It's been a crazy two weeks, but I know I've said before I wanted to do a stroller review so here we go!
Strollers are so important!! At least, in our family they are! My grandparents bought us a single jogging stroller for our baby shower when I was pregnant with Easton, and I can honestly say I've gotten SO much use out of it.
Baby Trend Expedition EX Jogger in "Edge"
There's so many great features about this stroller, really! It has a nice grip handle. The parent tray has two cup holders, an enclosed compartment, and an AUX cord hook up with built in speakers so you can listen to music on the go. The canopy is big and covers your little one from the sun. The seat reclines back; not to a complete, flat recline; but enough to comfortably take a nap. The seat also has a 5 point safety harness and the straps have soft, cushioned strap covers. There's a front child tray bar that has two cup holders. There is storage underneath; although it's not a ton, it gets the job done. The front wheel has an easy-to-use lockable feature to help with stability when jogging (I never really used this feature but Jake did a lot). The trays and the fabric material are very easy to wipe down and clean, which is so important. The stroller itself is surprisingly light, and it folds down and opens up super easily. It does have a higher weight capacity and will hold a child up to 50lbs. Like I said, SO many great features.
We - very easily - used our stroller 2 to 3 times a week because it was easy and quick to use and it made life so much more convenient. Definitely a major A+ goes to Baby Trend and I would easily recommend this stroller to a family of one. With that being said, our family is growing and we need room for two. I have done a TON of research on double strollers. I spent countless hours on Google, watching YouTube video reviews, reading plenty of blogs, and going to numerous stores to check out strollers in person. I knew that picking a new stroller was going to be important because of how much we actually use our stroller! And I wanted to make sure I picked the right one for us. The options? Overwhelming! Believe me, you are not alone. But here are some important things you should consider when making your purchase:
There are so many different styles out there but it basically comes down to two different kinds: a front-to-back or a side-by-side.
A front-to-back stroller is exactly what it sounds like: a stroller where the seats sit one in front of each other. Pros? Width! The stroller itself is the same width of a single stroller, so maneuvering in and out of places shouldn't be difficult. It will fit down isles at clothing stores and through doorways with no problem. Most (and I mean most, but not necessarily all) front-to-back strollers have numerous seating facing options. This means that the seats can either face you, face forward, face each other, etc. This makes your stroller versatile instead of just the normal ride. (I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the normal ride, either). Front-to-back strollers tend to be bulky though, since they can't fold up as easily or as small as most people would like.
A side-to-side is exactly that; a stroller where both seats are next to each other. These are great if you have twins or babies that are relatively close in age that like to always be together or next to each other. They are wide though! Some can't even fit through a normal size doorway which could become a problem if you are shopping or going through small aisles. Also something to consider when choosing a side-by-side; certain ones have individual seats, where you can choose to recline a seat individually, while others only have one back, which means if you want one seat reclined, both have to go back. This can become a problem if one child naps and you want to recline the seat, but the other child is still awake. I also noticed that some seats are separated with individual lap bars or trays, while others don't have a lap bar or tray at all or they have one combined, shared lap bar. These are just things that you should consider when looking at them.
Brand:
Just because someone you know "swears" by a brand, or you see a brand everywhere, that doesn't necessarily mean that's the right brand for YOU. Don't get settled in on something just because of the company that makes it. Check out lots of different kinds of brands. Before we picked our stroller, I didn't even know the company of ours even existed!
Weight:
This is so important! Check the weight limits of strollers! Some strollers you can't use with an infant; your child must be at a certain weight or age before they can sit in the stroller. Also, some strollers might seem great but they might not hold children to a higher weight, meaning that you are going to spend a bunch of money on a stroller that isn't going to be of any use to you once your quickly growing child grows out of it (which could be sooner rather than later on some strollers).
Infant Car Seats:
Some strollers have infant car seat attachment pieces, some come with build in car seat attachments, and some you can't use a car seat at all with it. This is important to check into, especially if you plan on using your stroller immediately. Most companies offer attachment pieces that hook into the stroller and your car seat safely buckles into it. Some strollers have build in pieces that tuck away when you aren't using them. But some strollers you can't use an infant seat with them at all. Also, some attachments are only good with certain car seats so check that as well.
Price:
Obviously price is something to consider when making a large purchase. I didn't put an exact limit on our budget, but I knew that I didn't want to spend an outrageous amount. Let me tell you, strollers come in ALL different kinds of prices. There was some under $100, and some over $1,000. I was shocked! And it can also be overwhelming. But you really have to sit down and rationalize what is important to you. A lot of strollers have certain features that people like, and companies know that can jack up the pricing and people will still buy them. Again, this is why I say look at a lot of different brands. You might find similar things you like from one company, in a stroller from another company for cheaper. Once you find a stroller that you love, check everywhere before you buy it. Check online, and at numerous stores. Some places might offer deals, specials, free shipping, and double-check if they price-match or if they accept competitors coupons. This is a great way to save big bucks!!
