Planning a Trip ... Need a Stroller ...

[Elmo888]

I just wanted to add that I have a Pliko (older version of P3) that is 6 years old and still going strong!

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

If you like the Peg P3, consider the Inglesina Zippy.

If you like the Macs, consider the Inglesina Trip or Urbe.

Skip the bucket, and place the baby in the stroller alone.

I've got a million strollers and love to talk about them. Feel free to PM.

 

[KristiKelly]

I had a travel system with all 3 of mine. Different one for each. I loved it. I used it more with baby #3, eating lunch with older kids at school, baseball & soccer games, I used it alot. I sold it in June to someone who was expecting their first.


I then bought an Inglesina Zippy. I LOVE IT!!! It has a snack tray with drink holder on the front. It has been so useful. I use it in the mornings when I walk, I give DD cheerios.

It was a great stroller for WDW, DH never complained about hauling it on & off the busses. It is a bit pricey but I love it and I love the colors they offer. Mine is a lavender and silvery-gray color.

 

[jdg345]

If you like the travel system concept, get a Baby Trend Snap N Go or other frame stroller (I think that Graco and Kolcraft make one). They are relatively inexpensive, around $50, and they don't tie you to a stroller that may not fit your needs in the long run.

Babies can be in infant car seats anywhere from 3 months to 12 months. It depends on the size of the baby. Even if they can use the infant car seat until 12 months, at some point, the baby gets too heavy to move around in the car seat (plus, they don't sleep in it as much around 8 or 9 months so the travel system concept loses its usefulness). Keep in mind that some babies outgrow the infant car seat by 4 months or so.

As the others posted, go with a Maclaren or Peg Perego Pliko P3. Strollers will state "from 3 months and up" because the stroller doesn't recline enough for a newborn. The P3 reclines enough for a newborn and there are models of the Maclarens that do, too.

Thank you for the comments and thoughts! Is there a number of reclining positions one should look for? For example, how can I tell which Maclaren's recline enough for a newborn?

 

[jdg345]

Thank you all so much for the replies ... it seems like the Travel System just isn't worthwhile ... and like many suggested, I'm trying to invest in something that will last me ... I dont want to have to buy one stroller for newborn, another for infant, another for trips, etc, etc ... if I can find something that fits the bill for all of the above, that'd be ideal. I'm looking at the Inglesina's now ... how portable/light are they? What's the difference between the Zippy and the Trip/Urbe?

I see soooo many Maclarens too ... Quest, Techno, etc ... which is right? Is there someplace online that has a feature comparison chart or something? I went to Maclaren's site and it's not easy to tell what the difference is between models.

Thank you again for all who have contributed! Please keep the suggestions coming! We really want to decide before the Baby Shower ...

 

[lynetteSC]

ok i will tell you what i have recently found - we purchased a combi soho savvy (same as a mid range one now) in 2004 for a wdw trip - it was perfect ...now, we are headed back next month and ds is way to tall for it!!!! i am now searching for a maclaren quest or volo - they both go up to 55lbs and have same features as our combi (carry strap and such for easy bus riding).

BUY the nicer one now instead of spending $100 or so now and then $100 or so later! i did sell my combi for $40 recently, but you know what i mean! that was something i just didn't even think to look at - size and weight. ds is very avegrage so he is not large for his age or anything ...just something to think about!

 

[mytwotinks]

I took a combi to DW twice and it was great. My dd was very comfortable in it and the seat reclined and it folded very narrow (tri-fold) to get on and off of the bus. It also had a great strap that you could put over your shoulder. The only problem for us was that it is very narrow compared to the Maclaren. Your 8 month old would be perfectly comfy in it, but I agree that the maclaren is going to last you until the kid refuses to be seen in a stroller. I bought a maclaren volo for our Sept. trip for my fairly large 4 yo dd to ride in and it was great. I would definately splurge on the models that recline though for a baby.

Have a fun trip!

