Umbrella Stroller for 45lb 6 year old?

[26555]

Everyone seems to recommend a cheap umbrella stroller even for older kids. Is there a particular one that really can stand up with exceeding its weight limits? Most seem to have 33 or 40 lb limts and some with the higher limits are fairly expensive. I don't need it to recline or anything and don't want to rent since we will be going in and out of parks for a year. Don't need it to last longer than a year but don't want it to break down on day 2 either. Any recommendations? Thanks!

 

[skippelm]

I just got a Maclaren Techno XT and for 2004 they upped the weight limit to 55 pounds. Maybe they upped the weight limit for all of their strollers this year? I think the Quest is their most basic model.


HTH

 

[26555]

Maybe if I had a six month old but with older kids who won't use them long, can't justify the Mac expense. I couldn't find the 55 lbs on the website but I guess it doesn't matter since I'm too cheap for those anyway. Kolcraft says 35 lbs and Graco umbrella says 40 lbs. Anyone tried 40 lb + kids in either of these? Thanks.

 

[Daisy64]

I took my dd and ds ages 4 and 6 end of Jan and rented a double stroller. They are both about 55lbs each, for the $ it was worth it.

Daisy

 

[skippelm]

Maybe this site can help http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppstrollers

 

[Oh Kay!]

At that weight, you really should consider renting the park strollers. On our last trip, we brought a Chicco model for my 3 year old, and DS5 who weighed 45lb at the time occasionally used it as well.

Then I found out that at MVMCP stroller rental is complementary and we used a double. DH and I were shocked how easy it was push. The double with two kids was easier to push than our stroller with only DS3 on it. For our next trip, we plan to take a Kolcraft for short-distance travel, and rent for park visits.

Kay

 

[slo]

Another vote for the park strollers I feel they are comfortable for the child and they are easy to manuver for the parents. We rent them all the time.

 

[busymom_ot]

Do the park strollers have a storage basket? When we went to MK 2 yrs ago they didn't. We brought in a small cooler w/ drinks & their was no good place in the stroller for it. We were wishing we had brought our stroller from home w/ the nice large basket!

 

[26555]

I'd probably deal with a jogger with pivoting wheel even though everyone discourages its size before I rented. If they sold an annual pass for strollers maybe I'd do it. We're getting a pass and planning to do a lot of parks often for a year and then take a 2 year haitus from theme parks. We may make it 4 days in Dec 04, 2 in Jan/Feb, 4 more in May, 3 or 4 in Sept and then 4 in Dec 05. 18 visits x $15 rental = $270. We'll also park hop after a few hours so I don't like waiting in line to get stroller, then do it again at next park. We don't take the buses since we drive up in our own car. May use umbrellas for MK where I have to get on monorail and if they wear out, the kids can walk or we can rent there. For the other 3 parks owning my own double doesn't sound too cumbersome since we'll go right from parking lot to entrance. Thanks for all the advice, I do appreciate the insights, I've learned a lot from these boards. Thanks!

 

[TerriBelle]

I agree with the renting idea. We were there in Jan. and our twins had just turned 6 that month. They did great! We planned to rent a stroller if we needed it but never did. Most days we spent all day in a park because the weather was cool so we couldn't go back to the room and swim. I try without and only rent one if you need it.

 

[briarbud]

and I would recommend looking at garage sales, thrift stores, or kids' resale shops for a used stroller. I bought a Sit n Stand at a garage sale for $20 and that's what I'm taking for 3 y.o. and 6 y.o DS's. I can't justify renting one for $15 a day.

Good luck!

 

[briarbud]

that since you'll only need the stroller for a year, bear in mind that whatever you buy you can sell again in a year and recoup some of the money spent on it!

 

[26555]

Thanks, I hadn't considered a sit and stand. Do you like using it? The combined weight for my kids would be about 85 lbs. Seems like that might be hard to push on one stroller. Has it worked pretty well for you? Thanks.

 

[briarbud]

It works fine for me to give the 6 y.o. a break. He walks most of the time (and I expect the 3 y.o. will want to walk a lot too) and I won't let him ride if there is an incline (he MUST walk). But if he's tired and we want to get somewhere fast he can hop on and DH can push him. I make him get off and walk more than DH does but it's totally doable especially on a flat surface. My 3. y.o. weighs about 32 lbs. and my 6 y.o. weighs only 42 lbs. (he's super skinny).

Hope this helps. I wasn't planning on buying one but when I saw it so cheap, I snapped it up!