What Is The Best Stroller Travel System For The Money?

On August 12, 2009, In Stroller Travel Systems, By Sophie

The Graco Metrolite Travel System is the best stroller travel system I have seen.

The system comes with an infant carrier, stroller and carrier base (which is installed into the car). This is Graco’s lightweight stroller travel system, they have a heavier system called the Quattro, but it is too heavy and clumsy compared to the Metrolite.

The carrier base uses the LATCH hooks that are available in nearly every car made in the last decade and is easy to install. If you are sharing drop-off and pick-up with a spouse, additional carrier bases can be purchased. The infant carrier snaps into the stroller frame so transfering between car and stroller can be done without waking up a sleeping baby.

The stroller is light weight but full featured. It has ample storage in the underneath basket. It folds up easily to put into the trunk or back of the van/SUV. Since this is the lightweight version, it is easy to lift.

There are drink holders for both the adult and the child, along with a snack tray for the child. The stroller reclines all the way to the flat position to allow a baby to sleep without using the carrier. As the baby becomes old enough to support their own head, they can be put in the sitting position of the stroller. The stroller uses a 5 point harness to keep the child safe and secure.

This stroller can be used until the child has reached a height of about 36 inches, at which point their head will no longer be well supported by the backing of the stroller.

Having this stroller travel system has greatly reduced the number of strollers we have needed over the first few years of our child’s life.
Graco Metrolite

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Twin Strollers or Tandem Stroller – Which Is Best?

On August 12, 2009, In Which Type of Stroller?, By Sophie
Graco twin strollers

Graco twin strollers

As a mother of twins, I have tried both tandem and twin strollers when my children were young. Although each stroller had its share of advantages and disadvantages, my personal preference was for twin strollers.

The tandem stroller was actually the one that we purchased first when I had my twins. I envisioned it being sleek and streamlined, easy to push through aisles while shopping. It was here where I was wrong. Although a tandem stroller isn’t as wide as twin strollers, it was not any easier to push. In fact, due to the distribution of weight in the stroller, it would oftentimes be quite difficult. The length of the tandem stroller made it more difficult to avoid possible bumps into objects too. Another disadvantage was the complete lack of storage/basket!

In order for it to be able to fold for travel, there was virtually no storage on the tandem stroller! (Storage is a must when travelling with 2 children!) I initially thought that I would enjoy the tandem design in seating, but that proved to be another nightmare in terms of who got to sit “in front”. (The front back design also led to the child in front being poked and prodded by the child in back.) Another design flaw in my opinion was that only the back seat could fully recline.

Twin strollers turned out to be a much better option than a tandem stroller. Whereas I first thought it was going to be nearly impossible to manoeuvre, it was actually very easy to steer. Although equally as plush as the tandem stroller, twin strollers are much sleeker.  They fold neatly in half (top to bottom) and have an enormous basket that ran the entire length of the 2 seats as well as under them! Both seats reclined separately so that either child could nap if tired. Since the seats were side by side, both children could see equally as well eliminating that “front seat” syndrome. (The side by side did not stop the poking and prodding, but it did give each child an equal advantage!)

My only complaint about twin strollers (my particular model anyway), is that the awning was in one piece and had to be either up or down for both children. As with everything, you have to do what you feel is right for your situation and family’s needs.

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What Types Of Baby Strollers Can You Buy?

On August 11, 2009, In What To Look For In A Stroller, By Sophie

There are several types of stroller apart from the standard to choose from and these include lightweight strollers, twin strollers, a stroller travel system, a triple stroller, a tandem stroller or a running stroller.

Double strollers have two seats and come with several seating arrangements. A traditional tandem stroller will seat the first child with a good view but the child behind can see very little. Tandem seating is like stadium seating where the rear seat is raised above the one in front and there is also face to face seating seating or a side by side twin stroller.

A jogging or running stroller allow you to bring your child or children along on a run. A running stroller has a triangular wheel base with two large wheels in the rear and one wheel in the front.  An added safety feature is a wrist strap on the handle bar to prevent the stroller rolling away when you stop if you don’t get the brake on fast enough.

Triple strollers are unsurprisingly for three children. Seating arrangements can be side by side but most will have tandem or stadium seating.

Umbrella strollers are relatively inexpensive, lightweight and generally easier to fold and unfold and store in a car. They are terrific for short trips to the Mall or short walks but do not work well on all terrains. Umbrella strollers do have a tendency to tip back if anything is hung on the handles.

So called lightweight strollers also come with multiple seating but are slightly heavier than an umbrella stroller but slightly less than a standard stroller. Typically they fold in a single hand motion and look similar to a standard stroller.

A convertible stroller is changeable from a lie-flat bed suitable for newborns to a sit-up stroller with a lie-back facility for naps.

A stroller travel system is also convertible and suitable for very young or newborns. Unlike the convertible stroller, it also comes with a car seat.

Bike strollers or trailers can also be found as two seated models and have 5-point harnesses to secure the child. They are attached to the rear wheel of the bike and easily converted from a trailer to a stroller.

If you have a very young baby and a toddler, you’ll need the type of stroller that will allow you to take them both out together in safety. Some of the twin side-by-side strollers or a double stroller travel system will do this. Not cheap, but you may be able to find one second-hand.

Twin Stroller Travel System

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