StrollerMama Blog

2011 Clek Oobr in Paul Frank - Faux-Haux Julius

2011 Clek Olli in Paul Frank Standard Julius Orange

 By popular demand, StrollerMama is adding the Clek line of Booster seats to the store.  For years, I have heard great things about Clek from moms, customers and people in the industry.  I guess now that I have 2 out 3 of my kids in booster seats, it really got my attention.  So, I was very excited to see the Clek products in person at the ABC show last week and, boy, was I impressed!

Clek currently offers two models: the Oobr which is a fullback booster that can convert to a backless booster, and the Olli, which is a backless booster.  The Oobr is built like the seat in your car, but sized properly for your child.  What makes it so great?  It is one of the only booster seats that latches into your car keeping it tight and secure.  It also has a metal substructure and recline system and can grow with your child and convert to a backless booster.  The Olli is an award-winning, belt-positioning, LATCHing backless booster.  It says to your 6-12 year old that it’s still cool to be safe in the car.  What makes it so great?  Beyond the fact that it latches in, it has also sorts of great features like a quick release system, comfort-cube construction, protective under fabric, side pocket and carry strap.  Oh, and it is lightweight and perfect for travel at only 5 lbs.

Our 2010 seats are literally on a truck somewhere in the middle of the United States on their way to our store and should be any day.  We will have the Oobr in Shadow (Black with Black base) and Snowberry (Pink with White base) and the Olli in Jet (Black) and Paul Frank Julius Hearts Me (Limited Edition Paul Frank pattern). 

2011 Clek Oobr in Drift

For the 2011 models, which are expected in January 2011, there are some new patterns and a few minor changes to the seats.  First, the Olli will no longer have arm cushions but they will come with the Drink-thingy (a.k.a. cup holder).  The folks at Clek told us that they found they really didn’t need additional arm cushioning and that parents really wanted a cup holder.  So, to keep the price the same, they swapped out the arm cushions for the cup holder.  Sounds like a smart plan to me. 

Second, the prices on the 2011 Oobrs will be going up to $299.99.  The folks at Clek wanted to keep an Oobr model available at the old $274.99 price so the new Drift (Black on Black base) will be replacing the Shadow.  Structurally, the seat will be the same.  The only difference is the fabric on Drift.  It will be more of a technical, more matte fabric which helped keep the price slightly down.  All of the other 2011 Oobrs will have the current fabric composition.

Here at StrollerMama, we will be carrying the 2011 Oobr in Drift, Snowberry and Paul Frank Faux-Hawk Julius and the 2011 Olli in Jet, Paul Frank Julius Hearts Me and Paul Frank Standard Julius Orange.  We can also order in any of the available patterns as a special order so if you have your heart set on Tadpole or Paul Frank Raindrops, just let us know and we can order it for you.  Do you have thoughts on the other fabrics?  Do you think we should carry the other colors?  We would love your feedback!

We are so excited to be working with Clek. Their booster seats are so thoughtful, smart and extremely well made, not to mention beyond sleek and stylish.  Are they pricier than others?  No question.  But we think they are worth every penny.

Blablas at the ABC show

Bamboo the Panda Blabla

Some of you might know that my daughter, Sascha, has been a die hard Taggies fan since she was a baby and it was her comfort object along with her stuffed panda bear.  These items never left her bedroom (for our fear of lack of sleep if they ever were lost) and recently, this summer, we took a trip to Chicago and Sascha picked out a pink Beluga whale from Shedd Aquarium and it made the elite cut of treasured bedtime friends.

When we were at the ABC Kids Expo last week looking for new products to bring to StrollerMama, we fell in love with Blablas. The company was created by two best friends who traveled to Peru and found wonderful handknit finger puppets knit by local artists.  They then created their own designs and continue to work with the artists and local knitters in Peru.  All of the dolls and animals are made of natural fibers grown in Peru.  They are all knitted in Peru by local artisians.  Their dolls and animals are whimsical and loving, soft and cuddly. 

I knew the true test for Blablas would be the reaction of my four year old.  I brought her home Bamboo the Panda and he was immediately embraced and loved by her.  “Great”, I thought, “If Sascha loves Blablas, they will be perfect for StrollerMama.”  Little did I know that Bamboo would not only be loved, but was invited to be a part of her exclusive bedtime friends club.  To join the ranks of Taggie, original panda and beluga whale was an honor I never would have imagined!  A picture speaks a thousand words so here is Sascha with her favorite friends, including Bamboo. 

Keep your eye on the website and come into the store soon as our new collection of Blablas should be arriving any day now!

