibiting the full 180 degree recline. The Pliko will definately be more comfortable for an infant, and they do sell a model which includes the boot, which essentially closes the bottom part of the stroller.

 

[BevS97]

The Chicco 2001 which I had for my eldest daughter reclines to more or less completely flat - we used it from 4 months but it would have been suitable from birth.

if you look here Chicco 2003
you can see how flat it is in the pictures where they have the car seat, and the carry cot attachment on.



The Pilko is also suitable from birth - they are very similiar strollers
here's an image from the mamas and papas website = they are sold in the UK under that brand name, but they are the same stroller.

there is a review of it here

I would have no problems recommending either - I loved my Chicco, and I have heard nothing but good things about the Pilko.

I have also had Maclarens, and they recline to the same degree as the Chicco and the Pilko, maybe 2 or 3 degrees up from completely flat. Personally, I would not put a tiny infant in a maclaren - they are very lightweight, but the reason for that is that they sacrife a lot of padding around the baby - they feel very exposed and unprotected. Brilliant for older toddlers, but not for a newborn.

Bev

 

[disneyvoice]

Definately a thumbs up for the Peg Perego Pliko stroller. We bought this stroller specifically for our first WDW trip with our son when he was 5 months old. It folds up super small and has several recline heights. It's super cushy and comfy. We spent HOURS looking for the perfect WDW stroller and kept coming back to this one. It was more expensive than we wanted but now it is the ONLY stroller we use (our son is 18 months now), and it will be going with us to WDW in October as well.

 

[NotUrsula]

If you really want an absolute 180 degree flat carrycot on an umbrella frame, the only one sold (and thus serviced) in the US that I know of is the Inglesina Zippy. (The Pliko Completo and the Chicco that Bev cited are the only other umbrella-styles I know of that have a carrycot option, but I've never seen those marketed for the US; you can buy them from UK dealers. I should say that you can buy that Chicco in the US, but not with the carrycot.)

Go to www.inglesina.com if you want to see the Zippy. They have a list of B&M dealers on the site, arranged by state. Most US dealers do not offer the System version in stock, you would probably have to special order to get it with the cot attachment. One thing I have to say I do like about the Inglesinas is that the stroller hoods have white linings, which I think would keep them cooler inside.

Speaking of Inglesina, it appears that they are poised to give Maclaren a run for their money in the US this year. They have priced the Swift at the same price as the base Volo, $98, and it has many more features. Sorry, but I can't tell anyone what the handling is like; Inglesina is one of the few brands I don't have in my collection.

 

[jel0511]

NotUrsula- You sound just like me!!! I've had no less than 6 strollers in the last 5 years!!! I've tried them all!!!! My DH says I should start a Stollers Anonymous chapter!!

 

[BevS97]

OOh, Can I join too, PLEASE??? I have one daughter at the moment, and had 5 strollers all together for her. We are expecting again in August, and I already am intending on having at least 2, a big bulky one for walking from the house, and the Chicco we have been discussing for in the car. We will have the matching car seat, so that if baby is asleep we can use the travel system - with all those 5 strollers for number 1, I never managed a travel system, so I NEED one this time!

Now NotUrsula, you have given me more food for thought, I haven't seen the Inglesina before....

I have to say that even if we go with the Chicco I wouldn't haul the carrycot around WDW - as nice as the Carrycots are, I think they would be a nightmare on the trams