This is it

OK, this may not be it forever. I would love an ABC mainly but any single that can take a toddler seat and board at the same time. I say the ABC b/c I like the toddler seat above rather than in the other riders way. There may be a Zapp or some other smaller single when I only have 1 older rider too, who knows. But for now this is what serves it's purpose best. Truthfully everyone raved about this and I dismissed it when I was shopping for our first doubles. But looking back I am not sure I would have felt the love as much had I gone straight from the features and convenience of a Peg Perego to this. The recline is a pain, the canopy is lacking, the 2nd child not reclining, having to put on the 2nd seat or reach through the whole whenin newborn/toddler, etc. But since I spent months pushing double wides the love for what this gave me was instant. I could push a single and still fit 2 kids. Not only push a single but a single with air tires so it was easy to push even with 2 kids in it. When only 1 was riding it didn't matter b/c I was still pushing a single but then suddenly had tons of storage space. Or I could not even bother to put the doubles on for a quick ride into Walmart. With the doubles seat on the front when he was just learning to sit up it made a great high chair too b/c it offered enough support that even unable to sit he could sit in it unlike restaurant high chairs plus I could conveniently store the diaper bag in the newborn section then to be able to easily reach a bib or wipies. When baby #5 comes I am not sure what we will do. All my babies sling ride for quite some time and Sarah likes to walk and listens well but she is small so may get tired, who knows. I may search for that ABC with toddler seat and board or maybe switch to another side by side with a board. I have to wait and see how she walks and how the baby likes the stroller. Though the new Phil and Ted's Dash is really calling my name, gotta wait for reviews when it comes out. For now this is our 1 and only. The Milano is at my sisters, the P3 we use for travel and the Navigator we use for getting dirty, those are the only 4 strollers we currently own. This is the Phil and Ted's E3, version 2 with doubles kit in Navy from 2006

Pliko vs P3

Well, I couldn't help myself. I didn't like the Mac and missed my Pliko. I wasn't in the market for a single but for only $48 I found a P3 and couldn't resist. It is our travel stroller, Sarah walks or Joey walks or someone rides on the step or in a carrier. I like it OK, it does steer slightly better than the Pliko though the wheels on my Pliko were worn so that may be the reason. The P3 does have an enclosable seat, tray and takes an infant carseat. But a lot more plastic on the P3, the Pliko looks more classic and classy plus feels sturdier. The Pliko though has PVC lining on the hood and legrest though, nice for rain but PVC isn't good for you or the environment they say. My Plikos PVC ripped in the legrest too. I did like the PVC window on the Pliko better too, you can't really see in the P3s window. Not to mention it is the same red everyone has. But it definetly serves its purpose better than anything else. It is a 2004 or 2005, can't remember, I know there is a specific name for the color but can't remember that either.

The Doubles

With a 3½ yr gap and a 5 yr gap my only experience with doubles was never full time. The 1st double I remember was the Peg Perego Twin Tender my charges had when I nannied before kids. I had a Kolcraft giant side by side briefly when Emma was a toddler and I watched another toddler but the beast had to get into the mall through the package pickup at Sears. My sister had a Graco Duoglider for her 1st three kids and I used that on occasion when I watched them. NONE if these strollers pushed easily So for my sisters 4th we set out to find something less beastly. Especially since her new minivan didn't have room for the Duoglider. The Combi Twin Savvy came most recommended for size without sacrificing features so we got her that. But recommendations weren't enough for me. I researched like crazy. The Phil and Teds E3 came most recommended but I wanted something with 2 reclining seats. The Combi's enclosable seat really appealed to me too since I had always driven singles which had that. I compared though, I test drove the Mac and it didnt compare. I test drove the Combi Counterpoint tandem too as ppl said th 3rd set of wheels helped but not enough. The Combi had the best push. Combined with a full recline, no tippiness and enclosable seats I got that. I knew it wouldn't work for soccer though. But I figured a used one plus an Instep was still much better in my price range than a Mountain Buggy. So for soccer I got an Instep Safari TT double. The Combi Twin Savvy I got on ebay and was had. I decided to accept partial refund and fix what I could so I ended up getting it for around $40 after you add in cost of parts. I fixed the bent axle, got a new (used) parent pack and cleaned it all up. The Instep I got quite a deal on. Walmart.com had it for $139 with $4.99 shipping special. It wasn't working though so I emailed and ultimately called to get the deal which they gave me then removed the shipping deal and the sale didn't even last long. When used were going for over $100 on ebay I think under $150 new was a good deal. Even though the Instep was heavy and cheaper, it was my 1st air tire experience and all I can say is WOW!!! But when I found Joey in the sling most of the time and/or Sarah walking so here I was pushing a half or completely empty double wide all the time I decided it wasn't worth it, there had to be a better way so away they went.

