Best Travel System Stroller?

Question

I'm looking for a stroller but i get mixed reviews on all of them. I need something sturdy and something where the baby can maybe face me maybe by Graco? And something neutral or girly. I was looking at the Graco MetroLite Travel System - Cherry Blossom and the Graco Alano Travel System - Zoe. Any reviews on those either? Any suggestions help!

Answer 1

My personal favorite pattern is Devon, by Graco.  It is a nice green color that could be used for either girl or boy.  Here are some links:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp...

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp...

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp...

The car seat is compatible with the stroller, and can be attatched so the baby is facing you.  A friend of mine uses the Quattro Travel System and loves it.  Hope I helped!

Answer 2

you will get mixed reviews on everything - something great for you may not work at all for me

and you may need more than 1 stroller.....(i have 3, and use them all for different things)

to me the metrolite offers little to no underseat storage

the only way you can have the child facing you in a graco stroller is to use the stroller with the carseat - attach carseat to stroller (easier than sounds, very quick, safe, secure) so for a graco it would have to be a travel system -

then you can choose how long to have them face you - up to 22 pounds or 30 pounds - snugride (22 lbs) vs safe seat (30 lbs)

you may also consider a universal stroller in addition to the travel system - it can be used with any carseat - the kolcraft universal 2 is very nice, very light, can be folded and unfolded 1 handed (by moms that is....dads will probably have issues - is not advertised as 1 hand fold) it has a small parent tray, and quite adequate under seat storage basket

do not worry so much about the print or pattern - there are far more important things on a stroller to worry about, such as:  

seat recline, flat or not - IMPORTANT for infants and babies who are not sitting up yet - a bonus for the flat recline, is that you can also change your baby in the stroller, a much cleaner option than public changing tables (i carry around a can of l

lysol for just such emergencies)

size of the under seat storage basket and ease of use

if you are exclusive walker, have car or use city transportation, weight of folded up stroller, size of folded up stroller and maneuverability of folded stroller - the graco i have, you can not move using the wheels when folded up - the brake is on when folded - my universal you can have the brake on OR off when folded - great for moving while holding the baby/carseat, diaper bag, shopping bags, etc

how long you are going to use the stroller - they have weight limits as well

very important - parent tray/organizer and cupholder - sounds like a luxury in reality a necessity - car keys, cell phone, water, baby bottle (for the first year, you will not be letting your bottle sit in the stroller area cup holder...how many times do you want to pick up the bottle from the ground, and would you even give it back to your baby after it feel out on most public areas????)

size of sunshades and rotation (180, 90), peek a boo window are 2 minor things that are quite important to me - checking on baby and babies are very sensitive to bright light so a large multiple position canopy is very important to me

we have a graco quattro tour deluxe travel system with the safe seat - it is an EXTREMELY nice, comfortable (for baby and mom) stroller.  it is also very heavy and is hard to fit in the trunk of my car - so for errands around town (a lot of in and out of car) i still use the universal, and only the stroller for trips out of town, strolls in the neighborhood, or for 1 or 2 longer stops when out - 3 or more stops or just 1 quick stop and i use the universal.

if cost is a factor (it was for us) try sears - my local store had the quattro tour deluxe on closeout for 90 bucks - regularly 240 bucks - so i did not give a whit about the pattern, but it is a nice chocolate brown with tan/beige print - the universal i found on craigslist for $15

graco does have 2 new girly prints out that i know of - a pretty purple flower one from babies r us, and a pink one also, not sure where you can find - go to gracobaby.com - but keep in mind for the lighter prints:  stroller and car seats get dirty quite easily (even with us OCD types) - car seat covers are very easy to remove and wash......strollers are another story entirely - you need a screwdriver, a lot of time patience AND the instruction booklet is VERY HELPFUL - not to mention drying time for the cover - using the stroller with the carseat - you will definitely want to scotch guard the stroller first - or get a darker or neutral print - babies spit up a lot and toddlers can be quite messy - and a stroller is something you will use for at least 2 years - (my 3rd stroller is a size up from an umbrella, more square, has a tiny canopy and tiny underseat storage - but is great when doing laundry and hanging clothes on the line, cleaning out or washing the car, and was quite cheap - bought at a thrift store - took apart to clean/wash seat, looks brand new and works great to take baby around the house with me doing chores)