Thanks to Maxi Cosi for providing a Kaia Stroller for testing and review. All opinions are my own.
Coming to the realization that your first child is almost here is an insane feeling.
All of a sudden the whole world looks and feels different. You think of things you have never thought about. Your double dates with your friends talking about traveling and “which concert should we go to next?” become all about baby questions. Your focus is now on all things baby.
A few weeks ago, I was at Disneyland with my wife, best friends and their daughters Scarlett, Violet, and Chloe. We were there to celebrate all three girls’ birthdays and have fun. Being a huge Kidult myself, whats better than acting like a kid when you actually have a kid to be crazy with?
As we walked though California Adventure from The Little Mermaid Attraction to Toy Story, I started noticing nothing but strollers. Every different make, model, and color. Strollers everywhere. Coming at me from every direction. It was insane. I was experiencing New Dad Stroller Anxiety.
Prior to expecting, my focus had always been on eating my way through the park. Now, I found myself staring at every stroller that passed by to assess the competition. From the design of the stroller to the storage space to the skateboard deck attachment to the cup holders…I had to understand how they worked and what made each one better than the next.
It was my turn to push Violet in the stroller. Flashback to my first drivers-ed lesson. I was confident I could maneuver around this traffic filled park. Ok…seatbelt? Check! Brakes unlocked? Check! Proceed into traffic.
Of course I had to start acting like a big kid while pushing – we went fast then slow, then made a quick right turn, then the ultimate move, a 1080, all while laughing and having a blast. I can totally handle this, I said to myself. I was a total pro.
We headed across the plaza to Disneyland and parked the stroller near Splash Mountain so we could go on some rides. We just left the stroller in the designated stroller area and I didn’t think anything of it. But after 45 minutes, we came back and it was like a parking lot. Strollers next to strollers. 10 deep by 10 wide. I started looking for ours and was completely anxiety ridden over the fact that I couldn’t distinguish our black umbrella stroller out from the crowd.
As I looked around, I noticed that even though each one had a different style or feature, they were all the same colors: black, red, and Disney-rented green. No bright, fun colors, nothing with a pattern.
With the way trends in design are going these days, why aren’t there more companies making a stroller that stands out in a crowd?
I came home and quickly blasted a post on Facebook to crowdsource which stroller everyone liked and why. I had to know immediately. Within minutes, I had a ton of comments but each one outlining only the technical features of the stroller. I quickly asked about patterns/colors and everyone came back with the same response, ” I wish my stroller came in a pattern!”
As an event designer, I always start with creating a color palette for each event. Colors define personality, mood, vibe, and completely set the tone of the event. I knew my mission was clear – find an umbrella stroller that is fully functional while speaking to my design style for my little baby girl.
After speaking with my friends and searching the web, I found the bright, cool, hip, colorful stroller I was looking for. The Maxi-Cosi Kaia Stroller in Bohemian Blue. It wasn’t on the market yet so I reached out to Maxi-Cosi and a new one was on its way for review.
The box came with a huge sticker on the side showcasing the Bohemian Blue pattern. Hooray!
First thing I noticed was the color palette, a bright pattern of orange, yellow, red, pink, and an amazing turquoise blue. It immediately spoke to me and put me in a good mood. Was this going to be the answer to my colorful anxiety? The next thing I noticed was the piping on the canopy. The canopy is entirely made of the bright turquoise blue with thin stitched lines of the matching pattern. The perfect combination of style, safety, and shade. The pattern on the seat cushion extends from head to toe.
Putting my excitement over the color pattern aside, I realized now I was going to have to put this thing together. Oh no.
Since this was my first experience with an umbrella stroller I had no clue what to expect. Was it going to be like a 3 week Lego build or as simple as an Ikea end table? Do I need an allen wrench for this? The funny thing was, I’ve built dozens of large scale sets on Hollywood sound stages with complete ease, but this, this stroller assembly gig was triggering another episode of New Dad Stroller Anxiety.
I removed the tape and opened the top of the box flap by flap. I could see a piece of the turquoise shade staring at me through the plastic clear bag. I removed the entire bag from the box, and there it was. Here we go.
Turns out, assembling was super easy. 5 simple steps.
- Unfold. Pull up the fold levers, then step down on the frame lock pedal. Done.
- Rear Wheels Ensure brake wire goes between storage basket and frame. Wrap strap around brake wire and secure with snap. Position each wheel with brake pedal toward the back. Match color on brake pedal with color on frame. Push each wheel onto frame until it “clicks”. Done.
- Front Wheels. Align slot on stroller to tab on front wheel. Press front wheel into stroller frame until it “clicks”. Done.
- Cup Holder. Align slot to post on stroller. Rotate and push down to lock into place. Done. Add your favorite beverage like a classic Faygo red pop. Done and done.
- Canopy. Push canopy forward and ensure each side is clipped securely. Canopy can be locked, open by pulling canopy forward. Easy breezy.
That’s it. It’s ready to use.
I took the stroller for a spin around the family room and then outside to try different terrain. It pushed well over hardwood floors, brick, and cement. Even tried it on the grass. It was smooth sailing all the way.
Storage is an important feature for me so I added some toys to gage the size of the area. There was plenty of storage for a few family hoodies, toys, and snacks.
All I need now is someone to put in the stroller. I can’t wait to take this on my daughter’s first trip to Disneyland.
Features:
- Lockable front swivel wheels
- Lightweight frame
- Adjustable leg rest
- Multi position reclining seat with 5 point padded harness system
- Parent cup holder
- Mico and Prezi adapters included
- Easy to fold and unfold and includes 3D sliding fold
- Accepts a Maxi-Cosi Mico and Prezi infant car seat to create a compact, maneuverable travel system
- The seat is suitable for children from 6 months to age 4 (maximum 50-LBS. / 22.73-kg).
WOW! Great review, thanks. I don’t have to research any more stollers.