Of Joolz and World Breastfeeding Week

(MAJOR SHARING ON THE JOOLZ EXPERIENCE)

 

 

Finally got to this post! And I feel I have to do this post because though there are Joolz users in SG, I can't find anyone doing any post on using this stroller! From last year till like now, not even when I google. So yes, I'm having a Joolz stroller in the house!! Bought it second hand but its in good condition so..yipee!! Why the excitement? Because its THE stroller I wanted to get even before JCH was born. Be warned, this is going to be a long post!

 

After doing extensive research on strollers (back in 2012 Nov/Dec), I find that Joolz is the ideal one for me because:

1. It is one of the 2 strollers (the other being Stokke) that puts baby higher up, and this to me means shopping-bag-banging accidents is hugely minimized. I have seen so many near misses in shopping malls that I get so scared of any one of the near-misses happening to my baby.
2. Serves the same primary function as Stokke (i.e. baby higher up), but is cheaper.
3. It allows baby to face inwards or outwards.
4. It has a really cool slick look about it, plus the many varied materials to choose from especially denim! (fortunately for me, I managed to get the preloved Joolz in denim!)
5. Upon collapsing, it is self-standing.
6. Being a travel system, means if we are going to have a car in the future, I am able to put the car seat onto the chassis just by using the maxi-cosi adapters! (included in the purchase by seller..yes!)

DISCLAIMER: Have nothing against Stokke, it is a good stroller, but Joolz has won my heart long time ago!

 

Eventually, we didn't get the Joolz even though I was head over heels for it. At that time, we had concerns that it is expensive compared to conventional strollers, whether I can manoeuvre it without help and that it is a stroller only for those with driving. We got a light weight Aprica Karoon Plus stroller in the end. It is a great stroller as well due to its weight, the fact that it has a cover-all-the-way sunshade and the great manoeuvrings it can offer. We do not drive, and almost 99% of the times when I travel out with JCH using the stroller, I have to walk to use the train. Over time, I started to miss Joolz more and more when AKP wasn't enough. At first I thought, ah I was just missing Joolz because it looks so much cooler, in fashion, and baby can be higher. When I got my hands on the preloved Joolz, I started to realize, hey no, Joolz is really a lot better for the reasons below:

 

(all points below are not made up, they are the differences that I felt Joolz brought for me after using it for the past month)

1. My baby is higher now. This translate to no bending forward (better for my back) or squatting down just to reach for my baby to comfort him when he needs it, and also better interaction especially when I put him facing me. This also means I can avoid unpleasant situations on the trains when some pervert uncles (whether purposefully or out of no choice because the train is too crowded) slot themselves so close and just between me and the AKP (I had to align the AKP so baby is facing me 90deg so as to not block traffic by having baby facing me direct, so imagine a "L" shape, with me at one end, baby at the other and uncle at the corner), such that when I have to bend over to give JCH his pacifier, I can almost kiss his d**k. Now with JCH higher, he is at my eye level. No more bending over and no more pervert uncles.
2. It is a higher and wider stroller, so people pretty much siam the stroller now. I had enough of people brushing the AKP, or worse banging by the sides, just to squeeze by me and the stroller. As if they didn't see the stroller, or thinks there's no baby in the stroller. Think I'm just super suay to keep getting bullied this manner and JCH often gets startled awake when it happens, and he cries and I have to rush to a corner, squat down and comfort him back to sleep. Now, people just MOVE AWAY.
3. Because it is heavier, it also means it is studier. Coupled with the 4-wheel suspension, whenever it gets pushed over the dots on the floor meant for the blind, the impact is less severe and it doesn't feel like a car being driven over a road riddled with potholes. There is a section of the road which I have to pass that is not flat straight, its slanted with one side higher. With JCH getting heavier and heavier, it gets increasingly difficult to drive AKP over that path. So initially I thought, I am so screwed now, having to drive a 12kg stroller over that lopsided road when I could barely manage a 4.6kg stroller (with a 8kg baby sitting in it) over it. To my super-duper surprise, it is so much easier to drive over that section of the road! I think it is because of the suspension system. I can even do it single-handedly without feeling the stroller going downhill towards the road.
4. Whenever I needed to brake the stroller in the train, its just one step away, compared to previously when I had to step left and right.
5. I can have the handle bar adjusted closer to myself, so I wouldn't have to hunch over anymore, not even when I rest myself on the handle bar!
6. I can feel free to hang shopping baskets whenever I go grocery shopping at the supermarkets without having to worry about the stroller toppling over, because it is heavy enough to counteract! But of cos, don't think you can mount a mountainload of grocery la!
7. Removal of the fabric for washing or plain old sunning is so much easier now - just by a zip! With the sunshade that's removable as well, I can pretty much sun almost every inch of the stroller seat, inside and out.
8. After pushing in the safety catch, it is possible to fold down the stroller with one hand.
9. This preloved Joolz was acquired because JCH seems to be growing a bit big for the AKP. It allowed him wider shoulder allowance, and definitely a lot of room to grow tall. Joolz has the longest stroller seat in the market when the leg rest is pulled all the way down! Plus I have a matching bassinet at home, a great help from Miss YM and Mr ST.
10. Did I mention I love the cool leather handle bar and guard bar? Also the aluminium chassis? Though I love the black chassis more.

