Babywearing and strollers

[happylizzz]

If you wear your baby all the time... do you really need a stroller? I feel like this is a dumb question... but honestly!

I can't know for certain if my baby will even enjoy being worn (but I'm loading up on a variety of wraps to encourage it!!), but I don't want to get one of those travel systems if I don't need it.

I guess I could kind of take that approach with just about anything baby... you just don't know... so keep the receipts?

[Bonnie]

I used my stroller to carry all the stuff I didn't have as much room for on me because I was carrying the baby. Also handy for diaper changes if there wasn't anywhere else to put the baby down. Also handy because my fourth isn't into being worn like her older sisters were.

[magpiedpiper]

We had a cheap secondhand one with dd, and I don't think we used it even once the first year since I wore her so much. But when she got older and much heavier (she's 40 lbs at 27 mos) we definitely used a stroller for long outings. So eventually a stroller may be useful even if it isn't at first.

[Can'tTurnLeft]

I don't think babies need strollers. I've never used one with my babies, only my big kids. Even now that I have my third baby I still only use a stroller with my biggers. I actually think leaving a baby in a bucket seat is very bad for babies, can cause attachment issues, neck and head issues, etc... I have only left my current baby in the bucket once in almost 5 months and I have a 4 and 2 year old also.

I suggest a stand alone infant carseat and then transition to a convertible around six months.

Besides those travel systems have terrible wheels and they are yucky. I much prefer a high end stroller and would rather spend my money on that than on a stroller.

[WanderingJuniper]

I only used our stroller for the older children I couldn't carry and were too little to walk and keep up. I really don't think Sage has ever been in one at all.

[happylizzz]

FTR - I haven't actually bought a single thing for baby. I'm just a planner!!

[Bonnie]

Wanted to add...for a first baby, I wouldn't get one of those travel systems. I'd spring for one of those somewhere-between-a-full-stroller-and-an-umbrella-stroller models. Like a sturdier umbrella stroller with a reclineable seat, but not nearly as bulky as the others. Just my preference. Lighter and easier to mess with while carrying a baby.

[Calee]

I didn't really use the stroller with my second infant-I was much more into babywearing then. The only thing I used was a double to take them both on long walks, but that was once he could sit up decently well.

I have an umbrella stroller that I use sometime now that he is older. I also used it for my older DS when DS2 was an infant and I was wearing him. I still wear DS2 sometimes, but sometimes the stroller is easier, depending on where we are/what we are doing.

Originally Posted by Can'tTurnLeft

I don't think babies need strollers. I've never used one with my babies, only my big kids. Even now that I have my third baby I still only use a stroller with my biggers. I actually think leaving a baby in a bucket seat is very bad for babies, can cause attachment issues, neck and head issues, etc... I have only left my current baby in the bucket once in almost 5 months and I have a 4 and 2 year old also.

I suggest a stand alone infant carseat and then transition to a convertible around six months.

Besides those travel systems have terrible wheels and they are yucky. I much prefer a high end stroller and would rather spend my money on that than on a stroller.

That

Never had a stroller of any kind with ds.

Currently have a jogging stroller for dd that I use when I go running - can't baby wear then. Didn't start using it until she was @ 8 months, because they just aren't designed for little babies. If I'm just going for a walk, I almost always still babywear because the stroller is a beast.

[cro]

You don't *need* a stroller, but they can come in handy at times. #3 was only in a stroller when I needed her to be safely contained off of me - like at dr's appts.

[RubySlippers]

How's your back? If you're not prone to issues and can carry for extended time (sometimes hours) with an ever growing child, then you don't need a stroller.
My back can't take that. I use carriers and strollers.

[LoveIsGentle]

I think travel systems are pretty worthless, honestly, but I do like my stroller(s). I'd skip over the travel system and look for a good quality stroller with good wheels.

It's handy to have a stroller, IMO, for days when you (or baby) don't feel like babywearing, or it's just impractical. I first realized a stroller would be handy when trying to shop for clothes post-partum. Taking a baby on and off every time I went to try something on was a PAIN. The stroller was so much easier then.

[forty-two]

We had a hand-me-down travel system (the stroller part was hand-me-down, we bought a new car seat ), and I think we used it *maybe* once (just to say we did ). It was a trick and a half to sort out how to use (though that might be b/c we had no directions ), and it took up just about *all* the trunk space. We got rid of it when we moved, and I'm glad no money was spent on it . (FWIW, our plan was to get no stroller unless/until we needed one.)

Mom got us a nice umbrella-plus sort of stroller (like a pp mentioned) at some point b/c she likes to have a stroller around for toddlers/stuff, and that's been nice to have for long trips (particularly for carrying stuff ). We've used it at the zoo and walking downtown Chicago. At the zoo A alternates b/w stroller, walking, and being worn in the Ergo, and really the stroller is mostly needed for stuff (and with proper planning we could easily do without it). But in Chicago A (21mo) was mostly in the Ergo and R and her same-aged cousin (newly 4yo) alternated riding as they got tired - the stroller was a *lifesaver* there, for both kids and stuff . Oh, and we had it at Disney World when R was 2.5yo and A was 6wks - A never used it (worn/carried the whole time), but it was nice for stuff and when R was tired (esp when we were leaving). But we went to Universal when R was 3mo, and didn't take (or need) a stroller - R just rode in the Ergo, and dh carried the backpack w/ baby stuff - it was nice not having to fuss with a stroller .

All that to say, I never used a stroller until they were strong walkers, and even then just for long outings. And while I like having one, I'm not sure I'd have bought one if Mom hadn't .

[JenLovie]

I second (third/fourth) not getting a travel system. We use our stroller regularly since DS isn't a lover of being worn most of the time. If you are interested in getting one I recommend going to Babies R Us and trying a bunch out to see what you like and then watching Craigslist/Consignment Shops/Consignment Sales for a used one if you can find what you want. We registered for an umbrella stroller that turned out to be too small to be comfortable for me (the handles were too low and my feet hit it when I walked).

[Waterlogged]

Yeah, we use both. I often had a carrier in the basket of the stroller.

I also wouldn't get a travel system - figure out what you think your stroller needs are going to be, and then get a stroller for that purpose. We have a jogging stroller for in the neighborhood/park, and a lightweight umbrella stroller for the mall. I had a double when I was watching my friend's baby, and I had a stroller with a full recline for when K was a baby...