5-in-1 Convertible Car Seat Stroller

• On the Plane:
  Our little one is still a “lap child,” so we haven’t tested it on an actual plane. We gate check our car seat, but my gut says it’s not going to fit down the airplane aisle or in coach airplane seats.
  While the car seat may fit in a business class seat, there are plenty of compact, carry-on and even inflatable boosters you can purchase for the plane flight itself.
  We primarily use the car seat function in cabs and cars while traveling.
• Stroller Limitations:
  Don’t expect this to perform like a jogging stroller. The base of the seat is very close to the ground. While it strolls smoothly through airports and hotels, it is not ideal for uneven pavement or cobblestone streets.
  For day trips and tourist stuff, I usually bring along a lightweight backpack baby carrier.
• Sun Shade:
  This may be “user error,” so to speak, but we could not figure out how to properly attach the sunshade. Ultimately we had to jury-rig it to get it to work.
  That said, I absolutely recommend using the sunshade! It can be crucial to helping your little one fall asleep—and stay asleep—on the go.
• Chemical Flame Retardants:
  This product has them. The pros and cons of toxic chemical flame retardants is fodder for another post. However, if you are green mommy, this product is nowhere near “organic,” “natural” or “green.” As a result, I would not purchase it for everyday use.
• Price:
  It ain’t cheap. At around $300, this is a fabulous investment for families who travel a lot. It might also be worth considering a joint purchase with one or two other families (provided you don’t travel together or at the same time). However, for most families, it’s probably not worth purchasing for just one trip.
• Reviews:
  While the car seat stroller gets an overall four-star rating, these two-star Amazon reviews pretty much sum up the “full disclosure.”
  (I always read bad reviews first for the worst-case scenario.)
• Poor Customer Service:
  While there is a Canadian version of a convertible car seat stroller, there is currently only one US manufacturer. I have purposely refrained from specifically naming their product until now because I don’t endorse the company. In my experience, Lilly Gold has very poor customer service.
  I initially ordered their “Sit n Stroll” through SkyMall, and it never arrived. After a month of waiting, SkyMall had to cancel my order because they couldn’t get reach Lilly Gold. Neither could I. Unfortunately for now, however, it seems that Lilly Gold is the only game in town.
• Defective Models:
  Ultimately, I ordered the Sit n Stroll through Amazon because I knew they had stock and would replace the stroller if needed.
  Based on Amazon reviews, I deduced that in a few (likely defective) models, the wheels could unexpectedly fold back in while strolling. It seemed to be an issue that was resolved when Amazon sent a replacement stroller.
  Based on my experience with Lilly Gold, I would not rely on the company to replace defective models in a timely manner. I suggest purchasing through a retailer with excellent customer service… and purchasing the stroller well in advance of your trip so that you have time to test it for defects and order a replacement if needed.

NOTE: In our experience, the wheels did collapse back in once while strolling into an elevator… but it was “user error” (we didn’t listen for the “click” when we extended the wheels). Lilly Gold never responded to my request for a statement.