LilSugar

Strollin': Jogger Roundup

babysugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:00:57 -0700

Hopefully mothers who like to get a workout enjoyed the write-ups of the three fabulous jogging strollers I reviewed from Right Start. While there are still more on the market, some of which I hope to test in the future, I can hardly see the downside of any of these sporty options. Tell me which one you prefer?

BOB Revolution

Baby Jogger

phil and teds Dash

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.

Strollin': phil & teds Dash

babysugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:00:40 -0700

Some of the top-of-the-line strollers on the market today are those made by phil & teds. The New Zealand manufacturers have hit a sweet spot with their multifunctional line of duo seating buggies that serve many purposes while still looking sleek and sporty.

Great for a day out on the jogging path, the phil & teds Dash ($550) is suited to give mommy an easy outing while providing a baby (or two) a comfy cruise.

Perks mama can enjoy are an adjustable ergonomic handlebar, easy to manage rear brakes, a roomy storage basket that has pouches to stow small items, a sun canopy with a peek-a-boo window, and a long lifetime. Also, instead of having to double up on strollers, every phil & teds buggy is suited to add another seat (for an additional $100), magically turning it into a double stroller in minutes. A new feature for phil & teds, the area above the front wheel is now plastic. Why is that better you ask? The original fabric foot area design was appealing to the eye, but busy lil feet tended to wear the fabric down leaving tiny toes in danger of touching the wheel. The plastic board is an improvement to an already stellar stroller.

To keep reading about the phil & teds Dash, read more.

For moms toting around one child, the single seat can manage children up to 55 pounds or 4 years old. When a sibling enters the picture, the second seat ups the capacity to 88 pounds. Both seats can recline into comfortable napping positions, which would be perfect for a mother craving a jam session with her iPod on the jogging trail. That's probably a pipe dream, but at least the stroller offers the ability to do so.

Also impressive is the quick breakdown of the practical pushchair. Instead of having to disassemble the whole stroller for storage, the creative designers figured out a way to collapse the jogging stroller easily - even with the double seat attached. Be ready to use your upper arm strength when storing this bad boy. Like most other strollers in the jogging category, the stroller weighs a hefty 23 pounds. But hey, that's not too shabby for two strollers in one!

New to the family, the Dash will be available in November!

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.

Strollin': Baby Jogger City Classic Single

babysugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:00:32 -0700

Mommies on the run can appreciate the ease and comfort of the Baby Jogger City Classic Single ($400). The reclining padded pushchair allows plush seating for precious cargo and the Quick-Fold Technology is one of the best collapses I've seen on any stroller. One simple pull on the back of the stroller and the chair is down in a flash. At 21 pounds, it's no easy task to lift the bugger, but it is on the lighter end of athletic strollers.

To see my other thoughts on the Baby Jogger City Classic Single, read more.

Like the BOB, the Baby Jogger City Classic has an adapter for car seats, making it useful from an early age. A major bonus is that it can handle a child up to 75 pounds! Also similar to the BOB Revolution, it has a front swivel wheel that can lock in place should that be a requirement. The handle bar is adjustable, which is nice for parents who like to switch it up occasionally. As for amenities, there is a basket under the seat and zipped mesh pockets for stowing items and an accompanying three panel sun canopy that provides ample shielding from the sun or nasty weather for comfortable outings.

There's one major caveat that comes with this buggy though - it is NOT equipped for jogging. This left me scratching my head. It looks like a jogger and the name implies it's a jogger, but technically, it's not. Having said that many people use different "non-jogging" strollers to troll along for exercise. If you're an Iron-Man type trainer, you may want to invest in a jogger that actually lives up to its name.

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.

Strollin': BOB Revolution

babysugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:00:42 -0700

If running is your modus operandi, the BOB Revolution may be right up your jogging path. Although the price is a bit steep, it is comparable to those in the same category.