Peg lover at heart

I sadly ditched my wearing Pliko to get a pink stroller. The Mac was $100 cheaper than the P3 and everyone loves the Mac so I decided to try it. I never did feel the love though. Yes it was awesome to push and folded small and easily but after 8 years of a Pliko I couldnt get over the canopy, tippiness and less features. Then when I was pregnant and would need a double this had to go. This 2006 Pink Fleur Mac Quest only lasted a couple months

Where was the love?

I can't believe these were readily available when my oldest was young yet I didn't even look at them b/c I thought they were too low to the ground, unpadded and yucky. I have since found the pram love. I would have kept this late 90s Emmaljunga Viking if I could have found the bassinette and toddler seat. But it sadly was parted out during the singles purge.

My beloved Milano

After I realised Peg Peregos were worth it I fell in love with the Milano, it and a wicker Peg Perego pram were the 2 strollers I have fallen in love with at 1st site. At $300 I just couldn't justify the purchase to myself. With my 1st b/c I had 2 Peg Peregos and she was not a tiny baby anymore. With my 2nd I wasn't sure if I would need a double later so couldn't justify it either. My 3rd was after a 5 yr gap though. Sisters both in school full time. I figured if I didnt buy my Milano I would keep having kids till I got one :-) So I stalked ebay. I was looking for a newer XL for under $100 but when I saw this original in green just like my Pliko I couldn't resist. Starting bid of only $25 I thought it might go low since it was pickup only. Little did I know how low it would go. I actually felt really bad even bidding. You see it was pickup only in Palm Beach and during the auction one of the hurricanes hit, knocking out power and for many even phone and cable so there really wasn't anyone to bid against me. I could bid b/c I wasn't in Palm Beach but my family was and though they were without power for a week they did have cell phones that worked the whole time. So I won the Milano at starting bid. I justified it as, I would pay more for it if someone had bid and really wanted it, what if they didn't relist, besides there was no reserve and they started the bid there so it must be the minimum they want for it. When I needed to get doubles I needed to purge singles per my husbands orders. I could not get rid of this, it went to my moms house instead though is currently at my sisters waiting for her new baby. I am hoping to fix the fold on my other sisters Milano XL and swap it out to have this one back. My guess is this is mid 90s Milano since it has the smaller removable basket plus I think that is the only time they made a green chassis

Graco Navigator

This is the one Graco stroller I still have and like. I got it used for $20-$25. It is a nylon type material w/ no pad so hoses off easily. A mesh and PVC basket do the same. Large fixed wheels will handle anything. They are not air tires though and it does not have shocks, the basket also leaves something to be desired but it makes a perfect get down and dirty stroller. Besides I could never make enough money on the sale to justify selling it to someone who wouldn't appreciate its uniqueness. It was only out a year, maybe 2 in the late mid 90s before it was replaced by a not as nice swivel wheel version.

The Combis

I don't think I have pictures but if I find some I will post. I had 2 different Combi Savvys in navy during my Plikos reign. I kept thinking I would like something smaller for travel so whever I found a good deal on a used Combi I bought it. I could never feel the love though. The Pliko wasn't a big fold so every time I traveled I had room for it and wanted it's features so ended up bringing it and having an unloved Combi sit in the closet for months before I would break down and sell it.