Size & Space:
Many people don't necessarily consider this right away - but trust me, you should. The size and space that your stroller will take up is important! If you can't fit your stroller in your trunk, then you will end up having an even bigger issue on your hands. Make sure you can easily fold up your stroller by yourself, and don't rely on someone to always be around to help you. Also, if you live in an upstairs apartment or if you don't have a lot of room at your home, remember that you have to put this stroller somewhere if it's not in your car. And if you don't want it to be an eye-sore in the middle of your living room, then make sure you have a spot for it. Some strollers are very heavy too. Be sure you can lift it in and out of your vehicle on your own. If you have a vehicle with a third row seat that can fold up or down, make sure your stroller fits back there with the seats up and down. You don't want to get somewhere, fold the seats up, and then realize that now your stroller doesn't fit back there. That would not be good. So take the stroller out to your vehicle when your looking at it at the store. They will let you. (Just tell someone first, so they don't think your stealing it lol!)
Accessories:
This is a big purchase. Don't settle on something unless you love it! Check out all the accessories that strollers have to offer. If you're a parent who always has water bottles with you, then you probably want a stroller with a cup holder for you. Or if you have a big diaper bag, then you most likely want a stroller that has a lot of storage underneath. Remember, the company that makes your stroller most likely has add-on accessories and other companies make accessories for strollers too so check all of those out. Your stroller might not come with a cup holder but you might be able to order one, or purchase one from a different company that will work with your stroller. Check out all the options!
Now I know this can be so overwhelming, or at least it was for me. I really wanted to make sure I purchased a stroller that was going to work for our family, and not only work, but help me. The purpose of a stroller is to help the mom out. And that is exactly what we need! So after lots of researching, testing out, and a very long three hour visit to Buy Buy Baby (where, thankfully, my best friend tagged along and assisted with caring for my cranky toddler), we finally decided on.....
The Contours Options Elite Tandem Stroller in "Envy Green"
A side-to-side is exactly that; a stroller where both seats are next to each other. These are great if you have twins or babies that are relatively close in age that like to always be together or next to each other. They are wide though! Some can't even fit through a normal size doorway which could become a problem if you are shopping or going through small aisles. Also something to consider when choosing a side-by-side; certain ones have individual seats, where you can choose to recline a seat individually, while others only have one back, which means if you want one seat reclined, both have to go back. This can become a problem if one child naps and you want to recline the seat, but the other child is still awake. I also noticed that some seats are separated with individual lap bars or trays, while others don't have a lap bar or tray at all or they have one combined, shared lap bar. These are just things that you should consider when looking at them.
Brand:
Just because someone you know "swears" by a brand, or you see a brand everywhere, that doesn't necessarily mean that's the right brand for YOU. Don't get settled in on something just because of the company that makes it. Check out lots of different kinds of brands. Before we picked our stroller, I didn't even know the company of ours even existed!
Weight:
This is so important! Check the weight limits of strollers! Some strollers you can't use with an infant; your child must be at a certain weight or age before they can sit in the stroller. Also, some strollers might seem great but they might not hold children to a higher weight, meaning that you are going to spend a bunch of money on a stroller that isn't going to be of any use to you once your quickly growing child grows out of it (which could be sooner rather than later on some strollers).
Infant Car Seats:
Some strollers have infant car seat attachment pieces, some come with build in car seat attachments, and some you can't use a car seat at all with it. This is important to check into, especially if you plan on using your stroller immediately. Most companies offer attachment pieces that hook into the stroller and your car seat safely buckles into it. Some strollers have build in pieces that tuck away when you aren't using them. But some strollers you can't use an infant seat with them at all. Also, some attachments are only good with certain car seats so check that as well.
Price:
Obviously price is something to consider when making a large purchase. I didn't put an exact limit on our budget, but I knew that I didn't want to spend an outrageous amount. Let me tell you, strollers come in ALL different kinds of prices. There was some under $100, and some over $1,000. I was shocked! And it can also be overwhelming. But you really have to sit down and rationalize what is important to you. A lot of strollers have certain features that people like, and companies know that can jack up the pricing and people will still buy them. Again, this is why I say look at a lot of different brands. You might find similar things you like from one company, in a stroller from another company for cheaper. Once you find a stroller that you love, check everywhere before you buy it. Check online, and at numerous stores. Some places might offer deals, specials, free shipping, and double-check if they price-match or if they accept competitors coupons. This is a great way to save big bucks!!
Size & Space:
Many people don't necessarily consider this right away - but trust me, you should. The size and space that your stroller will take up is important! If you can't fit your stroller in your trunk, then you will end up having an even bigger issue on your hands. Make sure you can easily fold up your stroller by yourself, and don't rely on someone to always be around to help you. Also, if you live in an upstairs apartment or if you don't have a lot of room at your home, remember that you have to put this stroller somewhere if it's not in your car. And if you don't want it to be an eye-sore in the middle of your living room, then make sure you have a spot for it. Some strollers are very heavy too. Be sure you can lift it in and out of your vehicle on your own. If you have a vehicle with a third row seat that can fold up or down, make sure your stroller fits back there with the seats up and down. You don't want to get somewhere, fold the seats up, and then realize that now your stroller doesn't fit back there. That would not be good. So take the stroller out to your vehicle when your looking at it at the store. They will let you. (Just tell someone first, so they don't think your stealing it lol!)
