You wouldn’t quite know it, as it’s been in the 40s all week, but we did actually have a hint of spring last month here in Philly. Several 70-degree days were just enough to give me a taste of what’s to come, and to get itching to get back outside.

On one of those gorgeous days, we put together our new City Series double. I reviewed the City Series Single back in March of 2006. We’ve logged many miles on that beloved stroller – mostly beach miles, and it’s been a great stroller for us.

Now we have two kids, and I really debated what to do. My oldest is over 3, 3.5 this summer, and I wasn’t sure if he’d need a stroller. But given that we take long walks around the neighborhood and at the beach in the summer, I thought it was probably a necessity – because although he’ll walk – miles of walking is out of the question.

So it made sense we’d try the City Series double, since we loved the single so much. It’s pretty much the same as the single – all the same great features including:

-a swivel wheel (opt to lock or not)
-ample weight limit
-very easy folding
-a nice, big-sized storage basket underneath
-a bigger and better canopy with the new single and double City Series (3 levels, definitely shades baby from sun better than the old one)
-rear parking break
-adjustable handle
-pockets in the back of the stroller. (Great for cell phone, keys, wallet, etc.)

As I mentioned in my older review, the adjustable handle is great. So many strollers are a problem for us as my husband is pretty tall – he always kicks the back of the stroller because he’s hunched over to hold onto the handle of some other strollers – this isn’t an issue with the City Series as he can stand upright.

I should note – the City Series isn’t a traditional jogger – it’s a hybrid. Although I used to be a runner, I rarely get out for an actual jog these days. The City Series works just fine for short runs, brisk walks and idle walks around the neighborhood. To me, that’s the benefit – it’s suitable for many different speeds and terrains, which is great for us as a family. But it isn’t a long-distance marathon stroller, for that you’d need to look to one of their official jogging strollers.

And I’m not sure if this is a stupid thing to mention or not but here goes. I was concerned about having my sons side by side. We’re talking 38 pounds of a tall, active 3-year old next to an average-sized 5 month old. I wasn’t sure it would push smoothly given the distributed weight – well my fears were definitely unfounded as it’s not an issue at all. Not only can I not tell who is on what side, but each side reclines up or back to whatever setting you’d like – so I typically lay the baby down pretty far and my 3-year-old sits upright and it’s not an issue at all.

You can buy the City Series Double (and Single) on Let’s Go Strolling. Use coupon code MWS10 for 10% off your order.

“I want a diaper bag that doesn’t really ‘look like a diaper bag. Something hip!’” is a comment we often hear. Look like a diaper bag…Hmmm. What does a diaper bag look like? Two images immediately pop into my mind– one of the free black Similac diaper bag that I was given at the hospital after the birth of my second child, and the second image is the Enfamil bag that the hospital gave me after the birth of my first.

Why do they appear in my mind in reverse order? The answer is quite simple – the style of the times. Even a free giveaway can attempt to have style. The second diaper bag I received was a simple black square. It was poorly made from inexpensive vinyl, but, I could see how it could serve its purpose of toting a few diapers, a onesie, burpcloth and perhaps a sippy cup down the road (if it lasted that long). The first diaper bag was a whole other story. It was blue and yellow with, I think, little bunnies or chicks or something running across it. This was definitely not the diaper bag that I was looking for and definitely not “hip!”

I have found, more often than not, the mom or soon-to-be-mom doesn’t know what kind of organization would work best for her lifestyle. What most people don’t want is a bag that looks like my yellow and blue picnic tablecloth turned diaper bag. It isn’t until moms are forced to carry around all the necessities – diapers, wipes, blankets, a change of clothes – and later – snacks & toys…not to mention all of your own personal necessities – that many moms realize that this bag which “doesn’t look like a diaper bag” should also have some great organizational features.

Which brings us to what does exist in the world of diaper bags. For this we are going to start with one of my personal favorites – the stroller bag. This is a bag that you can easily attach to your stroller, thus freeing your hands to carry your latte while pushing your baby. Four designer bags which I feel have gotten the hip and functional stroller bag right are Silver Line Fling, Skip Hop Duo, Fleurville Sling Tote, and Lexie Barnes Darling. In each of these bags you can fit enough for a days outing (sometimes longer) with your little one as well as your own wallet, phone, keys, PDA and any other things that you might want to tote for the day. These bags all have their own method of attaching to the stroller using a built-in attachment which is much more functional than just throwing a shoulder strap over the handlebars.

