Need to buy a baby stroller today!

[najibs]

Fellow RFDers, need your advice...

Wife is due in less than a month. I need to go shopping for a baby stroller today. Budget is anywhere from $200-$400. We're obviously looking for something relatively compact that will last us a LONG time, for future kids as well. So, I'm not looking for something cheap that will break after a year.

The question is WHERE in the Mississauga area is a good place to shop for strollers. Tried "Babies R Us" at Eglinton & Hurontario but we didn't really like the selection.

Also, I need a recommendation for which BRAND to buy. I know nothing about this stuff, as you can see :cheesygri

Thanks.

[LoveRFD]

My wife is due in August and I just started looking into baby stuff as well. From the research I've done, seems Peg Perego is a pretty good brand and a bit more expensive than other brands like Graco or Safety1st. You can get on their website to check out the places in your area that sell their products.

[najibs]

My wife is due in August and I just started looking into baby stuff as well. From the research I've done, seems Peg Perego is a pretty good brand and a bit more expensive than other brands like Graco or Safety1st. You can get on their website to check out the places in your area that sell their products.

So far, I've found alink here to this place:
http://www.babyguru.ca/products/product_info.php?cPath=32&products_id=228

Located in Mississauga, but looks expensive. Out of their stroller selection I think only 3 were below $500. Most of them are $600-1000.

[Rehan]

http://www.kiddiesworld.ca/

There's also a Bonnie Togs at Heartland.
http://www.bonnietogs.com/travel/strollers.htm

[l69norm]

....Also, I need a recommendation for which BRAND to buy. ...

Depends on what you think you'll do with it. The thing that kills most strollers is the "wobbly" or "shaky" wheels syndrome when walking a good clip. Think how annoying it is when you get a shopping cart with a wobbly wheel. Most $100-$200 strollers get this eventually.

The bigger the wheels, the better the ride and the longer they will last (usually better quality). Bigger wheels are better for outside walking, especially if you want to push through snow. Of course, the bigger the wheels, the more space it will take when folded up. Small wheel strollers are great for malls and are easier to handle.

Also, as others have noted, baby might not like sitting in a stroller anyway and perfer to walk (after a year or so). An expensive stroller hi-tech woudn't get much use in this case.

Peg Perego makes decent strollers
Pliko (if you have a car, folds nicely in the trunk)
http://www.pegperego.com/page.php?sid=748ddf4779b14678b59d8b5ac90f0a56&pageid=CJVNL001&idf=04&idp=0000000160&cl=N

Uno (if you have a mini-van or a car with a bigger trunk)
http://www.pegperego.com/page.php?sid=748ddf4779b14678b59d8b5ac90f0a56&pageid=CJVNL001&idf=08&idp=0000000161&cl=N

[ricoboxing]

go to sears and get a quinny buzz. we had ours for over a year and like it very much.

[LoveRFD]

I'm looking at the Perego P3 which regular price is about $370. Hope I can get it under $300 when it's on sale. The Uno one is $499 which is too much for me.

[najibs]

Well folks, after some coaching and advice from 3weddings on MSN about baby strollers, I went out to Costco and got myself a Peg Perego Venezia, which is a 2007 model, but looked awesome for $350.

Better than the Pliko P3. Although it's not the umbrella like fold of the P3, I liked the feel and options the Venezia had to offer. The main feature that sold us was the ability to move the handle forwards and backwards giving a better frontal view having the baby facing me, rather than forwards, which is great I think for a newborn.Looks very sturdy, and for $350 at Costco, it was a great deal. Thanks all for your contributions.

http://trus.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-3406997reg.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41JF0GV22HL._AA280_.jpg

http://strollers.baby-gaga.com/img/p/peg-perego-venezia.png

[Rehan]

Costco sells Peg Perego strollers, too? :confused: :)

The Venezia we used for our kids lasted pretty well. I think you'll be happy with it.

[3weddings]

Great choice!! I think you will be very happy with it...glad to help ;)

[najibs]

Costco sells Peg Perego strollers, too? :confused: :)

The Venezia we used for our kids lasted pretty well. I think you'll be happy with it.

Only that particular model, the Venezia. The South Mississauga Costco was the only one that had it. The Heartland Costco didn't.

How much did you pay for yours Rehan?

[Rehan]

How much did you pay for yours Rehan? We bought it at Dear-Born Baby 8 years ago... paid about $400 for the previous year version floor model, which was about $100 off the regular price.

[najibs]

We bought it at Dear-Born Baby 8 years ago... paid about $400 for the previous year version floor model, which was about $100 off the regular price.

So after 8 years, it's still going strong?

