Strollers 1
Before my son William was born the only thing I stressed about was choosing the right stroller. I know this sounds really silly. Becoming a new mother one should think of the greater challenges that await like the birth, the health of the child, and of course, I hope I don’t screw this kid up too badly. I don’t know if it was my age or intense preparation by reading a ten year old version of “The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy” that brought me my state of Zen, but truly, I was not overly concerned with the actual task of being a mother. Honestly, many, many people with less preparation than I have been successful at this job. So as long as I stay true to my beliefs on how to tackle this project, I think he will be fine (check back with me in 20 years for the update).
One benefit of being an older parent is you get to witness the frustrations, exasperations, and dare I say mistakes your friends have made. Now my close friends are all great mothers and I have happily borrowed from each of them techniques and strategies that have helped to make my job a bit easier. I also, have seen the “What Not to Do” in terms of equipment. I knew before I even began to look those “all in one” matchy-matchy car seat /stroller combos were not for me. Frankly, I’m not really sure who they are for? What adult wants to push around a big clunky, bulky and typically ugly piece of hardware like most of those available to you along the back wall of Babies-R-Us? Mickey, Poo and Big Bird stopped being part of my fashion accessories around the time I left preschool. They most certainly will not be the statement I broadcast of the person I am today by strolling them down Newbury Street.
In thinking about the downtown of I’m sure any city, you can notice the style of the strollers present. Of course as a city dweller you would be better served by a stroller with larger wheels. This makes sense as you may need to quickly jump on the curve to avoid being hit by a passing taxi, bus, or bicyclist. Larger wheels may also come in handy when the weather is bad and you are navigating the streets under a foot of snow (of course you should probably be home in this weather but the decision is of course yours). Some strollers have nice wheels, some have tiny wheels (avoid these) but others have enormous wheels. Unless you are entering the monster stroller division in your local play park you might want to think twice about these. What message do these send?
Stroller selection does of course project an image. In Boston, it seems an Uppa Baby or Bugaboo are the almost required standard issue. Mcclaren’s of course are also acceptable but as those can now be found from time to time in Marshall’s, their shining star may be a bit faded. The exception may be the top of line Mcclaren with the pedometer and floor lights. Really you haven’t seen this? Check it out on their website, it’s a sexy sell, just like a car commercial.
Now I have no complaints with these strollers in general (well except the Bee with its tiny wheels and seat my kid would be too tall for by the time he’s 2) but what am I really getting for the price of these machines? Big weight for one thing. I just spent the last 10 months carrying around a bunch of extra weight and you are now asking me to push around how much weight? The Mutsy is almost 50 pounds…. without the kid!! Maybe the stroller manufactures are just trying to get us all back into pre-baby shape quickly? Maybe I should thank them? Or maybe they might consider that I could become homebound and unable to go anywhere due to the muscle fatigue in my shoulders, arms, chest and back?
I am happy to share that I did find a great stroller on line, the Inglesina Zippy. The only problem was I could not find one in a store to actually see and “test drive”. I called every baby store in a 50 mile radius and even those near my mothers in Florida; no Zippys to see. I don’t think it’s an oversight by the baby store chains that these strollers are available “on line only” and the twenty percent off coupons will never apply to them. You have to pay premium for the products you really want. Most of these strollers are also the more moderately priced strollers. An investment I was willing to make to be finished in this process and come out with the acquisition of only one stroller. So there you are, left with a costly decision based on blind faith, well luckily not entirely.
The choice is a big commitment and knowing the lack of success my friends had (most had 3 – 4 strollers) I desperately wanted to avoid their mistakes and pitfalls. Luckily there is Holly Schultz & Baby Gizmo.com. Her product videos on YouTube are life savers when trying to choose a phantom product so a big thanks goes to her. I only wished I had listened to her more closely when I purchased my highchair….