The Silver Line Fling comes with 12 pockets, including 2 outside bottle/cell phone pockets and separate stroller and shoulder straps so it is easy to switch from carrying to stroller. The SilverLine Fling also has a bright contrasting interior color making it easy to find what you are looking for inside the bag. The Skip Hop Duo has an open top – making it effortless to access the bag’s interior, exterior individual bottle and cell phone pockets, and two top zippered compartments creating a nice location for mom’s items. The Fleurville Sling tote has vinyl covered fabric making it a breeze to keep clean (Silver Line too has a vinyl version), beautiful patterns and a slim shape giving the bag a nice profile. Last, but not least, the Lexie Barnes Darling is a fantastic lightweight bag, making it an ideal choice for people who don’t want to tote around a lot of weight. It has two exterior bottle pockets, laminated easy-to-clean fabric, and matching mini organizers are available to make organizing your bag virtually painless. What is great about stroller bags is that they truly serve their purpose. They enable you to carry all of the necessities of being a parent, yet give you a way to do this hands free. What makes these four designers stand out from many of the others is that their bags are very clean in design, yet still beautiful. They keep it simple, practical and stylish without weighing down their bags with extras you will never need or use.

While this is only one type of diaper bag that is out there, we are happy to help you find the right stylish and functional diaper bag to meet your (and your family’s) needs.

Best,
Melissa & Jo
The Baby Gear Gurus

So doing stroller consultations and advising customers, I often get asked about tandem strollers that would work in narrow urban environments, hold two kids comfortably and still push nicely unlike some popular brands we’ve all heard of. . . .

Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that there are definitely a few great tandem double strollers on the market now, that don’t push like a bus, so you don’t have to worry about that! Not only that, but many have larger wheels and air tires that you will like for going over urban bumps and curbs, tree roots, gravel and other urban hazard you encounter routinely on the way to the playground. What’s the bad news? Well, most people find none of these all-terrain tandem doubles are “perfect,” so it’s a question of knowing what trade-offs you are willing to make.

There are two single all-terrain strollers (joggers with a front swivel wheel for easier maneuverability) that can take a toddler seat. The Phil and Ted’s E3 or the Valco Trimode. The Phil and Ted’s has a unique set-up where the toddler seat can go in front of a sleeping baby in the beginning and then behind the main seat later once the baby has good enough head control to be sitting up. The biggest pro of the Phil and Ted’s is that it is narrow (23” wheelbase) for shopping and errands. The con is that either one child is lying flat and the other upright (toddler-newborn mode) or in the second mode (toddler-toddler mode), neither child has any recline, thus making this not ideal for children that frequently nap in the stroller. The Valco Trimode has a toddler seat that is always in front of the main seat. The advantage to this is while the toddler seat has no recline, the baby can be put in any position from fully reclining to fully upright since the two seats are not as symbiotic as the Phil and Ted’s E3. The disadvantage is that the wheelbase of the Valco is wider (27”) and the fact that the toddler seat has only ¾ back (like a shopping card) so it is really impossible for kids to sleep in this toddler seat.

Lastly, there is an all-terrain tandem double that is newly out on the market, the Jane Powertwin. This is one of the best-selling double strollers in Europe and is finally available here. The Jane provides a rear seat that reclines fully and a front seat with a 45 degree recline. Both seats are plush with gorgeous fabric. The downside? The Jane seats tend to be small with lower canopies which works better for siblings that are close in age and/or siblings that aren’t too high on the growth charts. There are a couple of “fixes” to make the canopy taller, but these make the stroller harder to close up quickly which can be hard for urban parents who are in and out of their car a lot but easier for parents with more pedestrian lifestyles.

Not quite what you are looking for? Feel free to give us a shout and we’d be happy to help you find your perfect stroller.

–The Baby Gear Gurus and Let’s Go Strolling (www.letsgostrolling.com)

Strollers. They’ve come a long way since we were kids with their flimsy frames and small, hard plastic wheels that exaggerated every crack in the sidewalk. Of course they can cost a bunch more than they used to as well. Now, they’re a big investment and you want to get it right the first time around. But with so many different options out there, it can be tricky finding the one that is exactly right for you.

Think about what you have to consider: Do you want something to shop with in the mall? Are you going to jog with it? Does it need to easily fit into your car? If you’re going to walk outside with it – do you have new, smooth sidewalks or do you have to navigate ones that are older and cracked? Do you need a double or even a triple stroller? Relax. We’ve got the answer for you – whatever your situation: Let’s Go Strolling. Shall we?

After meeting at a mom’s group a couple of years ago, Melissa and Jo found a hobby to bond over: strollers. As their friendship developed – and some of their postpartum brains returned – they thought it would be great to create a business helping people understand all the great strollers available and save them the time and effort of doing extensive research to find exactly the right stroller to fit their needs. And Let’s Go Strolling was born.