 

[Ariel8676]

I recently bought a Combi Ct 0.5 in August for our trip to WDW (we needed a single to go along with our Maclaren double for my other 2..lol) We tested the Combi, the Macs and a few others. We ended up with the Combi...the wheels were larger than the Mac, the seat was wider and it folded up so compact, also the handle bars werre nice and high..and has a nice size basket undeneath. Now don't get me wrong i LOVE Macs, but for $89 it has been wonderful. My baby (now 1) and my other 2 dd's (5,4) all fit in it just fine and it is easy to push, it lays almost completely flat.
If you were looking for something to be used with an infant seat(which i think is great when they are young..they just seem more comfy in the car) than get a snap and go for that an get a regular stroller.
Also maybe look into a sling or Mei Tei carrier (have both, love both) It is nice especially in WDW if the baby is sleepy pop them in one of those and go about your day...rides and all. You can PM me with any questions!!! Good luck!

 

[KristiKelly]

I'm looking at the Inglesina's now ... how portable/light are they? What's the difference between the Zippy and the Trip/Urbe?

The biggest difference I can see is the tray/drink holder across the front. This might not seem like a big deal to some but my DD uses it all the time. There are 2 drink holders, I will put her milk in one and a handful of Cheerios or Goldfish in the other.

I will post a link to the stroller I have, I think it is 17 lbs. It is so easy to set up and breakdown. There is a website somewhere that shows (video) how to do it also

This stroller goes up to 45 lbs. I think some go up to 55. I have an almost 7y/o DD who is 48 lbs. She wouldn't dream of riding in a stroller.

Here's the link with all the specs and colors, I have the AR8, I love it and I've never seen another one like it.

http://www.inglesina.com/us/products/details.php?sectionid=27&itemid=200&pathtype=sectiontree

 

[bellarella]

I have looked at, researched, bought and sold a more strollers than I can count. What it has finally taken me a ton of time to realize, is that no stroller will do everything and it is not worth it to try to get one that will get you through it all.

First, I would not buy a travel system. Get the Snap N Go instead. This will get you through the entire "in the infant car seat" phase and has a huge basket for when you are still carrying around the enormous diaper bag.

After you are out of that phase, there are three types of strollers you may still need -- a stroller with a big basket, cup holder, etc.; a lightweight easy to get around in stroller with less frills but easy steering; and a jogging stroller. You might need only one of these, or you might need all three, but don't try to get one that fits all three functions. Strollers tend to fit one niche well or many poorly, not many well

I have the Graco Metrolite, which I like as my "big" stroller. It is not too heavy (18lbs) for mall shopping, etc, and has all of the "minivan" comforts of a stroller (big basket, cup holders, bigger wheels, etc). It's not "Top of the line" but it's price isn't either and I don't use it often enough to justify the cost of a Peg Pergo.

I am about to get a MacLaren Triumph. I have tested (with my son in them -- very important for steering) all of the lightweight strollers out there. The MacLaren was by far the best for steering and pushing and folds down very compactly. The Chicco didn't steer well with one hand with my 22 lb son in it. The Combi is *terrible* for pushing -- I constantly kick the tires (I owned one several years ago and everyone who used it complained -- I tried their new model out because I had heard they had changed it but I had the same problem again). The Quest is nice, but a bit more expensive and has a bit more weight to it and the Triumph will do fine for us.

I also have a jogging stroller, which is nice for walks.

Good luck!

 

[KristiKelly]

I want to add another comment regarding the Zippy. The basket is pretty hard to get into and small. I've rarely used it. My older kids will stick a sweatshirt or something down in it but it will not hold a diaper bag. I have always strapped my diaper bag across the handles. Even in WDW, I had a pretty heavy diaper bag with camera & camcorder in it and the stroller did not tip when DD was taken out.

 

[jdg345]

The biggest difference I can see is the tray/drink holder across the front. This might not seem like a big deal to some but my DD uses it all the time. There are 2 drink holders, I will put her milk in one and a handful of Cheerios or Goldfish in the other.

