It’s eerily quiet around here after all of the Christmas hub-bub so I’ll sneak in a quick post about one of the most important necessities for baby:  the stroller.

Here is my first pick:

It’s a BOB Revolution Jogging Stroller.  These are best suited for active folks who are going to use their strollers a lot.  If you live in a climate where it snows, the wheels are big enough to tromp through just about anything and my favorite feature is the turn-ey front wheel.  It really does turn on a dime–making it downright easy to perform such feats as open doors by yourself and navigate in large crowds–and you can lock it into place if you’re out getting your butt back into shape on the trail.  They’re solidly built and have some pretty serious warrantees in place for structure and parts.

Think of it as your baby’s first piece of gear.

The only real drawback is that they run about $400.  Ouch.  Worth it?  Yes, especially if you are very active and want your kid to be active from the get-go too.   These also retain their resale value well and are surprisingly easy to find at second-hand sporting equipment stores.  Just make sure it has the swivel wheel.  A stroller is one of your biggest investments so it’s important to choose one that will suit your needs for years to come. 

A worthy opponent:

The InStep Suburban Safari Jogging Stroller.  These run about $120 and offer the same basic features as the BOB.  Lots of storage, swivel wheel, five-point harness, etc.  We have a stroller similar to this one that we found in new condition at a local second hand store.  In comparison, the shocks would be pretty nice and the BOB’s seat is quite a bit bigger so our giant son would probably not be as squished in his winter coat as he is in the InStep stroller.  But the InStep is well made and I feel very confident that it will last through the next kid without an issue.  We probably use our stroller at least five times a week and it’s held up really well, but if I were crazy enough to jog I’d spring for the BOB in a heartbeat.

Not a good contender:

The Dreamer Design Jogging Stroller.  We saw one at a local store and the fabric was so shoddy I wouldn’t trust it to hold an infant, let alone a toddler.  Avoid this stroller for sure.

Happy baby growing!