For $390, I can hardly find a better jogging deal than the BOB Revolution. There are so many things to love about it. First off, the air-filled tires provide an ultra smooth ride, as it is ready to handle all-terrain. Additionally, the front swivel wheel provides easy maneuvering, which is a huge plus when you're navigating a jogging trail that twists and turns. If you are on a straight path and prefer a locked wheel, just snap a latch down to keep the wheel locked forward facing.

To learn more about the BOB Revolution, read more.

Keeping stroller purchases to a minimum, parents will like being able to use the BOB soon after their child's birth (6 - 8 weeks of age is recommended age). Adapters are available to make it compatible with various car seats (Graco Infant Snugride and Peg Perego Primo Viaggio are just two) though it is advised not to run with a baby under six or eight-months-old as their necks may not be fully developed. As the tot ages, he can relax in the spacious five-point-harness reclined seat as mommy pushes her way through a sweaty routine. And, with all of the pouches, the toddler can organize his juice and snacks beside him keeping the stop-and-gos to a minimum.

When the jog is over and you've got to store this bad boy, get ready to work out your biceps. While it folds very easily with a quick two-motion breakdown, it's no easy feat to lift the 22.6 pound buggy. But for those of you ready to work off the baby weight, you may not mind the two second arm workout after a 30 minute run.

Other perks of the BOB are: a padded handle bar that is easy to push while running, a peek hole sun canopy that looks more like a sunroof for the tiny passenger, a spacious basket for storage, netted storage on the back of the seat, and a brake system that works like a charm, which is especially important when going at a faster pace.

From where I stand, the only major drawbacks to this stroller are that you have to wait about six weeks before using it, the weight and the price. If you can be flexible on those three items, I think the BOB is a winner. After all, it seems to provide much of the same as the $900 options, but you can get a workout as well! Apparently I'm not alone - just ask meandtheo.

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.

Strollin': Baby Joggers

babysugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 05:00:18 -0700

If there's one thing that new mommies are usually ready to get rid of, it's baby weight. Some are lucky as it falls off instantly without much effort while others claim breastfeeding does the trick. Still, some new mamas have to work hard to drop those pesky pounds. If running is your key to success, a jogging stroller may be what mama should order.

After reviewing some travel systems and lightweight strollers, I'll be giving you my thoughts on a few athletic strollers this week. Stay tuned!

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.

Lil Links: Céline Dion Was Never Pregnant but She'll Keep Trying

babysugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:00:32 -0800

Céline Dion was misdiagnosed with her second pregnancy - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Get your hands on Matthew McConaughey's old jogging stroller - Celebrity Baby Blog
Pass the veggies please - Momologie
Ways to keep siblings from fighting - CafeMom
10 tips for saving money during the holidays - ParentDish
Moms and daughters enlisting in the military - MomLogic
Drop a hint for the grandparents with this book - Cool Mom Picks
The two words infertile couples don’t want to hear - Health
Is it OK to yell at your kids? - The Mommy Files

Opinions Please! What's Your Stroller Recommendation?

LilSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:00:55 -0700

The difference between a mad woman and a happy mother? Her stroller. I'd go so far as to say it's the single most important material purchase parents make for their baby since they use it all the time. As we prep for baby number three, we'll be purchasing our fourth buggy. Clueless of what to look for, we went through two with our daughter. First, we shelled out for an elaborate system that couldn't handle the city streets and had poor shocks and squeaky wheels after our first lengthy walk. Then, we invested in a jogging stroller that was great...until we had to turn it - its front wheel was stationary.

While expecting my son, I did my research before buying (the then largely unknown) phil & teds E3 with the doubles kit. For three years, the amazing invention rolled everywhere from Lake Tahoe's nature trails to my husband taking it off-roading over rocks in Golden Gate Park. The orange fabric has endured more than a few mud and chocolate milk splashes and my lil guy eventually preferred to walk (read run) everywhere so the beloved buggy has retired to our garage. To see what I need in our next set of wheels and to offer your recommendations, read more.