My Peg Perego Pliko

Was on clearance for $180 from $199 in 1998. Plus it wasn't yet another navy stroller. It was green, very sharp. That stroller had all the features but a reversible handle yet folded smaller. It quickly went from my WDW/travel stroller to my every day stroller. It was my main stroller from 1998 until 2006 when I sold it to get my pink fleur Mac Quest. I sold it to someone I know though and miss it, I contemplate seeing if I can buy it back frequently. I haven't seen another green since, the closest was the green dot Milano I found used in 2004

The rest

OK, after the Domani I won't say I didn't try to love Graco. I got a used Literider cheap at consignment as a spare stroller for my mom. It again was the typical pastel Graco print. It had a removable plush seat, front bar, nice basket, canopy and 2 position recline but it just wasn't a Peg Perego. For our 1st trip to Disney World with baby I wanted something lighter so I got an even lesser model of the Literider, it was a navy and white dot, no recline but did have a basket and canopy. Turns out we needed a recline, then I learned there were more strollers than just the ones carried by Baby Superstore. I found Baby Love; they carried C0mbi, Inglesina, Maclaren, even Silver Cross and lots more. I was nannying for a child who had a Combi Savvy in Leopard print. It was quite attractive and folded small so I thought that was what I needed for WDW. Then I got to Baby Love. I checked out the Combis but, even though I drove one regularly for my charge, I couldn't get over the flimsy feel. So I looked at Macs but the seats were so low. Then I saw the Peg Perego Plikomatics, JUST what I need. Inglesina also had a very similiar model that I really liked for around the same price but the Pliko had just come out with the rear step and I did want a 2nd child one day. And I had never heard of Inglesina back then but knew I loved Peg Perego.

My 1st Peg Perego

Or what I frequently refer to as my 1st "real" stroller, was a navy and white dot Peg Perego Domani, info and pics coming soon.

What led to my beliefs

I don't have pictures of every stroller that happened between the 1st and the Peg Perego, many I owned a few weeks, maybe month at most so didn't have time and I didn't really like any enough to consider them "my stroller". After the wheel issue with the 1st I exchanged it for the exact same model. It lasted 3 wks. I exchanged that one for the exact Graco that Consumer Reports rated #1 thinking it would do better. It was one of those typical pastel print Gracos, a step down from my 1st. It, however, did have 4 sets of steerable wheels so you could steer with the handle reversed. Not only did we have wheel shimmys with that but the basket was different on it, not as sturdy so hung down more. When the wheels were steering in front w/ the handle reversed the wheels rubbed on the basket. Back it went. Back then Kolcraft still made strollers so we tried that. A nice navy Kolcraft carraige stroller similiar to the 1st but just navy dot. I really liked the wheels on that one and 4 steerable wheels that didn't rub. But the handle didn't stay in place when reversed, it would pop out of place, back it went. By this time Peg Perego had d/c the Domani to replace it with the Amalfi. So when I went back to Baby Superstore the Domani was on clearance for $144 (originally $199). The 1st was only $139 so I figured, what the heck, there wasn't much left to try for only $5 more I will try a Peg Perego. I will say the difference was night and day. I will find a picture of my Domani and make that a seperate post soon w/ a description.

My 1st Stroller

OK, not the best picture but it has been 12 years so this is a scan of an old photo. You can tell it's a Graco. I fell in love with the pattern of this Graco when pregnant, of course it was the most expensive Graco they had at Baby Superstore (now BRU). But it didn't touch the Emmaljungas, Combis, Apricas, and Peg Peregos they carried there back then. I couldn't understand why someone would spend so much on a stroller when you can get a nice one for so much less. So much to learn. This Graco I never saw anyone with back then, I once saw the matching Literider but never this one and I have never seen it since. Sounds weird huh since it is just navy. But it isn't just navy plaid or navy dot, etc. You can barely tell when I crop into the picture but those are not dots those are very simple line drawings of a flower. This stroller was plush, fabric removable and washable. Like most strollers back then the handle reversed which was a really nice feature. It even had the boot you see, a nice basket, easy to fold, nice canopy, full recline. BUT when you reverse the handle the front wheels didn't swivel so you had to steer from the rear. And it was only 3 months before the wheels started shimmying in use. And I dont mean a gentle vibration that keeps baby asleep. It was then that the horrible quest started.