Beginning research- help needed

We have just begun researching strollers and carseats. I read Baby Bargains, many messages on this forum and parent reviews at BRU.com. Now I am even more confused than ever! Hopefully, you can answer some of my questions and steer me in the right direction.

I am due in July. will be a SAHM living in the suburbs. I drive minivan, so space trunk space is not an issue. I am on the small side (5'3" and 115lbs before pregnancy) and I am pretty weak.

At first I was seduced by the travel systems. They seem so easy. The Sungride seemed the safest and had good reviews, but the strollers sound awful. I have pretty much ruled a Graco stroller out. I want a stroller that will be useful for the long haul. If you don't buy a travel system or the same brand carseat/stroller, what do you do for the first few months? Which strollers can fit other company's carseats and are they truly secure/safe? Price is not a major issue because I would rather buy something good now than regret it and buy another later. In your opinions, what other brands should I consider or test?

Thanks in advance.

Stacey

[Momof3Labs]

Check out the Inglesina Zippy, Peg Perego P3 (unofficially can hold a SnugRide), Combi perfect match strollers, and the Kolcraft and Snap n Go frames, for starters. I think that Zooper has a model that holds car seats, too, and the Maclaren Global does but gets very mixed reviews.

ETA: You might be weak now, but one you build those muscles lifting a growing baby um-teen times a day, an 18lb stroller won't seem like nearly as big a deal as it does now. Trust me, I had the same thoughts while pregnant!

[houseof3boys]

I would HIGHLY recommend a Snap n Go type frame to start out with. This way, you learn what is important to you before you buy a nicer stroller. The Kolcraft Universal Car Seat Carrier is fabulous since it is lightweight and easy. I am a weakling too and this was by far my favorite purchase when my son was a baby in the infant seat! I had the Combi US that the car seat could snap into but never used it since I love the USSC so much!

[american_mama]

I would second the Kolcraft Universal Car Seat Carrier, available at Burlington Coat Factory, Kmart, and many more places. It is often called a Snap N Go, but that is actually a competing brand that is more expensive and not as good. It gives you something to use the first few weeks or months while you figure out what you really want. Or, you could accomplish the same thing by borrowing a stroller.

But don't think you will find the perfect stroller. Even if you find one stroller that you are really happy with and use all the time, even then, it will have weaknesses. You will either live with them, or you'll buy another stroller.

My research may be a little incomplete, but I believe Zooper, Combi, and some Peg Perego's have adapter bars that will fit other car seats. The Perego's may only fit their own car seat, although I believe some people have found that a few other car seat brands will fit, although it's not recommended by the manufacturer, blah blah. Also, you can set a car seat in the seat of some strollers and decide if that is secure enough for you even if the seat isn't snapped in.

Also, after all your research, don't be afraid to be guided by your own desires even if you can't completely rationalize them. Style is a big thing in a stroller, as in functionality, and either one may be the deciding force in your decision. If you don't get excited about umbrella strollers, just ignore them, even if half the world recommends a Peg Perego Pliko. You have to narrow the choices somehow. If you can't get over how convenient it is to put the car seat in the stroller, that's a perfectly valid reason to choose one stroller over another.

And remember, ebay, flyers posted at local mom hang-outs, or the Stroller SWAP message board are great ways to recoup some of the expense of a stroller mistake. So if you buy something you regret, you can always fix it.

[sarsah]

Ok, I know I'm in the minority here, but I have a Graco MetroLite stroller for DS#2 (now 11 months old) and I really, really like it. I bought it to replace a 3 1/2 year old Combi perfect match which I also liked a lot, but it broke beyond repair. I tried out a lot of stroller in all price ranges and decided on the the MetroLite. I am not a big Graco stroller fan, but the MetroLite is a different design than their Lite Rider & Coach Rider models.

As far as durability goes, I've only had my stroller since February. My neighbor, however, has a MetroLite travel system and has been very happy with it. The stroller has been used nearly every day for the last 2 1/2 years without a problem. She has the 'Glen Plaid' pattern and it faded in the sun, so she called Graco and they sent her a brand new canopy and seat cover for both the stroller and car seat for no charge.

FWIW, I am also a suburban SAHM who drives a mini-van.

Sarah........mom to Jason (5/25/00) & Devin (5/12/03)

I agree with the advice to go with a Kolcraft UCSC.. I wish I had done that, I bought a Combi US and have not been thrilled with it. It is light and easy to use and good for primarily indoor use, but I have a hard time pushing it thru grass and I have doubts about its longevity for the next child. After about 6 months of research, I finally bought a Inglesina Zippy and so far I am really happy with it. I wish I had spent the ~$40 on the USCS instead of the $150+ on the Combi which I now have to either sell on ebay or consign it.

From what I understand from reading on these boards, the Zippy and P3 are very good all around strollers, with minor differences (fold, steering, buggy board) so it's a matter of preference. I chose the Zippy b/c of the easy fold.

[kijip]

Add another vote for car seat stroller frame. You have no idea before your baby arrives what will really matter to you and your baby stroller wise once you have the added advantage of knowing your baby etc. I do not know too many people that were happy with their pre-birth stroller purchases. The snap and go will buy you time and allow you to actually put your baby in the stroller to test it out- a real plus. Our son had some strong opinions, even at 6 months!

[HGraceMom]

I started with a travel system (Graco) and though I loved the carseat, I hated, from day one, the stroller. DD is 2 1/2 now & looking back, if I had to do it again tomorrow, I'd buy:

a Graco infant seat
the Silver Cross Camden stroller
and the carseat adapter bar.

I recently bought a Camden & LOVE it - it has many of the benefits of the travel system strollers (a HUGE basket, great sunshade, etc - you can do a search for Camden & read my review) with a light weight & very sturdy construction. IMO the umbrella fold strollers just didn't feel as sturdy or ride as smoothly as the Camden (many people seem to decide between the P3, Inglesina Zippy, Zooper & Camden.)

HTH -

[jrich1]

I also really like my Camden stroller. The Graco Snugride carseat is VERY secure in it with the adaptor bar that can be purchased separately. I tried the Kolcraft Universal carrier but was very concerned at how loose the carseat fit onto the frame. Maybe I was attaching it incorrectly, but it seemed to be held on by just a belt that went around the seat. I returned it and ended up with the Silver Cross Camden. I am a suburban mom as well and this stroller doesn't fold as compact as an umbrella stroller, but it is light and easy to fold.

I am seriously considering the Camden stroller but I am concerned about the ease of use of the car seat adaptor bar:

How easily does the car seat adaptor bar snap on/off the stroller? I would use it when we go in the car, but I would like to be able to easily remove it for neighborhood walks. Any thoughts?

I am also worried about the comments about the folding problems - but there just doesn't seem to be another stroller out there with the light weight of the Camden and the durability/features/plushness it has. I can't stand the basket on the Pliko - it is so inaccessable. It also seems that the quality has also changed with the newer models.