Second-Hand Strollers

You can save more than 50 percent by buying a stroller used. Three local stores specialize in the consignment of children’s merchandise: Jane’s Exchange (191 E. 3rd St., nr. Ave. B; 212-677-0380), Flying Squirrel (96 N. 6th St., nr. Wythe Ave., Williamsburg; 718-218-7775), and Still Hip (283 Grand Ave., nr. Clifton Pl., Clinton Hill; 718-398-0008). The shops often have Maclaren, Bugaboos, and other name brands, and if they don’t, the first two will call you when one comes in. Perhaps the best resource is Urbanbaby.com, which has a wealth of used buggies. The site lists its classifieds by city, so all options are local. It’s a good thing because the “kicking the wheel” mentality of used-car buying absolutely applies to secondhand strollers. New York City strollers get abused like no others, and the wheels are often the first casualties. This is especially true for the Maclaren, whose wheels are notoriously fallible. The rule of thumb is wheels and other extremities are cheap to replace, but any damage to the frame is a definite no-go. While most retailers outsource repairs, Albee Baby (715 Amsterdam Ave., nr. 95th St.; 212-662-8902) on the Upper West Side has in-store technicians capable of fixing most problems. For Maclaren fanatics, buyers beware. Roger Hayes, the head technician at the Maclaren store in Soho recommends replacing the eight wheels annually—a tune-up totaling $86.70, nearly a third of the retail price.

Baby Slings Versus Strollers

Proponents of “attachment parenting” claim that marsupial-style baby slings make kids feel more secure. I can’t speak for Ezra, but after my experiment with baby-wearing, I know I’m more secure—in my preference for a stroller. While at times convenient, most wraps, slings, and harnesses are nowhere near as comfortable as those beaming mothers on the boxes would have you believe. Most tolerable was the BabyBjörn Synergy ($160 at Giggle, 120 Wooster St., nr. Prince St.; 212-334-5817), which has a genius, spine-saving plastic support panel. Also not bad: the Moby D wrap ($40 at Boing Boing, 204 6th Ave. at Union St., Park Slope; 718-398-0251), which sports a woven panel in the middle so your kid won’t wind up around your knees. The Red Castle carrier (pictured, $69 at Babies R Us) looks great on the box. But the sideward hunch I developed was not so pretty. Then there’s the Ergobaby ($95 at Corduroy Kid, 613 Vanderbilt Ave. nr. Bergen St., Prospect Heights; 718-622-4145), which I was ready to hate after watching the preachy training DVD. But the attachment zealots may be on to something: It’s like getting a hug all the time.

Maclaren Techno XT

Can this New York classic hold its own against the new names? Devotees have been complaining lately about this popular umbrella stroller’s wheel quality, and they’re right to gripe. More substantial wheels add some unwelcome heft to this lithe bus- and subway-hopper. Even when my dining room was stocked with state-of-the-art strollers, the nanny grabbed this one every time.
Accoutrements: Hood, shopping basket, rain cover.
Specs: 17 pounds. Rated for birth to 55 pounds. Collapses to 42 by 19.5 by 13 inches.
Storage: 7 yogurt six-packs.
Setup & Breakdown: Stroller comes preassembled except for rain canopy. Ease of collapse is excellent; it’s the only bona fide one-handed folder in the pack.
STREET TEST
Pros: Takes subway stairs easily, up and down. I felt no guilt when an elderly woman effortlessly lifted the front end on descent. Ideal for shopping and subway and bus transit.
Cons: Clacks along like a train on a wooden track. Not good with one-handed swiveling or cobblestones, and its ubiquity raises fears that one might wheel away with the wrong kid.

