Baby Love Slings: stroller

My Boys

Lucas

Lucas Robert- March '06. My thinker with a huge vocabulary and a bigger heart. So full of life and wonder and imagination. Future engineer or architect or whatever he puts his mind to. My tender mama's boy with the rough-and-tumble outside. Whether playing cars or reading books or just sitting with mama, he lives life fully. And I think that is great!!

Caden

Caden Lauten- August '08 With the warmest eyes that light up the room, he is my little love-bug who wants to be with mama at all times! Never content to just sit, except when snuggled close in the sling where Mama's face is just a reached out hand away. My little explorer, following his brother and puppy everywhere, my baby and the light of my life!

Oh, the dreaded disease. Stroller envy. Have you ever caught a case? Is there any cure other than an indulgent purchase of a stroller that is probably more than you can afford and maybe even more than you need?

Whenever I am out, I am constantly checking out the double strollers that I see. Too wide... too cluncky.... too cheap looking... I love wearing my babies ( my toddler too). But there are just times when it is super convenient to let the kiddos ride in the stroller and not on mama. My very generous mother-in-law bought us a used double stroller (a sit-and-stand type) that I have used a couple times and have a terrible time pushing it around. It is ok in the mall. And I used it once at the zoo. But it is really hard on walks (heavy to push, doesn't turn well) and on any surface that is not flat and smooth.

So here is my dilemma... The stroller that I have long lusted after is on sale through Costco for several hundred dollars cheaper than normal. The Phil & Ted in-line double stroller is, well pretty. I love that it is not too wide and that is is good quality and that it is super light yet sturdy. But as I was reading about this stroller, trying to picture myself actually buying it since it is such a great price, I got this bad feeling in my stomach. Oh, no... this isn't what I need! The total weight limit is 88lbs. This sounds like a lot but when you break it down, the back seat can only hold 33lbs with 55lbs. in the front. You can use it with an infant carrier but I don't use that anymore. The rear seat turns into some sort of bouncer but Caden is going to walk any day now so that is useless to me too. AHHHH!! This stroller that I love and is now on sale is still impractical for me to buy!! I would be able to use it now (A LOT!!) and probably through next fall and maybe even into the winter. But I think that by next spring and summer, Caden may weigh more than 33lbs. since he weighs around 25lbs now. Lucas weighs about 35 or 40 lbs so maybe I would get more use out of it than I think. But still.... I wish I would have bought it a year ago or even at the beginning of spring. Then I would feel like I was getting my $300 worth out of it. Actually, I wish I would have invested in a really nice stroller when Lucas was born. It is just hard to have the foresight and the disposable income. :)

So, do I spend $300 and get a really nice stroller that I would get a lot of use out of for a relatively short amount of time? Or do I spend more money and get a stroller that I would use for a longer amount of time (ie: a more side-by-side with a higher weight limit)? Or do I use the one I have and stop falling prey to this "disease of the fortunate?" I have 3 strollers in my garage right now. And here I sit, trying to figure out if I should spend several hundred dollars on a new one. Kinda wrong on some level. I have been looking on CraigsList with no luck so far.

Do you have a stroller that you love? Or is there one you would love to have? Any advice on my current predicament? I welcome any comments or advice. Help me cure this disease.

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