My husband and I want our soon-to-be infant to have a fresh, clean carriage so we're figuring out what to get next. Our needs are a bit different than before - the stroller will be mostly for the new babe, but I want the convenience of an attachable seat in case my son hits the hay when I head out shopping or want to walk long distances to shed postpartum pounds. Living in a city full of cracked sidewalks and pot holes makes durable tires a must and I don't need a ride that accommodates an infant car seat since we'll be using our Britax Boulevard from the get go. Since I'll be juggling three kiddos in parking lots, I'll also need a buggy that is quick to collapse and easy to pop in the trunk. So far, the front-runner is the phil & teds Vibe, which comes highly recommended by BabySugar and is a brand I trust. Do you have a stroller suggestion that fits my criteria? If so, please share!

Love Handles: Ga Ga or Gag?

LilSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:00:35 -0700

Work it mama! Mothers finding it hard to squeeze in a workout are always looking for a way to get some exercise throughout the day. While jogging strollers help provide aerobic exercise and strengthen leg muscles, they don't do much for the upper-body area. That's where Love Handles ($100) comes in. The moving bars attach to most strollers to convert the push-chairs into moving elliptical machines. The handles' resistance can be increased or decreased to control the intensity of the workout and are designed to target the user's core, doubling the number of calories burned than pushing the buggy alone. Would you try these out to help lose the baby weight?

Strollin': BOB Revolution Duallie 12-inch Stroller

babysugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:00:26 -0700

When running after your kids isn't the only exercise you count on, the BOB double stroller enables jogging mommies to keep their running regimen up - even with double trouble on their hands.

Perfect for sidewalks, bumpy roads, and tattered trails, the BOB Revolution Duallie 12-inch Stroller keeps parents on track and their wee ones secure. While it's a bit wider than some others in the same class, the BOB offers families peace of mind that their lil honey is getting treated to a classy ride, as cushy reclining seats and air-filled suspension wheels provide a smooth run even over the bumpiest of roads. And, similar to the single BOB, car seat adaptors are available, making it easy to use at an early age.

To see what else I liked and disliked about the BOB Revolution Duallie, read more.

For moms on a winding path, the front swivel wheel makes turning on a dime a cinch. The roomy basket underneath gives moms the opportunity to stash snacks, jackets, or other necessities on the go. The wide handle bar is fantastic for running as you can push and swipe your sweaty hair off your face without grasping for a small handle. But, if I had my druthers, I'd like to have some way of attaching goodies to the handle bar as I constantly find a need to latch on a bag or two - even if it's just a diaper bag. But, if you're running or on a trail, you won't need to make space for shopping loot.

When the day is done, the quick fold is just as easy as the single BOB stroller. Just pull up on the two handle bar locks and fold it in half. At 31.5 pounds, the double-wide buggy packs a heavy punch. And while the width measures 30.8 inches, which should fit most standard 32-inch door frames, it still seems like an arduous task to take this bad boy out for errands or a trip to the mall, making that and the $590 price tag the biggest drawbacks for the BOB Revolution Duallie.

I like the side-by-side strollers because both kids can look out and enjoy the view. The issue with that is that it makes pushing the stroller tougher on mom as she tries to maneuver in and out of tight spaces. For most double strollers, the weight is always going to be an issue, so my thinking is that give or take a pound or two, this stroller is clearly a winner.

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.

Mommy's Lil Helper: T-Hand Muff

LilSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 05:00:15 -0800

March is coming in like a lion in many parts of the country where snow is still building up and the winds are howling. Though Spring is just around the corner, the volatile weather means it's still too early to put the hats, gloves and scarves away. This goes for mamas, as well as our lil ones. For those that run out the door and leave their gloves behind (or better yet in the pockets of a different coat), take a look at the Teutonia T-Hand Muff ($60).

The two-sided, fleece-lined hand muff features a weatherproof shell and attached directly onto the handle of any stroller with a rounded handlebar. Perfect for daily walks in brisk weather or for attaching to a jogging stroller, I love that unlike gloves, you don't have to struggle to remove your hands every time your tot asks you to grab something out of the diaper bag for her. The machine-washable muff can be used for years to come, making it a worthy investment.