One travel nightmare that many parents don’t think of is what they will have to do with their strollers; neglecting to find out your airline’s travel policy on them is almost a surefire way to create a hassle that you just don’t need while traveling with your young child.  Oh, and don’t forget… if you’re going to check your stroller in baggage you should make sure you get a quality stroller travel bag.  Preferably a bag designed for your stroller.  The airlines and be brutal on strollers and you don’t want your frame marred or your fabric ripped…or worse.  We have seen and hear it all.

All airlines place some stipulations on bringing strollers on as carry-on luggage and how much it costs to check them. If you don’t know the rules, you could end up having your stroller turned away or being charged a hefty fee to bring it on board.

In the latter portion of 2011, American Airlines made major changes to its rules regarding strollers, becoming the first of the biggest airlines in the country to introduce very detailed regulations about strollers based on both their weights and styles.

The new American Airlines policies, which are now fully enforced, are as follows:

-          Umbrella strollers are permitted as carry-on baggage, provided they fit in the overhead storage bins. They do not count against your carry-on baggage count. You also have the option to take your umbrella stroller all the way to the gate and have it checked as a bag for no fee.

-          Fully collapsible strollers that weigh less than 20 pounds are not permitted as carry-on baggage. You can check them at the ticket counter or at the gate for no fee.

-          Any stroller weighing over 20 pounds, large jogging strollers and travel systems that do not collapse can only be checked at the ticket counter. Gate checking is not permitted. The baggage fee is waived, provided the child using the stroller is traveling with you.

Some industry experts believe that this change in American Airlines’ policies will spark other airlines to place stricter regulations on strollers. Before you fly, make sure you check your airline’s website for the latest regulations. For your convenience, we have included the regulations for the other largest airlines in North America, updated as of January 2012.

-          United Airlines – Collapsible and umbrella strollers are not permitted as carry-on baggage. They can be checked at the gate or the ticket counter for no fee. Non-collapsible strollers are check-able only at the ticket counter. There are no weight rules beyond the FAA rules for checked baggage.

-          Southwest does not permit carry-on strollers. Strollers of any size may be checked at the gate, ticket counter or curb and are not assessed a baggage fee. There are no weight rules beyond the FAA rules for checked baggage.

-          Delta has the same policy as Southwest regarding strollers.

-          Jet Blue allows passengers to bring any type of stroller onto the plane as a carry-on, provided it fits in the overhead bin. The stroller does not count against the carry-on allowance. The airlines will check strollers for free at the gate.

-          Air Canada‘s policy is to check all strollers that are 10 inches by 36 inches in size or less when collapsed at the gate for free and then deliver them to passengers at the gate when they reach their destination. Larger strollers must be checked at the ticket counter and are counted toward your baggage allowance. A fee is assessed to check them.

You might also want to check the TSA’s site for any restrictions they may impose.

Mountain Buggy Free Rider Video

mountain Buggy Free Rider Board

Pre-Order Today!

Talk about “out with the old and in with the new” or “that was so 2010″; Let’s Go Strolling is proud and thrilled to be one of the few retailers to introduce a sneak peak at the Mountain Buggy Free Rider that truly takes stroller ride on boards to the next level!

So here’s the deal, The Mountain Buggy Free Rider won the Kind + Jugend 2010 (the leading global fair for the baby and juvenile products industry) Innovation Award for the first 2-in-1, click and go scooter and buggy board that allows a child to ride close (buggy board) or free (scooter mode).

Huh? I know, super cool, simple concept, multi functional and at the same time perplexing why it was not thought of before!

So, picture the family travelling to the park. Mom pushing the stroller, older sibling “in tow” (on Free Rider buggy board) THEN once you’ve arrived, simply unhook the free rider from your stroller and within seconds (no tools required) your child can scoot independently just like any ride on scooter would allow them to! Look Out Razor Scooter!

Why We Love it
The versatility, value and life of the Mountain Buggy Free Rider really can’t be beat. At a competitive price of only $99.99 you have both a ride on board for your stroller and also that highly sought after preschooler vehicle called “the scooter”. That will last for many, many years!

