Steal or Splurge: THE GREAT STROLLER DEBATE!

With our second baby on the way I have been thinking of the baby gear we are going to need for 2. We need to buy another crib because Emrie is not even CLOSE to being out of hers for another couple of years. We need another car seat since Emrie will be too big for her infant seat soon anyway. AND we will need a double stroller.

The double stroller has been a HOT debate at my house recently and I am trying to make a smart decision this time around.

With our first child, Phil and I had the motto, “we will buy it as we need it”. For the most part that has worked really well for us and saved us from buying stuff that we won’t really ever use. But for the big ticket items {strollers} when we need something I just run out and buy it without doing much research so I just buy the cheapest one to find out later, “bummer, I could have really used____ instead”. Or as I have found with our stroller situation, “oh, if I had actually thought about it I could have bought 1 stroller that has all these functions and wouldn’t have 3 instead.”

This time around I am starting early and trying to make a VERY educated decision about the double stroller we buy because {God willing} we would like to have at least 3 {I want 4} kids, so I would like to only make the stroller purchase once more and have it for all our kids.

Part of my concern is will I use the stroller often enough to warrant an expensive one. As it is with Emrie I probably only use the stroller about once a week, but I anticipate that with two I would be using it more often, but I am not sure {mothers of 2 or more kids, please chime in and give me your two cents on this}.

While I am not at ALL opposed to buying second hand or going for the bargain {I mean, we have a $100 crib that has worked JUST fine and a $20 umbrella stroller is what I use right now}, I really just want to make sure that I am getting everything that I need in a stroller, not just a good deal.

BUT I have to admit MY BIGGEST FEAR IS BUYING AN EXPENSIVE STROLLER AND NOT USING IT ENOUGH TO GET MY MONEY’S WORTH!

That is why I would like your advice in making a decision.

Okay, having said that, I have some ‘non-negotiable’ criteria that I want in the next stroller and some ‘nice-to-have-but-not-crucial’ criteria {again, pipe up moms who may see things that really aren’t that important or that are critical but I haven’t thought of}.

Non-Negotiable
-Front and rear seating as opposed to side-by-side {side-by-side are wide and make it more difficult to get in tight spots like doorways, and I KNOW Emrie would pick on the baby next to her}

-Stadium seating {The seat in the back is higher than the one in front so the kid in back can still see out, Emrie gets fussy if she can’t see stuff}

-Baby can be in the rear seat {this is my preference, I would rather have the baby closest to me while they are little and the toddler in front}

-Easy folding {1 button or trigger collapse, I know I won’t use it if it is a hassle to get open and closed}

Nice-to-have-but-not-crucial
-Car seat snap in {This is ALMOST on the non-negotiable list for me because even though it is only for the first 4-6 months, it is nice to not have to take the baby out of the car seat, just click in and go}

-Jogger capability

-Convertible from double to single {there will be times I will only have 1 kid with me I’m sure and if I am looking down the road there will be a time when I only have 1kid who needs a stroller any longer}

-The more compact the better {Easy maneuverability and I get really annoyed if I have to push around or fit bulky stuff in the back of the car}

Now, having said all that, here are the two strollers I have narrowed it down to:

Graco Quattro Tour and the Mountain Buggy +One

GRACO QUATTRO TOUR

MOUNTAIN BUGGY +ONE

MOUNTAIN BUGGY +ONE

In addition to the Non-negotiables, there are additional pro’s and con’s to each:

Graco
Pro’s
-CHEAP: $250
-Baby carseat can click in to either front OR rear seat
-Built in cup holders and snack trays for mom and babies

Con’s
-Long front to back
-Not a jogger
-Only a double stroller

Mountain Buggy
Pro’s
-Jogger
-Converts from single to double stroller
-Can click in a car seat but ONLY when it is a single stroller
-Even as a double stroller the frame is still the length of a single stroller

Con’s
-EXPENSIVE: $650 plus some for accessories {buy cup holders extra}
-Can’t click in a car seat while it is a double stroller
-No snack trays for kids {although we NEVER use the one on the single stroller we have now}
-Less room for the kid in back

I really do want to make a smart decision because I am looking at this as an investment. Please weigh in and give me your advice. Or if you have a different recommendation for a stroller I am ALL ears!!!