2011 Baby Jogger City Mini in Purple

When we walked into the Baby Jogger booth at the ABC Kids Expo last week, I was so excited to see the new color for 2011.  The Baby Jogger City Mini and City Select will be available in purple!  We saw lots of color trends at the ABC show and gray and purple were huge!  They were everywhere! 

Although it is the same exact color, the City Mini purple is being called “Purple” and the City Select purple is being called “Amethyst”.  The purple is a nice, deep, rich purple color and will be a great addition to the current line up.  All of the purple models are expected in March 2011.

The 2011 City Mini Singles are already available and we already have them in stock in several colors.  The 2011 City Mini Singles have two notable improvements: first, there is back board insert that is now included that makes the seat less slouchy and, second, there are velcro straps on the sides that also help the seat sit more upright. 

The 2011 City Mini Doubles will have similar upgrades are are expected to ship January 2011.  All colors should be available then except the purple which is coming in March 2011.

2011 Baby Jogger City Select in Amethyst

There has been lots of buzz about the new purple.  Some parents think it is gender neutral and others thing it is no-go for a boy.  I happen to love it and think it would work well for boys or girls since it is nice and dark.   But, I may be a bit biased since (other than gray and black) purple is my favorite color – hence the StrollerMama logo, website and about everything else is purple!

What do you think?  Would you buy the purple Baby Joggers if you had a little boy?  Give us your feedback below.  We would love to hear from you!

Valco Trimode EX

You may have heard about the Valco Baby stroller recall so we wanted to help clarify what the recall involves and how it affects you.

In April 2010, Valco Baby became aware of Consumer Reports finding that their grab bar did not pass safety standards.  As a company committed to safety, Valco Baby immediately issued a directive to remove all grab bars from inventory and pulled them all from their inventory that shipped from their warehouse.  This occurred April 31, 2010.  The voluntary recall announced today is basically the same as Valco Baby directed before, but this time was in conjunction and under the direction of the CPSC that was alerted to the safety issue identified in Consumer Reports. 

The safety issue that Consumer Reports found was that the opening between the grab/bumper bar and the seat of the stroller can allow an infant and become entrapped by the bar posing a strangulation hazard to young children when not harnessed.  The key to all of this is that it points out a potential issue if the child is not properly strapped in with the safety belt.  We hope most parents know that is crucial for their infants to be properly harnessed in their strollers but this brings up an issue if the parents fail to secure their babies properly.

The recall has nothing to do with the safety of the strollers themselves, just the size of the bumper bar.  Once the grab bar is replaced, the issue is resolved.

It should be known that Valco Baby, a family owned and run business, stepped up to the plate the moment they heard about the issue back in April.  They immediately pulled the bumper bars from inventory and contacted their retailers to do the same.  Safety is a primary concern for them and we applaud their efforts to get the issue corrected promptly and properly.

So, your next question is: Does this affect my Valco stroller?  If you ordered a stroller after May 1st, it is likely that the old bar was removed and the new bar was put in the box.   If your box has a round blue sticker on it, the new grab bar was put in the box.  If your carton is white and blue, it is also not affected.  Still don’t know?  Your best bet is to contact Valco Baby directly at www.valcobaby.com or email them at recall@valcobaby.com.  They can help you sort it out and if you have the old grab bar, they will send you a replacement free of charge.

Happily, there have been no injuries reported as a result of the recall.  We firmly feel that Valco continues to be one of the best stroller brands on the market, or else we wouldn’t be offering it. 

That’s one of the things that set Strollermama.com apart from other companies. We only carry brands that meet our strict guidelines like function, quality, safety, company integrity,  and reliability.

2011 Baby Jogger City Mini Singles in stock, assembled and ready to go!

After a long, long wait, the 2011 Baby Jogger City Mini Single Strollers are finally starting to trickle in.   Check out all of the green ones we set up today for our local parents who have been patiently waiting! 

New for 2011: the 2011 City Mini Single now includes a board insert for the back of the seat and two additional velcro side straps to allow for more upright seating.  We sell the boards to retrofit the older models if you are interested.  The new model is $239.99 and addresses the issue that some parents had with the seat not sitting fully upright.

We expect stock to come in and out quickly so make sure you keep checking the website for colors and availability.  Welcome back Baby Jogger City Mini Single!

Check out the latest StrollerMama video: Strollylocks and the Three Bears.  It is a fun twist on a classic story that we all know and love.  Strollylocks, Jaren Bear and the tallest fairy godmother are my own kids and the rest of the cast of characters include my niece, nephew and close friends of the family.  Enjoy!