When I remove my moderately priced, minimally weighing, and very functional stroller out from the back of my car I am happy to know that I will have an almost two year success rate with this single stroller. But as with all life, change will happen and I must begin the stroller search again. I am fortunate to need a two seater early next year. Anyone have any suggestions, anyone… Holly?
10/11/11
One benefit of being an older parent is you get to witness the frustrations, exasperations, and dare I say mistakes your friends have made. Now my close friends are all great mothers and I have happily borrowed from each of them techniques and strategies that have helped to make my job a bit easier. I also, have seen the “What Not to Do” in terms of equipment. I knew before I even began to look those “all in one” matchy-matchy car seat /stroller combos were not for me. Frankly, I’m not really sure who they are for? What adult wants to push around a big clunky, bulky and typically ugly piece of hardware like most of those available to you along the back wall of Babies-R-Us? Mickey, Poo and Big Bird stopped being part of my fashion accessories around the time I left preschool. They most certainly will not be the statement I broadcast of the person I am today by strolling them down Newbury Street.
In thinking about the downtown of I’m sure any city, you can notice the style of the strollers present. Of course as a city dweller you would be better served by a stroller with larger wheels. This makes sense as you may need to quickly jump on the curve to avoid being hit by a passing taxi, bus, or bicyclist. Larger wheels may also come in handy when the weather is bad and you are navigating the streets under a foot of snow (of course you should probably be home in this weather but the decision is of course yours). Some strollers have nice wheels, some have tiny wheels (avoid these) but others have enormous wheels. Unless you are entering the monster stroller division in your local play park you might want to think twice about these. What message do these send?
Stroller selection does of course project an image. In Boston, it seems an Uppa Baby or Bugaboo are the almost required standard issue. Mcclaren’s of course are also acceptable but as those can now be found from time to time in Marshall’s, their shining star may be a bit faded. The exception may be the top of line Mcclaren with the pedometer and floor lights. Really you haven’t seen this? Check it out on their website, it’s a sexy sell, just like a car commercial.
Now I have no complaints with these strollers in general (well except the Bee with its tiny wheels and seat my kid would be too tall for by the time he’s 2) but what am I really getting for the price of these machines? Big weight for one thing. I just spent the last 10 months carrying around a bunch of extra weight and you are now asking me to push around how much weight? The Mutsy is almost 50 pounds…. without the kid!! Maybe the stroller manufactures are just trying to get us all back into pre-baby shape quickly? Maybe I should thank them? Or maybe they might consider that I could become homebound and unable to go anywhere due to the muscle fatigue in my shoulders, arms, chest and back?
I am happy to share that I did find a great stroller on line, the Inglesina Zippy. The only problem was I could not find one in a store to actually see and “test drive”. I called every baby store in a 50 mile radius and even those near my mothers in Florida; no Zippys to see. I don’t think it’s an oversight by the baby store chains that these strollers are available “on line only” and the twenty percent off coupons will never apply to them. You have to pay premium for the products you really want. Most of these strollers are also the more moderately priced strollers. An investment I was willing to make to be finished in this process and come out with the acquisition of only one stroller. So there you are, left with a costly decision based on blind faith, well luckily not entirely.
The choice is a big commitment and knowing the lack of success my friends had (most had 3 – 4 strollers) I desperately wanted to avoid their mistakes and pitfalls. Luckily there is Holly Schultz & Baby Gizmo.com. Her product videos on YouTube are life savers when trying to choose a phantom product so a big thanks goes to her. I only wished I had listened to her more closely when I purchased my highchair….
When I remove my moderately priced, minimally weighing, and very functional stroller out from the back of my car I am happy to know that I will have an almost two year success rate with this single stroller. But as with all life, change will happen and I must begin the stroller search again. I am fortunate to need a two seater early next year. Anyone have any suggestions, anyone… Holly?
10/11/11
Copyright 2011 Motherhood Uncorked
Please do not copy or reproduce without permission.
Links are just fine, though.
Please do not copy or reproduce without permission.
Links are just fine, though.