Bugaboo Bee

Bugaboo’s spry new featherweight is a close competitor with the Maclaren and other umbrella strollers, but with a reversible seat.
Accoutrements: Frame, seat, sun canopy, underseat bag, rain cover.
Specs: 20 pounds. Rated for birth to 37.5 pounds. Collapses to 35 by 17.5 by 13 inches.
Storage: 10 yogurt six-packs.
Setup & Breakdown: Came preassembled with no manual; reversing seat required a call to customer service.
STREET TEST
Pros: Nimble but not stiff, handles bumps and sharp turns better than most in its weight class. Stairs, subways, buses a breeze.
Cons: Frame so narrow it gave our snowsuited 5-month-old zombie arms. Small wheels got stuck in cracks. The lightness is welcome, but it raises the question, is it solid enough to hold up over time?

Bugaboo Cameleon

Beyond its position as a status symbol, the top of the line from the Dutch stroller-reinventers is everywhere for a reason: It’s a pleasure to drive. It turns tightly, takes bumps smoothly, and navigates easily with one hand. Negotiating public transportation with it, though, is not so hot.
Accoutrements: Frame, bassinet, sun canopy, seat inlay and bassinet apron, carry handle, mosquito net, rain cover.
Specs: 26 pounds. Rated for birth to 40 pounds. Collapses to 36 by 23 by 16 inches.
Storage: 11 yogurt six-packs.
Setup & Breakdown: Came assembled with no instruction manual; techie husband figured out how to collapse mechanism.
STREET TEST
Pros: Super-smooth ride, even on crowded Chinatown sidewalks. Glides over crags with trademark springy suspension.
Cons: Awkward moments on stairs. On bus ride, hit a passenger in the head with seat and had to ask another rider to fish MetroCard out of pocket. On subway, actually accepted an assist from a pregnant woman.

Micralite Toro

This lightweight U.K. import has luxury suspension and Maclaren proportions. Better still, it stands upright on its own when collapsed. Ideal for tucking into the corner.
Accoutrements: Foot covering, zip-on rain cover, and air pump. The Toro for newborns also includes bassinet and adapters for the Maxi Cosi Mico car seat.
Specs: 18 pounds. Rated for birth to 40 pounds. Collapses to 39.5 by 15 by 16 inches.
Storage: 7 yogurt six-packs.
Setup & Breakdown: Assembled in 14 easy minutes; collapsed in 4 seconds. A quibble: Adjusting handlebar height requires an Allen wrench (it’s included, but still)
STREET TEST
Pros: Practically turns itself. Narrow rear wheels make it a wonder in reverse, through doorways, and most important, up and down stairs. Buses and subways a snap; stroller is light enough for hip sling. Great for walk-up apartments, public transportation.
Cons: Found myself constantly kicking the rear wheels. The seat does not reverse.

Orbit

It’s heavy, a bit stiff, and all but refuses a one-handed turn. So why is the Orbit so appealing? A genuine reimagining of carriage design, it has a multifunctional dock that lets you clip on a bassinet, car seat, or toddler chair, allowing for ridiculously easy, 360-degree seat rotation. Has replaced Bugaboo as the stroller most likely to turn up in a paparazzi shot.
Accoutrements: Infant car seat (lined with soft microfiber), car-seat base, stroller frame, toddler seat with mosquito net and rain shield.
Specs: Stroller with car seat, 33 pounds; with toddler seat, 32 pounds. Rated for birth to 40 pounds. Collapses to 35 by 18 by 24 inches.
Storage: 5 yogurt six-packs (in a doctor’s-bag design that slides under the seat)
Setup & Breakdown: Could not be easier.
STREET TEST
Pros: The intuitive design makes for speedy car-to-sidewalk transitions. The ride is decently smooth, but it’s no Bugaboo. The car-seat carrier is narrow enough for an easy hip-sling descent of subway stairs.
Cons: Bus mount tricky; required help from other passengers to juggle car seat, stroller base, and infan

