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When Ben and I were in Chicago this weekend, we stopped by Buy Buy Baby to take a look at some of their baby stuff (side note: it was SO much fun to look at it all! I can't wait to start registering...). As we were perusing the stroller aisle, we started looking at the Chicco Travel Systems. My sister had recommended getting a travel system and my parents already have a Chicco car seat base, so we decided to go with that brand. So our original plan would be to get a travel system and also an umbrella stroller since we obviously won't want to lug around a heavy stroller all of the time.
Anyway - as we were looking, one of the employees of B3 came up to us and started talking to us about an alternate travel system. The stroller he was recommending is the Baby Jogger City Mini Single Stroller - which is a really lightweight stroller (weighs 16 pounds) that easily folds up (with the lift of a handle) - and you can buy a car seat adapter to make it into a travel system. The car seat adapter you buy can hold multiple car seat brands, including Chicco. I was really excited to hear about a lightweight travel system because a constant complaint I keep seeing of "normal" travel systems is the weight and how difficult they are to manage/fit in cars. And this one truly is easy to manage and folds up really small - we got to try it out! Also, even though this stroller is pretty bare bones (you have to buy the tray, cup holders, adapter, etc. plus a car seat separately of course) - the total cost actually comes out about the same as it would if you were to buy a travel system and an umbrella stroller (doing the rough math).
So now we don't know what to do :) I wanted to see if anyone has any thoughts on travel systems in general AND about the City Mini Stroller travel system option. Few more specific questions:
1) For those who have used travel systems, how old was your baby when you stopped putting the car seat actually in the stroller?
2) This next question is especially for those moms and dads that have had kids in late December/January - with the time of year that she will be born, we probably won't be ouside too much. That makes me wonder if we really even need to have a stroller that can carry the car seat. By the time spring rolled around - were you still using your travel system?
So, any input or thoughts are greatly appreciated :) Who thought buying a stroller would be such a hard decision!? :)
Molly- I would skip the travel system and get the Citi Mini, which I hear great things about. The Chicco keyfit is the best carseat, but the travel system will be bulky. Better to invest in a good stroller with an adaptor, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have the Citi Mini, but we have the Bob and used an adaptor with our Chicco Keyfit carseat. You'll definitely want to be able to use the stroller with the carseat- getting outside even if you have to bundle up is one of the best ways to spend time with a newborn. :) (I think I would have gone seriously stir crazy otherwise! Nora was born in June but similarly it was so hot outside that summer that I wasn't sure I would go outside much, but I did- also because the fresh air was one of the best ways to calm her screaming, lol). We used the carseat adaptor until Nora was about 5 months old and was able to sit up (with support)well. Then she just went into the main seat of the stroller.
I know there is a lot of advice out there, but I did a bunch of posts on my blog about what I found useful in terms of baby gear: http://www.lifewithkarma.com/p/baby.html
Maybe it will help you some!
Thanks Amy!!!! That definitely helps A LOT! :)
ReplyDeleteWe have the City-Mini. It is great. It's so light and extremely easy to fold. We were even able to carry it on an airplane when we went to Florida. The sunshade is wonderful because it can pretty much shade a baby from head to foot. We did buy the carseat adaptor, but found it to be a bit loose so I didn't always feel comfortable using it. Our son was born the end of January. We did get him bundled up and went for walks in the stroller (in his carseat). However, by the time late spring rolled around, we just put him in the stroller itself. The stroller reclines very flat, so I've seen some young babies in it, they just recline a lot. You could always buy the adaptor, try it out, and return it if it doesn't work great for you. Buy Buy Baby is amazing with returns. Here's my one complaint about the City-Mini (and maybe they've changed it with the 2012 model). Our son always seems to be slightly reclined because of the five point harness. Now that he is older, he wants to be sitting straight up so he can see things, but he has to work pretty hard to see because of the slight recline. For now I feel like I need to keep him strapped in since there is no bar between his legs. We did buy the snack tray and that has seemed to help a bit since I feel it sort of helps him stay in the stroller when he isn't strapped in. Let me know if you have any other questions. I'm happy to help! - Laura Benning
DeleteGo with the city mini. That stroller will be easier to push if you are ever off of a paved sidewalk. After having a travel system I thinning they are overrated. You may still want to use the car seat in the stroller in the spring. It is especially nice if your baby falls asleep in the car. You can put the carseat in the stroller without disturbing his slumber.
ReplyDeleteSo this was what we did and I was VERY pleased. Also, I used BABY BARGAINS book to help me get ratings and go over every single detail of EVERY product. You'd absolutely love it when you are registering. So what we did is buy the Chicco carseat (and loved it!) It's rated safest and Miles just got out of it at about 9 months old. We went with the Graco Snap and Go for our travel system (this stroller is around 75 dollars and the lightest weight on the market. The Chicco carseat fits right in it and it's SUPER EASY! Then when miles was old enough and didn't want to be in his carseat (around 5-6 months) we got the city mini! we couldn't be happier and I take him on lots of walks in it. I don't jog but it does great on sidewalks and is light weight for that type of stroller. Hope that helps! I LOVE baby products :)))
ReplyDeleteWe bought the Graco Travel System for Rogan. He was born in late
ReplyDeleteMy vote is for travel system.
February, so he was well bundled. But a stroller is still necessary for shopping and other indoor adventures. We loved it. Until Rogan was 10 months or so we would click in his car seat instead of getting him out. This was huge since 80% of the time he was asleep, and taking him out of his carseat would have totally woken him up.
While the stroller is big, we like it that way. When we go to the park or for walks, both Ryan and I have a cupholder, a compartment for our keys, Rogan had a snack cup and a sippy cup holder, and a huge bin underneath for his diaperbag. We know we don't "travel light", so a heavy duty stroller is what we needed, and it was great.
Also, looking into the future, you may want to start with a stroller brand that can be converted to a double stroller if you eventually have 2 kids. We bought a Graco Duoglider for our boys, and this way the carseat we already have fits into it, we didn't have to repurchase the infant seat or base to fit a double stroller. So we take out the single stroller if one kid stays at home, and the duo if we go somewhere as a family. Yes, it's big and heavy. But it's awesome and sturdy and will definitely last.
That's my two cents.
Thanks everyone for all of your comments - they really do help! :) Just need to make the decision on what's best for us now! :)
ReplyDeleteMake sure that your parents Chico base works with the new seat. At B3, you can, with deposit of a drivers license, borrow a travel system to test fit in your car to see that it fits. Also have a realistic measurement of your trunk space that it clears the arms that move the trunk open and closed...
ReplyDeletethat goofy looking stroller on the right doesn't look like it would fit in much of anything. Go with the travel system.
Measure twice, buy ONCE!
We have the Chicco travel system, I would say we stopped regularly using the car seat in the stroller around 6 months, and now only use it If she's napping when we get to our destination. I do have to say the stroller is heavy and bulky, and had I known about another option, I probably would have used it. That being said, my MIL loves the stroller that comes with the system bc of its bulk, it seems sturdier in her mind. The only perks I give it is matching the carseat( which doesn't REALLY matter) and the storage compartment underneath for storage.... I LOVE that!!! Either way you go, I HIGHLY recommend working our a way to hang your diaper bag on your stroller, they get heavy with all the necessary stuff!! We have a coach diaper bag that has an optional over the shoulder strap. I keep the strap stored, but found that the d-rings I would clip the strap to makes a very convenient place to attach hooks that clip to the stroller handle!!! Good luck, and happy shopping!!!!
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