Newbie Parent Needs Stroller Advice

[Disneylvr]

DH and I are taking dd Madelyn on her first WDW trip in May. She will be 14 months old then. Currently the only stroller we have is our large stroller that came with our Graco travel system. It is pretty big and bulky for a vacation trip I think. Could you experts recommend a good, lightweight and easy to carry stroller for the parks? Perhaps one that reclines so that she can nap in the parks. Are there any stoller accessories you recommend as well for WDW trips? Thanks!

 

[dmonroe]

When our ds was about 18 mos. we bought a Maclaren Vogue. It was about $240 (but you can find them, or another model for less at www.strollers4less.com ) We absolutely love it! It's lightweight, folds compactly, has decent storage, and higher handles--which make it easier for dh to push. Also, it is very easy to fold--I can hold ds in one arm (or could when he weighed less) and fold it with the other hand. Ds is now 4.5 and still uses it for Disney trips or long trips to the mall, etc.

Hope this helps!

 

[susy]

The #1 thing I would do different if I ever had another baby is:

NOT get a full size stroller or travel system . By the time you have that with the baby in it, diaper bag, bottle bag...like my dad says, it's like moving the President.

Better way: use your infant car seat with a "Snap and Go", which the car seat snaps into and it has a large basket underneath. Use it for about 6 months and then invest in a GOOD umbrella type, lightweight stroller, which you will probably use until your child is five. the Mac Claren Daytripper or other such stroller would be a good choice.

 

[CEDmom]

We have a Combi Savvy Z that we've had since DD was 10 mo - she's now 4 and still fits in it. It reclines almost flat and has a nice size canopy. It's an umbrella style and weighs just 7 1/2lbs. A few accessories I'd recommend are cup holders, a mesh bag that attaches to the handle bar and a toy bar with snack holder for the front of the stroller.

 

[BevS97]

please don't use a car seat as your main stroller - a newborn baby needs to lie flat, and it's not safe for them to be in a carseat for long stretches at a time.
See this link
in particular note

The report in the American Academy of Paediatrics said car seat use should be kept to a minimum for the first three months of life.

The scientists studied 100 babies and found that they were extremely susceptible to oxygen problems.

Some of the new born babies developed breathing problems after an hour in the car seats and that some of the premature babies even stopped breathing for a short period.

The report said: "Although car seats are often used as carriers for new-born infants, our data indicates that pre-term and term new-borns should not remain in car seats for extended periods of time when they are not travelling."


I think a decent lie flat umbrella stroller is a great investment, they aren't cheap but they will last a long time. I love my Chicco 2003, but you can also get a Peg Prego Pliko or a Maclaren, (I prefer a Maclaren for over 6 months) and a Chicco or Pliko for newborns


bev

 

[tjmw2727]

My girls are older now so I can't help to much with the stroller recommendations. I would suggest a trip to your local baby store to try as many as you can. Check for ease of folding, ease of pushing, recline, storage, weight and other features you like. Lots of recommendations from friends and esp parents of kids a bit older than yours help as well.

I can help with accessories - check out the neat stuff at the rightstart or one steap ahead, both online. For us the necessities were a canopie on the stroller and an additional clip on umbrella, this can be adjusted to keep sun off in the hotter parts of the day esp while baby is sleeping. We bought the graco rain shield which was invaluable at wdw, kept baby dry with good ventilation and baby can still see. The other thing we found at our last trip was a clip on fan. If your going in the warmer months its a great thing esp for naps, keeps baby cool and serves as a bit of white noise. FTR the ones sole for baby are safe to the touch so don't worry about that. I remember using a small backpack that could hang on the back of the stroller rather than the netbags. I liked to be able to remove it quickly and through it on my back for the bus or monorail.

TJ

 

[bethnburke]

I have been tying to work out the same thing. I took our huge Graco stroller when DS was 12 months old and it was a nightmare - it is just too big and bulky to carry around and it takes up all the room in your trunk. We are going in 2 weeks with DS and DD (10 months) and I decided to buy an umbrella stroller for this trip. After looking here and epinions.com I decided on the Chicco Caddy stroller (it was between that one and maclaren but I just couldnt justify the extra $100) for $50.

Here is the description from allkidsstuff.com

The Chicco Caddy Stroller with a super lightweight aluminum frame, carrying strap and storage bag makes the Chicco Caddy Stroller the perfect travel stroller.

With the sturdy trekking swivel wheels, the Chicco Caddy stroller is easy to maneuver. For added safety, the brakes are linked in the back. With the two position recline and five-point harness this is both a comfortable and safe stroller for your child. The adjustable sun shade and rain canopy protects your child from the elements. The carrying strap attached to the back makes it easy to carry the stroller when folded easily. The storage bag helps protect your Chicco Caddy stroller when not in use.



Sturdy trekking swivel wheels
Front and rear suspension
Easy to maneuver
Linked brakes for added safety
Adjustable two position recline for comfort
5 point safety harness system
Easy fold mechanism
Adjustable sun shade
Rain canopy included
Carrying Strap makes transport easy
Comes with color coordinated carrying bag
Super Lightweight - Weighs 11 lbs.
Anodized aluminum frame
Great for kids 6 months – 3 years
Folded dimensions: 45.5 x 11 x 8


Hope this helps

 

[crazywig]

check out the new babytrend umbrellas at babies r us. it's a maclaren knockoff and is getting good reviews. they have 3 different models, here is the link to the $60 base model:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t.../002-0965934-7644830?v=glance&s=baby&n=542444