I used to have dreams about owning a bassinet attachement for a stroller!

I was downright giddy the day I found out that Scandinavian Child was sending me the Carrycot bassinet attachment for my Microlite Toro stroller. We've had our Microlite for quite some time now, though not since Connor was as little as Dylan, it's followed us everywhere and it's still my favorite all around stroller. Though now that I have the bassinet attachment it's become my new favorite baby accessory hands down.

Actually I've had the Microlite Toro and Microlite Carrycot in use almost constantly since Dylan was born, just not together which sounds odd but let me explain. Chris works third shift and Dylan's bassinet is right next to our bed so on the day's Chris works I really hate to put Dylan down in his Carrycot while Chris is asleep. At the same time if I put Dylan down for his nap in the crib at the same time Connor is in his room the odds are I'll find both of them sleeping in the crib as Connor has picked up this nasty habit of climbing into the crib lately. Dylan is still just too small and I'm worried Connor might accidently hurt him. So the Microlite Carrycot has been hanging out in my living room as Connor's nap zone. Today was the first day that we really decided to spend a ton of time outside and Dylan was asleep so I just put his Microlite Carrycot on his Toro stroller and off we went. I can't even put together the words as how incredibly nice that was.

We spent almost all day outside working on cleaning up the lawn and lawn furniture for Connor's birthday party this weekend and all the while Dylan napped happily in his Microlite Toro. If we needed to move to another part of the yard I just walked over and pushed him along with us to the next shady spot. Connor got to play outside to his little heart's content and Dylan napped like nothing had changed. Actually once Dylan did wake up he laid pretty happy in his Carrycot and looked up at the tree above him. If you can spot them in the picture you can actually see his feet sticking up out of the bassinet. He was busy talking to the tree the moment I snapped the shot of the Microlite.

The Microlite Carrycot is surprisingly roomy and honestly I think it's easily if not larger inside than our bassinet that sits in the bedroom. Dylan has tons of room to wiggle and I'm certain he will far outgrow it by being able to sit up than size. The Microlite Carrycot is for children under 20lbs or able to sit upright. To use it with your Microlite stroller all you have to do is remove the seat, lay the frame where the seat would have been flat, and attach two adapters onto the frame. I should let you guys know that the adapters that work with the Carrycot are also the same adapters that work with the MaxiCosi car seats which is PERFECT for us as we have both. I just snap off my MaxiCosi car seat and snap on my Carrycot.

The Carrycot also works great all by itself. It's got a rigid frame so its perfectly safe to use as a place for the baby to nap. Without the stroller the Carrycot works just like a moses basket complete with carrying handles on both sides. The one big exception is it has a fully functional and really adjustable hood that can be moved in almost any position you'd like. As well a boot is included that covers the baby while in the bassinet for colder weather. I'm not sure we will get a chance to use the boot in the summer in Alabama but it would have been wonderful when we still lived in Illinois!

The Microlite Carrycot works with the Toro and can be purchased together with the Toro as part of the Microlite Toro Newborn System or by itself as an accessory. If you would like to buy your own you can check them out on the Scandinavian Child online store!


Disclosure: We received a Microlite Carrycot to do this review. My opinions and comments on items we review are always my own and are never influenced by sponsors.

This umbrella stroller is fully loaded!

Connor has an army of strollers fit for a celebrity as his mommy has serious issues when it comes to strollers. Some people are obsessed with cars, some people jewelry, I seem to have a stroller addiction that is downright embarrassing at times as the big question is which stroller should I take today?

Well all the kings horses and all the kings men cannot help us when it comes to taking one of our massive luxury strollers on vacation and I am way to spoiled to accept just any stroller. I've had several lightweight umbrella strollers in the past but I end up wishing I had brought my bigger stroller every time and usually I just make an excuse as to why I don't need a suitcase on a road trip so I can cram my huge stroller in my pretty tiny small suv along with all the other stuff we need any time we leave the house. Connor's babysitter was the most in need of an umbrella stroller as seeing as she only has him two days a week at most and the fact that she babysits his cousin as well, luging a large stroller around is just not practical.

