Only want to buy one stroller!!

[beckyr88]

I too, have been searching this board looking for just what I need...I live in a third floor (small) apartment with limited storage space...hence the need for keeping all extra "stuff" to a minimum. My plan is to buy one carseat that goes the distance (infant to toddler), one (small) stroller (Pilko is my choice so far) and then just use the Bjorn until the she's big enough for the stroller. Can anyone tell me if this is a realistic expectation??? I have no idea if this would really work, since it seems like a lot of people get the travel systems. I live in Chicago and really do not live that active a lifestyle!!! (fun as that sounds):)

Any help would be great! I will be on the boards probably very frequently until the 2/23/02 when she's due!
Thanks.

[queenmama77]

You could probably get away with just one stroller (especially if you're planning to sling baby or use a carrier), but I'm not sure I'd suggest the Plikos. They're notoriously difficult to steer one-handed! I bought the Trek and took it around the block ONCE and I've decided to sell it. The features are AWESOME, but I just can't cope with the steering! Plus, I kicked the back, and I'm only 5'4. (Not everyone has this problem, so I guess it's just my stride!)

I'd suggest an Inglesina Zippy (high reviews here and on the Parents Place stroller board) or maybe the Zooper zStreet. They have similar features to the Plikos but steer beautifully! The zStreet also comes with a boot, totally adorable for Baby! The only downside is that I think they're about 15-17 lbs, but that's the same as the Pliko, so it might not matter to you! The truly lightweight strollers don't usually have all of the necessary features to take you from infancy through toddlerhood, so you might have to deal with a slightly heavier stroller if you just want ONE.

HTH! Best wishes!
Lara & Henry 6/25/00

[JMarie]

Well, I also live in the Chicago area - in the suburbs though - and I understand the lack of storage space. We are lucky enough to have a two car garage with our condo (on the second floor above the garage), so that has made storage not so much an issue, but the second bedroom (soon-to-be-nursery) is DINKY (I think it's 10' x 11' with a huge window taking over one wall and a closet and entry door taking over another). That being said, I don't think the Pliko will work for you either. We tested it out at The Baby's Room (the Arlington Heights store has TONS of strollers to try out!) and it does not steer whatsoever on carpet! They let us take it out on the sidewalk and it wasn't much better, and we did have a 25 pound child in there as our guinea pig (he loved all the rides!). We didn't test the Zooper zStreet, but we did test the Sport, and that is the stroller we've decided on. It folds up nice and small, the recline is almost 180 (I'd say around 175), it comes with a carseat adaptor bar (fits Graco SnugRide, Evenflo On My Way, and Century SmartFit perfectly - didn't test any others), and the steering is just wonderful. It was my husband's favorite (I had to hide as he literally RAN all around the store with a giggling baby in that stroller - he's such a nut!) and the weight really isn't that much of an issue for us. One minus I can think of is basket access - you can't get to it from the back. There are support (?) bars that criss-cross over the basket opening, so you can only get to it really from the side, unless you stick something pretty small in there (about the size of a 1 L water bottle). However, access from the side is nice and easy, so you don't have to worry about when the seat is reclined. As far as any other strollers, my cousin's wife has the Inglesina Planet and loves it. I think the Zippy is made to replace the Planet, so it might drive just as nicely. From what I understand Cella's for Baby in downtown Chicago carries the Inglesinas, so you might want to stop over and check them out. If you have a friend with a willing baby, take them along so you can test drive - it really helps. When my husband and I picked out our car seat, we took his bowling ball to test weight! Yes, we got some strange looks, but we were able to determine which seat was lightest! Good luck!

JMarie
EDD 2/23/03 (me too!)

