Steelcraft Strider Plus

[Peachface]

I had a look at this pram in baby bunting on the weekend. I was convinced that it was what I wanted until I saw the size of it. It seems HUGE. Now I am not so sure.
I'm expecting my first baby in March, and we would like to have our second one not to far apart, so I thought this would be ideal.
Previously we were pretty much set on the strider dlx, but that has been discontinued for this model. It's not that much bigger than the dlx (2cm wider and around 5cm or so longer), but it looks much bigger.
Choosing a pram has been our biggest dilemma so far, as we have no experience out and about with a pram, so we are not sure what is best. We love the idea of the bassinette and car seat, and how easily everything works on the strider plus.
Any advise would be appreciated.

I think the bassinet and car seat are a waste of money. I can see where the attraction is, but a good pram will fully recline so you don't need the bassinet and as for not disturbing the baby whilst taking them out of the car- in my experience, my daughter slept even as I took her out of the car. In reality you would only use these things for a copule of months. Then you need to consider storage of these things once you have finished using them.

[Amaunet]

I loved the travel system part of my pram (the car seat part) (I currently have a Steelcraft Cruiser) definitely not a wate of money for me - I still use it at 5 months and even tho I have only used the bassinette a dozen times or so - it was soooo handy and saved taking a big port-a-cot. (I have mainly used it for sleeping overnight when we went away/out late to friends.

[Peachface]

I loved the travel system part of my pram (the car seat part) (I currently have a Steelcraft Cruiser) definitely not a wate of money for me - I still use it at 5 months and even tho I have only used the bassinette a dozen times or so - it was soooo handy and saved taking a big port-a-cot. (I have mainly used it for sleeping overnight when we went away/out late to friends.

It is not recommended that you use those bassinets for sleeping for more than 2 hours as they don't have the ventilation required.

[murraysmum]

i looked at it and its not pratical for us i found it too bulky

[Laranna]

I used the bassinet on my strider 4 for DS to sleep in until he was 4 months old. Did not get the bassinet with the plus because the second seat reclines flat enough for newborn.

[tuesdaynite]

Best advice I can give is buy a second hand pram! It's very hard to know what's going to suit you, your baby, your lifestyle until you actually have the baby.

The first 5 prams I got were all hopeless for me, I finally got it right with number 6. Number 1 cost $850 brand new, number 6 cost $25 on eBay. I'm probably a slow learner though, most people should be able to get it right by their 3rd pram I reckon!

By buying second hand, if you make a mistake with the first pram or two you get, it doesn't matter so much. You can probably resell them for what you bought them for. Once you've owned a couple of prams and worked out what does and doesn't work for you, you can buy a brand new pram with confidence, or seek out a really nice second hand one.

Also by buying second hand there's no huge financial disadvantage in getting a really convenient pram for your first child because you don't need to restrict yourself to ones that take a toddler seat. Enjoy having a great, light pram while you only have one child and then buy a slightly less convenient pram with a toddler seat option when the 2nd baby is coming along.

I think a bassinet can be handy, especially for when you're visiting people. Little babies need to have lots of sleeps, it can be very hard to fit in a visit if you don't have something for the baby to sleep in! Bassinets are preferable to capsules because at least they're flat. Apparently you're not meant to have a baby in a capsule for more than a couple of hours at a time due to the position putting bad pressure on their spine. If you include travel time plus a nap or two when you're going visiting, that can end up being a lot of time in a capsule.

For what it's worth I think the "travel systems" are highly over-rated. Depending on how quickly your baby grows, you may only get a few months out of a capsule. My daughter was too squished in hers by 4 and a half months old. You're going to have to get a reversible car seat whatever in order to keep the baby facing rearward until their 12 months old (or older if you can!) so rather than doubling up by getting a capsule and then a reversible car seat, just get a really good car seat from day one.

Realistically you're probably not going to go out much in the first 4 to 6 weeks, and by about 4 months old babies are quite alert when you go places and want to be part of the action. That means there's only two or three months inbetween those ages where being able to remove a sleeping baby, capsule and all, is an advantage. And you may find it's such a strain on your back doing so - especially if you have the capsule in the centre of the back seat, which is the safest position - that you won't bother.

