Six Seat Stroller Opinions

[Fiddlesticks]

I have grant money to spend, and my intention has been to purchase a large stroller so I can take my little ones for a walk every day. Once upon a time I had a quad stroller, one of the foldable ones, and had a terrible time pushing it. This was after they first came out, and I don't think it was very sturdy, or had wobbly wheels, or something... I don't know, but I rarely used it because it was not fun. I want to get a solid stroller, like the Bye Bye Buggy or the Gaggle, but I have never pushed one. Has anyone here ever used one? Are they easier to push than the fold up kind? I know they are heavy, but do they push smooth, are they easy to turn...?

[CityGarden]

This article covers a couple (be sure to read the comments)

http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2005/10/sextuplet_strol.html

[Fiddlesticks]

The Turtle Kiddy Bus is my favorite, but I haven't been able to find anywhere to buy it in the U.S.

[lovemydaycare0912]

I have the bye bye buggy for 6. Bought used on Craigslist for 500 with the seat umbrellas and fat tires. My husband pushes it for me and it's not terrible. But then again we have younger children ages 3m - 3 yrs. If you have older children than 3 who are heavier it'd probably get very heavy.

[laundrymom]

I had the angeles six seater. Used it for several years and sold it after moving to a home with no sidewalks.
It was heavy but very maneuverable. Sturdy.
I only collapsed it during storage in cold season. The kids were comfortable in it and never complained of feeling cramped or hot.

[rosieteddy]

I have the runabout 5 seat.It can not be folded ,its the kind that looks like child bike seats.This stroller has large bike wheels and is so easy to push.I bought it on line 12 yrs ago and never regretted it.I loved it so much I used it as a 4 and 3 seat as well.Google runabout they have 6 seaters as well.I wish you lived close I am selling mine as I have retired now.

[Fiddlesticks]

I have the bye bye buggy for 6. Bought used on Craigslist for 500 with the seat umbrellas and fat tires. My husband pushes it for me and it's not terrible. But then again we have younger children ages 3m - 3 yrs. If you have older children than 3 who are heavier it'd probably get very heavy.

Right now, my oldest daycare child is 3, but I will eventually have four year olds in it. (I am assuming...who knows with all day preschool through the schools...) Would your husband say it glides easily? The problem I had with my old stroller was that I felt like I was fighting the stroller half the time, like maybe there was too much side to side movement (Probably from the kids) I was hoping the solid type strollers would eliminate that sway. But I don't want to spend extra money if it is just going to be the same problem.

[Fiddlesticks]

I have the runabout 5 seat.It can not be folded ,its the kind that looks like child bike seats.This stroller has large bike wheels and is so easy to push.I bought it on line 12 yrs ago and never regretted it.I loved it so much I used it as a 4 and 3 seat as well.Google runabout they have 6 seaters as well.I wish you lived close I am selling mine as I have retired now.

Ugh, yeah, I wish I lived closer! I could totally use a 5 seater, I am waffling between the 4 and 6, but decided I'd rather have extra seats than not enough...I am considering the runabout. Are the five seats in a straight line, or are some side by side? Do you know if that makes a difference in manueverabilty?

[Gemma]

I have grant money to spend, and my intention has been to purchase a large stroller so I can take my little ones for a walk every day. Once upon a time I had a quad stroller, one of the foldable ones, and had a terrible time pushing it. This was after they first came out, and I don't think it was very sturdy, or had wobbly wheels, or something... I don't know, but I rarely used it because it was not fun. I want to get a solid stroller, like the Bye Bye Buggy or the Gaggle, but I have never pushed one. Has anyone here ever used one? Are they easier to push than the fold up kind? I know they are heavy, but do they push smooth, are they easy to turn...?

Those 6 seater look so cool...but I have a double stroller and that's hard enough to maneuver at times, I doubt I could manage a stroller that size and the weight of 6 kids

[DaveA]

I have a 4 seat Foundations stroller that folds and love it. Lightweight, easy to push/ handle, and survived 8 years of my crew. They make a 4 seat model that is similar.

[Blackcat31]

I have grant money to spend, and my intention has been to purchase a large stroller so I can take my little ones for a walk every day. Once upon a time I had a quad stroller, one of the foldable ones, and had a terrible time pushing it. This was after they first came out, and I don't think it was very sturdy, or had wobbly wheels, or something... I don't know, but I rarely used it because it was not fun. I want to get a solid stroller, like the Bye Bye Buggy or the Gaggle, but I have never pushed one. Has anyone here ever used one? Are they easier to push than the fold up kind? I know they are heavy, but do they push smooth, are they easy to turn...?

Where did ya get grant money to spend? !

I have some too but I had to be specific about what I am going to use it for before I even applied for it so just wondering where you got grant money you are able to decide later where and on what you are going to spend it on.


I hate that the grant I got required such specifics. :confused:

[Fiddlesticks]

Where did ya get grant money to spend? !

I have some too but I had to be specific about what I am going to use it for before I even applied for it so just wondering where you got grant money you are able to decide later where and on what you are going to spend it on.


I hate that the grant I got required such specifics. :confused:

Well, it is actually my Parent Aware money. So just $1000, but I already received it for the last three years (after one star, two star, and three star ratings) and have already purchased so many things the last three years. I was planning on completing my four star rating this time, but my coach said there was money again and that even though I already got money for three stars I can get it again. So, I settled on three stars just to get the money for a great stroller! :: Now they are changing the process, so we'll see about the four stars for next year.