[momathome]

I LOVE my Pliko!!! I think it is one of the few strollers that really can take you from birth to age 4. As far as the steering goes, I really don't know what people are complaining about. No, it is not the easiest stroller to push one-handed, but it can be done and it's rare that you have to do it. The seat is very plush and reclines nicely, it folds pretty compactly for such a full-featured stroller, and I have had no problems pushing this stroller whatsoever. Also, I notice whenever I am out at the zoo or the mall, the most popular stroller I see is the Pliko. They are everywhere and with good reason - they are truly fantastic strollers!!! I have been using my Pliko for about 20 months now and wish I had had this stroller when my 4 year-old was born. (I use it primarily for my 20 month-old.) Good luck!
-Lauren

[hhl2]

I have a Zippy and love it! I also looked at the Pliko but couldn't steer it with one hand. I have two children so this was very important to me. The Zippy steers with one hand great. It weighs about the same as the Pliko and folds umbrella style like the Pliko. It also stands up when the brake is on.

I wrote a long review on the Parents Place board when I got my Zippy. The link is http://boards2.parentsplace.com/messages/get/ppstrollers148/20.html. Lots of people asked questions, too, so read all through the post. If you have a question, most likely it was answered on that board! If you have other questions, let me know!

Heidi

[Shirale]

Hi,
With a walkup apt one of the things that should be most imp to you is weight! That said- have you tested the Mac Techno (the new one)? It is suitable for newborns up and folds like an umbrella into small spaces.

[hhl2]

I agree that the Techno folds up very small, but it isn't that much lighter than the Zippy, maybe a couple of pounds. I have both and have compared them. The Zippy also has a carrying handle which make it much easier to carry than the Techno.

I also don't think that the Techno is appropriate for a newborn. I know that others agree with me. Actually, the reason that I got the Zippy is because my 13 month old DD didn't like the recline of the Techno seat. It is further reclined and the seat bottom is angled toward the back a bit more than other strollers. In other words, the seat bottom isn't flat. They do that because there is no napper bar and if the seat is reclined the baby won't lean forward. I know that my DD (who was in the Techno from the time she was 11 months old) looked very uncomfortable in the Techno and really slumped. It also isn't as plush as the Zippy, which I think is very important for a newborn. The Techno is great for my 3 year old DD, however.

My 13 month old loves the Zippy. It is very plush and she loves having the napper bar to put her feet up on! She also sits up much straighter so seems to enjoy being in the stroller more.

You can also attach an infant seat to the Zippy and the Zippy can be folded and opened with one hand. The Techno folds with one hand (and a foot!), but to fold it you kind of have to push the stroller to the ground which is difficult to do holding a baby. The Zippy can be folded with one hand while you are standing. Check out the demo on www.inglesina.us!

Just my 2 cents!

Heidi

[jenfed]

I agree about the techno not being suitable from birth. The baby should be able to lay flat, and in the Mac Techno, they are just slouched over. You might want to look at the Combis. I have the Ultra Savvy. It's expensive, but has a full recline, has a car seat adapter bar, and is very light.

[caroliner]

You are going to get lots of suggestions and my experience was that it was impossible to know what I wanted and needed until my daughter was born. If you can wait, I would suggest that you do and maybe even just borrow a stroller if you can for the first few weeks, you probably won't be out and about with a newborn in Chicago in February. I have and like the Pliko, but use it only for short trips and travel, as in if I need to take the car as it is a good fold and it is great with the car seat adapter bar, the Graco Snugride clips right in. I found that I wanted my baby to face me, and still do and I also take her for long walks, so I ended up getting a much more expensive, plusher stroller/carriage with a reversible handle just a few weeks ago... For us, it was a great purchase even though we too have limited space and are on the 3rd floor (with an elevator though) In my opinion, it is very hard to know what you really need without the personal experience. Maybe just shorten your list, do a lot of comparison shopping and buy after the baby arrives. The Bjorn will probably do fine at first. Good Luck!!

Just went back and saw that you don't want the small carseat. I have to say if you plan to take the baby in the car much you may want to rethink that as they tend to fall asleep in the car seat. I guess it just depends on your space... but if you plan to have a second baby, you'll need a second car seat sometime.

[beckyr88]

Thank you so much everyone for your help. I guess I need to to some more research and test-driving before I make any decisions. I do really have to consider weight and the fact that both me and my hubs are kind of tall (I'm 5'10" and he's 6'3").
Thanks again!