I am going to come right out and tell you that I am a stroller snob. This doesn’t mean that I push my children around in a $1200 vintage pram or use one of these fancy contraptions, although I just took a second to imagine what my life would look like if I did own a Versace stroller … Who am I kidding? It would still be full of crumbs, toys, and various rocks and sticks that looked important enough to bring home.
I am a stroller snob because I spend huge amounts of time looking for the right strollers for our family … because I spend huge amounts of time using our strollers. I also am a practical stroller snob because I want the stroller to be affordable, yet durable. I like to run, so we own a single and double BOB. We have put miles and miles and miles on those things. My husband and I are also tall so we need a stroller that doesn’t cause us to stoop over to push it.
However, the stroller that required the most research was the umbrella stroller. That day to day, in and out of the car, on and off the airplane stroller is constantly put to the test. It has to be able to take a beating because it gets a huge amount of use, especially as your tiny baby gets a little older. Plus, we live in Europe now and the umbrella stroller is particularly important with tiny sidewalks, nonexistent sidewalks and cobblestone streets. Often pushing one of my large strollers simply isn’t going to work.
I am happy to say that with three kids, we have really only had one umbrella stroller. Unfortunately, we had a sad incident where my husband left the stroller OUTSIDE of the car as he drove away after watching a parade. Honestly, that stroller had seen better days, so I was on a mission for something new and improved because you know how much changes in the baby gear world between the birth of your first child and the birth of any other children. I assumed something new and unbelievable was out there.
Turns out, I was right.
We have Britax car seats and have been so happy with the brand that I started my search there. I really only thought that Britax made the huge stroller systems, so you can imagine my surprise and delight when I found the Britax B-Mobile Stroller. This lightweight stroller from Britax Child Safety, Inc. is their smallest, most compact fold stroller. It is truly an on-the-go stroller – easy to navigate, transport, and store during everyday errands to fun weekend activities.
Britax did not sacrifice anything by creating a smaller stroller.
The seat is larger than most umbrella strollers. My toddler loves that he can curl sideways to lay down and the large sun shade keeps him covered. The frame of the stroller is on the sides and not behind the seat allowing a near-flat recline. There is a generously sized basket underneath the seat for storing snacks, toys, and the all-important sticks and rocks.
It also comes with the hardware in a little pouch in the storage basket to attach the infant seat. This would have been a huge draw for me as the stroller does not take up nearly as much space in the car as your typical stroller made for an infant seat.
But wait, I haven’t even told you the best part. This stroller folds up into nothing and you can do it with one hand.
That’s right people.
Plus, you can carry the stroller hands free with a built in shoulder strap. I can carry my child in one arm and have the stroller over the other arm without it feeling awkward. I even have an extra hand for an iced coffee!
How many times have you flown alone (and I know you have because we are military moms) and had to collapse a stroller in the security line or just as you’re about to walk on to the plane? You know the drill. You have to let the kids loose for an agonizing 20 seconds while you try to collapse the stroller, meanwhile one kid has just about boarded a plane to Timbuktu while the other is dancing in the full body airport scanner. You know how important these features are!
Our family trusts Britax. I know the company has the safety and well-being of my children in mind every day. The stroller was designed for the safe mobility of newborns and toddlers, and offers travel system compatibility by simply clicking any Britax infant car seat into the included Click & Go adapters. When using the stroller without the car seat attached, it accommodates children up to 55 pounds. It is available on Amazon.com in four fun colors and retails for $159.99.
Knowing the quality and durability of Britax products plus the added convenience of infant car seat compatibility, it is safe to say that I will be hauling this in and out of our car for a long time.