[MarinaVanessa]

Ugh, yeah, I wish I lived closer! I could totally use a 5 seater, I am waffling between the 4 and 6, but decided I'd rather have extra seats than not enough...I am considering the runabout. Are the five seats in a straight line, or are some side by side? Do you know if that makes a difference in manueverabilty?

I have the same stroller but mine is a 4 seater. Someone gave me a 3 seater and I loved it so much that I bought one brand new for me but with 4 seats and gave the one that was given to me to another provider. These strollers seriously last forever. The original owner had hers for 7-10 years if I remember correctly, I had it for 2-3 and the provider I gave the 3 seater to has had it for 2-3 years.

Runabout does have a 5 seater it's an in-line. Mine is an in-line and I personally prefer the narrow strollers rather than the side-by side because I can still get into regular sized doors and go on narrow sidewalks. The seats are easy to remove/recline by loosening some knobs and tightening them again. I can get my whole stroller pulled apart in about 5-6 minutes. I like being able to remove a seat or two if I only have 2 kids that need to go in it and prefer to use my runabout when I'm pushing only 2 kids rather than using my Graco Ready to Grow. The roundabout pushes easier, I can adjust the height of the handlebar to where it's most comfortable for me and I love the locking handlebar brake (like the brake on a bike).

Like you're thinking, I bought a four seater because I wanted to have an extra seat just in case and it has been a life saver. My own 6 year old has sat in it (he's a small frame kid) and a large 5 year old has too as well as my own newborn as little as 6 weeks old. For my newborn I just reclined the seat back and added an infant car seat insert to hold her head up straight.

They did have an attachment that you can click a Graco car seat to but Graco has since changed their car seats so it only works with older car seats and Berg Designs (the maker of the Runabout) told me that he wasn't planning on updating the adapter since the seats recline to the same angle that infant carseats do. I would have still preferred an adapter to use with infants but it does work just with the seat alone.

One thing about the Runabout strollers though ... if you do get one I'd recommend spending the extra and buying the ones straight from Berg Designs rather than from Angeles. They have runabout strollers too but I think theirs are side-by-side. They have the same name because Angeles bought the plans from Berg Designs but Angeles modified the design a bit and uses less expensive materials to lower the price and I've read some complaints about rusting and cracks within a few years from the Angeles brand.

Here is the Berg Design online catalog

http://bergdesign.net/runabout.htm

[Fiddlesticks]

I have the same stroller but mine is a 4 seater. Someone gave me a 3 seater and I loved it so much that I bought one brand new for me but with 4 seats and gave the one that was given to me to another provider. These strollers seriously last forever. The original owner had hers for 7-10 years if I remember correctly, I had it for 2-3 and the provider I gave the 3 seater to has had it for 2-3 years.

Runabout does have a 5 seater it's an in-line. Mine is an in-line and I personally prefer the narrow strollers rather than the side-by side because I can still get into regular sized doors and go on narrow sidewalks. The seats are easy to remove/recline by loosening some knobs and tightening them again. I can get my whole stroller pulled apart in about 5-6 minutes. I like being able to remove a seat or two if I only have 2 kids that need to go in it and prefer to use my runabout when I'm pushing only 2 kids rather than using my Graco Ready to Grow. The roundabout pushes easier, I can adjust the height of the handlebar to where it's most comfortable for me and I love the locking handlebar brake (like the brake on a bike).

Like you're thinking, I bought a four seater because I wanted to have an extra seat just in case and it has been a life saver. My own 6 year old has sat in it (he's a small frame kid) and a large 5 year old has too as well as my own newborn as little as 6 weeks old. For my newborn I just reclined the seat back and added an infant car seat insert to hold her head up straight.

They did have an attachment that you can click a Graco car seat to but Graco has since changed their car seats so it only works with older car seats and Berg Designs (the maker of the Runabout) told me that he wasn't planning on updating the adapter since the seats recline to the same angle that infant carseats do. I would have still preferred an adapter to use with infants but it does work just with the seat alone.

One thing about the Runabout strollers though ... if you do get one I'd recommend spending the extra and buying the ones straight from Berg Designs rather than from Angeles. They have runabout strollers too but I think theirs are side-by-side. They have the same name because Angeles bought the plans from Berg Designs but Angeles modified the design a bit and uses less expensive materials to lower the price and I've read some complaints about rusting and cracks within a few years from the Angeles brand.

Here is the Berg Design online catalog
http://bergdesign.net/runabout.htm

Okay, thank you. I am leaning toward this one now, I always want to hear what real people have to say! I will have to weigh my pros and cons.

[Blackcat31]

Well, it is actually my Parent Aware money. So just $1000, but I already received it for the last three years (after one star, two star, and three star ratings) and have already purchased so many things the last three years. I was planning on completing my four star rating this time, but my coach said there was money again and that even though I already got money for three stars I can get it again. So, I settled on three stars just to get the money for a great stroller! :: Now they are changing the process, so we'll see about the four stars for next year.

I thought Building Quality after I posted...

I considered going that route when I first signed on for Parent Aware but I just submitted my stuff and figured I take whatever rating I got.
I've been 4 stars now for several years but I have not re-rated with the new requirements yet.

In case you are interested, here are the new standards and indicator requirements for rating. These changes take effect in July 2017.

https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-6346B-ENG

I got a grant through Child Care Aware (a service grant) of $1500 but we had to state specifically when applying for the grant what we were going to use it on.