Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Strollers

I HATE ALL STROLLERS! Seriously now. I, for the life of me, cannot find a stroller that I like. It's ridiculous. There are so many options out there that you'd think that I would fall in love with one that's priced decently? No. Like every other first time mother out there, when I found out I was pregnant, the first thing we needed to get was a car seat & stroller combo. So I did some research and figured Graco was a good brand and headed up to our nearest Babies R Us do some purchasing. I fell in love with this "Mocha" print combo and took it home.

I was so excited to use it... That is until I realized it weighed like 730 pounds! I didn't get the "lite" version, oh no. I HAD to get the "quattro." I thought it meant cooler or coolest, but really it just meant freakin' heavy. I also thought it might help me lose the baby weight faster if it weighed a decent amount. Dumb me. Just hurt my back.

So then I went the polar opposite way once Spencer was able to sit semi-upright without his head flopping about. I got this cheap umbrella stroller for like $10 at Target. Perfect. Super light weight... won't hurt my back... wrong again! Didn't hurt my back from lifting it, hurt my back from bending over too far. I swear, the only person in our family that can push it comfortably is my 3 1/2 year old son. My 6 foot 4 inch husband absolutely refuses to even try.
So when I found out I was having our second baby, I was like, totally gotta get a double stroller! But not one of those massively bulky and annoyingly long ones... So my sister-in-law and a friend of mine recommended the Joovy Sit & Stand... Umm, I loved it for about 4 months (the time it took my daughter to outgrow the infant car seat that I could just click into the front portion). It is absolutely NOT comfortable for her in any way. The front section is like sitting against a flat board and only reclines to one position. Reclined or Not. And when it's reclined, my poor son gets a flat board to the back when he's sitting in the sit & stand section. So no falling asleep while we shop. Not to mention my husband has to oil the wheels every 2 days because my children weigh so much (22 & 32 pounds) that it squeaks like nobodies business. Such an irritant.
The only stroller that I have heard great things about, from a friend, and looks like it could possibly be comfortable for both the children at the same time is the Phil & Ted. Very rad looking, cool placement of kiddos and nice large wheels that turn when you want them to. All this at a modest price of close to $400! And that's WITHOUT the attachment for the second kid...
Are you freakin' kidding me!?! It costs more than my first car! And I'm not old! So my first car was like 10 years ago... I love my kids, but not that much.

So here's my question... Are there any nice, comfortable, non-bulky, semi-stylish strollers for 2 kids out there with a price tag this isn't going to make me cry?

10 comments:

Cooking with Big E said...

We considered the Phil & Ted's when I was pg with Ethan but decided against it in the end. We've never owned a double stroller and it's worked out fine so far. In the beginning I'd wear Ethan and push Grace in our stroller (Inglesina Trip which I really like!). Fast forward 18 months and Ethan is usually the one riding in the stroller and Grace walks. We do have a bike trailer that doubles as a double stroller as well that we use for walking around the neighborhood, and the wagon. Do you really need a double stroller?

Jennie said...

I like the Phil & Teds too. Although, the poor little kid in the back just gets a big ol' view of the back of the other seat. :/ I've got a couple friends who both have the Baby Trend Sit 'n Stand. I think you'd have the same issues with it that you do as the Joovy.

Have you thought of the side-by-side models? Sorry, I'm not much help - no need for a double stroller yet. :)

meri said...

If you use the $250 you just got back from Costco, it would only be a $150 stroller...

www.JusticeJonesie.com/blog said...

I have seen the Phil and Ted but don't want to fork out the money for it. We have the Combi double stroller; it's a side-by-side double. I've had it for three years already and I like it. Not too big, yet still comfortable. Only drawbacks were that when my two were little and I had to carry baby bags, etc., the baskets are way too small. My kids are 3 and 4 now so I don't need anything except maybe a few snacks so space is not an issue. It collapes easily, folds into 3rds, which saves trunk space, and reclines to custom levels. Lightweight too. I bought it on Ebay (brand new) and saved about $100 retail. Good luck!

Kramer Family said...

Well I'm the one with the Phil & Teds Sport (cheaper one, did research on the others and wasn't too impressed, loved the look of the new one's but for 100-200 dollars more for looks I wasn't going there) and I LOVE IT!!!!! yes it's expensive but it's totally worth it. I'm pretty sure too you can sale it after you are done having kids and still get a lot back for it. Bailey still loves sitting down below because she can see to the side. I love how I can still fit my stroller in stores and I'm not knocking everything over. The way I look at it is put a little back each month for it. It's hard because I wish I would have gotten it when I had Brooklyn because I could just put the carseat on the front. It's tough but when parents know they want more kids if they are able to save for something that is a little more expensive but will last for more than one kid I'm all for it. Example: Ergo pack. it's a higher end pack but wow it goes from newborn to 40lbs. Why do people want to buy the Baby Bjorn and then have to buy another one after 20lbs. So just my thought!!! I love my Phil and Teds and yes I do wish they were cheaper so more people could experience the wonderfulness that they are.

Own Self said...

Justice:
I think I'm going to have to look into that. I think the major problem I have right now is that Tatum doesn't want to be in the stroller because she can't see anyone. Spencer faces me and she faces forward. Kind of annoying. So if she can see either him, or both of us, that'd be awesome.

Kellie:
I think we do, especially since we plan on having more children. And the more I can keep strapped in, the less crazy I think I'll feel.

Anonymous said...

Hahaha! So freak'n true. You're sooo screwed no matter what you do. I just blogged today about a $629 stroller: the Bugaboo. Yeah, it looks cool and all, but it shouldn't take a weeks pay to buy a dang stroller!

So, basically I have no suggestions. :-)

Jaime Joynt said...

If you are concerned with them being able to see each other, wouldn't that automatically eliminate the Phil and Ted (besides the cost!)? The second child would only be able to see the imprint of the other child's bum! Seems a little bit strange to me...
I honestly don't think you will ever find a stroller that will work 100% perfect... and you only use a stroller for such a short amount of time, is it really worth spending a couple hundred on? I would rather spend my money elsewhere...

Theresa said...

I have a friend who just got the Phil & Ted stroller and her Toddler hates it! She refuses to sit in the back and she can't put the infant in the back yet.

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