one. Phil & Teds Smart Stroller (Black) – $299 at Baby Bunting

two. Combi Urban Walker Groove Pram (Aqua) – $399 at Baby Bunting

three. Mamas & Papas Sola Fern – $569 at Babies R Us

four. Mamas & Papas Trekbuggy – $169 at Babies R Us – AMAZING VALUE!

five. Quicksmart Easy Fold Stroller – $199 at Baby Bunting

As you can see, you can get a really cool stroller for under $200 easily which is a great option for alot of families.

Buying a quality stroller doesn’t mean buying too expensively, or buying an inferior product. All feature a 5 point safety harness and can be used for kids up to 15kgs (around 4 years old). The Combi Urban Walker Groove Pram and Mamas & Papas Sola Fern is also perfect for newborn babies, so you’ll get the maximum out of your stroller from Day 1.

Why buy a stroller? What about a pram? I think that’s a personal choice – it depends on your where you’re going, how long you’ll be out, what kind of car you have (therefore what boot space you have), whether you want to have a bassinet attachment while they’re young, whether you want one for grandma’s or for the carboot. There are so many questions to ask – so my best advice is to go with what you can afford and what you love at first – and then see whether you think a stroller (especially an umbrella fold stroller like the Mamas & Papas Trekbuggy) would be a convenient second addition to your family.

My stroller checklist would include the 5 point harness, easily foldable so it will fit in my boot with room to spare, a decent sized basket underneath, the ability to fully recline and a good sized hood to shield from the sun/wind/rain.

There are so many colourful and fun strollers out there that I think you’ll have alot of fun choosing from stores offline and online Make sure your stroller comes with warranty and a customer support phone number just in case of any issues (I’ve never had any though). And have fun strolling along!

When it came to choosing a double pram, we had to think about how it would fit into our lives and lifestyle. Do we need an all-terrain double pram, or would we be okay with a lightweight double stroller? Did we need the back to recline all the way down? Would we prefer a tandem (side by side) pram to a limo style one? Will I use it every day? Where are we taking it? Will it fit into our car boot?

Double prams are always a bit more expensive than their single style version, so it’s worth thinking about your own specific needs and whether you can predict alot of use out of it.

I’ve recently sold my Baby Jogger City Mini Double Pram after a couple of great years of use. It was still in great condition but my 4 year old decided he was a big boy now and didn’t need to ride with his sister!

Looking around the internet today, I’ve spotted a few double prams that you might want to check out if you’re on the hunt …

one. Baby Jogger Mini Double 2012 Was $849.95 Now $722.45. Worth noting that you can still buy the 2011 version online for around $399.99
two. Ion Double stroller $789.95
three. Love n Care Twingo Was $599.95 Now $560.00
four. Bugaboo Donkey DUO Was $1,999.00 Now $1,799.00
five. Bugaboo Donkey MONO Was $1,649.00 Now $1,484.00 Great idea if you’re expecting your first baby, and think you’ll have another one soon
six. Twin Rover XT – Carbon $198.00 Best lightweight and affordable stroller I’ve seen

Whatever double pram you end up choosing, have fun!

Strollers and Prams is known to be one of the best websites to go to, if you’re in the market for a pram. They have an extensive list of prams and strollers on file which is very helpful to all parents. They’ve recently opened up their competitions to Australian residents, and for December 2011 they are giving away a Bumbleride Indie and accessory pack (matching footmuff and snack pack).

Bumbleride will be introduced to Australians in 2012, so you might not of heard much about it already. The Bumbleride Indie is an all-terrain stroller, built to tackle any surface while staying comfortable and stylish. It’s suitable from birth onwards and it’s lughtweight aluminum frame folds down to a compact size.

The Strollers and Prams competition is valued at USD$678. To enter, all you need to do is sign up for the Strollers and Prams newsletter where they will email you further details.

Competition is open to residents of Australia and the United Kingdom. Entries close midnight 31st December Australian Eastern Standard Time. Read the full Terms and Conditions.

I dream about owning the Stokke Xplory – have you seen them around? It’s certainly a stand out pram – the design is unique and the standard colour choices for the V3 version are beautiful! (The Xplory I spotted at the Baby & Toddler Expo recently was the Pixel Pink Summer Kit!)

But what I love most about the Stokke Xplory is the height adjustable seat. Most prams and strollers have fixed seat heights, which means baby is stuck further down towards the ground. Taking a child in a stroller to the zoo, out shopping or even out to a cafe with no high chairs, they’re often left out because they’re not at the right height to see everything. The Stokke Xplory allows you to choose the right configuration for you – whether you have the bassinet or seat attached, the choice is yours.

Check out the short video that shows off the features of the Xplory –

The only downside of the Stokke Xplory is the price tag – the 2011 Stokke Xplory V3 is AU$1,499.95 at Go Bubba Go, which is the best price I’ve found on the net today. However, if you’re looking for your first pram that you want to last through your first, second, third or more kids – then it’s definately worth looking into. You’ll get your money’s worth out of this pram!

You can find out more about the Xplory range at the official Stokke website here.
Or purchase your own Xplory online at Go Bubba Go!

Here are just a few that I’m drooling over today –

one. Mima Kobi

I love the futuristic design of the Mima Kobi, it looks like baby is riding around in their own little egg shell! Suitable from birth up to 17 kg, you can also purchase a twin seat for the Mima Kobi, which means this pram will last you a good number of years. Find out more about the Mima Kobi from the official website here.

