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Strollin': Lightweight Strollers

babysugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Last week I reviewed five of the top travel system strollers on the market. This week, I'm taking it down a notch and honing in on more reasonable lightweight strollers from Right Start.

Often used for travel, quick trips to the park, a stroll to the local eatery or in the trunk of the car, lightweight buggies often help moms get from point a to point b without much hassle or concern. As practicality is the name of the game, the price tag often reflects that. Stay tuned this week to see which pushchairs are up for the test!

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.

Strollin': Double Seaters

babysugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:00:11 -0700

On a personal quest, I was especially fired up to explore the world of double strollers. Thanks to Right Start, I've got a pretty good idea of what's out there and hope that I can pass on some of what I learned to you.

I found it daunting to find the perfect single stroller two years ago. Now here I am seven-months pregnant looking for one that will suit my 23-month-old and her future sibling. I've seen the beastly duos that take up the width of grocery aisles and others that seem suitable for heavyweight lifting competitions. This week I'll show you some of the best and give you my two cents on the two seaters.

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.

Strollin': Double Stroller Roundup

babysugar — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 05:00:13 -0700

This week rounded out our month of stroller reviews. The double strollers were a delight to test drive, especially since I'm in need of one myself. Check out my slideshow to see which ones I reviewed this past week.

View Slideshow ›

Strollin': Jogger Roundup

babysugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:00:57 -0700

Hopefully mothers who like to get a workout enjoyed the write-ups of the three fabulous jogging strollers I reviewed from Right Start. While there are still more on the market, some of which I hope to test in the future, I can hardly see the downside of any of these sporty options. Tell me which one you prefer?

BOB Revolution

Baby Jogger

phil and teds Dash

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.

Strollin': lilsugar's Stroller Reviews

babysugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:00:00 -0700

One of the toughest baby gear decisions a mother-to-be has to make is which stroller to buy. With all the options available, it's near impossible to test drive every ride. So, I took the liberty of reviewing a vast assortment of buggies for all of you mommies in a stroller quandary.
Right Start graciously showed me some of their inventory covering various categories - travel systems, lightweight, jogger and double strollers. In the next few weeks, I will spotlight each stroller. At the end of all the reviews, we'll be giving away one stroller to a lucky lilsugar reader! So stay tuned and get ready for the onslaught of stroller information. First up, travel systems!

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.

Strollin': Peg Perego Skate

babysugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:00:03 -0700

Last on my list of travel stroller systems is the new Peg Perego Skate. The Italian born Skate is easy on the eyes and a smooth ride, but the $900 price tag will make you flinch.

Like so many of its peers, the Skate can face forward or backward depending on mommy's preference. Only the Skate seat has telescoping capabilities giving tots the option to see the world in varying ways. The Skate also brags,"One Soul, Two Identities" as it stands alone in its ability to transform the bassinet to a toddler seat by simply releasing a few straps. If your child falls asleep in the seated position, you can quickly and easily turn the seat into a comfy napping spot where baby can spread out and relax. Even better, it means that the bassinet and the toddler seat are included in the price.

To learn more about the Peg Perego Skate, read more.

Available in five different colors and patterns, the fabric on the stroller seems like it would be a dream for toddlers to ride in while the tires offer an equally smooth ride - like skating, if you will. Unique to the Skate is the netted basket for storage. Weight tested, the bungee secured carry-all can stow loads of goodies or bags without dragging on the ground.

For a buggy that weighs 33.7 pounds, the device is simple to collapse but a bit cumbersome to lift and stow. To take some of the load off, parents can take the seat off and fold the stroller base separately. The only infant car seat that fits the Skate frame is the, you guessed it, the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio infant car seat. The stroller can grow with tots until they tip the scales at 45 pounds. Also included in the price are the following accessories: cup holder, weather shield and infant car seat adapter.

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.

Strollin': phil & teds Dash

babysugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:00:40 -0700

Some of the top-of-the-line strollers on the market today are those made by phil & teds. The New Zealand manufacturers have hit a sweet spot with their multifunctional line of duo seating buggies that serve many purposes while still looking sleek and sporty.

Great for a day out on the jogging path, the phil & teds Dash ($550) is suited to give mommy an easy outing while providing a baby (or two) a comfy cruise.

