Stroller Help

[lucigo]

I could use opinions on a stroller. My son just turned 5 and has autism. At home I only use a stroller at the mall so he can play his gameboy, so I have considered not getting another, but I really can't see going to Disney without a stroller. The one that we have worn out was a Britax Blaze, he broke the foot strap. I need a nice wide sturdy stroller but I'm really not interested in paying big bucks for it. Any ideas?

 

[ireland_nicole]

It partially depends on his weight. Some of the Maclaren's go to 55 lbs., we have a baby jogger ATS that goes to 75lbs or Maclaren makes a special needs umbrella type called the Major that I think goes to 125. None of these are cheap, but the Maclarens or baby jogger you might find on Ebay or Craigs list 2nd hand.
Nicole

 

[lucigo]

It partially depends on his weight. Some of the Maclaren's go to 55 lbs., we have a baby jogger ATS that goes to 75lbs or Maclaren makes a special needs umbrella type called the Major that I think goes to 125. None of these are cheap, but the Maclarens or baby jogger you might find on Ebay or Craigs list 2nd hand.
Nicole

Well, he is a whopping 33-1/2 pounds, I guess the limited diet is good for something? LOL I'll look into the ones you mentioned, thanks!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Even though I probably moved every stroller in existence in stroller parking in Fantasyland, I'm not familiar with the major brands. I will tell you this though: for Disney, lok for one with pretty decent sized sturdy wheels. These will maneuver much easier over the uneven ground. Also, make sure that you have two front wheels. Many jogging strollers only have one and do not turn well. They also seem to have a longer profile than a normal stroller. These are not good for maneuvering in crowds. Whenever I did stroller parking, I absolutely hated them because of how difficult they were to maneuver.

 

[ireland_nicole]

The Maclaren quest, volo, etc. might be a good match for you then. They're sturdy, lightweight, and don't completely break the bank (They're usually under $100. Not cheap, but not the $300 ATS either). I understand where you're coming from, my DD is almost 9 and just hit 50 lbs.( and that was with a 13 lb. jump this year when we went on new meds.)

 

[lucigo]

Even though I probably moved every stroller in existence in stroller parking in Fantasyland, I'm not familiar with the major brands. I will tell you this though: for Disney, lok for one with pretty decent sized sturdy wheels. These will maneuver much easier over the uneven ground. Also, make sure that you have two front wheels. Many jogging strollers only have one and do not turn well. They also seem to have a longer profile than a normal stroller. These are not good for maneuvering in crowds. Whenever I did stroller parking, I absolutely hated them because of how difficult they were to maneuver.

I totally agree with you! I bought a jogger and its in the shed gathering dust! I hated constantly having to keep the front wheel off the ground! Good point about bigger wheels though, will make sure thats on my list! Thanks

 

[lucigo]

The Maclaren quest, volo, etc. might be a good match for you then. They're sturdy, lightweight, and don't completely break the bank (They're usually under $100. Not cheap, but not the $300 ATS either). I understand where you're coming from, my DD is almost 9 and just hit 50 lbs.( and that was with a 13 lb. jump this year when we went on new meds.)

Do you have a stroller for her? I will go out and look at the Maclaren's.

Even if I could get my DS to walk at disney, I think I would be completely stressed about keeping him with us, not wanting to go where we want to go, not holding our hand or wanting to hold 2 peoples hands and jump, getting lost in a crowd...ok thats it we have to have a stroller LOL

 

[Beccabunny]

If you have time before your Disney trip, you might want to think about having him evaluated by a physical therapist and getting a prescription for a special needs stroller through your medical insurance. We are in the process of doing that right now. When my daughter was five, we ran out and bought a Maclaren, thinking we would only need it for Disney and occasional day trips that involved walking. Although she was under the weight limit, she was getting a little too tall for it, and on our last trip when she was eight, we rented the Maclaren Major special needs stroller. We really didn't think we'd still need a stroller, but with her low muscle tone, fatigue (being tested for mitochondrial disorder), and tendency to wander away, it's possible we may need a stroller for years to come. So, just something to think about.

 

[ecki]

We have a Maclaren Major, the special needs stroller. It does cost around $500, but we got a grant for it and didn't pay anything for it. You could try to get one that way. I absolutely LOVE ours. We got ours throught the local ARC, but you can let your local autism group know your needs and perhaps they can let let you know what resources are available.