I will post a link to the stroller I have, I think it is 17 lbs. It is so easy to set up and breakdown. There is a website somewhere that shows (video) how to do it also

This stroller goes up to 45 lbs. I think some go up to 55. I have an almost 7y/o DD who is 48 lbs. She wouldn't dream of riding in a stroller.

Here's the link with all the specs and colors, I have the AR8, I love it and I've never seen another one like it.

http://www.inglesina.com/us/products/details.php?sectionid=27&itemid=200&pathtype=sectiontree

Ya know ... I went to that website last night and it kept telling me they were updating their catalog and to come back later ... I guess it was just maintenance last night.

btw, if you could find a link to that video showing them closing, that'd be great.

Thanks so much! I'm going to post some of my findings shortly to see if I'm on the right track.

UPDATE: Found the link: http://www.strollercize.com/inglesina_zippyvideo.php

 

[jdg345]

Okay ... this is kinda what we've come up with so far in our travels and research (you should see the stack of napkins on the desk) :lol:

Maclaren Quest
-Not Considered; Does not recline fully and cannot be used for newborns.

Maclaren Techno Classic / Techno XT
Weight: 13.9 lbs
Open: 19x??x44
Closed: ??x??x??
+Lightest of the bunch
+Fully Reclines for Newborns
-Folds one handed, but collapses to floor (does not stand upright)
-No 'Mini-Van' items (tray, cup holder, etc)
-Propensity to Tip over if items hang on bars and child is removed.

Inglesina Trip/Urbe
Weight: 15 lbs
Open: 43x30x19
Closed: 41x11x18
+Pretty Light Weight
+Reclines fully for newborns.
+Folds and Remains Upright
+Carry Handle
+Urbe more of a 'Main Stroller'
+Trip more of a 'Lightweight Stroller'
-Propensity to Kick Wheels based on reviews read.
-No mini-van features for child.
?Doesn't this trifold? Shouldn't it it be more like 41x18x14 ??

Inglesina Zippy
Weight: 17 lbs
Open: 42x34x21
Closed: 39x14x21
+Reclines fully for newborns.
+Folds and Remains Upright
+Carry Handle
+Mini-van features for child, snack tray, cup holder, etc.
-Propensity to Kick Wheels based on reviews read.
-Kinda Heavy compared to the others at 17 lbs.
?Doesn't this trifold? Shouldn't it it be more like 39x14x14 ??

Peg Perego Pliko P3
Weight: 15.8 lbs
Open: 40x33x20
Closed: 40x13x13
+Medium Weight
+Mini-Van Features, snack tray, cup holder, etc, for child.
+Foot Stand for Riding (will it support me if the SO pushes the stroller?)
-Reviews seem to indicate the 5-pt harness is a piece of garbage and falls off the fabric -- this could be a dealbreaker.
-Reviews seem to indicate this is noticably larger than the Maclarens even though only slightly heavier.
?Are these 'closed' numbers accurate? This seems to be the only one that shows a smaller width based on tri-fold?
?What is the difference betwene the Pliko P3 and the Piko P3 MT and Pliko P3 All Around?

+++They all Seem to work with Infant Car Seats (either their own or Universal/Graco/etc)

Right now, I'm liking the Peg Perego P3, but the harness has me concerned as due the issues regarding larger size, etc. I also like the Zippy, but it is also the heaviest of the bunch and the kicking wheels thing seems to be really annoying.

Pfew ...

 

[steelfish535]

A friend of mine has the Combi, Cosmo MX (in Mango) and she loves it. It fully reclines, so it's great for more space for the little one. It also has a fairly large canopy, so it'll shade the baby. She got it at Babies R' Us for $100. the Maclarens are also good, but I've seen the Combi one first hand. If I need another stroller for DS, that's the one I'm getting. We took our Graco Metrolite with us. It was heavier, but not too much trouble. It gave him plenty of room to sit all day and recline to sleep. It had the big canopy, so plenty of shade too. But it was a bit of a pain on busses.

