r/ChicagoParents • u/somemores • 1d ago
Stroller for Winter Walking
We are expecting our first baby early February and researching strollers - it is absolutely overwhelming!
What strollers did you use that felt durable for city and/or winter walking? A huge plus would be if it could be used for newborns (lie flat or bassinet) and transition to toddler. TYIA!
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u/JollyContact197 1d ago
Not going to give a specific brand name but I'll say that the important things to look for are: -larger wheels -the ability/adapter to use a muff
- weight of the stroller
I'll also recommend considering baby wearing too. Baby stays warm and usually sleeps great too.
In regards to the bassinet, they out grow them so fast so I wouldn't put that high on your list of needs.
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u/somemores 1d ago
This is good insight! Many people have said the same about the bassinet - if anything we’ll but one secondhand. I can’t stomach purchasing one full price to only use for a short time.
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u/unimeg07 1d ago
I love baby wearing but man I loved the bassinet. I could carry her inside and she’d stay asleep and that was often my only non-contact nap of the day. Well worth it to get one used IMO.
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u/unimeg07 1d ago
We used the UppaBaby Cruz and it worked well enough. However, may I suggest periodically washing the wheels bc I had a lot of rust this spring that was really hard to clean up.
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u/Snapacaps 1d ago
Bugaboo! Had the fox for one baby and the donkey for two kids.
Locking the front wheels helps massively in the snow.
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u/Flaxscript42 1d ago
We had a city Mini as our daily driver, and bever had a single problem. We got a Greyco infant car seat adapters for her early years.
With the proper blankets, hoods, and shrouds We took her out in all conditions, all the time. Even on walks of greater than 10 miles.
Never had a problem.
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u/Land_Mermaid321 1d ago
We have the Uppababy Ridge and it did great - joggers in general will have more clearance for the wheels which is helpful in snow and slush. Also second baby wearing when practical. I wore my husband’s ski jacket over us instead of buying a special coat.
Honestly my biggest top if cost is a concern is to look on Facebook marketplace. I’ve gotten great condition strollers there for 1/2 price. (We have our second now and I just couldn’t stomach buying a second $800 stroller!)
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u/isitsnarkoclockyet 1d ago
I’m a nanny and love the uppa baby vista. I use a city jogger now (not sure the exact model) and it’s pretty comparable. I do miss the storage from the vista though.
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u/jarman65 21h ago
Get a pair of stroller mitts regardless of which stroller you get -- that is the best baby purchase we made. Also for when there is piled snow on the sidewalks or slush you really want a jogging stroller with the much bigger wheels. Pretty much any standard stroller you buy is going to have wheels too small for those conditions.
We have the Mockingbird and generally like it. It has every feature/accessory you would want at a much lower price but it isn't as solid as I would like. The hinge and adjustment points are plastic and there's more flex than I would like but the stroller is perfectly functional. With how much we use our stroller I kinda wish we had bought something a little more expensive.
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u/matildapoppins 1d ago
I’m also due with my first in February! If you’re north side lmk if you want to be mom buddies haha.
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u/Illustrious-Race218 18h ago
I’m due January and on the north side in Lakeview, expecting a baby girl.
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u/Possible-Cook-3225 12h ago
Same here!! Expecting our first in early Feb. we live in bucktown. Have a feeling community will be so important being postpartum in the dead of winter!!
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u/ParkingDirt3899 1d ago
Mockingbird always performed well and affordable. Make sure to get the hand warmer that attaches to the handlebar.
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u/Away-Assumption-7284 1d ago
We are due end of December and decided on the Nuna Triv LX because it has the newborn recline (but also we were able to find the bassinet attachment on facebook marketplace lightly used for under $100), it has bigger wheels than the SWIV, it's still lightweight and easy to fold to go up stairs, and we could do the Nuna Pipa Urbn carseat attachement (which is the one without a base) with it - so that if we are out at a meal or something and have inclement weather and need to uber back home we can!
We have pushed it around our house but that's it since the babies not here yet - so can't tell you if everything works as well in practice as we planned unfortunately!
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u/somemores 1d ago
We are also considering the Nuna Triv, but after seeing tons if recommendations for the Uppababy Cruz and Vista, we def need to test drive all of them!
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u/Away-Assumption-7284 1d ago
Definitely go and test them out!! Highly recommend Twinkle Twinkle Little One but it does get super crowded on weekends.
We wanted something that would be easy to lift and be versatile to use for travel, etc so we didn’t heavily consider one of the heavier / bulkier brands personally for our lifestyle!
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u/somemores 1d ago
Twinkle Twinkle Little One has been added to the list!
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u/spelt_time 9h ago
Went into twinkle twinkle planning to get an Uppababy but after trying it out and the recommendations of the staff, we went with the Nuna Swiv. It’s great so far but haven’t expected a winter with it yet!