[charliebrown]

Congrats Najibs! :)

If you're going with a Peg Perego infant car seat as well, try to grab an extra base off craigslist (or pick up an used car seat -- we ended up with an older model Primo Viaggio seat for $50; just use the base in our sister's car, no need to swap the base in & out as often)

With the Peg Perego strollers, the problem will be taking them on Air Canada flights -- seems like the new travel rules translate to umbrella (i.e. Maclaren) strollers only; everything else needs to be check-in luggage

[Rehan]

So after 8 years, it's still going strong? Yeah, besides a squeaky wheel (easily fixed with some oil, if I ever get around to it) and a broken latch (for keeping it closed when it's folded), it's been perfectly fine. But it really only got used for 3-4 years for our first daughter... our middle daughter wasn't a big fan of strollers, and about a year ago we got a Maclaren umbrella stroller that has since become the primary indoor stroller for the youngest. We also have a Chariot double jogger for outdoors.

[3weddings]

Yeah, besides a squeaky wheel (easily fixed with some oil, if I ever get around to it) and a broken latch (for keeping it closed when it's folded), it's been perfectly fine. But it really only got used for 3-4 years for our first daughter... our middle daughter wasn't a big fan of strollers, and about a year ago we got a Maclaren umbrella stroller that has since become the primary indoor stroller for the youngest. We also have a Chariot double jogger for outdoors.

Told you that you would start collecting strollers!!!

[LoveRFD]

Only that particular model, the Venezia. The South Mississauga Costco was the only one that had it. The Heartland Costco didn't.

How much did you pay for yours Rehan?

So you only bought the stroller? What about the car seat?

Do you guys think it is better to buy a travel system(stroller+infant car seat) or to buy a good stroller+cheap car seat? I heard that the infant car seat is only good for the first 6 month or something?

[3weddings]

So you only bought the stroller? What about the car seat?

Do you guys think it is better to buy a travel system(stroller+infant car seat) or to buy a good stroller+cheap car seat? I heard that the infant car seat is only good for the first 6 month or something?

I am a firm believer in buying the best car seat you can afford....and never a used one unless you know the source (i.e. family). Car seats have expiry dates and are rendered useless if they have been in an accident.

IMO the combo systems come from companies like Graco and Evenflo, and both have had many recalls over the years. These days almost all car seats will fit into a stroller. I had my kids before combo systems were in fashion, and all my infant seats fit snugly into my Peg Perego Strollers.

Please don't 'cheap out' when it comes to car seats!

[thelefteyeguy]

I am a firm believer in buying the best car seat you can afford....and never a used one unless you know the source (i.e. family). Car seats have expiry dates and are rendered useless if they have been in an accident.

IMO the combo systems come from companies like Graco and Evenflo, and both have had many recalls over the years. These days almost all car seats will fit into a stroller. I had my kids before combo systems were in fashion, and all my infant seats fit snugly into my Peg Perego Strollers.

Please don't 'cheap out' when it comes to car seats!

yup...Peg Perego for me too...on First Wheel City Elite. Seems I hear too often about those 2 other seats with recalls.

[thelefteyeguy]

Congrats Najibs! :)

If you're going with a Peg Perego infant car seat as well, try to grab an extra base off craigslist (or pick up an used car seat -- we ended up with an older model Primo Viaggio seat for $50; just use the base in our sister's car, no need to swap the base in & out as often)

With the Peg Perego strollers, the problem will be taking them on Air Canada flights -- seems like the new travel rules translate to umbrella (i.e. Maclaren) strollers only; everything else needs to be check-in luggage

If you get the new Perego SIP car seat...you dont need to get an extra base...as it can be baseless.

(psss...ask your friend that we both know that has the SIP ;))

[Rehan]

I heard that the infant car seat is only good for the first 6 month or something? You can usually get about a year out of them. And they need to be rear-facing until at least 1 year old, and preferably even longer than that -- we kept our youngest rear facing until she was almost 2.

[LoveRFD]

Thanks guys for all the input. I won't buy used car seat for sure. Now I've pretty much made my mind to go with Perego P3 stroller, just wondering for the car seat, if I should buy a cheaper one around 100 bucks or something more expensive.

[phildc]

Well folks, after some coaching and advice from 3weddings on MSN about baby strollers, I went out to Costco and got myself a Peg Perego Venezia, which is a 2007 model, but looked awesome for $350.



I've had the same stroller for over 7 years and after 2 kids it's held up well. It's great for the malls and stuff but on unpaved terrain, it's a bit of a challenge, so if anything bigger wheels would be helpful.:cheesygri

[thelefteyeguy]

You can either get an infant carseat or a convertible carseat. With the infant carseat, you can leave the infant in the seat and put the seat right into the stroller without taking the infant out.

