Choosing a stroller- where to start?? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Choosing a stroller- where to start??

24
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 May 2013 - 20:08

Hi ladies,

We've started looking into strollers (though due date is months away), and to be honest it's a bit overwhelming. So many brands, options, prices. I assume it's not the first time this issue comes up in the forum but I couldn't find a relevant thread with recommendations.

I was looking into the bogaboos (which are very expensive but have good reviews online) and the Quinny+Maxi Cosi. Would appreciate hearing your recommendations from personal experience, on these ones or any other good stroller that will last for the first years.

Thanks for your help ;)

1381
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 07 May 2013 - 11:11
Thank you so much ladies!! This is why I LOVE this forum. Everybody is soo helpful and nice. angel joy- your story made me even more grateful for receiving lots of second hand cloths from a friend... so basically I don't really have to buy more for the first half a year (though not sure I'd be able to stop myself..). But when it comes to a stroller, I'm definitely going to buy a new one with International warranty. true pichon...first time around we can't stop ourselves purchasing....that was my fav timepass...going to babyshops and looking around. i used to give excuse that's my walking time :) as for the stroller i didn't had any reservations but my husband wanted new :) we had to wait for 4 months at just kidding. they didn't had in stock. Hi angel , i would like to know how much the difference in the price between here in Dubai and UK ? Worth it ! price difference was decent. i think it was coming around 1000 dhs cheaper in UK. even with the shipping. there is one website babycare.nl. they are very good. and you get the general idea of the shipping charges too. search here on this forum. there was a thread here before my delievery where 2-3 people ordered from there. it was last year in feb or march. we got ours here only for 3800 dhs without much accessories. we only bought cocoon as we were travelling.
145
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 May 2013 - 18:26
I wish somebody had told me on my first that a Maclaren is the most practical stroller to own. Four kids ( including twins) and a mountain buggy, quinny buzz and bugaboo donkey down I would recommend Maclaren handsdown. Actually people did tell me but I was so excited by all the swish travel systems I didn't want what most people resort to quite quickly. I think they now come with adapters for maxicosi seats . My parents bought a prams in the UK and brought here with no issues .The were boxed and counted in as checked bags but Emirates were not too strict on weight.
433
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 May 2013 - 11:50
Thank you so much ladies!! This is why I LOVE this forum. Everybody is soo helpful and nice. angel joy- your story made me even more grateful for receiving lots of second hand cloths from a friend... so basically I don't really have to buy more for the first half a year (though not sure I'd be able to stop myself..). But when it comes to a stroller, I'm definitely going to buy a new one with International warranty. true pichon...first time around we can't stop ourselves purchasing....that was my fav timepass...going to babyshops and looking around. i used to give excuse that's my walking time :) as for the stroller i didn't had any reservations but my husband wanted new :) we had to wait for 4 months at just kidding. they didn't had in stock. Hi angel , i would like to know how much the difference in the price between here in Dubai and UK ? Worth it !
1381
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 06 May 2013 - 09:48
Thank you so much ladies!! This is why I LOVE this forum. Everybody is soo helpful and nice. angel joy- your story made me even more grateful for receiving lots of second hand cloths from a friend... so basically I don't really have to buy more for the first half a year (though not sure I'd be able to stop myself..). But when it comes to a stroller, I'm definitely going to buy a new one with International warranty. true pichon...first time around we can't stop ourselves purchasing....that was my fav timepass...going to babyshops and looking around. i used to give excuse that's my walking time :) as for the stroller i didn't had any reservations but my husband wanted new :) we had to wait for 4 months at just kidding. they didn't had in stock.
7
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 May 2013 - 18:43
TDB, you said ur picking up a stroller in the uk, are u bringing it thro as excess baggage? I'm thinking of doing the same but wondered if they'd charge me minus a baby? Thx
24
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 May 2013 - 12:23
