Umbrella stroller and/or toddler carrier for walking toddler?

[RoseTurtle]

Hi, just after some advice please.

We have a Joie Versatrax which we love and which will continue to be our main pushchair, however it’s pretty bulky and takes up a lot of space in the car boot, as well as being quite wide so takes up a lot of space in shops etc. My daughter is now 16 months and walking but obviously not for long distances at this age.

Is it worth buying a cheap umbrella stroller for chucking in the car on days out and taking on UK holiday we have planned to save on boot space? Or is it just a waste of money and she’ll grow out of it in no time? As she and we are tall I’ve only found one model that would be suitable at cost of £60, unlikely to find one second hand.

Alternatively has anyone used the hip style toddler carriers, if so are they any good or still jùst really heavy carrying your toddler about?

Thanks!

---

If you’ve landed here while on the hunt for similar umbrella stroller recommendations or advice, our best umbrella strollers guide has been recently updated to reflect current availability and trends. It features a wide range of umbrella strollers as tried, tested and recommended by real parents.

For a deeper dive into carriers, wraps and slings, check out our guides to the best baby carriers and the best baby carrier backpacks. Hope it’s helpful!

I’ve got a cheap mamas and papas umbrella fold buggy. It was about 100 quid. It’s my fourth child and I can’t wait to get them out of the big buggy and into it. I don’t think it’s a waste of money as they can go in it til they are about 4. I retire thr big buggy about 12 months because they are just so cumbersome

£60 is a pretty decent price, I'd go for it. (What is it?)

Hip carriers are not a huge amount of help as you still need one arm. A decent back carrier is a good option if you get on with it, but will be sweaty in the summer and IME they tend to fall asleep in them which might not be what you want.

Also worth thinking ahead when she is 2-3, they do tend to throw tantrums, and while I definitely value empathy in tantrum management, it can be invaluable sometimes simply to have a way to contain them and wheel them to a less stimulating area/away from danger/everyone's staring eyes, and it is extremely difficult to get them into any kind of carrier if they are not cooperating.

Really good point about the tantrums Bertie, she’s already started in a bit on that, refusing to hold hand when walking and also refusing to walk with a harness on.. eye roll!

I do think the price is good, my only issue really is due to her height (she’s 100th centile) I think she’ll just grow out of it so quickly - no chance she’ll fit in one at 4yrs old Walkthelakes!

It’s the Cygnet stroller from Smyths Toys, tried a few out there and that had a higher backrest than the others to allow for naps without her head hanging off.

Consenus does sound like it’s worth it though!

Mine are extremely tall, heavy children and because of that we worked really hard with both to build stamina as we hike a lot. I can’t carry my 2.5 year old any more in a backpack carrier, he’s too heavy (and I’m 5’8 and very fit, lift weights etc).

Because of the height thing I wouldn’t worry about the pram lasting you too long, just get a cheap whatever off Facebook and you’ll probably find she’s out of the pram entirely by 3ish IF you work on stamina for walking over the next 13 months.

We have a second hand Joie Nitro and the older one was in that until 3 and the youngest one still fits although he’s getting to the end! He can happily walk a mile or so (in his own time and on his own terms!!) so they absolutely can do it if you gently build distance over a good span of time

Silver Cross Zest is also on offer at Smyths and might be worth the slight extra unless that was one of the shorter ones you tried.

Remember they grow like weeds during the first 18 months or so then they slow down massively. They go through about six clothing sizes in the first year, then two in the second year and then it goes down to one a year. And their torso doesn't grow as much as their arms and legs do.

Keep your Litetrax even if you don't use it every day if she gets too tall for the stroller you may want it back.

I would be careful with a cheap umbrella fold buggy - they can be quite difficult to push. When my kids were small the maclaren buggies were usually the best and they did last until 4 years old. And my kids were tall. Also quinny did or does one that has a reasonably big seat. Think it was called a zap. I would go for a better buggy second hand rather than a cheap one new. And as others said, just because kids can walk well it does not mean they will be all that co-operative.

Isn't this just a hat? Have you invented a hat by accident

I had the silvercross reflex. It’s suitable up till 25kg.
my son is 4 and could still fit in it now but hasn’t used it since he was 3.5

Also had the cosatto woosh- 1 hand fold and easy to pull along with the handle. Meant when he didn’t fancy being in the pushchair i could fold it up and wheel it along like a suitcase.

just look on fb marketplace you’ll get a good deal. I sold the cosatto for £30

😂

OP, even at 100th centile there'll be loads of buggies that your child will fit in at three and probably even four. Lots could still fit average five or six year olds. So at 16 months, I definitely wouldn't be resigning myself to only using a sling, especially as I totally agree about trying to get an angry toddler into one. And hip carriers will be even more impossible.

Just get the lightweight buggy. Mine were out of buggies at 3 but for 1.5 years of use (more than your current one) it seems crazy not to.