Perks mama can enjoy are an adjustable ergonomic handlebar, easy to manage rear brakes, a roomy storage basket that has pouches to stow small items, a sun canopy with a peek-a-boo window, and a long lifetime. Also, instead of having to double up on strollers, every phil & teds buggy is suited to add another seat (for an additional $100), magically turning it into a double stroller in minutes. A new feature for phil & teds, the area above the front wheel is now plastic. Why is that better you ask? The original fabric foot area design was appealing to the eye, but busy lil feet tended to wear the fabric down leaving tiny toes in danger of touching the wheel. The plastic board is an improvement to an already stellar stroller.

To keep reading about the phil & teds Dash, read more.

For moms toting around one child, the single seat can manage children up to 55 pounds or 4 years old. When a sibling enters the picture, the second seat ups the capacity to 88 pounds. Both seats can recline into comfortable napping positions, which would be perfect for a mother craving a jam session with her iPod on the jogging trail. That's probably a pipe dream, but at least the stroller offers the ability to do so.

Also impressive is the quick breakdown of the practical pushchair. Instead of having to disassemble the whole stroller for storage, the creative designers figured out a way to collapse the jogging stroller easily - even with the double seat attached. Be ready to use your upper arm strength when storing this bad boy. Like most other strollers in the jogging category, the stroller weighs a hefty 23 pounds. But hey, that's not too shabby for two strollers in one!

New to the family, the Dash will be available in November!

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.

Strollin': Bugaboo Cameleon

babysugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:00:23 -0700

First up on my Right Start stroller review - the multi-terrain Bugaboo Cameleon! Born in 1999 in Holland, the best-selling Dutch stroller has quickly become a favorite for families all over the world. The beautifully crafted travel system can work for a baby from day one through their toddler years.

Configured with an adapter, the base of the Bugaboo Cameleon ($899) fits many infant car seats (Graco Snugride, Maxi-Cost Mico, and Peg Primo Viaggio) which makes it easy for moms to transfer the child from the car to the stroller with one simple snap. While most car seats are safe and cozy havens for wee ones, many doctors advise parents not to let the child spend too much time in the seat as they need to develop their muscles and stretch out their body. For parents who plan on spending lots of time on the go with their newborn, the bassinet feature of the Bugaboo Cameleon is an added bonus.

To find out more fun facts about the Cameleon and see a video of it in action, read more.

Many parents find the bassinet reason enough to buy the expensive stroller. Suited for a newborn, infants can sleep easy while mommy runs errands or lunches with the ladies. Back home, some parents choose to lock the break and keep the stroller stationary making the bassinet the baby's actual sleeping place for the first few weeks of life. This eliminates the purchase of a Moses basket or co-sleeper.

Once the child graduates from the bassinet stage, they move into the bucket seat that pops onto the original base and can grow with a youngster until 40 pounds or four-years-old. When parents opt to have another lil one, they can add a wheeled stepping board for the older child to coast on while his lil sidekick rests.

Some of the benefits of the Cameleon are that you can move the adjustable handle bar (great for height differentiated families) back and forth so you can watch your tot snooze or choose to let him soak in the sights. The foam filled tires make for a smooth ride and less stops at the air filling station. Additionally, parents can pimp their wee one's rides by customizing their colors and fabrics, which are also machine washable - a huge perk for moms of messy youngsters!

As a multi-terrain stroller, the Bugaboo Cameleon can take a family anywhere. The downside is that most families end up buying another lightweight stroller in addition to the Cameleon as it is not the easiest stroller for travel. It is on the heavier end of the scale weighing 21 pounds and breaking it down is not a simple task, as you have to remove the seat or bassinet before folding it up for storage. However, like most strollers, many moms I know agree that you just get used to it and it becomes second nature.

Tell us what you think about the Bugaboo Cameleon.

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.

Strollin': Joovy Caboose Ultralight Stroller

babysugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:00:04 -0700

Double strollers can be double the pain as they take up more space and often weigh more than a single option. However, when you've got more than one tot, they are usually a necessary evil.

As I quickly approach my due date, I am eager to find the double stroller of my dreams. The Joovy Caboose Ultralight Stroller ($270) fits the bill so I was hoping this would be my golden carriage.

To see what I thought about the Joovy Caboose, read more.

The most obvious argument for the Caboose is that even though it can seat two children, the width is the same as a single stroller, making it easy to push through doors and stores. I've seen some mothers scramble to hold a door open while struggling to get behind a double-wide before it comes slamming on them. The Joovy Caboose keeps that scenario at bay.

