Momessentials

Maxi-Cosi Perle stroller: Big Features, Little Package

When traveling, my rule is, “never pack what you can’t carry.” With two kids in tow, that means I have to maximize my gear-efficiency. Of course a light-weight stroller helps the cause, but that usually means you give up some features of a full-size stroller or stroller system. Enter the new, clever and fabulous Maxi-Cosi Perle™. A light-weight Umbrella Stroller with full-size features, and then some. Choosing from one of four bold color options may be a challenge, each is true to the Maxi-Cosi style with chic and comfortable design. We love the above-and-beyond features of this stroller. Most notably, the Perle is compatible with the Maxi-Cosi infant car seat, creating a full travel system with no additional accessories or adapters to purchase. It also has an amazing multiple-position recline, with an easy to reach strap mechanism that brings the seat to a near-flat position. Add to this an adjustable leg rest for the ultimate in comfort for nappers and riders newborn to 50 pounds. While storage space is traditionally scant in light-weight strollers, the Perle offers an easy to reach, good sized storage basket underneath, as well as large storage pocket behind the canopy for parent essentials. The Perle not only has the often-missed parent cup holder, but even has a cup holder and small storage pocket for the passenger! The sun canopy with peek-a-boo window offers a bit more coverage than other umbrella strollers, the rain shield is quick and easy to use, and the 5-point padded harness is incredibly easy to adjust and accommodates taller children with the three-position height adjustment. The aluminum frame is sturdy and one hand easily maneuvers, folds, locks and unfolds the stroller. The carry handle is perfect, and I can now pack and carry, a full featured stroller!

 

T-Handmuff

I am really excited about the T-Handmuff from Teutonia, the stroller manufacturer..  
When it is really cold outside you do not have to worry, the driver's hands stay warm, buried in our two-sided, fleece-lined t-handmuff with weatherproof shell. It snaps right onto the handle of most strollers, ensuring warm, dry hands for mom, dad or whoever is pushing. 

I can not say enough good things about this product.   Living in NYC,  I am out strolling my twin boys all day long and up until recently my hands were always cold....  Not anymore...  Now in the cold weather my hands are staying nice and warm..  Since the T-Handmuff is a relatively new product everyone stops me on the street to see where they can purchase the product... People used to stop and stare at the twins, now they stop and stare at the T-Handmuff... A full listing of Teutonia suppliers can be found here.

This is definitely one of the greatest products ever....  

StrollAway

Through clever storage and cool new modern designs in children's gear, you finally have a place where your children and your style can happily coexisit ...except for...that stroller.... It's huge, it cost you a fortune, and it's a necessity. But where do you put it? It folds, but the fact that it's on wheels makes it impossible to stay upright in a closet and the garage gets dusty. Under the heading of 'Why didn't someone think of that sooner?' comes the StrollAway, an over the door (no wall or door damage from screws) stroller storage system. Constructed of sturdy steel, the StrollAway will accommodate most stroller models, and folds flush to the door when not in use. Hang it on the back of the closet door and voila! Out of sight until your next outing.

City view (by Risa): The StrollAway is a must for every parent living in an apartment or other tight space. It is easy to hang and frees up your floor and closet space.

Suburban angle (by Tina): My husband recently was having words about one of my favorite strollers. Neither one of us could get it to stand upright when folded. We did not want to leave it laying on the dusty garage floor nor bring it inside. The StrollAway was the perfect solution. The stroller now hangs neatly and is easy to grab when going out.

The Quinny Zapp

I can easily justify owning multiple strollers and The Quinny Zapp is the perfect example of why I need a Quick Use, lightweight, easy to transport and quick to fold stroller. There are many features to brag about. Although when folded, it is the smallest buggy in the world, this is no umbrella stroller - it is full-size, can hold up to 50 pounds and is compatible with the Maxi-Cosi Mico Infant Car Seat (adapters are included). It weighs just 13 pounds and folds down in 3 easy steps. The wheels rotate 360 degrees and turn on a dime - I could steer it perfectly with my 5 year old in it using just one pinkie finger- and the locking mechanism makes varied terrains easily maneuverable. The stain-resistant seat fabric zips out for easy spot cleaning and is machine washable! The colors are eye-catching and the design is head-turning. It is an amazing travel stroller and can store in overhead bins on the airplane, behind your seat in the car, even under your table at the restaurant. Accessories included are travel bag, rain cover, sun canopy and shopping basket. I can say this is one of the most comfortable rides my daughter has taken as she easily drifts off to sleep when in the Zapp.

When we travel to amusement attractions, we never leave our stroller parked outside the entrance. We used to split up - one of us would go inside with the older child and the other would stay behind guarding the stroller. Now we easily fold up our Zapp and carry it around inside the attraction. It usually weighs less than my diaper bag!

