[blparent] Best strollers

Sat Apr 21 02:46:28 UTC 2012

Bridgit,

Is the reason for not wanting the baby facing away from you a safety one, or
a comfort one because he will be facing backwards? How high is the actual
risk that someone will run up and get the baby out of the safety harness and
run away with him? Wouldn't someone this determined also be willing to just
shove you aside to do the same thing? Have you ever heard of something like
this happening? I am not trying to frighten you, I am actually trying to
point out that this is an almost non-existent risk. How often will you be
likely to be out with one of you alone using the stroller alone? Only you
can know what your comfort level is with the actual risk factors involved
here, but sometimes we do need to rethink our worse case scenario thinking.

I was just about to hit send when this thought occurred to me. Perhaps you
could attach some kind of motion detector to the stroller that would alert
you if someone was reaching or leaning in. It would certainly be a big
surprise for those people who want to just reach in and tough the baby,
though I found those people to mostly be relatives and the like. I think it
would be especially funny if the alarm was a recorded cop like voice that
said "step away from the baby." I do think this sounds like fun, but I am
also serious because I know I worried about someone reaching into the
stroller when my little guys were in one with me too as I am totally blind.

I think someone may have already mentioned this, but will you be able to
take the stroller on the bus? Our bus here requires that strollers be folded
up and placed in a seat with the baby removed. If you have a similar
requirement, how will you juggle the baby and folding the car seat alone? I
have no good answer here, I am the crazy woman who carried her 40 plus pound
three year old in a back pack or sling when he was to tired to walk. :) My
five year old weighs about that now and I am pretty sure I was insane back
then. :) Still, it was less stuff to haul around.

Unless you have good sidewalks and curb cuts, I think your little guy will
be a lot more comfortable in the jogging stroller. Be sure to order the sun
shade too. The UV protection is good even when the weather is not that hot.

Those are my thoughts on the stroller issues anyway.

Jennifer

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 11:19 AM
To: blparent at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blparent] Best strollers

I know the stroller question has come up frequently here, so I apologize
for asking, but we are narrowing down our choices for strollers after a
ton of online and in-store shopping around. Here are my thoughts and
questions; I would appreciate your advice and suggestions.

Ross and I travel via bus and other public transits more than anything.
We live in the city, but as other city dwellers know, this is no
guarantee the terrain will be flat and smooth. Recently we have been
sticking to looking at Graco, Bob and Schwinn brands of strollers. It
has been a bit difficult to find the flip-handle strollers even online
with most brands carrying such strollers have limited models with this
feature.

It comes down to this: What is more important- having the convenience of
the flip-handle so we can keep baby facing us, or a sturdy all-terrain
jogging stroller with a really good suspension for shock absorbency.
Here's my conundrum: When together, having baby face away from me is not
so bad since one o us can walk behind while the other pulls, but when
alone, I admit I'm not as comfortable with baby facing away from me
while I pull. I have tried other ways in which to pull and push the
stroller as recommended by many o you, but both Ross and I find pulling
the stroller behind us to be the best way for us.

However, since we often frequent the city streets and sidewalks, usually
keeping a pretty quick pace, I hate to have a stroller with, one,
plastic wheels which won't hold up over extended periods of time, two, a
not as great suspension especially with the pace we tend to keep when
out and about and three, the convenience and sturdiness and safety a
jogging stroller provides for various terrains.

The few flip-handle strollers we have found just don't compare to the
all-terrain jogging strollers we have found when it comes to sturdiness
and suspension. Price at this point is not really an issue, at least
within reason, the range we have viewed being between $150 and $400
right now. I wonder what others think and recommend especially those of
you who also travel predominantly on public transit having to traverse
city terrains. We also frequent walking trails, which they themselves
are smooth terrains, but often the route getting to the trails is rough
and includes various terrains such as dirt, grass, hills, curbs and
gravel.

I'm curious to find out what others think, and if others have used
Graco, Schwinn  or Bob strollers, and also what other similar strollers
you recommend as well. Right now we are leaning towards the Bob jogging
strollers, but again, I appreciate any experience and advice yu have to
give. Thanks for the patience, smile.

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

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