The colors will appeal to both girls and boys, which is a refreshing twist for ride on boards; including pink, blue, black and orange.

Compatibility is still unconfirmed but my sources say there will be other strollers thrown into the mix of Mountain Buggy Swift, Urban Jungle, and Urban Jungle Duo. Stay tuned or call for more details and information.

• weight: 5 lbs
• weight load: 45lbs
• width: 8 inches
• length: 2.2 feet

So what do you think of the Mountain Buggy Free Rider? Can you see yourself owning one?

Post your comments and questions we LOVE to hear your thoughts!

Happy Strolling!

Don’t like some of the ingredients you find in your store bought baby food?  Now you can decide what goes into your baby’s diet….minus all the additives and preservatives.   This is an awesome mommy tool and makes an absolutely WONDERFUL gift for that special mom or mom-to-be!

Beaba Babycook

How can you win this awesome baby food maker and turn yourself into a Kitchen Ninja?

To win the your very own Beaba Babycook just read our contest details below and start thinking of great recipes to prepare. . .

To enter you must:

1) Make a comment on this blog with what you think about making your own baby food.

For extra entries you can:

2) Sign up for the Let’s Go Strolling newsletter at www.letsgostrolling.com then leave a comment below letting us know you did.

3) Tweet about this giveaway and make sure to @reply @strollingalong.  Then leave us a comment letting us know you did.

4) Become a fan of LetsGoStrolling on Facebook (Click here to find our fan page) and leave us a comment letting us know you did.

5) Sign up to receive our blog daily via email or RSS reader and leave a comment letting us know you did.

6 Blog about this giveaway and www.letsgostrolling.com and then make a comment below with your blog link to this blog link.

That’s about it! Enjoy!  We’ll choose the winner on December 10th so you could be getting a brand new Babycook just in time for the winter holiday food festivities!

It appears that they have had 185 reports of the Zooper Tango’s frame latching mechanism failing.   Lan Enterprises says that the recall involves Zooper Tango double strollers with model numbers SL808B and SL808F made between January 1, 2007 and April 30, 2008.  Zooper has produced a free repair kit you can obtain by calling 888-966-7379.

Zooper Recalls Tango Double Stroller

–Happy Strolling!

Click here for the  direct link to the Bugaboo Bee Plus

Happy Strolling!

For weeks i have been bugging Bugaboo about when I could show our awesome readers the improvements to the new Bee Plus stroller due out April 1st.  Well our amazing Bugaboo rep called and finally gave me the green light.  Awesome huh?

Except I’m on vacation.  But now worries I have my laptop.  Think again! I forgot to download the video to my laptop before leaving.  My footage is sitting happily on my flip right now snoozing on my bedside table!  Sorry guys! I’ll post it to the entry as soon as I return.

In the meanwhile, I’ll share the highlights here.

Pros:

* Much easier to reverse.  The complicated 20-step seat reversal is a thing of the past!  This means you can easily flip the seat if siblings are sharing the stroller and prefer to sit different directions. That being said I kept it rear-facing for 18 mos with my daughter and now it’s forward facing only.  But that’s me.

* Higher canopy.  Just like the footrest currently extends or shrinks for younger or older kids, the seat length now extends for older kids so the canopy is right over them whatever height they are.

* The handlebar height has 10 settings.  This means you adjust it and click it into a particular place.  This helps when you are unfolding the stroller and pulling on the handlebar.  If you do this with the current bee, the handlebar extends, with the new Bee Plus, the handlebar will stay right where you left it at.

* No wings.  Ok we are pretty happy Bugaboo found a way to remove these.  I don’t find them a big deal with loading my daughter in but this is probably the second biggest gripe we hear about the Bee. (#1 is the reversibility mechanism)

Cons:

* The price.  The new price will be $629 for the new Bee + your choice of color canopy.  Improvements come at a price!

* The canopy is smaller.  Bugaboo said they had complaints from some people that the canopy was too big.  Who are these people? Seriously we love the current canopy  but the new canopy seems adequate. The new Breezy canopy is supposed to extend it though for those who still want more coverage.