Well I think I've finally found a really affordable really cool umbrella stroller I can totally fall in love with. The Delta Products - Disney Pixars Cars Stroller is super affordable at only $19.99 it's the cheapest stroller in my army of toddler transportation. Though it holds its own against its luxury priced competition as it offers a few key features that makes it incredibly useful and super portable. It only weighs a few pounds and it folds up super small to fit basically anywhere. Usually Connor's Aunt Betty has it in her car as she has banned bulky strollers from her house and she keeps it on the floorboard of the back seat most days.

What really stands out about this umbrella stroller is the xl sun shade it offers. I am really sort of jealous of the fact that this $19 stroller offers a larger sun shade than a good majority of the strollers I have tested that cost 10x this one! The sun shade also folds backwards and virtually dissapers when its not in use and does not affect the size of the stroller when folded. I've honestly seen nothing like it in this price range or even on umbrella strollers this small/light before! Living in Alabama with our hot summers it's by far the best feature I've seen on an umbrella stroller to date.

We've been using the stroller for a few weeks now and I'm very pleased. Connor loves the design and we love the light weight especially for short trips in and out of a store!

You can check out all the products from Delta Children's Products on their website!

I have a Disney Pixars Cars Stroller to give away to one very lucky winner!

o enter : (MAKE SURE YOU READ THE BIRTHDAY POST!! You must be entered into the birthday bash to win this contest!)

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  • Answer the I Spy trivia question "Check out Delta Children's Products website and take a look their childrens products! I spy something that would be perfect for a home who has a new baby and limited space!! Do not leave this entry in your comment all trivi question answers go to contestsatsevendogs@gmail.com. Use the subject "Delta Stroller" Posting "I spy" answers in comments will disqualify you!
    
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The question I'm asked most often about strollers.

A Guide To Travel Systems

A question I get from a lot of Moms-to-be and new Moms is whether or not a baby travel system is a necessary purchase. Combining two very necessary components for all Moms on the go, a travel system typically comes with a stroller and a detachable car seat. Travel systems are designed to provide for a seamless transition from a moving stroller to a car seat as not to disturb the sleeping baby.

The question is, is a travel system an essential purchase, or is it alright to purchase the two components separately? While it's definitely smart to ask your friends for their personal preferences, it's essential that you do some initial research on your own before making a purchase, just as you would a crib. Let's briefly discuss the pros and cons of these travel systems and talk about some possible alternatives.

Benefits of a Travel System

The first obvious benefit of a travel system is its "all-in-one" factor. Travel systems give you both the stroller and car seat together, which if you think about it gives you more for your money. A nice, high quality car seat could set you back around $350 while a top-of-the line stroller can run you anywhere from $500 to over $1,000. On the other hand, a decent travel system can cost you between $200 and $600.

The main consideration you want to take is how often you will be traveling with your baby. If you're staying at home or working from home, you might not think to leave the house except for the occasional errand but you never know what to expect. However, trips to the doctor, emergency diaper runs, favors for other Moms and family excursions all come up unexpectedly. Having a stroller with a detachable car seat makes getting your child securely into the car a snap - literally. Regarding travel systems, convenience is key.

Disadvantages of a Travel System

Some commonly expressed issues with travel systems include the fact that included car seat is bulky and awkward to carry. Most come with some sort of a contoured handle, designed to make carrying easy but the strollers are also designed to fit a very specific stroller which makes the shape and size a bit difficult to manage.

Another disadvantage is price. As mentioned before, a decent travel system will cost you less than $600, so investing up to twice that might not seem like a good use of your money. It's also important to consider how long your child will likely be using the car seat portion of the travel system. Most are good till around 9 months to a year, at which point you'll need to purchase a larger car seat anyway. While the stroller will last you longer, the dual functionality of the travel system is gone and you'll need to spend more money on a new car seat.

Alternatives to Travel Systems

If a cutesy, color coordinating travel system isn't something that you're willing to invest in at this point, rest assured you have some other options. The most obvious of course is a separate car seat and stroller. Just as convertible cribs convert into toddler beds, convertible car seats change easily change from infant-compatible car seat into a toddler car seat.

