My MIL told us the other day that she saved my BIL's 25 year old stroller for us to use when we visit their house. They live an hour away from us. I haven't seen it yet but supposedly it's in good shape. Is this safe? It strikes me as probably not the best idea but maybe I'm just being a neurotic FTM...and baby's not even due till June.
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Not neurotic! Can you check it out before baby arrives? I would imagine it could be ok... Or a trainwreck. Is the purpose just to save you packing one when you visit?
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Yeahhh.... I probably wouldn't want to either. NOT neurotic.
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First of all, love your name and avatar - those are my favorite candy! 2nd, no, you're not neurotic. I wouldn't take it and if she had a problem with it, I would tell her about all the enhancements (lighter, more comfortable, smaller) and safety features that new strollers have.
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@CarrieLouWho: Yes, it's just to save us packing our stroller in our car when we visit.
@zippylef: I'm glad I'm not too neurotic here!
@BabyBoecksMom: thank you
We will have our own stroller, a City Mini, but my MIL wants to save us the trouble of packing our stroller when we visit.
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Yeah even if it's in great shape I doubt it would be very convenient to use!
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@swedishfish: maybe just take a picture with it for sentimentality?? I can't imagine actually using it!
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@swedishfish: Just wanted to add, that it is SOOO nice not to have to pack up a stroller when we go visit my parents. I have a large SUV and its just the three of us, but the baby requires so much stuff. My mom got a used graco for like $15 that she keeps in her garage.
How would you be using this 25 yr old stroller when you visit? Just to walk up and down the street, or long walks through the mall/park/etc. If its just for here and there, and its in good shape, I probably wouldn't say much and let it be. Make sure to test the stroller (pull on straps, etc).
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If you need an excuse, just say "thanks for thinking of us! But I gotta get every penny's worth out of this stroller!" We have the city mini too! Or just pack it anyway. If she argues with you when you're there over it, then she's being silly.
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I agree with @Thehistoryofus!
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@sorrycharlie: I agree with this! We invested in the UBV and my MIL is always trying to get me to buy a cheap umbrella stroller (why???) and so I get out of it by saying "We spent so much money on her stroller, if I bought another stroller to use instead, DH would KILL me!". And that did shut her up.
There are so many MIL threads...MILs be CRAZY!!!
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I would just smile and say ok but then try to avoid using it. also once you have seen it maybe you can check out the model and see if its been recalled or not
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Safety and condition aside,, I bet it's just not that well designed compared to newer models and be a pain to use.
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You're not neurotic at all! I agree with @mrsbells on this. My MIL offered us DH's bassinet from 30+ years ago. I got a lot of crap on another board for trying to find subtle ways of saying no to the "gift." Safety and everything else, I wouldn't accept it and be polite about it. My MIL bought us the PNP instead.
I put "gift" in quotations because she made a big point about giving us DH's baby clothes, like two suitcases worth, unloading them in our tiny condo, only to send an email later saying that she wants them back. With her, gifts aren't gifts or something messed up like that.
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It sounds like she just wants you to be able to use it at their house, right? I'd probably check it out, but bring your stroller in the beginning anyway-- use the money excuse, and that baby is used to your strollers, naps better in it, etc. Then as he/she gets older, maybe if the stroller seems safe enough, you can use it for quick trips and save yourself the effort of packing yours, or maybe not.
I know my parents have an old (like, 7 years, not 25) double stroller at their house that they will occasionally use for walks when both my nephews visit. But they also fully admit that the strollers my sister and brother both have are much nicer, easier to push, smoother, so maybe when your MIL pushes them both, she will see the advantage anyway. Plus the City Mini is so light and easy to fold that it won't be that much trouble to bring, I would think.
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I don't think it's neurotic. My ILs have stuff that belonged to DH (which means they're nearly thirty years old!) still in their attic. They just dusted them off, brought them downstairs and said 'We'll use this when your LO comes along.' A year later and we're still having a fight with them about what's safe and what's not. Like his crib? Yeah, it was safe back when but by today's standards, even if you bolted every last thing in place, I DO NOT want my kids in it... Go sell it on Ebay or something!
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Thanks for all of the advice! I will check out the stroller during our next visit to the in-laws' house. We would mainly use the stroller for walks around their neighborhood, hanging out on the water side of their property, and maybe a little shopping.
I would love to use the excuse about how much our City Mini cost but they're the ones who bought it for us. Ironic, huh? Haha
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You may be a little neurotic. If it's structurally sound and has adequate seatbelts etc, I'd use it. Packing a stroller when you go to grandma's house is a huge waste of space. I end up leaving mine and wishing I had it.
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@swedishfish: I think it depends on the stroller. I know prams are all the rage in Southie and they're the old, old strollers. Maybe you can babywear and avoid the stroller all together? I wouldn't feel right about a 25 year old stroller, if that makes me neurotic..
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You're not being neurotic. In the end, you need to go with your gut and make choices that you feel are in the best interest of your LO whether your ILs--or anyone else--agree(s) or not. It's your baby, and your call. People need to start respecting your decisions and understanding their role (as not the parents of your LO).
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@RachieCakes: Babywearing is a great non-confrontational alternative.
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FWIW my mom saved the pram she had when my sister and I were babies and I loved putting DD in there when we were in her back yard. It was so sweet and adorable. I will say that if it were beaten up or not in good shape I wouldn't be interested. My mom bought a graco and keeps it at her house for when she has DD to take her for walks. I don't mind that, one less thing for me to lug around.
We will have our own stroller, a City Mini, but my MIL wants to save us the trouble of packing our stroller when we visit.
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