City view (by Risa): Baby Gear can take up all your space in your apartment! The Zapp folds compact and can be stored almost anywhere. I was looking for the perfect lightweight, non-twin stroller for the boys and love my Zapps. They are light and easy to maneuver, even when using them both at the same time.

Suburban angle (by Barb): We drive everywhere, and on a day of multiple quick errands the Zapp leaves more space in my car for other things, and folds/unfolds quickly and easily between each stop. Bonus- I store it right on the floor under baby's car seat instead of walking to the trunk every time.

Mommy Hook

 There are many stroller hangers out there, but none of them compare to The Mommy Hook. The Mommy Hook is a stroller hanger made from heavy duty aluminum that easily hooks to stroller bars without sliding or breaking like the cheap plastic ones have a tendency to do. Its unique rubber grip keeps it from sliding.

It is perfectly designed to hold everything from shopping bags to diaper bags.  The Mommy Hook makes shopping while pushing a stroller extremely easy. What will we do when the kids are too big for strollers???

Orbit Baby

Have Baby...Will Travel!  The Orbit stroller has been all the rave lately...with its recent plug on the hit show "The Office" We had to see for ourselves if it lived up to its hype.  The Orbit is the stroller that has a complete infant system...car seat, stroller and the car seat base.  The stroller swivels 360 degrees, has a built in paparazzi shield (it's the stroller of choice for lots of celebrities ie: Nicole Ritchie, Jessica Alba  and many more) clicks into its own car seat base and is eco-friendly!

 

Here is what we thought of the Orbit:

 

City view (by Leslie) I love this stroller - as a new mom I love to stroll my baby everywhere...she is 7 weeks old, so she is still young enough that i can take her to a restaurant and she will sleep the entire time - which is important for us as NYC parents we eat out all the time!  I can swivel the seat to face us and the stroller is out of the way of the busy waiters.  Another cool feature which most new strollers have is that the handle bars adjust to different heights - which is great for me as I am short and my husband is very tall.  One of my favorite features which most people would probably not pay attention to is that the basket underneath which they call the "pod" doesn't hang open on the bottom - it actually closes like a purse and clicks into the a slot under the base.  I keep an extra swaddling blanket under all my strollers as you never know when you may need it - and I am always concerned that dirt from the dirty streets of NYC will get on all my items that are in the basket.  We also travel out of the city to see family on the weekend - so the car seat/stroller combo comes in handy. Once your infant grows out of the seat - you can purchase their new toddler seat.

 

Suburban angle (by Barb)

We are constantly in and out of our cars going from place to place - so the best feature for us is that we don't have to struggle fitting a bulky stroller in the trunk as the seat of the stroller is our car seat as well.  The same way the seat swivels when its on the stroller - it swivels on the car seat base - which makes it so easy for me to lock the seat into the base - I can lock it in facing me at the door and turn it to be rear-facing.  My in-laws love this feature as they are always making silly faces to my daughter when she's in the car to calm her down before we start moving - as they can see her head-on before I swivel it to the back.  The stroller also folds with one hand - and I can carry the car seat by the soft handle at the same time.  I highly recommend this stroller if you travel a lot and are strolling in tight quarters as its very compact and easy to maneuver.

Stokke Xplory

There are many strollers on the market, and we have seen and tried most of them.  Why are we so fond of Stokke™ Xplory®? It is as functional as it is eye-catching. Stokke has done it - built a stroller that builds a relationship between parent and baby. The unique design of the Xplory allows your child to feel secure and close to you from birth. As your child develops, she can be stimulated by panoramic views, as well as comfortable seat and footrest positioning. This versatile stroller adjusts in height, raising your child high enough to see the animals at the zoo, the fish at the aquarium and basically the world around us. When the seat is lowered, the stroller becomes the perfect high chair at a restaurant! Imagine - you don't have to pull out the wipes to clean a restaurant high chair and, when your child is finished eating, you can easily push the stroller back and forth while you finish your meal. And there's more, the wheels tuck in for stairs! Don't take the Xplory out if you don't want to be noticed, because all who see it (especially dads) grow green with envyand want to know more about it.

City view (by Risa): New Yorkers live by their strollers. I've had several moms comment to me that babies in Xplory seem happier. There is so much to see when taking baby for a stroll, and what better way to see it than from a high level versus the level of a pet or suitcase. Xplory is very easy to maneuver, and tucking in the wheels to go up or down stairs comes in handy when I take a wrong turn in Central Park and find myself without a stroller ramp.

Suburban angle (by Tina): I love my Xplory. My favorite feature of the stroller is that the seat lowers and acts as a highchair. I like that I do not have to carry a highchair cover, take the time to wipe down a restaurant high chair (and try, try to clean the straps), or transfer a sometimes cranky baby to a high chair. The Xplory is well-built, easy-to-clean, stylish and worth every penny.