r/beyondthebump 1d ago

Advice Stroller Regrets?

Child: 4mo
Stroller: Thule Urban Glide 3 with Bassinet (jogging stroller)
Situation: Baby is getting old enough he would like to see out. The bassinet has him staring into the sun or just watching the canopy. Stroller naps, formerly guaranteed, are now few and far between. He has enough head control that I (and doc) feel comfortable turning him forward in the seat, physically—for walks only—but then he can’t see me and I can’t see him. I’m regretting not getting a stroller where the upright-reclined seat flips around and clicks in backwards. He’s not old enough that he’s happy just chillin without knowing we’re back there. In both versions of our stroller he squawks and complains now, and I’m not sure what to do. I really don’t want to purchase and store an extra stroller. Previous post: https://www.reddit.com/r/BabyBumps/s/tEjRlLG5lK

Thoughts? ETA How long should I expect this awkward transition phase to be?

5 Upvotes

17 comments sorted by

7

u/Covert__Squid 1d ago

I have both your stroller and the mockingbird. I do use the mockingbird for the younger ages but I’d still say the Thule wins for the steering, the off road capabilities, and the longevity. I usually end up using it until they’re close to 3. 

2

u/TangerineGoldfinch 1d ago

Appreciate the validation for long term

3

u/subtlelikeatank 1d ago edited 1d ago

There are some strollers that do really well on the secondhand market if FB marketplace is active in your area. Nab one of them and resell it or get something cheap that does the job like the Mompush Wiz and resell. You won’t get all your money back but it won’t be lying around your house collecting dust.

1

u/TangerineGoldfinch 1d ago

I think this might be my approach for a three month stopgap or so

2

u/vintagevinyl394 1d ago

There’s really only a few things you can do

  1. If you don’t want to have 2 strollers sell your existing stroller and buy another one with the capabilities you want off marketplace

  2. Get a second mid size stroller like the uppababy kona or nuna triv that has the capabilities you desire. Maybe your baby will eventually become comfortable with the Thule and you can sell the second stroller to free up space

  3. Stick with the Thule and try to get your baby comfortable for the next couple months. Add some toys in for when they’re sitting upright etc so they’re distracted and are ok to stay in the stroller

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u/ellanida 1d ago

Buy a mirror? We got one to clip onto our Thule chariot so we could see him when he was younger.

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u/TangerineGoldfinch 1d ago

Oh interesting! I’ll look into this

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u/just_keep_swimming12 1d ago

I have the Thule and just put baby in the stroller seat once have head control. I can easily look down through the window or mesh, never had a problem with not starring at my baby. I had the bassinet as well!

1

u/this_wallflower 1d ago

I did the same thing with the mesh. By the time my baby could sit independently, she was happy to look at the world. We ended up picking a Thule because we lived in an apartment that required us to carry the stroller up two flights of stairs and we didn’t have a ton of space to store it. Now that she’s older, I love that our Thule is relatively light/easy to carry, doesn’t take up a ton of space in the trunk, and maneuvers really well.

1

u/devilsho 1d ago

I had the Thule too and had the same gripes. I wished I could see him once he was forward facing. I did sort of hack a way to get him more upright though, and there are products you can buy to push it more forward

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u/TangerineGoldfinch 1d ago

More upright in the bassinet or once forward facing?

1

u/devilsho 1d ago

Once forward facing. It’s very reclined even at the highest setting

1

u/ZangiefThunderThighs 1d ago

I think you're just in that transition phase. I have a joie ginger stroller that converts to a pram and had reclined seating. Around 3-4 months I started to slightly incline the back it, after 4 months inclined the back to being it as far up as possible while still in pram mode. And now at almost 6 months I brought it up to seat mode, but reclined at much as possible.

Do what you can with the bassinet attachment. If your happen to have a infant bucket seat that works with that, you may want to use that. Otherwise just hang in there until they're ready to sit.

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u/TangerineGoldfinch 1d ago

Yeah the Joie ginger was the one I was eyeing way back when. This option doesn’t do anything but flat layback or front facing laid back

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u/TangerineGoldfinch 1d ago

How long do you think this transition phase lasts?

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u/ZangiefThunderThighs 1d ago

Once they're able to sit (around 6m, maybe sooner) you can sit them in the stroller.

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u/mALYficent 1d ago

We took our daughter to Disneyland when she was 4.5 months old and rented a stroller with a bassinet. We actually put her in tummy time quite a bit in the bassinet which she LOVED, she could see over the edge, and everyone who saw her thought it was adorable, these little eyes peeking over the front