A Snap'N'Go Stroller is also an affordable option to consider. A universal Snap'N'Go Stroller is essentially just a stroller frame, minus the seat. Simply secure your own car seat into the stroller frame and you're good to go. While these strollers are often labeled as "universal," do some initial research and make sure that your particular car seat brand is compatible. Snap'N'Go stroller frames cost less than $100, making for a guilt-free purchase, allowing you to spend more later on a high quality stroller once your child outgrows the infant car seat.

Whatever You Decide...

Whether you choose to invest in a travel system or should be a personal choice based on planned use as well as financial considerations. While not essential, many Moms swear by travel systems. Whatever you decide let me emphasize the importance of doing some initial research before purchasing. We're talking about the safety of your baby, after all.

Futeristic stroller!

I have a fascination with strollers.. especially those that step outside the lines when it comes to normal stroller design.

The Micralite Toro is unlike any other stroller I have tested. It really breaks all the rules as far as typical stroller design goes which really makes it stand out in public.

The first thing you might notice if you were to see me pull my Micralite Toro out of the back of my car is that its fold is very unusual. It is what I would consider a full sized, fully loaded stroller which means by nature it should be a fairly large stroller but folded its hard to imagine it that way. The Micralite Toro folds down flatter than any other stroller I have seen in its size class. Instead of doing a fold where it breaks at the middle and folds in half like most other strollers in this range it folds flat which has many advantages.

I have really started to prefer a larger loaded stroller over a smaller stroller with less options the biggest complaint I have with most bigger strollers is the amount of room they take up both in my house and in my trunk. The Micralite Toro however folds so unusually that it actually takes up less space than some of the smaller strollers I have gotten my hands on. When folded it measures 39.5 x 14 x 17 which means it will pretty much take up the length wise bottom of most trunks but at a mere 14 inches thick when folded, you pretty much have full access to the rest of your trunk. I safely stack my lighter groceries on top of my stroller with no issues as well as anything else that needs to ride home with us, though please note I do not recommend putting heavy items on top of your stroller, and I barely miss the extra trunk space. The other neat thing about the fold is when the stroller is folded it stands upright with no support. The wheels also move freely if the brake is not set so you can wheel your stroller around the house or out to the car without having to unfold it or pick it up. This has to be one of my favorite features about the stroller as I find its so easy to change it between cars or move it in or out of the house this way. Mind you the stroller itself is very light weighing in at 19lbs its not that difficult to pick up or carry but being able to wheel it is a huge plus.

Unfolding the Toro is incredibly easy. There is one handle that you squeeze together on the back of the Toro that unfolds the entire stroller and folds it back up. No levers, hooks, buttons to push, nada, just squeeze push and go. I can do it with one hand while holding Connor in my other arm. Once its unfolded you can then adjust the backrest from fully upright (almost a standing position which Connor LOVES) to a fully laid back sleeping position. To adjust the backrest you just squeeze two tabs underneath the handles and it adjusts super easy the best part is that there are no straps to adjust so you can basically adjust your child as your walking. I've gotten so good at it now that I don't even have to break stride to tip Connor forward or back. I've always disliked the old fashioned method of having to undo a strap to lay your child back and the way this stroller adjusts sold me on it our first walk around the block.

The stroller will comfortably hold a newborn (with the newborn bassinet or car seat attachment sold separately) to child up to 40lbs. For a newborn the entire seat snaps off leaving just the frame which then squeezes down to form the base to the bassinet attachment. Though we did not get a bassinet to test basically it just snaps into the frame and away you go. I've personally always dreamed of having a stroller with a Bassinet attachment but I've always shyed away as they are just so darn big. The Micralite Toro however is actually smaller sized down for the bassinet than it is as a regular stroller as well as if you add on the car seat adaptor. I can't even imagine how awesome it must be to only have to carry the Toro with you on shopping trips with a newborn. When Connor was still small I brought along this behemoth of a travel system which was impossible to get in and out of my car and actually was so large it made it hard to see where I was going at times.

Included with the stroller is the foot muff for cold weather, the air pump for the back tires, and a rain cover. There are additional accessories available as well to add onto your stroller including the newborn carrycot, a set of all terrain wheels for the front of the stroller, a bug shield, and a carrying case.

