Good morning. It’s まさきん.
Last time, I wrote about why we skipped a catalog gift for our birth thank-you gifts.
This time, it’s about choosing a stroller for our newborn.
Our first pick was the Cybex Orfeo
We were looking for a stroller usable from the newborn stage, and our first candidate was the Cybex Orfeo.
It’s a compact model usable from 1 month old up to around 4 years old. Its reputation for stable handling was one of the reasons it stood out.
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Trunk-loading ease is what changed our pick
But there was one more thing we wanted to check for our own situation: whether it would fit into the car trunk without a struggle.
Our everyday car is an SUV, so the height up to the ceiling and the shape of the trunk opening make a real difference in how easy loading is. Even among models marketed as “compact,” the folded size and the direction the handle points varied from product to product.
As we compared options, we ended up switching to another Cybex model, the Melio Carbon. The reason was its smaller folded size, which looked like it would be much easier to load in and out of the trunk. It was also the lighter of the two.
- Beyond ride stability, folded size matters more or less depending on your car
- Which way the handle points and whether it can stand on its own also affect how easy loading is
- The definition of “compact” varies by product, so check the actual unit or the detailed specs
Buying used turned out to have less of an edge than expected
As an alternative to buying new, we also considered a used stroller that wasn’t too many model years old.
That’s when we noticed something about actual pricing. When we compared the effective price of buying new after point rewards against the going rate for a used stroller in good condition, there was almost no difference.
Used strollers tend to get cheaper as the model year gets older. But once you narrow it down to a recent model year in good condition, the price tends to land close to what you’d pay for new after point rewards. If you’re considering used, it’s worth comparing it against the new price including rewards before deciding.
Buying new also comes with a warranty and support. Since the price difference was small this time, we settled on going with new.
Buying ahead instead of waiting for the benefit payment
The other thing we decided on was the timing of the purchase.
Tokyo runs a program called Baby First, which can also be used toward childcare items. The catch is that it takes several months for this benefit to actually arrive.
We decided to buy what we needed out of pocket now, rather than waiting for the benefit to arrive. The newborn stage only happens once, so we prioritized having things ready when we actually need them over waiting for the payment to come through.
Wrap-up
Choosing a stroller turned out to be a purchase where we had to think beyond ride performance and looks, all the way to compatibility with our own car.
We still haven’t finalized where to buy it or exactly when to order. We’ll keep talking it over as a family and move forward at a comfortable pace.
Product prices and specs can change. Before deciding, we’d recommend checking the official site or a store for the latest information.
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