Car seat adapters and a stroller finding saga solved...

This seems to be the season for baby showers.

I have been to two in two weeks...I actually have another one to go to on Sunday! It seems like so many moms are due between May and August! The baby shower today was for a friend of mine who has a son a little older than my own 22 mo old. She is having a little girl this time and needless to say, she got ALOT of little girl clothes!

So following up from my post a number of weeks ago, "City Mini Double vs. Valco Latitude for two" my friend finally decided on the Valco Latitude! So far, the feedback is great. Here are here comments from facebook...

"thank YOU so much for spending so many hours with my husband and I going over all the different strollers in your store. You really listened to us and helped us find the BEST ONE!"

and...

"The ValcoBaby Latitude double stroller from Strolling In Style... check it out! The stroller is small and smart and makes sense!"

So far, so good! She is happy about being able to get through aisles even in the crowded, overstuffed Marshalls near her house. Also she is not reporting any problems opening, closing or getting it in and out of her car by herself. Plus, the shopping basket is huge. She had it overstuffed when I saw her, and it was able to handle her diaper bag, plus groceries and enormous amounts of stuff...so that is the happy ending to this stroller-finding saga. In her exact words, the Valco baby Latitude for two, just might be one of the most perfect double strollers out there, despite the immense popularity of it's arch nemesis the Baby Jogger City Mini Double which is still a couple of pounds lighter! For more information and a complete detailed comparison, see the "City Mini double vs. Valco Latitude post."

Also, since our last post, we have recieved our shipment of Peg Perego car seats. Because of this, I have proceeded to take every Peg Perego car seat adapter in this store out of it's respective package to try it out on every Peg adaptable stroller. Here is what I have found. You might have also seen my updates on twitter (StrollingOn) about my car seat adapter research...

• Car seats change the way a stroller feels and pushes, often making a lighter stroller heavier and more cumbersome to push.



• Because of their high profile, car seats add a certain level of blindspot to the front end of a stroller. Depending on how high up the Chassis is, the car seat can sit quite high on some strollers (to me, they always make the stroller seem taller.)



• Car seat adapters that connect directly to the chassis such as the Bugaboo and UPPAbaby are extremely convenient and make the stroller easier to push overall.



• Car seat adapters that connect on top of the seat do have the advantage of allowing user to shield sun from baby with stroller canopy.

So, what are the advantages of using a car seat adapter for your infant car seat carrier?

Never having to wake up a sleeping baby for one! There are so many positives of being able to take your infant car seat carrier out of the car and place it directly into the stroller...so many ins and outs from the car in those first few weeks! The short time that the car seat changes your strollers overall persona is worth this convenience. Soon enough, baby will outgrow the carrier and you will have no choice but to wake them. In my opinion, parents should enjoy the car seat adapter stage while they can!

Happy Strolling!

Car seats are a-coming...

So the good news is we just became the lastest Peg Perego dealer! This means that finally, after six long months, we will be able to provide our customers with the one thing that is a must have for their car seat adaptable stroller...a car seat! And Peg Perego just happens to be a leader in the car seat industry offering safe infant car seat carriers that baby will be comfortable in for at least the first year.

Of course, now that we are a Peg dealer, we must consider carrying some of Peg Perego's strollers, right? It's just that we can't decide! Should we go with the ultra stylish but heavy and cumbersome Skate? Or the trusted and admired Pliko P3? What about the Pliko Switch with reversible seat or the Uno with reversible handle? Or the new and lightweight Si? Any suggestions as to what you would like to see? We really, really need the help.

Next on our list is getting the Graco Snugride into Strolling In Style and then we'll be good to go in the car seat category!

Well, what a super stressful weekend we had! Of course, the story goes that it is Murphy's law...when you plan for a relaxing, stress free morning, you get anything but! Last Saturday dear husband of mine took the key to the store, without realizing he had it of course, and bolted out to go to a boys day out. As my two year old was staying for the weekend with his grandparents, It was my chance to have a stress free morning and maybe even go to Starbucks, and relax with some Wifi before I opened the store at ten. Right? Wrong. Without realizing that he had the key, I made it halfway to get my latte when I realized I didn't have it. Of course, DH had to leave the I-Phone in his car, and wasn't answering my calls. Half an hour into this mess, the locksmith finally arrived and he had me open, albeit an hour and a half late. Not a great way to start a weekend! Since, I've had DH make me two spare keys to leave in our house, but I still feel terrible about opening late last Saturday so if you were here, I deeply apologize for the inconvenience.

Thanks and Happy Strolling.

Latitude Versus Mini?