The only downsides to the stroller? Not many but if I had to list some the stroller is very back heavy.. meaning that most of the weight of the stroller rests on the back two wheels so if you have your diaper bag draped over the back of the stroller and you take your child out of the seat the stroller will want to tip backwards if you let go. This is mildly annoying but honestly I counter act that by just throwing my diaper bag in the seat when Connor gets out or just pushing the back end of the stroller against something if we are out shopping or at the park. The other two things are actually "fixed" with add ons so its not so much a lack of design just that the Micralite Toro tries to keep cost down by selling the stroller alone. I really wish that all four wheels were pneumatic , aka air filled, and you can buy a kit to make your stroller "all terrain" by converting the front two wheels to pneumatic wheels. We do a lot of walking on our bumpy street and across the grass at the playground and though the Toro is very easy to push regardless of the terrain I'm curious to see if the pneumatic tires would solve the tipping issue as well as make it more user friendly. The other issue is that I really wish it came with the car seat adaptor instead of having to buy it as an add on. Again that's just another feature we would have liked to explore if it had been included.

Otherwise design wise we really love the flat fold, light weight, and Connor adores being able to sit totally upright. It actually gives the stroller almost a "Segway" type appearance which really turns heads.

To get your own Toro head on over to Scandinavian Child and check out their store locater or you can pick one up on Amazon!

Connor is riding like a rockstar!

You may not be all that familiar with Bumbleride strollers, but you should be! We recently got the pleasure of getting to try out a Bumbleride Indie and let me tell you, we are more than impressed!

The Bumbleride Indie comes in a delicious assortment of colors including the seagrass/blue color which reminds me a bit of the incoming tide at the beach. Even though I am pretty partial to the Seagrass its really hard choosing a favorite between the color combinations which in my opinion are some of the best choices in strollers I have seen.

The Indie itself is a medium sized stroller at 20lbs and features a full set of all terrain tires. This gives the Indy one of the smoothest rides you will find on virtually any terrain. I've used my Indie in the yard, on gravel, pavement, and just around the mall and I can't really feel much of a difference in its handling power regardless of the terrain. It mildly resembles a smaller jogging stroller and though its not necessarily designed to be a full time jogging stroller it does feature a lock on the front wheel so you can use it for light running use as well. And though I classify this stroller as a medium weight stroller, in comparison to other all terrain strollers the Indie is easily one of the lightest you will find!

The biggest pet peeve I have with strollers is that many of them lack a decent sun shade that pulls forward to protect the child's eyes regardless of what time of day it is or what possition the child is laying. The Bumbleride Indie meets and exceeds all of my hopes and dreams for the perfect sunshade. Its HUGE, and when fully extended almost extends far enough to cover the entire child. That alone is worth every extra penny you could spend on a stroller as I am a nut about protecting little ones from UV damage both skin wise and on those developing eyes.

The simply awesome sun shade and great tires are not the only things that set this stroller apart from its competition. Its chocked so full of features it would actually take me several pages to discuss them all but I'll try. First and for most the one feature that I have been looking for in a stroller is a universal infant car seat attachment. The Bumbleride Indie features a infant car seat bar that comes standard with the stroller, no extra pieces to buy! Though it may not fit every infant car seat known to man, it will certainly fit most if not anything you throw at it.

Along with that the Bumbleride comes standard with a footmuff that matches the stroller, so if its a chilly day there is no need to stress out if you forget your blanket! The stroller also comes outfitted with a matching removable bumper bar, cup holder, adjustable handlebars (no tools required), a fully adjustable back rest that almost lays flat, not to mention the biggest basket I have yet to see in a stroller.

I really cannot say enough great things about this stroller. The only thing its missing from the Bumbleride Indie to that of a much more expensive stroller is the lack of an optional bassinet, though with the universal infant car seat you wont miss it much. However, if your heart is set on a bassinet check out the Bumbleride Queen B, I think I had a dream last night about a Bumbleride Queen B in that stunning Seagrass color, I know I know I am indeed that much of a stroller nut. I should mention that the Bumbleride Indie does come equipped with an adjustable footrest which adjusts all the way up almost making a foot stop meaning that a newborn can comfortably ride in the main stroller without slipping down. Actually the Bumbleride will comfortably hold a newborn to a child up to 45lbs.