After this one month of using Joolz, I am ready to say a statement: it is not a stroller meant only for families who drive. I didn't have to worry about lifting this heavy stroller at all, simply because I didn't have to. I am real lucky that my location now is of walkable distance (around 10-15min exercise) to a train station. When I take cab, just fold it down and signal for taxi uncle to assist in putting it in the trunk. They usually help without being asked to. But of cos, remember to thank them for helping. It is a hefty 12kg baby afterall! When we're home after being out, just park the Joolz at a corner. I would wash the wheels sometimes, because the Joolz doubles as a push-chair for JCH at home sometimes.

 

And it seems like endless possibilities for this stroller. They have now come up with a summer seat, and their very own standing board for that older sibling to stand on! I am so going to buy that standing board. But first, some enquiries to clear with the company. Afterall, this is a preloved set, and I'm not sure if the standing board will fit this older chassis.

 

All in all, we have come a big round my love! I believe more good times will come for you, me and JCH.

 

Okok, this ends my raving about Joolz. I really do hope that anyone considering to buy it, please do not get pushed away by its weight factor. My logic is: if I have to buy a conventional stroller and it weighs in at 8-10kg, costs $900++, I would rather buy this travel system for $1000++. AKP is still in use at the moment, when hubs is out with me and we need to travel by bus, or when I bring it with me to my mom's place for visit. :) Of cos, another essential item that works to complement travelling with a folded stroller would be a good baby carrier. Mine is an Ergobaby, and no, there is no need for me to share much about it, it is well documented all around.

 

I have just found out from Mr RC's sharing that this week is WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK!!! Woooyayy~~~!! Whatever I want to say, has already been summarized by this post: http://ouradoptionfaithwalk.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/world-breastfeeding-week-salute.html . For all mamas who had breastfed before, still breastfeeding, going to breastfeed in time to come, or not breastfeeding at all: you are all great mamas! This is a topic that is so close to my heart because from the start, I haven't got enough BM for JCH. So all along, he has been partial breastfed only. It was really emotional for me at the start, but over time I have learnt to accept that whatever helps my baby to thrive works. Still, when the time came for me to totally wean him off, it was another emotional period, but shorter in duration, like a few days. I had withdrawal symptoms! And now, he is drinking FM total and feeding well (but still a messy eater) on homecooked baby porridge!

He's fed cereal in the morning, and sometimes in the afternoon if I got tired and needed to nap.

 

There you go, a healthy chubby baby showing his pose.

 

And happy 7th month old my dearest baby. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3