Peg-Pérego Skate

The just-released, Italian-designed Skate weighed in nine pounds heavier than the Cameleon and has a shape-shifting pod that starts out as a newborn bassinet and morphs into an infant/toddler seat. It also offers the highest ride next to the Stokke and can collapse with the seat attached.
Accoutrements: Adapters for attaching a Primo Viaggio SIP car seat (not included), cup holder (very welcome and all too rare), rain shield, leg cover, air pump for rear tires.
Specs: 35 pounds. Rated for birth to 45 pounds. Collapses to 36.5 by 23.75 by 20 inches.
Storage: A whopping 16 yogurt six-packs.
Setup & Breakdown: Took three hours and two calls to customer service to assemble; another call to understand how to fold it. No instruction manual in the box or on the Website.
STREET TEST
Pros: Rides like an SUV. The human energy output required means it’s great for working off baby weight. Masculine design’s a dad-pleaser.
Cons: The weight and wheel width mean that managing subway and apartment stairs without help is basically impossible.

Dreamer Design/Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler

Squint and it’s a Bugaboo. This low-price look-alike has some of the same touches as the European-designed brands for a quarter of the price. You get a reversible seat, a recline lever behind the head rest, and a ton of storage, all in a decent-looking package.
Accoutrements: Sun canopy.
Specs: 21 pounds. Rated for birth to 33 pounds. Collapses to 35 by 26 by 13 inches.
Storage: 15 yogurt six-packs.
Setup & Breakdown: Painless to put together; collapses easily.
STREET TEST
Pros: An excellent deal for the price. An all-around performer with a smooth, if not Bugaboo-league, ride and an effortless one-handed turn. Quick fold and light weight make it one of the best for subways and buses.
Cons: Squeaky sun canopy could wake up baby. Mildly scratchy nylon seat. Wide rear wheels. Design snobs may not like the large logo. Although it’s supposed to be in New York stores, it’s currently only available on a Website.

Stokke Xplory

This Norwegian attention-getter is all about the high-altitude seating pod. Instead of being eye-to-eye with exhaust pipes and Weimaraners, the child sits literally on a pedestal. Seat fabric is a machine-washable cotton-poly blend that comes in six colors; the frame is aluminum and automobile-grade plastic.
Accoutrements: The “complete” includes the frame, bassinet, chair, and cute polka- dot blanket. The “basic” doesn’t have a bassinet and retails for $900. Both come with rain covers, mosquito net, and shopping bag.
Specs: 28 pounds. Rated for birth to 45 pounds. Collapses to 40 by 22 by 19 inches.
Storage: 11 yogurt six-packs.
Setup & Breakdown: We can’t judge the assembly, because the Stokke rep insisted on delivering it pre-built (which made us wonder). Without instructions, which were not supplied, figuring out the collapse required a home visit from another Stokke rep.
STREET TEST
Pros: Being able to see your baby without neck strain. Extremely comfortable hand grip is ideal for one-handed swiveling, making cell-phone conversations much easier.
Cons: Feels rigid on stairs and cobblestones owing to plastic frame. Subway hoist took two friendly strangers; a bus driver refused entry unless stroller was collapsed—couldn’t do it.

Quinny Buzz

Groovy style and a slick ride, but beware the perilously wide, 25.5-inch rear-wheel spread; good for power walks and park jaunts; not great for doorways or grocery-store aisles. The seat is made of cushy nylon in five grown-up colors.
Accoutrements: Sun canopy, bug net, rain cover.
Specs: *30 pounds. Rated for birth to 50 pounds. Collapses to 39 by 25.5 by 16 inches.
Storage: 7 six-packs of baby yogurt.
Setup & Breakdown: Painless assembly. Much-touted hydraulic fold has a tendency to pop open on its own and makes a jarring cracking noise.
STREET TEST
Pros: Easy to navigate crowded, craggy sidewalks with one hand. Sleeping baby stayed unconscious during cobblestone test and even a hike in woods.
Cons: Clipped a few parking meters with wide rear wheels. Ran over several feet on subway and bus and found climbing stairs unassisted was next to impossible. Nanny grilled at tot lot: “What does your boss do?”