* The carrying handle is gone.  When I fold mine, I grab it by the carry handle to hoist into my minivan.  This handle is gone.  Apparently some people were annoyed by it’s tendency to block the fold on occasion if you aren’t careful.  Now you can carry by the frame. It’s not a biggie but we’ll miss it!

What’s the same?

The basket is still the same size/shape.  Roomy but better access from the front.  The handlebar still goes low/high.  The seat recline is still great to upright. The suspension still rocks and the maneuverability is still one of the best!

Wait or Buy Now?

We like the upgrades, not the price increase.  My basic feeling is that if you need easy reversibility then wait.  If you have huge kids, then wait.  If you can find a great deal on a current Bee, buy now.  If you have no choice and you’re reading this in August, 2010 and there are no “regular Bees” out there, then I guess the choice has been made for you already.

Either way I think the Bee is an awesome reversible stroller and a solid choice for many families who don’t need off-road versatility but want a lightweight little workhorse around town.  At Let’s Go Strolling we definitely love ours!

Stay tuned for our video update coming soon. . .

Corrections from Bugaboo:

* The height adjustable backrest is key innovation on the new stroller that simultaneously adjusts with the sun canopy and 5-point harness to four different height positions; a ground breaking feature that has not yet been seen on any stroller in the market.  It gives toddlers more “head room” as they grow.

* backrest shape – the new ergonomically shaped backrest has been redesigned to mirror the natural shape of a child’s back making the new bugaboo Bee more comfortable for the child.  There’s also a more upright seat position allowing the child to easily see the world while getting the support they need.

* Bugaboo also noted that the stroller frame is wider and the end of the seat is wider. That being said, the width at the base where the child’s butt is, is not any wider so that dimension won’t actually change but it does LOOK roomier which is something parents always worried about, ” But won’t it be too small?”

I hope these clarifications help our readers!

Where can you get this beauty now?  Well since it is now a sold-out limited edition, I usually have to say there are none left!  But we just got word that there are two more left of these beauties! Keep in mind these are refurbished strollers which means they have the exclusive Pink/Blue split fabric/canopies.  They do however have all black baskets instead of the initial baskets with one pink pocket and one blue pocket.  This full-loaded strollers still comes with matching footmuffs, a zip-in UV sunshade, tire pump and maintenance kit, cupholder and storm canopy.

Grab yours now at Let’s Go Strolling while they last and you can look at cool as Brooke pushing your kids!  Keep in mind that last December when we had located two of these valuable refurbished pink/blues, we sold them in less than a week so don’t dilly dally!

KidKustoms Roddlers are the strollers you get for the parents who have everything or just what you get for your guy to make sure he’s willing to do his fair share of stroller pushing.  These are really not just strollers, they are true works of art! (Click below here for a video demo about them!)

Each KidKustoms Roddler stroller is hand assembled/painted/overseen by the amazing Joe Iacono and his team.  Joe is a total car guy who for some inexplicable reason, realized he could make a more beautiful stroller than any others out there – especially one more geared to Dads and/or people who appreciate truly fine car craftsmanship.  Since each stroller is truly hand-crafted, we work closely with Joe and our Let’s Go Strolling KidKustoms customers to create the stroller of their dreams.

We’ve had the honor this year to work with customers to create some pretty smokin’ strollers.  They’ve had monogrammed seats, ipod connectors and speakers, rear fender reflectors and even custom-designed fender art.  Unfortunately since these are special order for some high-profile customers, we can’t show them here – but trust us, they would blow you away!  Here’s one Roddler they did for International Pin-Up model Sabina Kelley, which, I have to say, is pretty cute.

Anyways back to us (of course!).  For our Roddler, we had Joe do a bit more toned-down version for the Let’s Go Strolling store in our signature green color.  A few months later a Romanian pop-star needed one ASAP for her music video.  Since Joe lives about 20 minutes from us, he called and asked if he could send ours to Romania and make us a new one.  Of course we agreed.

Joe just forwarded on these Parazzi shots of the famous (though unknown to me!) Corina l-a botezat pe Robin with our, I mean her, KidKustoms stroller.  So even though we’re not hounded by the Paparazzi yet, our strollers sure are!