The Caboose is unique in that is comfortably seats one child in the front seat while the older child either sits or stands on the back seat. The design enables the stroller to maintain a light frame - weighing only 21 pounds. A simple latch provides a quick collapse and a simple assembly. Both are appreciated when you have two children running circles around you.

While the front seat is fine for a stroll or quick errand, it affords about as much comfort as an airplane seat. The attachable tray has cup holders that offer as much stability as an airliner would and the seat reclining capabilities are about the same. The reclining issue makes sense though as the second child is seated right behind it and hey, at least it has a removable tray! While on the subject, the second child's seat can move back and forth, making it an option to sit or stand for the ride. If you have a loose cannon, you may adore the seatbelt straps that both seats offer.

The biggest bonus feature for many moms is that the front seat is adaptable to hold at least 14 various infant car seats. While your older child cruises around on the footstool and handles, you can both keep your eyes on the newest family member securely fastened to the front of the Caboose. Now how your older child manages your second child is your own problem. I think tickling feet or tossing water bottles on the freshest babe is to be expected.

While I found the Joovy Caboose to be quite delightful and an ease to manage, there are a few drawbacks. The handle on its own is fine. However, I rely on mine quite a bit to hang my diaper bag, groceries and other items. If your first child is standing or even seated on the back, you will rarely have the opportunity to hang anything from the handles. In an effort to soothe that fear for parents, the stroller comes with a neoprene organizer that holds two drinks and a pouch for cell phones or wallets but it doesn't come close to fitting what I need for a day out on the town. The basket underneath can hold a few items (say one diaper bag) but you'll have to ask the bigger child to remove herself from the seat in order to access it.

Overall, I like the Joovy Caboose. It's practical and easy to use for a mother often on the go. The ball bearing wheels, although plastic, do offer a pretty swift and docile ride, especially for a double stroller. The ability to maneuver in and out of places with the ease of a single stroller cannot be underestimated. However, I do wonder if the double wides may not offer more ease in the overall grand scheme of things.

Children birth and up can use the front seat with an infant car seat. Otherwise, the limit is six-months-old up to 45 pounds for the front seat. To ride on the back seat or stand, children should be 2.5 years old and no more than 45 pounds.

Tell me what you think of the Joovy Caboose Ultralight Stroller!

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.

Strollin': Orbit Baby

babysugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:00:54 -0700

If you pay attention to what the celebmamas are pushing these days, then you'll know that the Orbit Baby travel system ($900) is the ride of choice with Hollywood's most elite. Marcia Cross, Halle Berry, Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Richie, and Jessica Alba are just a few who chose the posh buggy for their wee ones.

To learn more about the swank stroller, read more.

The all-in-one system comes with the infant car seat, base, and stroller frame. The car seat is ergonomically designed to rotate on the car seat base and the stroller for easy maneuvering. Additionally, the flexible handle won't dig into mom's arm the way other car seats do. The circular base allows you to position the seat in any direction - forward, backward, or sideways facing - making it a cinch for parents to unlock and unload the carrier in one swift move. When it's time to hit the road, the one-hand pull of the stroller base easily collapses the 19-pound contraption in one fell swoop.

As babes graduate from the infant seat, which lasts until the child weighs 22 pounds or measures 29 inches long, parents can purchase the Orbit Toddler Stroller Seat ($179) specifically designed to fit into the circular Orbit stroller base. Unlike the infant seat, a separate car seat must be used. Loyal Orbit fans may choose the Orbit Toddler Car Seat ($300) while some may decide on other brand options. The stroller seat is suited for children six months old and up to 40 pounds. The toddler car seat is made for children rear-facing 15-35 lbs; forward-facing from 20-50 lbs and up to 49 inches.

Providing only two color options, parents must decide between black/slate or mocha/khaki, both of which are sleek, simple, and easily disguise a mess. The smooth ride on pneumatic tires makes it a dream for the driver, while providing the passenger with the ability to snooze on the go. The agile pushers are also in luck as two pliable cup holders, a lofty basket for safe keeping, and adjustable handles make running errands more of an adventure than a chore.

I love the look, the versatility, and the ease of the Orbit Baby system, but the price tag is sure to make some wary - especially when you have to keep adding to it as the child grows. Tell me what you think about the Orbit Baby Stroller!

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.