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what stroller do you use in Shanghai ?

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aloha99

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Joined: Nov 20, 2003
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Posted: July 19, 2007 - 10:08 PM
Post subject: what stroller do you use in Shanghai ?

Hi, I'm the proud mother of a 3 weeks old daughter and was wondering what's the best stroller to use in Shanghai. I've heard that local brands aren't really good and that it would be better and cheaper to get it abroad. We live in Puxi and have no car. I plan on using my Baby Bjorn for the first few months but eventually I will need a stroller. I've done some online research but there's so much choice that it's confusing. Do I really need the expensive combi one or should I go for a light one ? How about comfort ? Easy to use ???

Any help appreciated.

booboo

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Joined: Jan 19, 2006
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Posted: July 19, 2007 - 11:42 PM

congrats on your newborn, i think there's nothing wrong with local branded prams/strollers. if you plan to use your pram on the streets of shanghai & getting in/out of taxis, it's going to get trashed much quicker than it would back in your home country, so there's no point in spending a lot of cash on an imported one. for convenience, it's best to go for a very light one that folds up quickly & easily. there are plenty of locally branded ones to choose from to suit your needs. mine is 'Angel' brand & i've been very happy with it.

yu888
Board Deity

Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 17973
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH

Posted: July 20, 2007 - 12:39 AM

Maclaren. We have been using a second hand Maclaren which had travelled to three continents prior to joining our family. Its light enough but lays back enough for a toddler. Been very study. We like it.
before that we used a baby capsul and a foldable stroller base. the baby capsule was a Graco car seat capsule that we used to take our son in and out of taxis. Worked well until he out grew it.

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kimmie

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Posted: July 20, 2007 - 07:20 AM

Maclaren is very nice and durable, but pretty expensive also. We compromised with a Combi, which has the great compact folding features and lightweight of umbrella stroller, but also has larger storage basket. Combi is Japanese made and priced cheaper here than in US. If you intend to use frequently, I'd suggest spending the extra money on a reputable brand that will last longer. The one drawback with Combi I've found is that it's somewhat small (hence more lightweight) and larger babies might find it snug fitting.

Adam7

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Joined: May 11, 2004
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Posted: July 20, 2007 - 09:32 AM

What you need, and I wish they had been available when we had a new bourn, is a stroller with a clip-out car seat. These are available in Shanghai and I would suggest some of the bigger malls, i.e. Superbrand.

The basket and frame/wheels separate and you can take the basket in the car with you. Ideally works with a seatbelt but your baby is MUCH safer strapped into a basket than on your lap. The frame/wheels go in the boot.

NEVER SIT YOUR BABY ON YOUR LAP IN A CAR unless you have your seatbelt on and it's not around the baby.

This is the best option if you are taxing around Shanghai with a baby.

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yu888
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Joined: Jan 25, 2003
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Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH

Posted: July 20, 2007 - 10:12 AM

yes, as Adam says, the snap out capsul I mentioned above is a GREAT thing to have here. Worked for our son for up to 4 mos b/c he was big and out grew it already atthat point but most babies will be able to use it for quite some time. Prtable when taking him in to restaurants and such, snap onto stroller base wne wheeling him around, was great.

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FTM

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Posted: July 20, 2007 - 10:56 AM

I prefer my baby to sit higher up than regular strollers. I dislike being on the street and baby's breathing in car exhaust. Since you'll be using taxis, get something that is light and easily folds.

jesska

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Joined: Mar 01, 2006
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Posted: July 20, 2007 - 12:28 PM

I second the advice to get the snap and go car seat option. We have the Quinny Zapp frame (which later converts to a situp stroller) and Maxi-Cosi car seat which pops on and off. The Quinny is very easy to collapse to nearly nothing, only 5/7 lbs I think and I use it easily in taxis all the time. We bought it in Hong Kong at Bumps to Babes. Later on we will need a fully reclining stroller though.

I would add that the 3 wheel Quinny is easy to get around the narrow sidewalks too and the car seat faces you so less exhaust in the baby's face (or people prying...)

evblell

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Joined: Mar 23, 2007
Posts: 170
Location: Pudong
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Posted: July 20, 2007 - 12:41 PM

Don't buy a Jeep stroller.... They look cute, and My dauther likes the attached toy but they are expensive and bad quality.. I bought it 4 months ago before we moved here and It's almost ruined.

aloha99

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Posted: July 20, 2007 - 02:59 PM

I've been tempted by the Quinny Zap because of its lighweight but some parents told me that it's quite unstable. If the kid turn around to look at his parents it can lose its stability. Also it's impossible to adjust the seat so if the child falls asleep then it gets uncomfortable. But I liked the idea of being able to combine it with the Maxi-Cosy...

