LilSugar

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!

Six Travel Friendly Sleeping Options For Tots

babysugar — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 06:00:00 -0700

It's sisterhood of the traveling tots! Mamas who are packing up their babes for Summer vacations should check out their wee one's sleeping accommodations before hand. While most hotels provide cribs for vacationing babies, others may leave it up to the visitor to provide the amenities themselves. When that's the case, there are a few portable crib and tent options that are sure to keep baby (and mommy) sleeping through the night.

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10 Swanky Supper Seats

babysugar — Sat, 09 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Mama and papa get to dine in swanky digs every now and then so why not give baby a daily dose? Parents looking to treat their sweet buns to a posh seat need not look any further than these 10 high-end high chairs. Mums willing to drop a few Benjamins will love the eye candy in these drool-worthy table additions.

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Six Swank Bouncer Seats

babysugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 06:00:34 -0700

When mama needs to jump in the shower or prepare dinner, a bouncy seat can be as good as a babysitter. Parents who love such contraptions, but detest primary colors, teddy bears and plastic are in luck as some of the high end baby companies are producing aesthetically pleasing options to appease a swank parent's decor craving. Check out my slideshow to see some of the hippest baby bouncing seats on the market.

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Best of 2008: Bugaboo Wins Top Buggy!

LilSugar — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 04:00:28 -0800

A stroller is not just a way to push your baby around anymore, it's a lifestyle accessory. Parents are willing to shell out upwards of $1000 for a buggy these days, which is why lilsugar readers picked Bugaboo as their favorite stroller of 2008. It's definitely pricey, but the sleek onslaught of features makes it worth the cash for some moms and dads. We like the Bugaboo over here at lil too, but our favorite stroller (especially if you've got more than one tot running around) is phil & teds. Their style and functionality can't be beat.

Lil Links: Win a phil & teds Vibe!

LilSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:00:36 -0700

Strollin': Win a phil & teds Vibe! - lilsugar
Missing money leads to seventh grade strip search - Parent Dish
Great Halloween books for kids of all ages - Alpha Mom
Jennifer Garner's bump is getting big - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Jennie Garth took her kids to celebrate Miley Cyrus's birthday - Celebrity Baby Blog
My mother's group - a generation later - The Poop
How to troll for mom friends - Cool Mom

Strollin': Win a phil & teds Vibe!

LilSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:00:00 -0700

One lucky mama is about to get a brand new set of wheels! Our friends at Right Start were nice enough to give us a black sleek and chic phil & teds Vibe ($700) so one lucky mom and her tot can get strollin' in style!

To enter, you must log in and take the quiz below. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just by completing the quiz once you are logged in. You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member and log in before you take the quiz. If you're not already a member, just register here for an account. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored.

The contest is open to US residents only and ends on Oct. 12, 2008, at 5 p.m. PDT. For Official Rules, click here.

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Strollin': phil & teds Vibe

babysugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:00:04 -0700

I won't say that I saved the best for last, but the phil & teds Vibe is pretty darn sweet. Lightweight aluminum frame strollers have been dominating the market in recent years. New to the party is the fabulously sleek and functional Vibe. Much like the other phil & teds predecessors, the Vibe offers the dual-ride capabilities. But the Vibe has got a whole different, well vibe.

The sleek $700 pushchair is comfortably padded with cushy seats in a tandem position. The second seat attachment costs another $110. Each chair can recline for on-the-go napping or relaxing - whatever floats your wee ones' boat. And by wee, I mean newborns through four-year-olds. Older tots take the top seat with a maximum capacity of 55 pounds while smaller babes sit underneath. The bottom seat can handle up to 33 pounds making the entire load capacity 88 pounds.

To see a video and learn what else there is to know about the Vibe, read more.

Having talked to some mamas who have tested out the ride of the Vibe, the biggest complaint is the break. Instead of having it down by the feet, parents can stop the pushchair with a simple push of a button on the height adjustable handlebar. It seemed pretty ideal when I tested it but others find it irritating as they accidentally push the button jolting them to an unexpected stop.

Like the phil & teds Dash, the Vibe also has the updated plastic foot board. The plastic resting spot keeps tots from wearing and tearing a fabric type patch that could endanger their lil feet.

During my demonstration at Right Start, Kristi showed me how quick and painless the stroller is to fold. Bonus points were rewarded as you can fold it with the second seat attached into a compact package - sun canopies and all. Adding more credence to the Vibe, it is a clear winner in the weight category as it weighs only 22 pounds. That's even lighter than the Maclaren Twin Techno XT! But, it's more than twice the price - do you think it's twice as nice? Tell me what you think about the phil & teds Vibe.

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.

Best Stroller for Wheeling Two

LilSugar — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:19:26 -0800

This morning's poll showcased 2007's strollers for those wheeling around one child. But, as a mom on the constant go with two - I'll say that the latest and greatest of 2007 strollers for hauling around a lil load of precious cargo is Phil and Ted's Sports Buggy.

The genius buggy from New Zealand is a single stroller ($400) that has the option for baby to lay flat or bundled up in a cocoon ($65) and to sit upright when they get older. You can also purchase a doubles kit ($95) that can be attached to accommodate another child. And, it's sleek, single stroller design, alloy frame, and front-swivel wheel make it easy to maneuver. Not to mention that the sturdy wheels make it fit for indoor and outdoor excursions. If you need to stash a diaper bag or baby's favorite blanket, there's plenty of room in the bottom basket.

Available in a lot of bold colors, this ride is quickly becoming the one to be seen in for lil rascals. And, a lifesaver for mothers of multiples.

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