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My infant carseat expires in about 3 months… not quite enough time to use the old seat for my new baby. So I’ve been surveying the aisles of Babies R Us, Target, and the like for a new seat.

And, really, if I’m going to get a new seat, I might as well get a travel system to make life easier, right? The Bertini B5 catches my eye time and again at BRU, and not just because its also in my garage. With its sharp-looking fabric of black and white with yellow piping, its certain to be a set you give a second look to as well. (Please, go to the store and take a look yourself, or see my image of the stroller here. Its so much a sharper look in person.)

We’ve tested out the B5 carseat in 3 cars, making sure it fits with ease. (According to Car Passenger Seat Tech Dr. Laura Jana, this is extremely important when selecting a carseat. Always ask to take it outside to your car(s) and make sure its a comfortable fit.) Surprisingly, I could fit the Bertini, a Britax Roundabout and a Britax Marathon 3-across in the second row of my Honda Pilot. The squeeze was extremely tight, but it was doable. In the VW Routan (image here) which I recently tested, I found it difficult to install, but not so much because of the B5′s LATCHs, more because the LATCHes are difficult to access in the Routan. It also fit nicely in our Honda Accord, though only 2 seats will fit in there.

A feature I love in the B5 is the ability to keep the handle in the upright position. This isn’t something all seats do (read your instruction guide because all seats are different) and with 3 kids any little step you can avoid (like clicking the handle down) is a bonus.

The seat features EPP ProTech foam (energy absorbing) and adjustable stay in car base which uses either LATCH and tether. As well you can strap the seat directly into the car. And while it provides more legroom than the average seat (allowing for longer babies and longer use than many seats), it also comes with an insert for smaller babies. The seat has been tested and approved for babies 4 to 35 pounds.

The stroller, which is approved up to 50 pounds, offers a large seat base, huge basket, and an easy-to-collapse one handed release. The highlight to the stroller? It stands upright and clips in the baby seat simply by placing the carrier onto the stroller.

This post was written by Julie Pron, a mom of nearly 3 children who is attempting to enjoy nesting. In addition to Car & Caboodle, she writes for a carload of blogs including Just Precious, Mommies with Style and Popshopology.

Hoping to get a first look at a brand new upcoming product, the UPPAbaby RumbleSeat? This toddler seat add-on for the UPPAbaby Vista is generating a lot of buzz in stroller shopper circles. It promises to deliver even more from a much beloved stroller. The owners of Let’s Go Strolling are here to give us this exciting sneak peek.

We’ll hope this video will be helpful to those of you trying to decide if it is the right set-up for you. Please leave feedback and let us know what you think of our newest blogging method. Like it? Hate our camera/editing work? Want to see more? less? Any comments are super helpful and appreciated!

Our Summary of the UPPAbaby RumbleSeat:

- Best for younger toddlers or smaller pre-schoolers
- We’re sure kids will get used to it but it might be a hard sell for your toddler in the beginning due to the limited visability
- Great option for adding occasional seating to a reversible stroller
- Don’t plan on using it much with your carseat!
- We hope UPPAbaby will add zippers to recline the seat in the next generation (ala the Phil and Ted’s Sport Doubles Kit)

Written by the Baby Gear Guru’s of www.LetsGoStrolling.com where they know how to make parents lives with babies easier and better. Shop the best selection of strollers, diaper bags, baby gear and more with their knowledgeable customer service.

I’m so in love with Quinny Strollers. I have been since I blamed the Quinny Buzz for making me get pregnant with my fourth child. I reviewed the Original Buzz last year and now I’m reviewing the updated Quinny Buzz 4. I’m thrilled to say that it just keeps getting better.

What’s Changed:

The new Quinny Buzz has 4 wheels instead of 3. It keeps the stroller more stable and more smooth. I felt the difference most when pushing the stroller up the curb. You know that moment when you have the front end up on the curb and you lift the back up? The weight of the stroller is resting on the front wheel for an instant… I would not say the stroller was exactly unsteady in a three wheel version, but I did feel like I had to really “watch it” on uneven terrain when performing this sort of maneuver. Or turn the stroller around and roll up backwards. With the four wheel version, I feel more secure and no need to back it up.

There is also an improved locking feature for the stroller when folded. Because this stroller literally unfolds itself, it’s reassuring to have a good lock when the stroller is folded!

The Quinny Buzz 4 stroller also comes with an additional larger seat cover, perfect for use with older toddlers. It is washable and durable and gives an older kiddo a slightly larger seating surface.

What Has Not Changed:

The smooth ride, the hydraulic “auto unfold”, the overall quality, stability and durability of Quinny, and of course, the good looks. The seat still can face forward or backward and the stroller is elevated, making it the perfect height to push right to the table when dining out. I love the modern lines, saturated colors and sleek styling that the Quinny Buzz team has stuck to over the years. The Buzz 4 also still works with the adorable and practical Quinny Dreami Carrycot and the Maxi Cosi Mico Carseat for those looking for a longterm travel system.

The Quinny 4 still comes with that ultra cushy neoprene seat cover that both my sons have adored. It’s the “nap stroller” of choice and sometimes I find myself wishing someone would push me around the mall in a big squishy reclining neoprene seat. That’s the life, huh? We can fit a fair amount of stuff in the underseat storage basket, however we’ve added on the excellent Buzz Box to our stroller frame. This integrated stroller bag is perfect for diapers, snacks, change of clothes etc. We’ve also added a cup holder. I recommend these dedicated accessories as they make this stroller even more pleasant for you to push and both can stay attached even when the bag is folded, making your life easier. No need to worry about whether you have diapers etc.

We’ve had a lot of strollers come and go over the years. I’m not one to suggest that there is one stroller that fits absolutely everyone. But I will tell you that the Quinny comes pretty close! Infant to toddler, rough terrain or smooth – this SUV of a ride is probably the single stroller that has seen the most use in our family. It’s parked in our dining room at all times, able and ready for action!

For a list of stores that stock the Quinny Buzz 4 and more info, see the Quinny USA website.

About a year and a half ago, I reviewed the Mia Moda Cielo, an award winning, space saving stroller. I described it as “a traveler’s dream.” And it still is.

But in 2008, Mia Moda took the unique Cielo and evolved it into the Cielo Evolution. The Evolution, at its bare-bones, is still the Cielo. It still has the fabulous 3 step fold that becomes no bigger, and no heavier, than a piece of luggage. It will still fit comfortably into a small car trunk. And it comes in a carry bag that, folded, the stroller will zip back into and sling over your shoulder. As before, the perfect travel stroller.

But they added more to the Evolution. First, it weighs about 4 pounds more (Totaling just over 18 pounds, to the Cielo’s 14). The fold size is also a little bit more, but the open size, nearly the same. But here’s what I love so much more about the Cielo Evolution and makes it so much more worth it to me: The seat, which seems more cushioned, has stronger side cushions. (I’m not really sure what to call these, but they frame the side of the seat, kind of like a pillow for the baby.) A combination of the stronger cushion and the new adjustable armrests made me feel much more secure with a 6-month-old in the seat: a lot less wiggle room makes for a much more comfortable strolling mama.

Both the Evolution and the original have amazing turn radius’s and super smooth pushes. The brakes are easy to control with just one foot. Set-up and fold are simple, but take a bit of practice in the beginning, namely because they’re so different than the typical stroller.

Available at Strollers.com, the Cielo Evolution ships for free, no code needed. Recommended for children ages 6 months – 40 pounds.