Bullet Proof Baby Stroller

Bullet Proof Baby Stroller Product Test - The most amazing bloopers are here

A must for mobile baby protection, the Heavy weight bulllet proof stroller provides 100% protection against all modern ballistics including Armor Piercing rounds. It’s heavy enough to maintain stability even under a heavy barrage, and yet has light steering enabling the stroller to turn on a dime if required. For the smart urban baby.. this stroller is the ultimate in style, comfort and extreme combat protection.

Features:

- Front swivel wheels.
- Shopping basket. Keep your baby and your groceries safe.
- Adjustable leg rest. The stroller grows with your baby.
- Suitable from Birth.
- Soft seat fabric.
- Waterproof lined, detachable hood.
- Multi lie-back position (does not lie flat).
- Plastic grip handles
- Lightweight, umbrella fold stroller.
- The seat is fitted with a 5-point harness to ensure the safety and security of your child.
- Linked brakes for safety.
- Comes complete with instructions.
- Weighs 15lb.

Includes FREE coated Rain cover. Keep your baby safe in all weather conditions

Sizes, Folded:104 x 24 x 23 cms.
Ready for use:104(H) x 35(W) x 56(D)cms

How to Pick the Best Stroller for Your Baby

You are shopping for a stroller, which means you are currently experiencing (or preparing to experience) a profound and exciting new way of life… either because you are having your first child or adding another to the brood. This choice is only one of the many decisions you will be making during a period of many changes. There are a myriad of options that make it likely to find one that meets your exact specifications. But even as you shop from among the best baby strollers in the world, the wide selection can make this task overwhelming.

A stroller is an essential piece of baby gear, an every day necessity. Consider not only safety and functionality but also personality and style. Just like your car says a lot about you, so does your baby’s vehicle!

Fortunately, everything you need to find the perfect buggy for your new precious cargo is in one place… here! No need to spend days hitting every baby superstore and boutique just to be disappointed in their limited inventory. We did that too… waddling around, tired and confused. Now you can benefit from all our hard work. We’ve collected the top-rated baby strollers from the most trusted and recommended companies: Jeep, Maclaren, BOB, Bugaboo, Peg Perego, Quinny, Inglesina and Bertini.

In the comfort of your home, you can browse hundreds of styles — compare prices, weight, dimensions, wheels, folding mechanisms, storage compartments, and unique features. We can help you decide which style best suites your family, whether it is a lightweight umbrella or a sturdy double jogger. Since we offer great deals on the best-selling brands, a few clicks will check this to-do off your list so that you can tend to more important things, like babies!

It won’t be long before you’ll be packing your sweet lovebug in your dream stroller and catching a bit of fresh air.


With a Few Clicks and a Baby, You’ll be Strolling Along!
In the case of strollers, one size does not fit all. The best one is the model that best fits… you! A few simple questions will get you on the right track. Relax! This will be fun. Remember, it’s all about you!

1. Who’s Riding?
Do you have an older child? Twins? Triplets? There’s a stroller to accommodate everyone. There are sit and stand strollers like the Peg Perego Pliko. There are double strollers like the side-by-side Maclaren Twin Triumph or the tandem Inglesina Domino Twin Chassis. Inglesina also makes a fabulous triple tandem, the Biposto Domino Trio Chassis. There are also double strollers that can be fitted with two infant car seats like the Peg Perego Duette.

2. Who’s Pushing?
5-foot 100 lb. mom or 6-foot 200 lb. dad have different physical requirements. Of course, 100 lb. mom also runs marathons and climbs mountains and dad... may be a couch potato. It’s all okay, we make no judgements. But you will want to ask yourself who is going to be doing most of the pushing, lifting, folding, etc. that comes with stroller ownership. For lightweights, there are lightweight strollers like the Maclaren Volo. Bugaboo Baby Strollers seem to be designed for taller people in mind, with adjustable handlebars and leg room that is comfortable no matter who is pushing.

