Stroller Stress

Yesterday I had to go to the big city for a couple of appointments. I had just enough time between my two appointments to make a quick stop at Babies R Us to check out some strollers. We are going to Disney World in September and much to John Wayne's dismay, neither of the strollers we already have, are right for the job. I had a coupon that expired today, so I was on a mission.

I have been doing a lot of research on strollers.

I was feeling pretty confident that the Chicco Liteway was the stroller for us.

It met all of my major requirements:
-reclining seat
-lightweight
-compact fold
-stylish
...and it is a Chicco...we LOVE our bigger Chicco stroller, so that gave it a slight advantage. I felt like I knew what I’d be getting.


But then, I see this stroller, the Aprica Presto, sitting there on the shelf with a big SALE sign on it. I had eyed this particular stroller in my research, but $200 was more than I, or really John Wayne, was willing to spend on a stroller. So I said to myself, “yes, that one is nice,” but then quickly threw it into the category of "the one I'll buy if I can get more money squeezed out of John Wayne" and moved my focus back to the Chicco.

Dilemma.

Here they sit on the shelf at Babies R Us – the Chicco and the Aprica – too close in price to one and other to make cost a factor. You would think I was thrilled, the more expensive Aprica that I had deemed out of reach, was now sitting right in front of me, ready to conquer Disney World. Instead, I suddenly feel loyal to the Chicco and the cynic in me begins to question why the price has been so drastically reduced on the Aprica. There’s only one option, I must try them both out.

I grab the Aprica off the shelf and steer it around the aisles of BRU for awhile, ok, drives good, fine, whatever. One of things that I’m most concerned about is folding this sucker up. I can’t figure it out…nope, not even with the manual that I find stashed in the stroller’s basket. I flag down the nearest person I see wearing the purple polo. She says it’s brand new on their shelves, but she’s pretty sure she knows how. So after my lesson in stroller folding, she is on her way.

I head over to the Chicco. Same thing, a few laps around the stroller department, ok, drives good, fine, whatever. I go to fold it up. Nope, not even with the manual that I find stashed in the stroller’s basket. I go find my friend in the purple polo, who by now I’m sure is thinking, “Really, this lady’s going to take a kid to Disney World…she can’t even fold up a stroller.”

Now that I know how to fold them both up, I still cannot make a decision.
I call my Mom and tell her to Google both of them and give me her opinion. Nope, no help. “They both look nice and have pretty good reviews.”

So I proceed to drive around, fold and unfold each stroller seven times. By this time, I’m sweating; drenched really, mind you I’m in dress clothes and high heels.
But I am beginning to master each stroller like a NASCAR pit crew.

Forty-five minutes later, I’m pretty sure the purple polo crew is having a good laugh back in their break room watching me on their security camera, and am still no closer to a decision than when I first saw the SALE sign. I’m now going to be late to my next appointment; it’s crunch time, a decision must be made, now. So I throw the Aprica over my shoulder and head to the check-out. My decision is finally reached by the fact that the SALE might not last forever. After asking the cashier four times if she is sure that I can return the stroller for a full refund if I change my mind, I purchase the Aprica.

I need your help though, if any of you out there have experience, good, bad or otherwise, with either of these strollers, please comment and let me know. If you don’t have personal experience, but just want to give me your opinion (besides telling me that I am insane, it’s just a stroller) on which one you’d choose, I’d love to hear that too. Please I need your help.

Too bad the Little Lady wasn’t with me…she never seems to have a problem expressing her opinion!