Thank you so much ladies!! This is why I LOVE this forum. Everybody is soo helpful and nice. I guess we will have to visit JustKidding and other shops a couple of times before deciding. Also planing a trip to Europe where most strollers are much cheaper. Dangerous Blonde- You made me panic a bit mentioning the Crusi :) It's my first, and though I assume I'll want one more, it's impossible for me to think about it now. Though usually I am very organized and plan in advance LOL I checked the Sttoke web site and loved the fact the sits are high and height adjustable. Will definitely check them out. angel joy- your story made me even more grateful for receiving lots of second hand cloths from a friend... so basically I don't really have to buy more for the first half a year (though not sure I'd be able to stop myself..). But when it comes to a stroller, I'm definitely going to buy a new one with International warranty.
75
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 May 2013 - 11:26
I have the bugaboo bee and absolutely love it. It's easy to push, really light weight and so easy to collapse . Also great in dubai for getting around the bumpy paths, big curbs and small shop Isles. I used it from birth with the cacoon and now I use a seat liner you can get and baby loves to be sitting up in it now as he is 5 months. I would go to just kidding the staff are so helpful ?
1381
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 05 May 2013 - 10:38
congratulations pichon :) although you have already got detailed and good advice here ill add my input also. its really overwhelming looking for a best stroller.even if you decide and buy there are many things which you realize afterwards. after searching for months ( we got ours just before 2 weeks of due date) we finally settled for bugaboo bee. i love my stroller and not keen on changing. we used to go just kidding on sheikh zayed road. the staff there is amazing and you have a nice selection of stroller. just decide on your budget first. make a list what all you want in the stroller then check them. we travel a lot so we wanted one which would be lightweight for travelling and not just a pushchair. bugaboo bee is very light,easy to fold,seat reverses. i walk a lot and its easy to push on and off the pavements here. there isn't a flaw with it. the only problem is we didn't realized our baby would be a "large baby" for whom the stroller looked tiny :D well this was something we learned about buying things before. as all my clothes which i bought for him fitted him for only a fortnight. my sister bought a suitcase full of clothes but only 1-2 fitted him .rest were small :) he used to come fit into that. we went to look for chameleon but the 2 fold put me off and offcourse the waiting list was 2 months at that time. anyways first 3-4 months you'll use the car seat on the stroller. you can look on dubizzle for second hand too once you finalize.
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 May 2013 - 09:55
I bought the Bugaboo Cameleon 6 yrs ago for my first baby (in the UK) and loved it. never even thought about switching to another buggy such as mclaren. Used it for my second baby straight after the first (15 months apart) and got a buggy board for my toddler to stand on while little one was in the buggy. could be used up to 2 1/2 - 3 yrs before becoming a little small, but by then my little one was pretty much walking everywhere anyway. we also used the bassinet as a travel cot in the first 2 months, after this, it was a little small so switched to the seat. I am now expecting my third and have been lucky enough to be gifted a new cameleon 3, so getting rid of my old bugaboo. downsides: - you need two hands to disassemble and assemble. the first time i tried to do this on my own was a nightmare (couldnt get it to fit in our small car in the UK), so make sure you can do this on your own before leaving the house : ) once i got used to it, it was fine, but still more of a hassle than the umbrella type strollers. would definitely be a problem if you are regularly using taxis in dxb. - my old bugaboo was little heavy, the new ones may be lighter. - cost; it is expensive. - while surviving handling by flight staff all over the world and daily use for over 2 years, when we moved to DXB my first maid managed to break the handbrake and puncture 2 wheels within a few months. (they seem to have a knack for breaking stuff though - am onto my 4th vacuum cleaner in as many years). however, comfort, manoeverabiliity etc mentioned by other posters all outweighed the downsides for me and I used the buggy everyday for 3 years. we also travelled with it long haul to SA, Egypt, Aus and it was fine (no damage, i didnt use a travel bag, just took it up to the plane and left it there). can't wait to get my new one - but the maid will not be allowed near it unsupervised : )
138
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 May 2013 - 00:31
I had Bugaboo Frog and i would say? Good things: +lightweight +very easy to push especially in supermarkets +the baby bassinet which you are going to use first is very comfortable +reversible, you can face the baby Disadvantage : - tricky to fold, -the storage is far too small, and very difficult to reach, -again folding in 2 pieces ( you need 2 hands to fold it) so when going alone by the taxi its is night mare -not worth the money, you might buy better stroller by this amout. If i had a choice i will not buy it again, I would go for sth like Bebecar rather, than Bugaboo. <em>edited by evelyn2000 on 05/05/2013</em>
 
 

ON EXPATWOMAN TODAY