 

[lucigo]

If you have time before your Disney trip, you might want to think about having him evaluated by a physical therapist and getting a prescription for a special needs stroller through your medical insurance. We are in the process of doing that right now. When my daughter was five, we ran out and bought a Maclaren, thinking we would only need it for Disney and occasional day trips that involved walking. Although she was under the weight limit, she was getting a little too tall for it, and on our last trip when she was eight, we rented the Maclaren Major special needs stroller. We really didn't think we'd still need a stroller, but with her low muscle tone, fatigue (being tested for mitochondrial disorder), and tendency to wander away, it's possible we may need a stroller for years to come. So, just something to think about.

With a prescription your insurance pays for it?

 

[lucigo]

We have a Maclaren Major, the special needs stroller. It does cost around $500, but we got a grant for it and didn't pay anything for it. You could try to get one that way. I absolutely LOVE ours. We got ours throught the local ARC, but you can let your local autism group know your needs and perhaps they can let let you know what resources are available.

Thanks I will check into it, although its really more of a behavior issue here, no tone issues. I do know someone who got a car seat because her son was houdini LOL

 

[lucigo]

I went and checked out the volo at Target, it sure looked cheap compared to the Britax, I can't believe the foot strap on it would hold a 55 pound kid! But then the heavy duty foot strap on the britax didn't hold my 33 pound kid so what do I know LOL Husband thinks he can "fix" the foot strap on the britax but I can see us looking like the clampets rolling around with duct tape or an old seat belt for a foot strap on our stroller!

 

[1stluvispooh]

My DD was in a stroller for what felt like forever! Well compared to her NT brother. Anyway she is very tall for her age so she didn't fit into many strollers comfortably but I know other people hate them but a jogging stroller worked well for me. I got mine at a second had store for $20.

 

[ireland_nicole]

Sorry to take so long to reply:
Our DD and DS share the baby jogger ATS; although it's three wheel, the frront wheel swivels so it turns on a dime; definitely the best stroller we have ever had. (If I'd known about it, I could have saved the money on the last 8 lol). Anyway, DS has some hypotonia and fatigue issues, so he uses it most of the time. DD at 46 1/2 in. is jjjuuuusst getting to the top end of the height range.
HIH
Nicole

 

[lucigo]

Thanks to everyone for your replies! We ended up making repairs to the one we have. He loves it, and he can sleep in it, and of all the ones I have looked at none compared to it so...I bought bicycle handle grips to replace the grips on it, and my husband put a metal tab between the 2 broken pieces of the plastic foot rest and splinted it back together. The mickey-mobile is back in action

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

Its great that you were able to fix your old stroller. If you are ever in need of searching for another stroller right now the main ones that I know that have a high weight limit are the Maclaren, Baby Planets (the endangered species line is nice I especially like the snow leopard at walmart.com), Combi (I recently looked at their website again and all but the cheapy was up to 55 pounds but I would buy one unless I tried it out first). Some of the new graco's go up to 50 pounds as well now. I currently have a Maclaren Techno and it has been great my dd4 uses it everyday b/c she doesn't walk my dd7 on the other had used it in disney for a week and she was 42 pounds and we have no trouble w/ the strap.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

We have a Mac Techno and love it. I have had it for three years now. The lime green really stands out in the sea of dk blue strollers at Disney. We can always find our stroller.

Our child doesn't weigh much but is getting so tall. The stroller will hold the weight for years to come but what can we do to find one that will accommodate the height?

We don't have any stamina or strength issues but the stroller provides a suncover that our child loves to pull down so to close out all the stimuli of the crowds. We joke "shields down"! It give control in back to our child. It also is a nice place to rest and safe place so we don't worry about run aways.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

have you checked out the dreamer design they have an 85 pound weight limit but they also have a special needs model which may accomodate a taller child they also have one that accomodates 150 pounds. It is a jogger and a fixed wheel at that but a jogger would probably be the only other thing that I can think of that would support a taller child and still provide that shade that the techno does.

ETA~ The dreamer design is a fixed wheel jogger but they also have a kit to use smaller wheels on the front that swivel and they aren't jogger wheels here is a link to their website.

http://www.dreamerdesign.net/axiom2.cfm

 

[lucigo]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm saving all these names in case we need them before our next disney trip in November!

Here is a pic of the Mickey-mobile! As you can see its a little over the top