[30 weeks] Stroller Reviews

In our search for the perfect stroller for junior - and to accommodate a (very likely) growing family, we searched high and low and researched extensively, leaving no stone unturned. We touched, felt, tested the following stroller systems in no particular order, and note avoided all of the umbrella strollers (they are lightweight strollers that we'll likely begin using once the baby can support his own head, likely 6-9 months down the line). Buy Buy Baby probably had the most extensive selection with vast varieties of strollers, high and low with the most knowledgeable sales people; we also checked out Babies R Us (lower end selection, and less knowledgeable and rather young salespeople) and our local Isis Parenting for more specialized strollers (selection was too narrow, and to our surprise salespeople were not as knowledgeable). We wanted to get the most bang for our buck, and were keen on getting a stroller that was not only incredible but underrated given its pricing point.

We were first and foremost taken aback by how expensive strollers were and furthermore, how stark the differences between them are as all strollers are not created equal.

Bugaboo Cameleon (MSRP $1000)

This is one of the most expensive strollers that we looked at, and while we found that the interchangeable bar was pretty neat, as you could easily switch the bar so that the baby faces you or the baby faces out...but at the end of the day it wasn't all that useful given that only one set of the wheels are sturdy, giving the stroller more stability. The bassinet extra is cute, but honestly not that useful because we found we'd probably only use it for a few months, and it was even more likely that we'd be using the car seat to transport the baby and purchasing the adapter for the stroller in the beginning months. 

The folding of the stroller is particularly important to my husband because he's an engineer by training, and he is generally impressed when an engineer thoughtfully takes into account ergonomics, space, and clean folding of the stroller. The folding of the stroller was a little cumbersome and a bit difficult at first. Seeing that with a crying baby in tow the last thing we'd want to be worried about is a fussy stroller - and the fact that we simply thought it was far too overpriced - we decided to cross the Bugaboo Cameleon off the list.

Bugaboo Bee (MSRP $699.00)

We moved onto the Bugaboo Bee, and found that the most appealing aspect of the stroller was its easy, no fuss fold. In fact we loved it. Storage was decent but given the pack rat I am, I needed a bigger basket. But the wheels were flimsy and at the end of the day it didn't justify the $699.00 price tag. And what's more a couple of days later we found out that the Bee had a recall. No good!

The Bob Revolution Single Stroller (MSRP $450.00)

We looked at the Bob briefly at the suggestion of our co-worker who has 5 strollers, all for different occasions. We weren't planning on going down that route and wanted just one or two strollers that could pretty much do all of the functions we wanted. The big wheels are nice and sturdy, but I gripe about the lack of storage space in the basket. The Bob is perfect for those active parents who plan to be outdoorsy with their children. Since that isn't all we we were planning on doing, we passed on the Bob, but it still gets high marks if we were considering a more "outdoorsy" stroller.

4Moms Origami (MSRP $950.00)

This was my husband's favorite stroller before we were able to see it in person. It wasn't in stock at any of the big box baby retailers but we finally tracked it down at our local Isis Parenting store near our home. While the first of its kind because it opens and closes on its own and it folds flat (see the video here for a demonstration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERQHRo0fHGE) - it's one of those gadgets that is revolutionary but still needs to work out its kinks because it is the first generation. There is VERY minimal storage vis a vis a tiny little basket in the back. We decided it was very cool, but that it was just too early in the game for us to get one. And not to mention the steep price!

Uppa Baby Vista (MSRP $699.00 + $100 extra for rumble seat)

Baby Jogger City Select (MSRP $499.00 + $179.00 extra for second seat)

Because we know we're going to be a "family on the grow" we narrowed down our choices between the Uppababy Vista and the Baby Jogger City Select - both were sturdy and well made with ample basket space, great maneuverability, great choice of colors, and the ability to add on second seats to accommodate growing families. We narrowed down our decision on two factors 1) The second seat and 2) The folding ability. On the second seat, the Uppababy has an uncomfortable looking rumble seat (shown in picture #2) with only 3 seat configurations, while Baby Jogger has a full second seat with a whopping 16 combinations. Secondly, we tested the folding ability. My husband's inner geek came out and he couldn't get over how bulky the Uppababy Vista was when folding it. In fact he couldn't stand it. He decided that if the engineers of the stroller were not thoughtful enough to implement a slim fold, that we wouldn't be giving them our business. The Baby Jogger City Select, on the other hand had a perfect, easy and slim fold that would make folding a breeze and stashing it in our trunk easy.

While we're not talking about umbrella strollers - we also really like the lightweight, one pull easy fold City Mini Single from Baby Jogger as well - it's perfect for the city, especially when the baby's a little older and we're on the go.

Baby Jogger City Mini Single (MSRP $199.00 to $249.00)