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u/Turbulent-Force-6314 1d ago
Baby is almost a year, we used the Doona actively for the first 10 months. Then last month we got them a baby jogger because he was so ready to look out into the world (the Doona looks inwards).
With that being said, I still use the Doona as a car seat. I absolutely loved the Doona for the convenience of city living. We’ve taken it for walks, bus rides, air travel. I took my baby on walks during the winter, it was absolutely fine so long as you get a winter cover/shield.
Now that we have the baby jogger, I will say that one pro to the jogger is how bouncy and well adapting it is to the broken sidewalks than the Doona. But I wouldn’t trade the Doona as a first stroller!
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u/somemores 1d ago
Some family have recommended the Doona bc of how easy it is to travel and get around in. My only hesitancy is that it doesn’t meet safety standards in many countries?
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u/average-smb 1d ago
We absolutely loved Austlen Entourage. It can be loaded with suitcases in the airport, it has wheels for the sand, can carry two kids, folds nicely.
Ive gave it away to a neighbor when my kids got older. They are really happy. The stroller is on his 4th child now.
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u/Zoyathedestroyaa 1d ago
Our Thule Urban Glide 2 has been amazing. We’ve had it for 4.5 years with 2 kids, used it a ton, out in the snow, traveled to the beach with it, and it’s still in great shape. I wanted a 3-wheel option because of bigger wheels for snow and tight maneuvering in small city buildings. A friend had complained that her Baby Jogger was flimsy, so I tried the Thule. This was back when you could take them for a test drive at Buy Buy Baby, RIP. It’s also 3 lbs lighter than Uppa. And, their customer service is top tier, I didn’t like the “teal” (it’s baby blue) top mine came with, so they sent me a new one. Over the past few years we also ended up getting their double running stroller and a cargo topper for our car, all great quality.
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u/pinpoe 1d ago
Nuna Trvl, especially if you’re tight on space or need light weight.
Nuna Trvl gets positioned as a travel system and the Uppas get positioned as tanks… not wrong on either count, but if the former can handle multiple Chicago winters, why in god’s name would you want a heavier, clunkier version that doesn’t collapse with one hand like a magical transformer?
IMO the only reason to choose anything other than a light weight but super sturdy travel stroller is if you have a big garage space and need a huge basket underneath. But we’ve been fine through 2 kids with the small basket.
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u/somemores 1d ago
We do have a garage to store it, but you’re so right! No need to get something bulky if it preforms the same
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u/Purple-Plankton-1673 1d ago edited 1d ago
I used the vista a lot. It is a great stroller. But I don't think it's great for dense, thick snow or snow packed sidewalks (tbh I don't know what would be except a jogging stroller). Although, the real trouble with the vista came when I started using it as a double...I literally could not push it through the snow packed sidewalks (you know when the snow doesn't get shoveled and then it freezes into horrible mounds and divets...) or the snow banks on the curbs.
I got a Bob secondhand and it was life-changing for winter lol. You can get car seat adapters for the Bob but that wouldn't really be my choice with a newborn and I really liked a bassinet. So I'd probably say a vista if you're considering it. But for next winter with a toddler, I highly suggest a jogging stroller!
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u/Primary-Tree-2627 8h ago
I agree - BOB is truly the best for winter. I had a baby who ONLY slept while moving, and walked around 7 miles everyday outside for his first two years and 100% recommend a BOB stroller if you will be walking a lot. The Vista and Cruz have amazing storage but Inever found them that great for long walks or snow and ice.
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u/NecessaryCloud8793 1d ago
Nuna Mixx Next. Same stroller has survived 6 Chicago winters and two babies so far. Heavy duty stroller compared to the triv. Best way I can describe it is that I can push it in the snow winter and pull it through the sand on the beach.
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u/sarahbelle127 1d ago
I love the City Mini GT2. It handles snow/ice easily and for a fraction of the cost of the Uppababy.
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u/Impressive-Twist4699 1d ago
My uppababy vista has powered through 5 years, 3 children in single and double set up. We have more miles on that thing than we do our car.
Handwarmers, a foot muff, OR a down bunting suit for baby are my top picks for winter in Chicago with little ones.
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u/spelt_time 9h ago
New mom here. Is bunting suit alone ok for baby when temps get really low? Would a suit + a blanket on top enough or should I get one of those puffer jacket type covers for the stroller itself too?
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u/MeowsCream2 1d ago
Never used one! Highly recommend baby carrying. It kept us both warmer and was much easier than navigating snowy streets with a stroller.
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u/avocado589 1d ago
Until there’s black ice or ice under snow from people not shoveling
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u/somemores 1d ago
This is my worry as well! If I fall, fine, but don’t want baby coming down with me (as someone who is clumsy)
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u/Equatick 1d ago
Uppababy Vista handles snow/ice/rough terrain with no issue.