The Mima Kobi 4 Wheel Pram *Toddler Seat Adaptable* is available at Pram Warehouse Online for AU$1199.00

two. Phil & Teds Smart Buggy

An incredibly cute looking stroller by Phil & Teds – it features a single action ‘slide to fold’ functionality & super compact storage, but also has state-of-the-art aerocore seat so it’s also very comfortable to sit on. The weight limit is 20kg max, which is perfect for kids from 3-4 months to 4 yrs. Even though it’s tiny, you can recline the seat AND attach a bassinet (sold seperately). There is a great video here to check out.

The Phil & Teds Smart Buggy can be purchased online via Pram Warehouse Online for AU $223.20.

three. Bugaboo Bee+ Stroller

The bright yellow canopy has caught my eye! The Bugaboo Bee+ Stroller does come in other great colours, and it’s also a great compact stroller to invest in. The full recline means you can use the Bugaboo Bee+ from birth to 4 years. So cute.

The Bugaboo Bee+ Stroller is available at Bebe Online for AU$999.95

four. Mamas & Papas Mylo

The Mamas & Papas Mylo’s Raspberry & Black colour combo has also caught me eye – I love bright bold colours. But Mamas & Papas have also made the Mylo super easy to use & fold – check out the YouTube video here.

You can purchase the Mamas & Papas Mylo online at Babies Online for AU$1,019.95.

Prams & strollers are always changing year to year and I can’t wait to see what’s new in the future!

The BuggyBoard Mini™ can be attached to a stroller in minutes, with no tools required thanks to the Easy-Fit system. There’s also a Maxi version if the Mini is too narrow. (To check whether it fits onto your stroller, visit the BuggyBoard Fitting Guide website – it looks like either the Mini or Maxi will fit most, if not all, prams and strollers out there!).

It took me only 5 minutes to attach it to my umbrella stroller and we were out and about in no time! Using the BuggyBoard really helps us keep our 3 year old close to us when we’re out – he loves taking a ride on the BuggyBoard!

Babies Galore have the BuggyBoard Mini™ on sale for AU$99 via their online store. You can also find them at Toys’R'Us and Mothercare stores.

Finding a great double pram is easy, thanks to Mothercare. Their website is packed full of great pram options, and they have three affordable double prams available to order online today. Pictured above is –

one. Maclaren Twin Techno Black $599.00
two. Mothercare Twin Vesta 3-Wheeler Double Pushchair $399.00
three. Mothercare Twin Hoxton Tandem Stroller Was $599.00, Now $399.00

I love that the Mothercare Twin Hoxton Tandem Stroller (now on sale!) is an umbrella fold stroller and also has a rear seat suitable from birth. The front seat is perfect for babies 6 months and older who can sit unaided. The Maclaren Twin Techno Black & Mothercare Twin Vesta 3-Wheeler Double Pushchair also great choices – both can support 15kg per child, which will take you to when the kids are about 3 years old (just right for when they want to start walking around more!).

Investing in a good double pram will make your day to day life easier – you never have to worry about how to get your children here and there and whether you’ve bought a quality product. Make sure you consider the different styles (either side by side, or tandem) and test drive a couple if you can.

Check out more great Mothercare products by visiting their website today.

Mothercare
www.mothercare.com.au

This is an amazing sale – Quinny Buzz 4 Pram & Bassinet Package in Groovy Green, was $1,299.95 – now only $399.95 at Baby Zone Direct

That’s a saving of $900!! Make sure you check it out today to avoid missing out

Even the Quinny Buzz 4 Pram in Rebel Red is on sale – was $899.95, now only $289.95! AMAZING.

Pretty much every pram and stroller at Baby Zone Direct is on sale, so make sure you bookmark or share this link with your friends. It’s a keeper!

Baby Zone Direct
www.babyzonedirect.com.au

It’s always time to grab a bargain online, whether you’re looking for clothes, accessories or strollers – the deals are out there and you can snap up something special right now

1. Alex & Ant Red Flower Onesie from Ten Little Indians $34.95 (Use the discount code to get 40% off!!)

2. Coming ready or not teefrom Baby’s Got Style – Was $34.95 Now $23.95

3. bieq (formerly BENK) Red Hand knitted ‘Mia’ Hat at Minifashionista – AU$59.99 (End of Year Clearance Sale – 30% Off – discount applied at the checkout)

4. Tagalong Teddy from Urban Baby – Was AU$29.95 now AU$19.95

5. Fizz Stroller – Marshmallow by Silver Cross from BebeOnline – Was $219.95 Now $186.95

As a mum of two little ones, I’ve been seen walking around with a pram, trying in vain to hold onto a muslin wrap that’s constantly falling off or blowing in the wind. Or on the flip side, I don’t have a wrap or blanket to cover baby’s eyes from the harsh light or wind.

We need a proper solution! Introducing CityShade by CityMum!

CityMum was started by New York City based mother, Micaéla Birmingham, inventor of the CityShade. She created this product for her own baby after being fed-up with shading her stroller with a blanket. Soon, other mothers started stopping her on the street asking where they could buy this stylish shade.

CityShade is compatible with Bugaboo Cameleon/Frog, UPPAbaby Vista, Stokke Xplory, iCandy, Quinny Zapp 4, Peg-Perego: Skate, Switch, Pilko P3, Mountain Buggy (Urban/Terrain), I’Coo Pacific, Bumbleride, Toro Micralite.

They come in different colours/patterns like Paris Pink, Brooklyn Brownstone, Venice Beach, Soho Black, Metro Retro and Tokyo Rose.

They are based in the US, but do ship to Australia – so now you can have your shade and look good too!

CityShade by CityMum
www.citymum.com