The Stroller Story

Stroller culture in New York City fascinates me. Strollers here are like cars in LA. More than just a way to provide transportation from A to B, they're a fashion statement and a status symbol. And because we walk everywhere instead of driving, it needs to have great handling, excellent storage space and look fabulous.With the abundance of multiple births now, the stroller duos have become a big market. The variety and clever designs really impress me, as do the price tags. It almost makes me want to have twins just to get one of those cool rides.

But alas, right now I only have one little sweet potato. And of course, with my high standards, I had lots of issues finding the right stroller. I wanted something that would be great for long walks. Specifically, I wanted a smooth ride for the baby on the pockmarked streets of New York. But it seems like any stroller with great suspension is not easy to collapse, put in the trunk of a car, or travel with. If only MTV would pimp my stroller...

To meet our "walking all over New York" need, Alex's parents bought us a Bugaboo Frog. It came with a bassinet that I had assumed Aiven could sleep in for 6 months. Nope. Aiven outgrew his chariot in 10 weeks flat. We were then supposed to advance to the seat extension, but he didn't fit in it properly just yet. Too tall for the bassinet, but not hefty enough for the seat, Aiven needed an interim solution.

In came the Snap n' Go. The Snap n' Go is a devilishly simple frame on wheels that straps onto just about any car seat. Although we don't own a car, we keep a car seat for when we travel and the occasional weekend car rental. The Snap n' Go was very convenient because it was easy to take in taxis around the city. It was light, took one click to fold, and inexpensive enough (though not as cheap as Alex's green bike) to not feel any hesitation tossing it into a trunk. The problem was that Aiven despised his car seat. Thus we managed mostly with wearing him, and I suspect that some people started to think that Aiven was still attached to his umbilical cord.

I now had 2 strollers and 4 baby carriers ( see Carrier Conundrum). This was getting out of hand!

At 5 months, my 18-pound baby was getting too heavy for long jaunts in a carrier so our hand was forced to put him in the Bugaboo. It was a struggle every time. And if somehow he went in easily, his good mood would last 30 minutes maximum before he demanded freedom. The undercarriage always stowed a baby carrier for these freak outs.

Yet now we are leaving the city, and all the reasons that made the Bugaboo a great stroller for us became moot. With the car seat and Snap n' Go combo long outgrown and the Bugaboo no longer a good option, I had to figure out my next move. Solution: a Maclaren Triumph Umbrella Stroller. Lightweight. Easy to collapse and travel with. A shade of hunter green that dazzles with my little redhead. And best of all, not too expensive -- I negotiated a great deal on it (be on the lookout for my book on negotiating tips coming soon).

It seems like a such a "grown up" stroller. And, it would seem, this was exactly what Aiven wanted. He wants to roll like a big boy! I guess he wants to act his size, not his age. We are both much happier going for walks now. He finally, finally loves his stroller! With my luck, though, I'm sure this will not last long. He'll probably start walking and refuse to be pushed around. Oh well, let me enjoy this small victory while it lasts!