3. Where are you going?
Amazingly enough, pausing to consider your environs will go a long way to help you select your perfect baby ride. So are you a city mouse, country mouse or suburban mouse? Just think, will you be strolling along pastoral country lanes (of the paved and unpaved variety) with the apple of your eye? Consider a traditional baby carriage or pram like the Bertini Bidwell Carriage or the exquisite Inglesina Classica. If you are the more sporty type, the Bob Revolution gets top ratings among fitness enthusiasts. If you are a city mouse and find yourself in and out of public transportation, maneuvering crowded sidewalks and limited storage space, an umbrella stroller like the Maclaren Triumph is a good bet. Urbanites also love the ultra-compact when folded Quinny Buzz. If you are among the growing population in the suburbs, you have room to move and a vehicle to do it. Pick a stroller you can easily fold and lift into your trunk, that steers easily along both park paths and store aisles, and that can double as a packing mule for all the gear and loot you bring and/or acquire along the way. The Peg Perego Venezia, and Jeep Liberty Limited Urban are popular choices among suburbanites.


That wasn’t so hard, was it? You are on your way to stepping out with junior safely tucked into your perfect new stroller. Just don’t forget your purse, keys, diapers, wipes, change of clothes, bottle, pacifier, other kid….

Bugaboo Strollers Continue to Innovate

Is the much coveted Bugaboo stroller really all it's cracked up to be? Really now, spending over $1000 on a stroller seems excessive, doesn't it? Isn't it all just Madison avenue hype?

I'm not here to tell you how to spend or not spend your hard-earned cash. All I can do is provide you with the information to make the right decision for your family. So this is what I've got for you... the Bugaboo brand is built on the foundation of knowing exactly what the active parents want in a stroller. Their product designers have taken great care to address every possible situation that parents may find themselves in with their child:

- mom, dad or grandma can adjust the handlebar to suit their own height comfortably
- baby can face you or the world in a moment's notice with its reversible bassinet
- if you're feeding the baby in the stroller at the table, you can adjust the carriage height for ease
- for overnight trips, the carrycot is approved for overnight sleeping
- the pushchair can be used as a separate seat

Have I forgotten anything? I'm sure I have. It's no wonder that Bugaboo won a 2007 Red Dot Design Award for innovative products that stand out from others because of their successful design.

And for those of you to whom style is just as important as function, you may want to hold out until November when Bugaboo will offer its Neiman Marcus' 100th anniversary special Cameleon stroller.

Best Cities to Have a Baby

Fit Pregnancy has released its updated “Best Cities in America to Have a Baby” rankings, compiled based on the following factors: access to hospitals/doctors; affordability; birthing options; breastfeeding; child care; fertility laws/resources; maternal and infant health risk; parks/stroller friendliness; safety.

This year’s winner was Portland, followed by Minneapolis, San Francisco, Seattle, and Denver. My own city ranked 33rd, just below D.C. Among the factors weighing Nashville down:
-”Compared to other states, Tennessee has among the least generous family-leave and disability laws in our survey.”
-”12 percent of pregnant women here receive late or inadequate prenatal care. That’s the 4th worst score in our survey, compared to an average of 5 percent.”
-”By six months of age, 67 percent of Nashville-Davidson babies aren’t being breastfed at all. That’s the 8th poorest percentage of any city in our report. The average for cities in our survey is 57 percent.”

Reports with details such as those above are available for each city on the list. For more personalized information, you can choose the factors that are most important to you, and the rankings will be adjusted accordingly.

How To Pick The Best Baby Stroller

Strollers have developed quite a bit in the past few years. In the past, if you were looking for a stroller you would have to choose between two main models: an oversized pram – a large black stroller where the baby lies down, or a small, precarious stroller that your child would sit in, but would fly around the sidewalk and break easily. Today, parents are lucky to have a wide variety of well made strollers at their disposal. And this is a good thing too, because a good stroller is a parent’s connection with the rest of the world. Parents rely on strollers to transport their growing family outside of the house. Indeed, some parents even find that there are times when the only possible way they can get their child to sleep is with a walk in the stroller. No matter whether you are using your stroller for work or pleasure, it is clear that strollers (or pushchairs, as they are known in Britain), are a mainstay in modern living, an essential tool for the busy parent on the go and the relaxed parent out for a stroll.