[Amaunet]

Hmmm...thread seems to have got off topic a bit - I still think the Strider Plus looks a great P&T alternative with lots of options to personalise as lots of people (me included) LOVE the option of a travel system/bassinette but you don't have to buy it tall (the accessories) to still have a great pram for 1 or 2 kiddies. I am wondering if getting UTD cos I want a new pram (even tho I love the one I have) is a but extreme tho! (only joking - no plans for #2 quite yet LOL)

[Amaunet]

Realistically you're probably not going to go out much in the first 4 to 6 weeks, and by about 4 months old babies are quite alert when you go places and want to be part of the action. That means there's only two or three months inbetween those ages where being able to remove a sleeping baby, capsule and all, is an advantage. And you may find it's such a strain on your back doing so - especially if you have the capsule in the centre of the back seat, which is the safest position - that you won't bother.

This has not been my experience at all LOL I must have been a social butterfly - cos I was never home and the travel system was a godsend. DS is 5 months and 8.1kg (so fat LOL) and still in his capsule - easy to lift in and out from centre posie.

[Laranna]

CF - the Strider Plus IS a great alt to the P&T because it is cheaper and comes with all the accessories as standard.

As for buying multiple prams, if number 2 wasn't coming along then we'd continue with the Strider 4. I did my research before I bought so didn't waste money buying a dozen different prams just cause they don't suit.

[Peachface]

I have to admit that the Strider Plus looks alot more versatile than the P&T, even if you are not interested in a travel system. The accessories from the Strider DLX will fit into the new strider plus (infant carrier and bassinet). It also take more weight, with the main seat tested at taking 20kgs.

[byrcanga]

I have just purchased the Strider plus and I love it, little to get the hang of the folding at first but just love it, I have pic's if anyone wants them mine is all black.

[didispunk]

Wide to me doesnt really matter since the isles in places are made for wheelchair access.

[studymum]

To everyone wanting to fit the old DLX capsule to the new pram, we were having a play around with it in the store the other day, they didnt have the new strider 4 capsule so I went to put the DLX one on and couldnt get it to fit.

The sales lady was as useless as a wet wig and just stood there and shrugged, she couldnt get it to attach either. So I dont know if it was something being done wrong, which it aint that hard, I dont know if it is my useless pregnant brain, but I told DH to have a look next week at it. We have the old DLX capsule given to use and wanted to use it.

[entreat]

I took both the DXL & the Plus for a test-stroll around the shop today & have to say the steering has greatly improved! It did seem very bulky, & I don't know if it fits in the car yet, so we'll test that later.

DH is set on it as he's in love with the capsule & not waking the baby. Personally, I didn't think waking a baby was all that much of a trauma when compared to short-term use of the capsule, & needing to buy a bigger car seat later anyway. But we'll see...

ETA: Don't you have to take the baby out of the capsule once you get home anyway? won't that wake the baby? and I have a sling that I intend to use, so won't be using the stroller as much as DH thinks... Again, we'll see...

[studymum]

I took both the DXL & the Plus for a test-stroll around the shop today & have to say the steering has greatly improved! It did seem very bulky, & I don't know if it fits in the car yet, so we'll test that later.

DH is set on it as he's in love with the capsule & not waking the baby. Personally, I didn't think waking a baby was all that much of a trauma when compared to short-term use of the capsule, & needing to buy a bigger car seat later anyway. But we'll see...

ETA: Don't you have to take the baby out of the capsule once you get home anyway? won't that wake the baby? and I have a sling that I intend to use, so won't be using the stroller as much as DH thinks... Again, we'll see...

I loved using a travel system, we used a capsule for 10 months then went straight to a maxi rider which does up to 27kg, which suits the new laws in qld. I took it out of the car at home to and put it on the floor in the loungeroom until DD woke up again. Also came in handy when out at peoples places and stuff, I used to put DD to sleep in the capsule and just carry her to the car when we went home. Short trips and around the house I used a sling.