You can visit Bumbleride to find out more about their strollers as well as use their store locator to find a Bumbleride near you and locate them online!

The Mommy Hook.. it sounds like a pirate contraption!

I know what your thinking, The Mommy Hook sounds like something from Peter Pan. Possibly its a device that will allow you to snatch your kid off the recliner before they sky dive onto the floor from across the room? Nah, but it's just as cool.

At first glance the Mommy Hook just looks like an over sized climbing hook like the ones that have become popular as key chains, and yes.. it is for the most part but It does so much more than hold your keys.

The Mommy Hook, well, does anything you want it to but its most useful feature is adding more storage to your stroller. Personally my favorite small stroller is currently the Mutsy Spider and my only complaint has ever been the lack of a large storage basket, not to mention that there is no way on earth that my current purse will even remotely fit in that tiny basket. All I have to do now is slip on my Mommy Hook and I can put as many shopping bags and purses as I can fit on there.

The Mommy Hook is unusual as the back part of the hook is padded with a foam padding. This keeps the Mommy Hook in place and prevents it from sliding all over your handle, as well gives you a comfortable place to grip when you are lifting your bags off the stroller. You can actually just leave all the bags on the hook and put them in the car with the hook in place to make them easier to carry!

The Mommy Hook is available for purchase directly from Keen Distribution for $7.99!

You no longer need a bigger car just or a double stroller!

I was a bit shocked when my cousin told me she actually had to trade in her Honda for a SUV just so she could get her double stroller in it. I personally cannot afford to move up to a bigger car, just in the cost of gas, to get a double stroller in my car. I knew out there somewhere there had to be a better option.

As I did some research on double strollers to my horror I found out that most of them are well over 30lbs. That does not seem like much but if you have ever tried to drag a 30+ stroller out of your car while holding a baby and trying to keep an eye on an insane toddler you have another thing coming. If the increased weight was not enough all on its own the sheer size of some of these folded double strollers is daunting. After a little hands on research at a local baby store I found that a good majority of these double strollers are almost as big folded as they are put together! You trade height for length as they fold and in the end I'm not sure which is better.

I keep dreaming of having another baby.. but all this double stroller business has me rethinking my big plans. Thank goodness Joovy stepped in and shed some light on my little problem.

The Joovy Ultralight Caboose is everything you DON'T think of when you think of a double stroller. It's so far the lightest double stroller I've found at a meer 21lbs it actually weighs in less than some of my high end single strollers. Not to mention the caboose design actually cuts down quite a bit on the length of the stroller.

Its really unusual for a double stroller as its not actually two seats, the front seat is a standard stroller seat which will hold a baby 6 months+ and has a car seat adapter that is included with the stroller, yes I did say included! The car seat adapter is something I rarely see in strollers under the $400 mark at least being included with the stroller itself. The back seat is a bench which is suitable for sitting or standing, and honestly this strollers only downfall is the fact that the back seat bench is suitable for children 2.5 yrs or older. So for those of you who had your babies a year apart this may not be the stroller for you at least not at first, however for those of you who at least have a two year age gap, bravo!

Some of the other features that really impressed us : The Joovy Ultralight Caboose has a super large canopy in the front seat, its big enough to really give good coverage but not so big that it gets in the way of the back seat. The front seat is actually really padded and will accomidate a child up to 45lbs, as well the stroller comes with a removable snack tray which is big enough for a small toy or treats. The back bench is fully padded so even though the older child is stuck facing backwards they won't be uncomfortable as well it does offer its own three point harness for those times when you really want them to stay put.

The last part of this stroller I should really share, it offers TONS of storage. There is a fairly large sized storage bin underneath the seating which is accessible via the elastic mesh or through the back bench if a child is not present, as well as a storage organizer between the handlebars which also holds your drinks, and even a cool little organizer right behind the front seat which is a great place to store small things for the child in the back seat or just your coupons for shopping!