 

[toesmom]

I love the stroller, but it's rather bulky. We considered using ours for trip to disney but once it was folded down, it's really very bulky. Does not compare at all to the maclarens.

I'd reconsider the quest, unless you specifically are looking for newborn stroller. I've tried the recline feature with my 3 year old and it is excellent, as he is able to fully stretch out and take nice rest.

anyhow, good luck with your choice.

 

[jdg345]

I love the stroller, but it's rather bulky. We considered using ours for trip to disney but once it was folded down, it's really very bulky. Does not compare at all to the maclarens.

I'd reconsider the quest, unless you specifically are looking for newborn stroller. I've tried the recline feature with my 3 year old and it is excellent, as he is able to fully stretch out and take nice rest.

anyhow, good luck with your choice.

We'd like to get something that works for Newborns as well ... The Quest and the Techno are nice and light at 12-14 lbs, but they dont have a snack tray.

How did you get around that? Is there an add-on?

Also, the Zippy is heaver than the Pliko, so it should be even bulkier. Hmmm ... maybe I need to buy a Zippy and a Quest

 

[jdg345]

We're in the market for another stroller and I've finally decided on the Peg Perego Pliko P3. This will be our 5th stroller and we're only on our 2nd kid! The first was a Graco that was part of a travel system. Guess how many times I used that? I admit I used it in the beginning with our daughter, but she HATED her infant carseat so even that was limited use. Our son has never used it as a travel system, but has used the stroller, but I hate it cause it's heavy and bulky.

2nd stroller is a Combi I-Thru, which I like well enough, but it doesn't steer well and it's a very short seat so when our 2.5yo lays down to nap in it most of her body hangs off of the seat (she's around 37 inches).

3rd was a Maclaren Techno Classic which we loved, but then the airline broke it on a trip to WDW last Christmas. We taped the wheel on with medical tape from first aid but then the handles broke off on a flight back from Tucson the next month.

Didn't want the Combi or Graco for our WDW trip last March so we started looking at new strollers. I wanted the Pliko P3 back then cause it had the footboard for my daughter to stand on while the baby rode, but since he wasn't born yet people cautioned me to wait till he was to buy it cause my daughter might not want to give up her stroller to him. Good advice, btw, cause even though she never wanted to be in a stroller a year ago, since her brother was born she always wants to ride. Anyway, we got a Chicco C5, which I like a lot. It's like a Maclaren, but a lot cheaper, so I figured if the airline broke it I wouldn't be too angry and so far it's been fine. The seat is kinda cheap so when you fold it up it bends in half on the back, but my daughter hasn't complained about it. It's not so great with the baby, but maybe cause we're too lazy to adjust the straps to fit him better. It's the stroller we use most often with our daughter, when I carry the baby in a sling or Bjorn, but for him we mostly use the Graco or Combi cause he's just not too comfy in the Chicco.

The Pliko though I think is perfect cause my son looked comfortable in it and so did my daughter and she's twice his size so I know I'll get decent use out of it.

And about the carseat-my daughter was tiny for her age, especially weight wise (she didn't hit 20 pounds till around 15 months), so she was in her infant carseat till almost 10 months. Even then she was still able to fit in the infant seat (and we used it on vacations till she was about a year old), but it just got heavy and we never took it out of the car anyway so we figured we might as well switch her. She hated the infant seat but once we changed her to a "real" carseat (a Britax) she never made a peep in the car again so I guess it was much more comfortable. My son, however, is already over 16 pounds at 4 months so his time in the infant seat is much more limited.

Since you've had hands on with both the Pliko P3 and the Techno Classic, would you say they are hugely different in size, comfort, and steering?

 

[golden1]

I hate travel systems. Get a car seat frame, like a Snap and Go. Once your child is a little older, get a good stroller. Personally, I think Graco strollers are large and cheaply made. I had one and the wheels went out of alignment by the time it was six months old. I bought a Peg Perego and have had it for 3 years and it still is in great shape. I have heard good things about Maclaren and Combi products also but they just didn't have the features I liked.