Most of the people I know use the Graco snugride or safeseat, or the Peg Viaggio. I bought my Snugride for around $120. If you want the matching brand/color for your stroller, you're looking at over $250 for the Peg carseat.

Well the OP prob doesnt have time to shop around but

the regular Peg is sometimes on sale...i got mine for $180+tax
but the SIP are new and prob not on sale yet...$299+tax (retail)

[najibs]

the regular Peg is sometimes on sale...i got mine for $180+tax


where at?

[thelefteyeguy]

where at?

got mine in Jul 07 at Crayons (Kingston Rd)....they had 2 left and sold it at deep discount.

But they have lots of types of Car Seats including Peg SIP.

Not sure if they have anything on sale now...as I havent been back there since Aug.

[bubble.tea]

Fellow RFDers, need your advice...

Wife is due in less than a month. ......

wow...already? Seems like only yesterday you got hitched....Enquiring minds need to know...which came first...the marriage...or the baby :lol:.

[bubble.tea]

WOW...lookie lookie...almost forshadowed (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5168064&postcount=30)...a year to the post date :lol:....

[l69norm]

Only that particular model, the Venezia. The South Mississauga Costco was the only one that had it. The Heartland Costco didn't.
...

About 6 still available at Costco Mississauga South (Laird) $349

[sienna owner]

a word of advise though...wife got carpal tunnel and didn't like hauling the carseat in & out the car...found it easier to just pick kids up and move to P3 stroller...car seat was a waste, but made her happy...ended up with 2 3-in-1's...son is still RF...hopefully can turn him around soon as he'll soon develop neck cramps from trying to watch DVD player..haha

[Hugh Jass]

That looks like a great stroller you picked up there OP.

All the best for the little one.

Make the most of your free time while you have ANY.

[lizard]

Just picked one up today, at $199.97 I couldn't resist, even though we already have a Safety 1st Travel System.

There were 4 left at Costco Langley BC this afternoon. I can't see them being there much longer at this price :)

Does anyone know if you HAVE to use a Peg Perego Viaggio Carseat with this or will most carseats fit with their "Ganciomatic System"?

[peroorim]

There were 4 left at Costco Langley BC this afternoon. I can't see them being there much longer at this price :)

Does anyone know if you HAVE to use a Peg Perego Viaggio Carseat with this or will most carseats fit with their "Ganciomatic System"?

This is an amazing price, the Venezia is usually around the $500. They stopped making the Venezia for the UNO, I think. The Peg Perego stroller has unique attachments that will allow you to firmly and securely attach only the Viaggio Car seat. Other car seats will not snap into the stroller. You can some how have the car seat rest on the food tray, but I am not sure how safe it is over bumps and such.

We have the new SIP car seat and I simply HATE it. It is very very heavy and for me, almost impossible to carry in and out, so I simply leave in the car all together. We could have simply purchased a Snag a Ride and saved ourself almost $200.

[peroorim]

Congrats Najibs! :)
With the Peg Perego strollers, the problem will be taking them on Air Canada flights -- seems like the new travel rules translate to umbrella (i.e. Maclaren) strollers only; everything else needs to be check-in luggage

We just traveled to the states with Air Canada with our Venezia and did not have to check it in. From what I understood, if you do not fly with an umbrella stroller, the stroller counts into the languages allowance. But otherwise, you are still able to take it all the way to the gate and get it right back when you came off the plain. An infant without a seat is allowed one piece of language, so this could be the stroller.

[jjtsl]

I'm thinking of purchasing a used Peg Perego Venezia, and would like to change the materials/lining for hygiene purposes. Does anyone know where I could do this, and how much this should cost me?

[gailsim]

go to http://www.thebabyspalace.com. It's in Mississauga. They had the best prices in town on the Pliko P3 and Peg car seats. We love ours!
:cheesygri

[jjtsl]

I ended up with the Baby Jogger City Single becoz it has a smaller footprint than the Venezia when folded. Anyway, I posted in the Hot Deals section yesterday, and am copying and pasting in here becoz I'm lazy to retype.


"Just bought a Baby Jogger City Single stroller on the weekend from Babyland across from Vaughan Mills. Regular price is $450, but is now on clearance for $289 becoz they just launched a newer model (City Elite). We love it becoz it is so simple to fold and unfold, and it folds relatively small. However, it is not the lightest that you can find around, but it's very manueverable due to its air-filled wheels that are good with snow as well."

http://babyjogger.com/cityclassicsingle.htm