Let’s Go Strolling is an online boutique specializing in all things stroller with the personalized attention and customer service that you hope to find in local boutiques. With an inventory of single, double, all-terrain and jogging strollers from the best names in the business, Let’s Go Strolling will help you find the stroller that is exactly right for you. What’s more, fill out the online stroller consultation and within a couple of days you’ll get a phone call to discuss their findings and recommendations.

Clever Parents caught up with Melissa and Jo to find out the most common mistake people make when buying a stroller, what first time parents should look for in a stroller, and their take on finding a great jogging stroller.

Clever Parents: What is the most common question that people have when they are shopping for a stroller?
Let’s Go Strolling: The most common thing people say is “I know I’m crazy for caring this much, but I just can’t decide which stroller is right for me.” The most common question people have is “Which stroller do YOU think would be right for me?”

Clever Parents: What is the most common mistake that people make when buying a stroller?
Let’s Go Strolling: The most common mistake many people make is to think that they should buy one stroller that meets ALL their needs. This is especially a mistake when their needs range from exercise jogging to quick errands and travel. And, they also want a stroller that can fit a carseat. We often advise people to get a heavier duty stroller for the longer outings and adventures and a lighterweight stroller to keep in the car for quick in and out errands.

Clever Parents: How do you help people select the stroller that is right for them?
Let’s Go Strolling: What we try to do with the stroller consultation is to understand people’s unique lifestyle and needs. We also have to take into consideration their desires and tastes. While two people might have a similar lifestyle, I wouldn’t recommend the same stroller if they have different style preferences or color preferences. The stroller consultation is an intelligent personalized look at your situation. It is not a computer spitting out an algorithm of what seems right for you. We really listen to our customers and try to find the best solution to match their needs, desires and budget. That being said, occasionally we must say to a customer, “nothing is out there that meets your needs in that budget range, but you can think about these other options.” At least it gives them the knowledge to make an informed decision.

Clever Parents: The options to a new parent can seem overwhelming. What are things first time parents should look for in a stroller?
Let’s Go Strolling: I can understand people’s confusion about which stroller would be the best for their lifestyle and what they will really value as parents, especially when you don’t have any kids yet, or haven’t dealt with more than one child. From my own experience I can tell you a few things that are VERY important:

• How well a stroller pushes. If you are using it day in and day out, having it be easy to push/use is very important.
• How easy a stroller is to use. Does it open and close easily/smoothly? Is it easy to adjust the handle? Can you access the basket even when a child is reclined? Do all the pieces “work well?” Is it easy to recline?
• How happy/comfortable is my child.

I think a lot of people get caught up on convenience features like cupholders/snack trays that in my opinion, are very easy to add as after market products. The bullet points mentioned above, can never be “added” on aftermarket and thus, make them the key features.

Lastly, style can be very important to some and not others, and what your style is can be very individual. So, style is a more personal thing that is really for you to decide where it is on your list of priorities.

Clever Parents: We receive a lot of questions from parents who want to know what type of double stroller they should purchase. In general, for parents who have two children within two or so years of each other, what is the best stroller solution?
Let’s Go Strolling: For double strollers, it often depends on whether the older child likes to nap or needs to nap in the stroller and whether you have a bigger car/smaller car/pedestrian lifestyle/car-based lifestyle. There are so many variables that go into selecting the right stroller that I can’t offer a one-size fits all solution, but we do offer stroller consultations on our website. A big decision for many parents of two is whether to go with a side-by-side double, a tandem, or a single stroller with a toddler seat attachment. Generally, I don’t recommend ride-on boards until toddlers are 3-4 years of age as it take a lot of balance, concentration and coordination.

Clever Parents: What should a hard core runner look for in a jogging stroller as opposed to someone who is more interested in a sporty stroller for walks around the neighborhood?
Let’s Go Strolling: People who are looking for a more sporty stroller to walk around the neighborhood would be better off with an all-terrain stroller. That type of stroller has a swivel front wheel that turns fully for great maneuverability as well as 3 air tires for a smooth push and comfortable ride for baby Plus many of these strollers have newborn recline and nice baskets so you can go on longer outings with babies or toddlers easily with this type of stroller.

Harder core runners should look for a jogging stroller with 16” or 20” wheels (20” are for faster, taller runners). Most of these strollers have fixed wheels in front which make them more awkward to steer but easier to run with since they guide well and track a line more accurately. The only hybrid exception is the BOB Revolution which has a 16” rear wheels and a swivel/fixed wheel in front, so it works well for walks as well as running. Also, for most hard core runners, if you are getting a fixed wheel stroller, look for an easy fold so that you can put it in the car for runs in different locals or going to races with your little one.

Visit Let’s Go Strolling and get a stroller consultation.