School is finally back in session this week after two long long long weeks at home with my brood.  Generally between xmas and New Year’s is pretty slow here at Let’s Go Strolling so it seemed an ideal time to take off a couple of weeks to spend with my family since my kids are out of school.

This idea turned out to be better in theory than practice.  First my middle son got sick (right on his birthday too!) and ended up coughing endlessly and spending nights awake on the bathroom floor.  As he recovered my toddler daughter got sick, as did my Dad who was visiting for the holidays.

This meant planned outings seemed distinctly less appealing and both my husband and I were grouchy and sleepy during the daytimes.  Then the whining began – “I’m bored.” “There’s nothing to do.” “Can I go to the toy store and buy a gift?”  Nothing like spending time with whiny kids spoiled from too many gifts and sweets to really make you feel like you’re doing a successful job of parenting.

Then New Year’s came and since my parents were visiting – we had babysitters!  We made movie/dinner plans with a couple of friends and got ready to have one night out alone on the town to ring in 2010.  Until around 3pm when our friends called to tell us their babysitter had the flu!  We brought dinner to their house and rang in New Year’s on their couch.  Maybe next year. . .

Needless to say – I had a big smile sending my kids to school on Monday and heading back to work.  I really love time with my kids, but I’m thinking spending times with them during a non flu/cold season might be a better way to go. . .

P.S. Thanks to all our fabulous Teutonia Stroller Giveaway entries. It was won by Matt who entered for his wife Jessica!  What a devoted husband.  We’re so happy for them and they are thrilled.  Meanwhile did you check out these photos of Heidi Klum with her new Teutonia?

Teutonia strollers are known all over Europe as the creme de la creme.  These high-end strollers have captured the European market with their German engineering and manufacturing. Yes!  Teutonia is still made in Germany, not Asia!  But it’s not just the quality, the push and suspension on these strollers is fabulous.  Starting in 2009, US customers have finally been able to grab up these beauties locally.

Customers to our store are always impressed with the smooth push and sturdy construction of the Teutonia line.  Teutonia prides itself on it’s customized approach to building your stroller.  Customers can choose their chassis type (there are three), their seat combination (including carseat with adaptor, bassinet, and stroller seat) and their goodies.  The most popular Teutonia goodies include their stunning cushy seat inserts (guaranteed to dress up your ride), their popular handmuff (for strolls in colder climates), and their cozy warm footmuffs.

The Teutonia t-Tario carseats and strollers have been such a popular US addition that Teutonia is expanding their line for 2010.  Teutonia is introducing the TS-4000 which packages their top-of-the-line uber-popular Car Seat and base with a matching Teutonia reversible stroller for only $699!

The TS-4000 stroller has both a reversible seat and handle as well as all the thoughtful Teutonia details that customers worldwide have come to expect and love. Check out our video below for a sneak preview into the TS-4000 travel system and the 2010 line which is expected out Spring 2010!

But remember now it’s your chance to push the stroller of the stars!  Teutonia is offering one lucky Strolling Along blog winner a Teutonia t-300 stroller of their very own (see chassis and seat pics below).

How can you will this fancy ride?

To win the your very own Teutonia stroller just read our contest details below and start wishing on the first stars in the night sky. . .

To enter you must:

1) Watch the TS-4000 preview video above and comment below to tell us what you think? Comments can include what a great video editing team we have (me) or what you thought about the stroller!

For extra entries you can:

2) Sign up for the Let’s Go Strolling newsletter at www.letsgostrolling.com then leave a comment below letting us know you did.

3) Tweet about this giveaway and make sure to @reply @strollingalong.  Then leave us a comment letting us know you did.

4) Become a fan of letsgostrolling on Facebook (Click here to find our fan page) and leave us a comment letting us know you did.

5) Sign up to receive our blog daily via email or RSS reader and leave a comment letting us know you did.

That’s it! Enjoy!  We’ll choose the winner on December 15th so you could be getting a brand new stroller just in time for Xmas or Kwanzaa (or late for Hannukah. . . sorry about that!)