Stroller People We Are Not

This weekend, we took a trip to Prague.  It was there, at the zoo, Matt and I were reminded why we are not stroller people.

Shortly after Olivia was born and after we assembled the stroller/car seat combo we had registered for, we realized this. Now, two children (and a third on the way) later, we still feel the same way.

First of all, they are bulky.  Parents pushing those things around tight spaces at the zoo, cramming in between kids and picture takers at the lion, polar bear, and guerrilla exhibit. Annoying!  They take up so much space and block pathways. Often, parents don't even notice the stroller is in the way.

Secondly, we've spent a lot of time traveling abroad.  I don't know why Europeans are so buggy crazy. What, with the bumpy, often narrow cobblestone walkways, cars parked on sidewalks (Portugal), metros without good access to elevators, etc., they seem like a hassle.

We have traveled all over Europe and I can't remember a time we used a stroller for travel. Not throughout Portugal, not in Italy, not in Gibraltar, not in Ireland, not in Spain. In six years, I have probably used a stroller no more than two dozen times. That includes both children and never, if I remember correctly, during travel.

What we use, instead, is a infant carrier of some sort. Matt has a frame pack (Deuter - like a Kelty child carrier) and I have an Ergo Baby Carrier (Matt uses both, actually).  We wore our girls in those and had so much more freedom. No parking a stroller anywhere while we climb an ancient ruin. No blocking narrow rows, no trying to figure out what to do with a stroller when using the restroom. None of that. We threw diapers and extra clothes, sippy cups, etc. in a backpack (or the Deuter) and took off on whatever journey was planned.

That being said, we do have a stroller.  Three of them to be exact. We have a umbrella stroller for when Matt wasn't with me and I had two kids under the age of three. There were times when Olivia didn't want to walk far. I put Lila on my back, Liv in the stroller and took off to easy places - like the park. I've also used it once or twice when I really needed to clothes shop and couldn't try on clothes with a baby on my back. The other two strollers we own are the Chariot jogger. A single and a double.  Matt's a runner - so, it has come in handy for him. Mostly, however, we have used these as bike trailers (they are combo-strollers). Recently, I did get the walking wheel attachment because this jogger comes in handy when it's raining and baby-wearing would be a wet mess (there is an attached rain hood).  The jogging wheel juts out and, while perfect for jogging, not so perfect for maneuvering through a rainy festival. Matt has also used the cross-country ski attachment when we were stationed in Alaska. We love the versatility of this "stroller" however, rarely have used the stroller/jogger component.

So, all over Europe and even the States, we're the "crazy" baby-wearers.  I can't even tell you how many times people have either tried to help me get an infant or toddler on my back - scared to death of the thing, or how many times someone has asked me, "Doesn't it make your back hurt?" NO!!

So, where do I store all the baby "stuff?"  Not in a diaper bag. I've never really used one.  Sure, I've had a few.  Each time thinking "this is THE one."  By the time Olivia was one, I'd given up on them. I stored extra diapers and clothes in the car and used a somewhat bigger purse for storing one extra diaper, wipes and a wet bag. I see really cute ones here, boutique-style ones that sure are tempting to buy. However, I know I'll hardly use it. Ok. It would probably turn into a gymnastic/ballet bag with a couple diapers thrown in. But, I already have a ballet bag and plenty of other bags...So, my only excuse for getting one would be the cuteness. I'd rather spend my money on cute cloth diapers and baby clothes - to be honest.

There are so many things, as a first time parent, I thought I had to have.  Turns out, I didn't need half of it!  If Matt wasn't a runner, we probably wouldn't have even got the Chariot.  We would have gotten a bike trailer and a simple, sturdy umbrella stroller for those rare times I wrote of above.

Recently, someone asked me if I'd have to buy all over again - since we got rid of a lot of baby things before we moved here.  Aside from the crib and car seat, everything we got rid of, we didn't use anyway! At some point, I'll write a post, or a series of posts about that. One things for sure, I will not be ordering a stroller/car seat combo again!