I don't mind local brands but the ones I've seen so far don't seem to be as safe as the ones we have back home (safety belt, washable fabrics...). I've even asked Chinese parents on the street if i could look at their stroller to see if it's a good one but I haven't been convinced so far.

rachel_milne

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Posted: July 20, 2007 - 09:52 PM

I recommend Bugaboo. Its easy to manage, sturdy and comfy for your baby. I've used it for my eldest and I'm using it again for my second baby. The downside of it is that if you travel, its not very convenient taking it with you because its not collapsible (you have to dismantle it into two pieces)but apart from that its a great pram/stroller.

profkim

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Posted: July 20, 2007 - 11:40 PM

rachel_milne wrote:

Yes, that and it will cost you over $500.

jesska

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Posted: July 21, 2007 - 12:04 PM

re the Zapp, our son isn't big enough to ride in it as a stroller yet. He is just in the car seat which clicks onto the frame, which is very stable. I'm not sure about stability when you use it later on in the forward facing position, but yes it does NOT fully recline. We are thinking of getting a bigger stroller that fully reclines for longer trips out when kiddo is bigger, but for short trips or travelling on planes, etc, it has been really easy because it collapses down so easily and is very light. Perhaps take a look at the Quinny Buzz, which comes with a bassinet and has a one-button collapse option.

sandgroper

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Posted: July 23, 2007 - 03:13 PM

Two years ago I bought the Goodbaby "swell' travel system. It has a car seat that attaches to the top of a regular stroller.
Advantages: Relatively cheap compared to imported brands. Super strong and sturdy-my second kid is using it now-still in escellent condition. The stroller allows the child to full recline. Machine washable padding.
Disadvantages-the car seat is heavy so you can't really walk around just carrying baby in the car seat; good for your bicepts tho!

carrying your baby in a baby bjorn in the taxi is not safe at all. if the cab stops suddenly your baby will be crushed between you and the seat in front of you.

Have a look at the goodbaby shop in Xui Jia Hui as they have newer travel systems that are lighter and with funkier fabrics etc.. also look at their catalogue at the store-they will get the stroller in for you to look at if they don't have it on display already.

I've found all the goodbaby products very good.

yu888
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Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 17973
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH

Posted: July 23, 2007 - 03:20 PM

Quote:

carrying your baby in a baby bjorn in the taxi is not safe at all. if the cab stops suddenly your baby will be crushed between you and the seat in front of you.

yeah, especially if s/he is still small enough for a baby bjorn, i would highly recommend at least getting the capsule part of the car seat as at leastthen there is a hardshell around the baby in case of issues. We carried babyyu around in the carrier by hand a few times and as sandgroper says, its rather heavy so a stroller base thatt it fits into makes life SO much easier.

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RachaelLau

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Posted: July 26, 2007 - 02:38 PM

I use Goodbaby brand. I think its quite good.

MinniMe

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Posted: July 29, 2007 - 12:03 AM

We've used McLaren Quest and Quinny Zapp.
Quest doesn't fully recline and Zapp doesn't recline at all.
McLaren Techno is better for a baby since it fully reclines. Zapp doesn't have any storage space under the stroller...
I've been happy with both of these.

frosties1

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Joined: July 25, 2006
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Posted: Aug 06, 2007 - 10:38 AM

We are using Maclaren Techno XT..It is really useful if you are travelling to places like Hong Kong which has small aisles. It is pretty slim when it is folded up, making it easy to store at the back of taxis. Remember that some taxis here in Shanghai has big gas tanks at the boot.

Regards.

sh_montessori

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Joined: June 26, 2007
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Location: Qingpu, Shanghai
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Posted: Aug 10, 2007 - 12:48 PM

There is one of those big-wheeled, old fashioned styled strollers in the Goodbaby store on Xizang road, it is really something good-looking but not very feasible or practical. I asked the price out of curiousity. 30,000 rmb!!! Take a look if you get the chance

ash96

Low Seater

Joined: Dec 30, 2005
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Location: Gubei, Rong Hua West Avenue
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Posted: Aug 10, 2007 - 01:08 PM

RachaelLau wrote:

I use Goodbaby brand. I think its quite good.

I think Goodbaby is fine enough.
A friend of mine gave us the Quinny orange with 3wheels.
end up...i gave them to another pregnant friend. Smile

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aloha99

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Joined: Nov 20, 2003
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Posted: Aug 10, 2007 - 08:05 PM

Thanks for all your advice. Yes, I definitely want to use a baby seat when using taxis. But since I live in downtown Puxi I also walk a lot and that's when the Baby Bjorn is useful. Though I have to admit that baby girl is getting heavier everyday. I might start to use the stroller sooner than planned.

MinniMe

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Posted: Aug 11, 2007 - 09:15 AM

If you use Baby Bjorn, you could consider changing it to Ergo Carrier (google for more info). Ergo is always a better choice than Baby Bjorn. Baby Bjorn is never good for small babies back and hips.

yu888
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Joined: Jan 25, 2003
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Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH

Posted: Aug 11, 2007 - 09:57 AM

i've seen the Ergo in action and it seems to be a really nice product, and can be used longer than the Baby Bjorn, which Babyyu grew out of in just a few months...he's kinda a big kid though.

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MinniMe

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Posted: Aug 11, 2007 - 01:26 PM

Ergo is honestly a fantastic thing, it's not the only carrier like this, you can find products with the same idea on the market.

Ergo is my number 1 at the airports when you have to rush from one plane to another, no hassling with the stroller Smile

I wouldn't give it away for 1mio dollars .....

And when Babyyu is old enough you can carry him on your back with Ergo... Our daughter is 10months and if I remember right Babyyu is a couple of months older????