Taking a hard look at the Valco Latitude last weekend with a dear, dear friend of mine who has just given birth to her second child (we both have two year olds) and she is looking for a double stroller that she can handle herself. She is on the petite side and can't see lifting the beautiful Bumbleride Indie Twin all terrain in and out of her car fives a day. I can't blame her, but in my case I would probably do it anyways just to have it! That's just me being stroller obsessed....

Said friend has a husband who is an engineer and after basically taking the Phil and Teds Sport and putting it back together in the store, has decided that it's not as perfect as his wife (my friend) described it to be and wanted to look at more options. As she had her heart completely set on the Sport, finding another option wasn't easy.

Of course, the City Mini double was an option, but the long footrest and fabric covering threw her off. Of course, the weight and fold are excellent, the seats are comfy and the sun coverage is super. Function wise, the City Mini covers every base, but as far as style, there was a bit to be desired in her book. (She has to be seen around town with the thing, doesn't she? This is Boca...By the way, engineer husband loved the City Mini. So did her three week old who snoozed away in the seat!)

I had pointed out the Latitude twin to her in the store a few times, but it wasn' t until she really pushed it that she decided it could be for her. Why is that? When you stand behind this double you seriously do not feel that you are pushing a double stroller so for someone petite like her, that is score one. Two, it is managable for one person, without feeling like you are driving a truck. Score three, it turns easily, folds easily (well, sort of, once you get the hang of it although it can take more than a few tries to learn) and is not extremely heavy (30lbs, not bad!)

I was more than happy to foster this newfound relationship between her and the Valco Latitude for Two. My only complaint about it is the car seat adapter. The adapter is a bit senseless, since you have to take the stroller canopy off to use the adapter. The adapter comes with another "temporary" canopy that can be used for the other seat, but my complaint is that it takes away from the style of the stroller! Moms want the stroller to look as beautiful with or without the car seat on it. Of course, this is all only temporary because the car seat stage is so short and the original canopy does make it back on eventually. However, a mom coming out of the six week or so fog between giving birth to her second child and actually making it out to the mall, wants to feel like a million bucks pushing her new double stroller. The adapter with temporary canopy is just not stylish, it's just not!

I wish Valco (hint, hint) found a way to make the adapter more simple, either with some sort of clip on the side of the chrome frame, or by making it compatible with the front bar (which comes with the stroller already) allowing the canopy to stay put.

However, lets say you have twins (excellent stroller for twins) or you are not using the car seat adapter, which, back to my dear friend, she was not since her car seat isn't even compatible, the Valco Latitude is an excellent double and a stylish alternative to the City Mini. The frame is chromed out, the seats have nice blue/green or clay colored accents. It comes with a few accessories which the mini does not, and has a larger basket and double adjustable footrests. It has a height adjustable telescopic handle as well. There are so many wonderful things about the Valco Latitude Twin that I suppose we can overlook it's flaws.

By the way, my friend still hasn't decided on her stroller! Let you know if it's the Latitude, Mini or even the P&T Sport (perhaps she'll convince her husband!)

Happy Strolling!

By the way, the Valco Latitude for Two above is shown in Clay!

Padalilys (and Car seats too!)

One of our favorite car seat accessories out there is the Padalily. You may or may not know that these are out there, but if you have ever taken a car seat to and fro, you know that the rubber handle (you know, the one that usually digs into your inner elbow) is a killer! Many a mum has rubbed her red, pulled skin after lugging the baby around in a carrier. The Padalily, invented by a mom, is a soft cushion that velcro's around the handle of the car seat so as to save your inner elbows from grief. Plus, the Padalily's are entirely reversible, so it's like having two in one! The padded design, and soft fabrics will eliminate the ouch, and add the oooh-ahh to your expereince with the infant car seat carrier.

The Padalily comes in adorable colors and designs including Blue Coco Disco Dot, Divine Damask, and Pink Paisley. Look for more great PadaLily's soon!

Bringing me into my next discussion, as you may know if you have visited our store, we are lacking in one specific stroller accessory that many, many folks need for a new baby. A car seat! Just to let anyone know who is looking to buy both a stroller and a car seat in the same place, we are looking to be your one stop stroller/car seat shoppe by the end of June! The addition of car seats to our line will allow us to display the stroller with the car seat for the customer, giving an idea of exactly how the stroller moves with the car seat adapter. Also, we will be able to show exactly how the car seat adapters work!

In addition to the Padalily, the other neccessary car seat accessory to dress up your ride is a pure joy collection car seat cover. At $89.99, the car seat covers are a great price to add a bit of class and design to your infant car seat carrier. They are a great accessory if you are using big brother or big sisters old seat as well; give your car seat new life! These are available on our website, under "dress up my ride". Any of the Pure Joy liners, you can also chose to have made into car seat covers for the Graco Snugride, or Peg Perego Primo Viaggio!

Happy Strolling!