 

[bellarella]

I would not buy a stroller based upon the full recline feature. That feature generally is only needed for the first 3 mos of life -- you will use the stroller for another 3 years after that, at least. During the time you need the full recline, most likely you will be keeping the baby in the car seat bucket and you can use a Snap N Go. If you are buying this stroller for your baby now and with an upcoming trip to Disney in mind, I would give up the ghost of trying to find a stroller that will work equally well at birth as it does for a toddler -- for mall shopping and for traveling.

In your shoes I would get a MacLaren Triumph or Quest now -- it will work great for your trip and for your child from here out. In the event you have another baby, I would get a Graco Metrolite (or one of the Peg Peregos if you prefer). Or you may get by fine with a baby with just a Snap N Go.

Just like you don't wear dress shoes for running or running shoes with a dress, no one stroller fits all scenarios. I think most people need a minimum of two strollers (a minivan model for when the baby is very little and a more streamlined one for older babies/toddlers).

IMHO, especially for travel, I can't overestimate the importance of a lightweight, compactly folding stroller.

Also, make sure you go to stores where you can actually test drive the stroller you are thinking of. I made the (expensive) mistake of buying a highly rated stroller (Combi) online without ever trying it. Combis are terrible for all the adults in my family. We kick the tires (and curse the stroller) every time we use it. Now I won't buy a stroller without first trying it out (with my child, or at least 15 lbs of weight in it) to see how it steers, whether I kick the tires when I walk, and how easily I can fold it up.

Good luck!!!!

 

[amarberry]

My DH thinks I'm a stroller addict, so maybe I'll be able to help you on this issue too!

I have a Peg, a Combi, and an Inglesina Trip. We also had the Maclaren Global Buggy that you posted a link to on the first page. DO NOT GET THAT ONE!!!! Last summer, I read on this board that they had the Maclaren Global Buggy on sale at Costco, so I got one for about the same price you listed. I barely used it before our Sept. trip to WDW. DH, who is an engineer, hated the stroller from the get go. It was heavy and didn't fold up well at all. It also had this weird piece of fabric at the bottom that kept unfastening and flopping around. However, the kicker was on day 7 of our 10 day trip. I was literally walking down Main St. at MK when the stroller started collapsing. My DD is on the heavy side for her age, but she was only 32-33 pounds (a good 20 pounds under the weight limit). When DH took a look at it, the base of the stroller had cracked on one side and was on the verge of cracking on the other side. DH and one of the MK maintanence guys managed to patch the stroller up well enough with zip ties for the rest of our trip. Costco gave me a full refund when we got home. My guess is that there was something wrong with the stroller, but it left me with a bad impression of Maclarens. If you check out the reviews on Babygaga.com (http://strollers.baby-gaga.com/maclaren-global-buggy/review.html), they report others having similar problems.

On to the other strollers...I have an older Peg that is huge (Atlantico). It's a great stroller for around the neighborhood and walking to the grocery store, but not for travel. It's held up extremely well and I would not hesitate to buy another Peg. I personally didn't get the P3 because I don't like the basket.

I LOVED my Combi, especially for travel. I think that the Combi is a great bang for your buck. It reclines well, has a decent sunshade, a decent basket, and it folds up great. It's super lightweight and has a shoulder strap. Unfortunately, my DD is just getting too big for our Combi. It's getting difficult to push and she now tries to drag her feet along the wheels.

I just bought my Inglesina about a month ago. I went with the Trip rather than the Zippy (which I also think is a fabulous stroller) because I needed a lightweight stroller for traveling to replace my Combi (and the Maclaren). The Trip is a newer stroller, but seems to be getting good reviews. So far, I really like, but the true test will be next week when DD and I venture to WDW by ourselves. It seems pretty full featured and a lot sturdier than the Maclaren or Combi. It also has an easy fold and is pretty lightweight. I was able to find it online for about $145 shipped.