What is the best stroller for my needs?

Your stroller is going to be one of the most important and frequently used baby accessories you own. For this reason, it is essential that you find the perfect stroller for your newborn. What is perfect for you, however, depends on what you plan to do with your stroller. Strollers come in a variety of configurations to meet the variety of needs and situations parents face in modern society. If space it not a concern, either in your house or in your car or mini-van, you should be happy with a standard or full-size stroller. The standard stroller will give you and your child a high level of comfort, and be easy to use. However, if space is at a premium, or you are primarily going to use your stroller while you are out shopping, or want a stroller you can take on trips and that can be brought out quickly, you should consider purchasing a compact stroller. These lightweight strollers are small and fold away quickly and easily. The main drawback to getting a compact stroller is that they will not be as strong as standard strollers. Also, because they are lighter and more flimsy, they will be harder to push. As a compromise, consider getting a standard stroller and keeping a compact stroller in the car for when you have to run out with your baby for groceries.

Those parents who plan on going for jogs with their baby, or for long walks in the forest, you should definitely consider buying a jogger, also known as a jogging stroller. These strollers have exploded onto the scene in the last few years. One of the main benefits of a jogging stroller is that it has large air-filled tires, which will give you a smooth ride over bumpy surfaces. The handlebars are also specially designed to allow you to hold on as you jog behind the stroller. Your baby may not be getting any exercise while you run, but he or she will sure enjoy the ride!

Be sure to take the time to make sure you have the best possible stroller for your child and your lifestyle; after all, you will be spending a lot of your time over the next few years behind the handle bars.

Jogging Strollers

I must admit I never considered running with my babies but it is now popular and there is also the COOL element of the jogging stroller especially amongst men! This one is also a bargain at $164.95.

InSTEP Schwinn Free Runner Jogging Stroller



Luxury and performance line every square inch of this Schwinn Free Runner Jogging Stroller making for a smooth and enjoyable ride for both you and your little one. Features *Pure sport and luxury with padded seats, shocks and a smooth ride. *16" wheels deliver you and your child to your destination safely and easily. *Parent tray, under seat storage and a protective zippered pouch behind the seat offer room for all the essential gear, plus some luxury items. *Extra wide tires stay on top of loose dirt, wet ground and even sand. *Padded seat is removable and machine washable for easy cleaning. *Adjustable handle to accommodate tall and short parents. *Hand brake plus locking parking brake keep you from rolling anywhere you do not want to be.

Stroller Travel Systems

Orbit Baby Infant System Mocha

The Orbit Baby Infant System is the result of years of engineering and planning. Using the Orbit's patented SmartHub dock, you can shift the transition your baby in their Orbit Carrier from stroller to car seat mode with just a twist.
Available in Mocha or Black.

Aprica Promenade Stroller - Mono Blue

Aprica Promenade 2004 Stroller - Mono Blue! The Aprica Promenade Stroller is a versatile full-sized stroller featuring the latest innovations in stroller technology. The Promenade is equipped with a multifunction tilt and one-touch reversible handle that also telescopes for height adjustment. This lavish stroller will keep your baby in a warm, safe nurturing environment that is both fashionable and feature-rich. Available in a range of colors.

Rock Star Baby Candy Lightweight Umbrella Stroller in Red

The Rock Star Baby Candy is the ultimate light weight stroller, weighing in at a feather light 14lbs. The only single handed full recline in its class, featuring a sturdy aluminum frame an adjustable foot rest, a large shopping basket and a five point safety harness. Unbeatable quality, design and price. You won't want to take this Candy from your baby! Available in a range of colors and styles.