Accessories:
This is a big purchase. Don't settle on something unless you love it! Check out all the accessories that strollers have to offer. If you're a parent who always has water bottles with you, then you probably want a stroller with a cup holder for you. Or if you have a big diaper bag, then you most likely want a stroller that has a lot of storage underneath. Remember, the company that makes your stroller most likely has add-on accessories and other companies make accessories for strollers too so check all of those out. Your stroller might not come with a cup holder but you might be able to order one, or purchase one from a different company that will work with your stroller. Check out all the options!
Now I know this can be so overwhelming, or at least it was for me. I really wanted to make sure I purchased a stroller that was going to work for our family, and not only work, but help me. The purpose of a stroller is to help the mom out. And that is exactly what we need! So after lots of researching, testing out, and a very long three hour visit to Buy Buy Baby (where, thankfully, my best friend tagged along and assisted with caring for my cranky toddler), we finally decided on.....
The Contours Options Elite Tandem Stroller in "Envy Green"
We absolutely love it! There are so many great features about this stroller!! It is a front-to-back style with rubber coated wheels so the ride is nice and smooth. The material on both seats is super easy to clean and wipe down, which is great for us. It has a very easy-to-use fold down that has a lock to keep it all together, and it doesn't weigh too much (I can get it in and out of my trunk by myself). It has a huge basket underneath that even has a side zipper, so you can easily get to things in the front of the basket without taking everything else out of it. Both seats recline all the way back, which has been great when Easton has fallen asleep when we've been out. The canopy on both seats is HUGE and both even have zippered extension canopies for even more sun coverage. They both have 5 point safety harnesses that are easy to use, and again, easy to clean. Plus, I can brag enough about all the different options of seating this stroller offers. Easton loves that there are so many different ways he can ride, depending on his mood that day. And the leg room even when both seats are reclined is still great, so no complaints there! Overall, we just love it!
Some downfalls (that didn't stop us one bit!)
* Contours does offer certain accessories, but you have to purchase them separately. A couple of those things: the infant car seat adaptor piece, parent console trays, and kids trays. Heres the breakdown for those:
Infant Car Seat Adaptor:
You can purchase the infant car seat adaptor piece for an additional $29.99 from their website (and most stores have them in stock).
Parent Tray:
You can purchase the parent tray for an additional $29.99
Kids Tray:
You can purchase the kids tray that has a cup holder built into it for an additional $29.99
Here's what we did (and how we got such a great deal!)
I went to Buy Buy Baby, where they have a HUGE selection of strollers. I mean, they must have at least 100 on the floor to look at and demo. Once I caught my eye on the Contours and started asking the sales man a billion and one questions about it, I found out that they had just took this exact stroller out of the box the day before to use as a display, and they actually hadn't received their shipment of these strollers in yet, only that one. He informed me that it could be ordered online and shipped to me for free, but I wasn't going that route. I simply asked him if there was any way I could purchase this exact floor model at a discounted price. The stroller originally is $299. He left to speak with a manager, and when he did, I inspected the stroller all over from top to bottom. There wasn't even a speak of dirt on the wheels! When he came back, he told me that his manager said they could sell it to me for $240, which meant they were giving me a 20% off discount since it was considered a "floor" model. But, since this was a floor model, the company had sent them the Infant Car Seat Adaptor to show customers how it is used with the seat. So, the sales man told me that the Infant Car Seat Adaptor would automatically come with this model, and that it would be at no extra cost to us! BINGO - just saved $30! We decided to purchase only one of the children trays though (because Easton likes to take his "juice" everywhere with him, and we won't need another kids tray until a ways down the road when our littlest gets bigger) so he did order that for me online with free shipping to get sent to our house. Are you still with me here? So now were at $270. I knew I wanted a parent tray organizer, but I didn't really like the one that Contours had, so I went to the accessories area of Buy Buy Baby and found two that I liked!
One was made by Baby Jogger:
The Baby Jogger one was priced at $19.99 and the Brica was on clearance for $9.99 - so I decided to just get them both. Still adding? We're now at $300. So we headed to register. I used four coupons, all from Bed Bath and Beyond for 20% off one item (they take their coupons there, and you are aloud to use one coupon per item). So with all of those discounts and my coupons; we got the stroller itself (with the infant car seat adaptor), the additional childs tray, and the two parent organizers for $288!! That's a huge savings of over $100! It would of originally cost $390! So we got a great deal, a great stroller, and great accessories that we love!!!!
My advice: do your research! Don't settle! Take the time to go to different stores and check out a bunch of different kinds!! Don't get something just because the "cool mom down the street has it" or because it's all the "rave" this week. Find what's best for your family and use coupons! Don't be afraid to ask questions or to try to get the best deal!
Hopefully this was helpful! Good luck on stroller hunting and let me know how it goes!
Xoxo,
Christine
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