Baby Joggers

Even I've learned to use the search command. You can do it too.

There are already many threads on this topic. Check em out.

hire a babysitter.

enjoy your run.

rnrc wrote:

hire a babysitter.

enjoy your run.

Good point. I bought one and then realized that it is good to get out and run by yourself, as much as you love your kid, you need some time to yourself. However, their design and big wheels make them excellent walkers when you do need to go out with the kid....

I've used two different joggers. The Baby Jogger brand was much better than the other (I can't remember the make). The Baby Jogger is more expensive, but better put together. However, I don't really enjoy running with either and neither one tracks perfectly straight so it's a continuous fight to keep a straight line.

The BOB (Baby On Board)it has an attachment for a car seat too. We used it as our only stroller. Front wheel locks out to run and swivels to use any where. Pricey, but it was the only we used.

Features to look for (or modify it yourself):

1. Fairly big back wheels, if you intend to be on trails at all.

2. Good padding (I tore out the padding in a cheap one and glued in some thicker foam.)

3. Padding on the sides. Babies' necks are not strong enough to control their heads very well if you are bouncing around, so some padding (and a blanket or something like that) helps a lot.

4. Wide joggers are better than long joggers, which are bitch to turn.

5. Be careful in winter. Remember that the kid is not generating any heat, is getting some wind, is small, and is not good at thermoregulation (babies don't shiver).

Personally, I disagree with the 'hire a sitter' comment. The motion causes most kids to conk out within 15 minutes. It's a great way to get a tired kid who needs a nap to fall asleep. I have really great memories of running my daughters around. And doing a tempo run with a stroller will make you a beast.

Have had a BOB (think it is Beast Of Burden) for four years and two kids. Used it off road and up to 10 miles. Still works great and not much upkeep needed. Would recommend this brand.

Have the Sport Utility model. Wife likes the newer revolution but didn't want to spend and didn't think we needed a second jogging stroller.

http://www.bobgear.com/

http://www.mystrollers.com/shop/usertpl.aspx?fle=bobstrollers.htm

I thought this thread would be about d2 and d3.

I've got the BOB Revelution and love it. The front wheel swivels, but can lock. I run with my now two year old on easy days. The BOB takes sidewalk, bike paths and trail pretty well. We use it as our regular stroller too.

If you're in a colder area, I would definitely get the weather/wind shield.

I have four baby joggers. One is the Baby Jogger brand, the other one says "Dreamer Design" and the other one says "Instep." The last one has no brand name on it but it's a baby jogger that converts to a bike trailer. It's built like a tank and is designed for handicapped children. Insurance paid for it. I think it was $3,000.

In my favorite one (Baby Jogger brand), the seat is more like a sling--it's connected at the sides and there's nothing beneath it so you don't have to worry about padding. Also, it cradles the baby in a banana-hammock way and adds to the stability.

Test your baby jogger out before you buy. Some are very top heavy, which means the handles where you push wants to go down to the ground (front wheel comes up). If this happens and the handles hit the ground, your baby will probably be okay, but it's something to avoid if you can.

Test the hand brake. Good baby joggers have a parking brake (something that you set with your foot, usually, that locks the back wheels solid) and they should also have a hand brake which you'll need when running down hill.

I wouldn't take my baby on most trails before the age of two, but maybe I'm over protective. The trails I run on are pretty bumpy. Taking a baby down paved streets will be no problem. I have a double baby jogger and I take two of my boys (ages 6 and 3) in the woods every week almost.

I have a special handicapped baby jogger for my 13-year-old who is non-ambulatory. I run in the woods with her as much as I can. It's our favorite time together. She loves how bumpy the trais are.

The baby jogger people have been the best to deal with. They've been very willing to adjust anything I would ship to them.

Also, test how easy they are to break down, and how well they will fit in your trunk or whatever. My favorite Baby Jogger brand doesn't really break down at all (it's for bigger kids and not really babies), and so it's one more thing I have to deal with when I drive to the trails. I have to remove the canvas "sling" part where my child sits because it could be damaged by the wind if I put it on the luggage rack. So I remove the sling and just put the skeleton of the b. jogger on the roof with a couple bungee cords and it's easy to transport.

Most other baby joggers fold up pretty small, but some are much easier to fold than others. Be aware.

My advice:

Look at the stability (top heavy)

Test the brakes

Look at the padding

See how easily it folds

Check out storage (water bottles for you, snacks for child)

I've had joggers with big wheels and little wheels and I don't think it makes any difference. I thought big wheels would be better but that's not necessarily so.

The easiest way to turn a baby jogger is by lifting the front wheel off the ground an inch or two. It becomes second nature while you're running.

Garage sales are an excellent place to buy a good baby jogger.

BigHeadTodd wrote:

a banana-hammock

lol...

the baby jogger's fine, except for keeping the elements out (sun, rain, cold). it's design allows for a cloth to be tied in such a way as to block sun during a nap, but the baby'll kick aside or pull aside the cloth if awake. it doesn't turn easily, but not a problem to lift up the front wheel a bit to turn for sharp turns or to put a little pressure to one side for gradual turns. it's comfortable for the baby and it's been fine for her since she was maybe 3-4 months old. it's a bit awkward to lift up and down stairs. the baby never liked it on bumpy trails, so I avoided them. she'll go to sleep usually if I do a continuous 15 minutes or so of running, but the nap is max 30 minutes, so that wastes the opportunity for the big 1-2 hr nap in the early afternoon. I've never once needed the handbrake on hills. the thing has lasted fine for maybe 5-20 mpw for the past year.

that should be "its design."

Just to clarify about with my jogger in keeping out the sun, rain, elements. Mine has a canopy which keeps out the sun. It's removable, and sometimes I use it and sometimes I don't. I need a screwdriver (two screws) to take it off. Gotta be careful you don't lose the spacers that are on the screws.

Mine also came with a clear, see-through plastic thing that completely covers the jogger (except underneath). It works great, and is very durable. Only thing it doesn't protect against is the mud/water splatter from below. My daughter's butt would get wet (that banana hammock thing again)--she doesn't seem to mind it though.

My rule for the baby jogger is to never take my kids out if the temperature is under 50 degrees F. My kids are getting bigger though. For a baby less than 2 years old, I'd recommend nothing below 60.

We have the Jeep Jogger made by in-step I believe. While it does start out as a "we hung a bunch of useless crap on this thing" jogger once you strip some of the stuff off like the mp3 player and speakers it really is good to run with Ours said that it was for use once the baby is able to hold his/her head up but we found that with the plactic lap bar in place that the car seat fits very securely placed in backwards (facing you) and my son started going out with me when he was a week old. He absolutely loves it and has done 467 mi. in his first four months. So far it has held up well. I do have to "straighten" (read kick) the front wheel occasionally to get it to track without a lot of side pressure on the handle but it does fine once "adjusted". My son has gone up to 18 mi. and actually if he gets fussy one of my tricks is to allow one rear wheel to roll in the edge of the grass so it's bumpy. He gets a HUGE gran and stop fussing usually. The pockets on the sun shade and organizer plus the basket are very handy as I usually become the pack mule for water gels and such for our group long runs. I really don't care or even notice as long as we are on the flat bike path. Actually I think the extra resistance has helped me race better this year. I have also run, and won, a small local 5k pushing him. Today was the first day that he rode forward facing in the joggers seat and he really seemed to like being able to see what was coming, when he was awake. Ours was bought at babys r us for about $170. I'd definately buy another one.