[blParent] Using cane / dog with stroller

Mon Oct 25 20:14:20 UTC 2021

Wow, such great resources! Thanks for putting this together! I'm glad to see the hiking carriers are still being made. We loved ours; this is the backpack with the metal frame another poster was talking about. I'm on the shorter side, so I had to fiddle with ours to get it to fit most comfortably, but it worked well and I was able to carry our oldest until about 35 pounds. I think the carrier itself could maybe hold up to 45 pounds, but I was just not that strong, and by the time my oldest was 35 pounds he wanted to walk, and we also had a wagon we could use for certain trips. 
I also loved our wagon. Ours did not fold, which was a pain and limited its usefulness. I'm so glad they make different models now which fold.
We had two strollers, both from Graco. Our first one lasted through our first two kids, but by the time our third came along I think it had a problem with the handle which could not be fixed, so we needed a different one. I found both of ours easy to pull behind me, and the handle was slightly adjustable so although the height was not perfect, it was definitely good enough even for long distances. Definitely trying out strollers before you buy is key, and giving yourself time and patience to master the skill of pulling something behind you. Perhaps practicing with some bags of sugar or flour in the stroller so you have approximately the weight of the baby might be a good idea at first. Also remembering that you are not in a race. You can walk a little slower at first if needed in order to get used to how the stroller maneuvers. I became very comfortable using the stroller and did it a ton, but I do remember being cautious at first and having to remind myself that this was a skill like anything else and it would take practice.
We were very lucky to be able to have a variety of solutions we could use depending on the day, where we were going, the age of our kids, etc. Good luck. I hope you can find things that work well for you. Just know it is absolutely possible to pull a stroller or wagon when working a dog or using a cane. I've done both, along with tons of other blind parents before and after me.
Melissa

-----Original Message-----
From: BlParent <blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Alysha Hiller via BlParent
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2021 2:06 PM
To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List' <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Alysha Hiller <alysha.jeans at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [blParent] Using cane / dog with stroller

Hi Stephanie,
You have a few options for traveling without the baby carrier, all of which have major pros and cons.

1. Use a standard stroller like the one you currently have and pull it behind you so that you can prevent it from bumping into things. Pros are that there are tons of options with lots of choice on features. Cons are that the handle will be awkwardly placed for pulling which I find effects the center of gravity of the stroller and makes it more prone to tipping if you're not careful. Also, the typical stroller's wheels are designed to optimize steering while being pushed, so maneuvering it one-handed behind you may be difficult/awkward.

2. Get a stroller wagon. Pros are that some of these can be used with infant car seats, they are designed to be pulled behind you so will be much more comfortable and easy to handle, and they can also be pushed if you have sighted people in your life who would prefer that. They also often have features like snack trays, storage bags, and sun shades that can be helpful. Cons are that they are heavy and bulky compared to a single stroller. Also, your baby can only ride in one when they are old enough to sit up confidently unless you use it with a car seat. Here are a couple of links:
https://www.goveer.com/cruisers/
This one is the most expensive option but also the most versatile.
https://www.target.com/p/jeep-wrangler-stroller-wagon-with-included-car-seat-adapter-by-delta-children-gray/-/A-76429219
This one has an included car seat adapter but is also on the heavy side, even for a stroller wagon.
https://www.amazon.com/Evenflo-Pivot-Xplore-All-Terrain-Stroller/dp/B081497RDJ?th=1
This one only accepts Evenflo infant car seats with an adapter you buy separately but seems to be a good balance of features and price otherwise.

3. Get the Doona. This is a car seat with integrated wheels that can fold down to make it a stroller. It's very convenient if you plan to use other people's vehicles or Ubers a lot, but it does have the issues with handle placement and steering of a standard stroller. Here's a link:
https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/doona-infant-car-seat-stroller-with-latch-base/5228447

4. Use a standard folding wagon. This works when your baby is old enough to solidly sit up on their own. They are lighter than stroller wagons and significantly cheaper but have less included features. You can likely fit a child in one side and convertible car seat in the other side when your baby outgrows the infant seat though. Here's a good site with lots of options:
https://www.radioflyer.com/shop/collapsible-wagons.html

5. Get a stroller with a reversible handle. This helps negate the steering issue since these types of strollers are designed to be pushed from either direction, but the handle height may still be awkward for pulling behind you. There are also not too many options to choose from in this category. Here are a couple:
https://www.amazon.com/Ergobaby-Stroller-Travel-Reversible-One-Hand/dp/B07BMCML9T
https://www.amazon.com/Joovy-8092-Balloon-Stroller-Green/dp/B015ZL8Q6I/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=joovy%2Bballoon&qid=1635184623&s=baby-products&sr=1-1-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFVMUlPNzZKMTczTDkmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAzMTE0NjUxMUpDQzRBVVFLVVE0JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1MTk1MjIxWk44VVE3NTlDREtGJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ&th=1
Note that the stroller must have a reversible handle, not a reversible seat, in order for it to be helpful.

6. Once your baby uses a convertible car seat, you can use a car seat cart to transport them in the seat. I haven't used one myself, but they are designed for airport use for shorter distances so may not perform as well outdoors. Here's an example:
https://www.amazon.com/Britax-Seat-Travel-Cart-Black/dp/B005CNEQK0/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=britax+car+seat+cart&qid=1635184796&s=baby-products&sr=1-2

7. When your baby outgrows the Ergobaby carrier, you can use a hiking backpack style carrier for older kids. I personally don't like this as I find it too heavy, but it may work for some. Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Osprey-10002372-Poco-Child-Carrier/dp/B07Z9Z5W23/ref=sr_1_22?dchild=1&keywords=hiking%2Bbackpack%2Bcarrier&qid=1635184891&s=baby-products&sr=1-22&th=1

Whatever solution you choose will depend on the type of activity you're doing and your comfort level with any given option, so see if you can find a store to test drive some products to help you decide. Hope this helps!

Best,
Alysha

-----Original Message-----
From: BlParent <blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Stephanie DeLuca via BlParent
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2021 10:34 AM
To: BlParent at nfbnet.org
Cc: Stephanie DeLuca <stephanie.h.deluca at gmail.com>
Subject: [blParent] Using cane / dog with stroller

Hi there, I have a two month old and was wondering how you all travel around with your babies. We have a Nuna Tavo / pops travel system and an ergo baby carrier. 

For now, I think the baby carrier we have will work for the most part, but there are times when I’d like to use the stroller. And when he gets too heavy for me to carry, I will want to be able to still get around. I usually go with my guide dog, but I am a cane user as well. Thanks! - Stephanie

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