Strollers are expensive. I’ve purchased three strollers over the past eight years (two new and one used) and I’ve experienced first-hand how overwhelming the process of choosing a stroller can be for parents. The most recent stroller I bought was the Stroll-Air My Duo.
Here are the 5 most important things that I considered that lead me to buy the Stroll Air My Duo.
1. How do you plan to use your stroller?
Are you going to train for 10K runs while pushing your baby? Do you mainly need a stroller to contain your children when you’re running errands around town?
In my case, I planned to use my stroller mostly for leisurely walks and for containing my children when running errands. My youngest three children are fairly close in age, and I didn’t want a stroller where someone was stuck in the back -I wanted everyone to be able to see! A side-by-side stroller was a must for me.
At the same time, since I was using my stroller to run errands, I needed a stroller that would fit easily through doors. The Stroll Air My Duo is a rare find for a side-by-side stroller as it fits through a standard door -I surprised a lot of people with my ability to do this with a double stroller!
2. Age of your child/ren and plans for growing your family.
I have four kids ages 7, 4, 2, and 1. When my youngest was born, I needed a versatile stroller and the Stroll Air My Duo offered lots of versatility! I could wear my newborn and use the stroller for my two middle kids. I bought the hop-on-board for the stroller and both my older kids could ride on that (while the baby and toddler rode in the stroller) when I had to navigate a crowded place with my kids. My only complaint is that my older kids have trouble using the hop-on-board when the seats are forward facing.
The number of kids you are planning to have and the age gap you intend to have between your kids will play an important role in the type of stroller you need. Think about this before you buy!
3. The size of your vehicle.
When I purchased the Stroll Air My Duo, we had a 2012 Honda Odyssey. We sold that vehicle for a used 2002 Toyota Sienna. The Stroll Air fit easily in the Odyssey (with room leftover for groceries), but it is a much tighter fit in the Sienna. The frame fits in the back of my van with little room to spare and I need to store the stroller seats in the middle of the van. I would not be able to fit this stroller and four kids in any vehicle other than a minivan. If you have less kids and can fold down seats in a SUV, you might be in luck.
No plans to buy a minivan or SUV? When I first became a mom, I had a tiny Toyota Echo and a Phil and Ted’s stroller. The Phil and Ted’s fit beautifully in the trunk of my little car. There’s no way a Stroll Air My Duo would have fit though!
4. Adaptability over time.
Both seats on the Stroll Air My Duo can be turned depending on whether your child prefers to be facing forward or facing you. The seats recline completely for young babies, meaning you don’t need to spend extra for a bassinet (your baby will outgrow the bassinet after a few months and you’ll be irritated that you have to find someplace to store that big thing). Your child will likely use the stroller off and on until age three or four. The seats for the Stroll Air My Duo are narrow, which is fine for my petite kids, but may not be comfortable for bigger children.
If you have a big family, like me, you may want to continue to use a double stroller even if only one child needs it. By the time you have four kids, it’s nice to have an extra seat to hold backpacks and coats. The Stroll Air My Duo also has ample storage space in the bottom.
5. Comfort and ease of use.
When you’re pushing two or more kids in a stroller, steerability becomes increasingly important. With the Stroll Air My Duo, I’m able to navigate the aisles of stores, go up and down curbs, and make tight turns without throwing out my back.
Check out more features in this video review of the Stroll Air My Duo:
Tell us: What brand(s) of stroller do you own? Why did you choose this brand?
The post 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Stroller . . . and Why I Bought a Stroll Air appeared first on My Real Review.