I can't honestly think of a single thing I would add, which is a first for me! I even love all the color options!

You can read more about the Joovy Ultralight Caboose on the Joovy website as well you can purchase your own Joovy by using their store locater or you can buy the same model we have on Amazon!

Blog Bash - Barebabies is a mother's dream come true!

Barebabies believes it's never to early to pamper. WIth an array of products from the "hottest" names in the juvenile goods industry, Barebabies pampers moms and babies everywhere!

One stop shopping is offered from everything from gear including strollers, high chairs, bouncers and walkers, car seats, carriers, and even bikes, trikes and vehicles. Shop for furniture and bedding and any and every baby essential including breastfeeding needs, bottles, toys, diapers and diaper bags and more!

I've been drooling over their store for months, but when I came across their trike selection I seriously did a major happy dance. I have had almost a life long obsession with Kettler children's products and I have always known when I had kids the first major purchase I had to get for them would be a Kettler Trike. The bright colors, solid build, and great line of accessories has always left me wanting one for myself, but sadly I think I outgrew them about 25 years ago.

Connor finally received his Kettler Air Navigator from Barebabies only a few weeks before his party. I was actually a little hesitant to open the box at first. I've been waiting so long to get this trike that I was a bit worried it might not live up to all the expectations Ive been putting on it all this time. After only a few minutes of assembly I knew right away that it was everything I had hoped for and more!

The Kettler Air Navigator is incredibly well made and fully adjustable from a one year old to a five year old. Connor is still just a bit too young to ride it on his own, but with the help of an add on seatbelt and the push bar, we can ride all over the yard and road and he thinks he is doing it all himself!

Well to make a long story short, I ended up deciding on an Kettler Air Navigator. The super big wheels is perfect for our super bumpy driveway, and it comes complete with a push handle so you can push when your little one gives out (or can't reach yet!). It took me only a few minutes to put it together, which was really surprising as I was sure it would come in a zillion pieces! Once it was all together I sat back and admired my new Trike (ok Connor's new trike!) and you know what.. its worth it.. and a zillion times more. Even our super bumpy driveway and road is no match for the Kettler Air Navigator's large wheels, unless hard plastic wheels the addition of the super large

Since we have pushed it around the yard and up and down the driveway, I am still waiting to get our seatbelt attachment so I can take Connor out on the road without fear of him falling, but I can 100% happily say that my "special" trike lives up to all of the hype! Super solid in construction, I am sure this Trike will outlive me unless I have a herd of boys to abuse it, and the many accessories that are available, including a seatbelt, bell, and front basket gives you a bit more flexibility than other trikes. Though honestly my favorite feature is the tandem ability. If you end up having two children in the right age range for the Kettler you can easily buy an tandem addition which easily expands your Kettler Trike into a two seater (or even a three seater with two tandem additions!!)

Barebabies offers a large range of Kettler Products in their online store.

Barebabies actually sells most all the products I reviewed this week including the Wheely Bug, Mutsy Spider Strollers (still on sale just a few more days!!), the Loft Rocker, the Natural Mat, and those great Kushies toys!!

Seeing as Connor's dad just got his acceptance into the police academy this week (still just pending one last doctors visit), I need to start saving my money to get Connor the Instep Police Petal Car, how cool would that be?


Shipping is free on orders over $99 at Barebabies!

Blog Bash - Mutsy Spider

There are so many things I wish I had known before Connor was born that I know now, and the diffrence between a good stroller and a cheap stroller is really one of them.

When I was preparing for Connor I did a lot of stroller research, I actually ended up getting a really expensive (at least to my standards) travel system as the car seat had exceptionally good safety reviews. I only wish I had known now much I would hate the matching stroller and that there were other options available other than just the generic travel system. For what I had my grandmother pay towards that stroller and car seat combo I could have invested in a really great stroller and bought the car seat separately.

Well to make a long story short I have gone through several strollers none of which have quite made me a happy camper and the investment at this point would have bought me a really great luxury stroller instead of a bunch of "ho hum" contraptions.

