Rolling in style
There are so MANY options when it comes to how to get around with kid(s) in tow. Everything is not one size fits all, but here is an honest review of our experiences with modes of kiddo transportation.
The sheer amount of options for how babies and toddlers can roll around in style is simply overwhelming. So many styles and brands in the market can make it overwhelming. When creating our registry for our first bearcub, I remember being overwhelmed not only by options, but also by cost! Keeping the babes safe is a #1 priority, but when you have to mind a budget it is a CHALLENGE to get through all the options.
The best advice I have to say is that your budget is #1 consideration, as all strollers/modes of transportation are going to get dirty, stained, and scuffed up so looks will only get you so far. Parenting is not a competition, and we need to remember #influencerparents are only capturing the moments that are ideal.
We have 4 modes of kiddo transportation that we have used and continue to use as our first has grown.
Chicco KetFit Caddy Stroller, this particular stroller is no longer available (we had our first child in 2019), but a similar stroller would be the Baby Trend Snap-n-Go stroller. We used this quite a bit right away postpartum for walks in the mall (our first was born in January in a Polar Vortex in Minnesota). The carseat just clips right in and is a super lightweight stroller so easy to manipulate while recovering. This stroller has a basket underneath for storage, but otherwise it can only be used with the child sitting in the car seat.
Vintage Pram, this was an impulse buy from facebook marketplace and not a practical item for folks to have. I wanted a pram for photos, and for costume walks (little did I know how critical that would be for entertainment this would be in 2020). This is a 1950’s Cadillac pram that was used for the original owner's children.
Bob Jogging Stroller, we needed a stroller that could handle off-roading in particular as my partner and I perform at the Renaissance Festival. The Bob stroller was a bit of a hard sell given the price but the ability for the stroller to have an attachment that the carseat can click into. Kids shouldn't be out of the carseat in a stroller until 6 months, when they typically can sit up. The Bob stroller has the ability to lock the front wheel for the more rough terrain. We use the Bob stroller as our “everyday” stroller, we take this everywhere we would need a stroller and I do use this for daily walks and occasional runs. While this stroller is a little bulky, it is very sturdy and I highly recommend it.
Last, but not least, we have Wonderfold Wagon and WOWZA. This thing is awesome. We have a W4 Stroller Wagon, and it is the star of the show wherever we go. The primary push to make this purchase was again the time we spend at the renaissance festival. I wanted an option that would potentially allow the bearcub to lay down and nap (this was foolish as there was no napping). We got the four seater as we knew we wanted to have another kid, and the fact that we occasionally watch other kiddos out at fest. This wagon is bulky, but it handles all terrain superbly and there is an awesome amount of space for the kiddo to play in this pack-n-play on wheels. Again this is a spendy item, definitely not something every family can afford. We saved up a long time to get this wagon, and utilized a pay in four option in order to pull the trigger and get this majestic wagon.
