27 Aug, 2007
The Bugaboo BEE Complete Stroller is the most recent addition to the Bugaboo range. Bugaboo is well known as the stroller of the rich and famous, and it seems that most photos show hollywood stars pushing their babies in Bugaboos. However, Bugaboo is out of reach for most parents, who cannot justify the nearly 900 dollar cost. Bugaboo have responded with the introduction of a cheaper model, albeit it is still $529! The Bugaboo BEE Complete Stroller has a compact, nimble, one-piece foldable design that accommodates children from infant to toddler and a full set of features that include a height-adjustable handlebar; a seat that reverses, reclines and extends; adaptability for various car seats; and an integrated design that almost folds on its own. The Bugaboo BEE is available in a range of colors, including red (shown here), black, yellow, dark khaki and blue. The Bugaboo BEE will be available from the 1st September, and retails for $529. First impressions show a very modern design that follows the Bugaboo tradition of producing strollers that stand out from the crowd. However, at$529 it is still an expensive stroller, and may well be out of reach for most people.
A matching Bugaboo Bee Diaper Bag is available, priced at $125. The diaper bag includes a change mat, compartments for diapers, wipes, and other accessories, as well as two insulated compartments to keep milk bottles warm. The canvas cover also functions as a changing mat for quick diaper changes.
Also available is the Bugaboo Baby Nest Bee
, an enclosed and zippable pouch that provides extra warmth and comfort for infants. The nest is priced at $99. Both the nest and diaper bag are colored-coded to match the stroller.
Free shipping is available on these items, so be sure of check out the complete range of Bugaboo BEE Complete Strollers at Amazon.com.
23 Aug, 2007
One of the criticisms of the many strollers is the lack of convinient pockets. The best selling Maclaren Techno XT does include 2 small pockets at the rear, but if you store the included rain cover in one, then other pocket is very small, and just big enough for a mobile phone.
The Maclaren Universal Organizer offers a convinient may of adding additional storage to your stroller. One of the best features of this organiser is that it is not designed just for Maclaren strollers. It attaches using strong velcro straps to the handles, therefore allowing it to fit a wide range of strollers.
The organiser includes 2 cup holders, conviniently positioned close to the stroller handles. The real problem with the organiser is the size of the cup holders. They are not very large, and can only hold small cans or bottles. They can also hold baby bottles, but you would typically store these in an insulated bag. The main pouch is very large, but you will need to be careful with storing heavy items. As with many strollers, carrying a bag on the back can make the stroller tip easily.
Overall, there is nothing particularly exciting about this product. It serves a purpose and can be helpful if you want to store a couple of small bottles and some extra things. For day trips when you do not want to carry lots of bags, it can help to store more things on the stroller.
[Update] - I have updated the images in this review to give a clearer indication of how the Maclaren Universal Organizer attached to a stroller. After using the product for an extended period, I can confirm some of the points I raised above. The cup holders will only just fit the larger style bottles, and if you have different sized containers (we have a few water bottles) they may not fit as they are too wide. We also found that when loaded with a couple of full bottles and some things in the pocket (perhaps a couple of books or magazines), the extra weight will cause the stroller to easily tip backwards. With a lighter baby, this can be very unsettling, as you are concious to always keep a hand on the stroller for support. I can see how such an accessory can be handy, but think that it may not be suitable for lighter strollers. My 3 star rating is unchanged.
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