I had my eye on the Mutsy Spider almost from the beginning and I dismissed it as its not quite as small as an umbrella stroller and it didn't have a car seat adapter, but I couldnt help coming back to it as I LOVE the look of the stroller, as well as the color options, and I had heard some great stuff about it from friends who live in larger cities who see it much more often than down here.

Its three wheel design, and great color choices makes it highly desirable from a fashion standpoint, but what I didn't realize is just how much of a difference a quality stroller would make in my daily life. Our last stroller though it was a pretty fancy umbrella stroller was difficult to steer, impossible to use on rough surfaces (way too bumpy of a ride for the road in front of our house), and lacked absolutely any style. My new Mutsy Spider in ocean blue however is everything I wanted in a stroller and much much more. That super clean looking three wheel design actually adds the incredible ability to turn the stroller with a flick of a finger, I can literally steer our stroller with my elbow while in the middle of a busy mall without even hesitation as to if I am headed in the right direction, my old stroller would not turn so easily so many times we ended up doing a big circle just to change directions in a store or a mall. The other issues we have had with strollers in the past is the height of the handles, I am very short and Connor's dad is tall, a stroller that will fit me nicely ends up forcing him to almost bend down to push it so there was never a happy medium. All of the Mutsy strollers not just the spider offer adjustable handle bars. Honestly I actually am most comfortable on the highest setting as well though Connor's family constantly stealing him for weekend overnight trips they have enjoyed the adjust ability as well. Some other features that really impressed me :

• Adjustable harness heights, this stroller like many car seats features the ability to move the harness up and down (through slats in the stroller) to fit your child's height and age range. Its especially nice for the little ones like mine!
  
• A flip up foot rest, when your child is still small you do not have to worry about their legs dangling uncomfortably off the end of the stroller, the Mutsy Spider offers a flip up foot rest so even little ones are comfortable!
  
• A recline setting, I found this unusual for a stroller in this size range. Though it will not recline totally flat it does recline enough that a sleeping toddler is more than comfortable! The sunshade also is wide enough that it offers full coverage even in a recline.
  
• A basket!! This is SOO unusual in strollers of similar sizes. Though its not as generous (see complaints below) as a full sized stroller's basket it does the job and its a nice added bonus.
  
• I have to admit, its also really nice to have people run you down just to ask you "What kind of stroller is that and where did you get it?!".
  

I can say there are only really two small complaints I have about the Mutsy and believe me I wouldn't even dare think about giving it up in exchange for two very minor flaws. The first thing I noticed in our first outing was the sunshade would not fold down all the way to cover Connor's eyes completely from the sun. If Connor was not so short this would not be an issue, but he sits much farther down in the stroller than an average baby of his age and the coverage is not as good for him. This could be easily fixed with an additional sunshade, I just have not gotten around to buying one (from an outside company). The other issue is though I consider the fact that the Mutsy Spider has a basket underneath a luxury as most strollers in this size range do not, its a bit tight against the stroller so it will not fit my diaper bag. It does however fit purses, our small changing pack, and other smaller things. Its also a great place to store those emergency toys. I honestly can't complain too much about it as it would be hard to find another stroller in the same size/design with one at all.

All in all the Mutsy Spider certainly held up to all my expectations as well as exceeded them in many cases!! If the Spider is this great I can only imagine how amazing it must be to own one of their larger models. I dream of owning the Mutsy 4 Rider one day.. talk about a stroller that meets all your needs and exceeds them. For any of you that own it.. I'm jealous!

If you are not familuar with Mutsy you really need to check out their new high chair and booster seat line as well. The Musty Easygrow and Mutsy Grow Up not only come in a yummy selection of colors but are one of the most fashion friendly feeding accessories you will find. The Musty Easygrow is also one of the first fully adjustable high chairs I have seen in a compact metal frame. For those of you mod mommies out there, I promise you will be drooling on your monitor when you check out all the great color combos!

Can't resist Mutsy? Barebabies offers the entire line of Mutsy products!! The Mutsy Spider is on sale right now for $149!!! There is only a few more days left on the sale so if you want one.. RUN over there right now!! (Thats $100 off the regular price!!!)