Are Toy Strollers the New Air Jordans?

My husband and I debated for a solid week: should we buy our son a toy stroller?  I had explained to my husband it was Jack’s favorite toy right now in the park or playground.  He was constantly sidling up to the other toddlers and making off with their strollers when they were distracted.  My husband first had to get over his hang up that this was purely a “girl” toy.  I explained it was all about imitation – because Jack saw mommy pushing his stroller day in and day out, strollers had become of supreme importance.  Jack wanted to be just like mommy with a stroller of his own to push across the playground and up and down the stairs.  With this bit of prodding, Daddy saw the error of his ways, and we were off to the local toy store.

It turns out that it was not that easy. These strollers are fairly hard to come by. The local toy store Pizzazz was out.  Target at the Atlantic Center only carried one that mimicked the grownup SUV models – barely folding up to fit in a trunk.  I wanted a simple, tiny umbrella stroller that we could hang off our Maclaren as we shuttled around to all the local parks.  Through word of mouth at the playground grapevine, we found out that one of the ritzy neighborhood kids’ clothing stores Area Kids had them on hand this weekend.  We ran straight over, but all they had was pink.  My husband balked so the clerk called around to their other locations.  We caught a break.  One of the other stores had one in “boy” colors and would set it aside.  We ended up paying more than we should have, but in the end my son was thrilled. 

Jack ran all over the park with it yesterday, but fights broke out wherever we went.  Turns out toy strollers are not just a hot commodity with Jack, but all of the toddler crowd and he was a constant target of stroller theft.  Kids were pushing and pulling to take their “turn” with the stroller.  When one of the bigger girls gave Jack a solid shove, DH and I began to question our purchase.  Was our toy stroller the equivalent of the Air Jordan sneakers in the nineties?  Would our son be mugged on the playground for this hot new belonging?  Yikes!  What had we done?  For now, we have decided to leave it at home where Jack can push it around the safety of the apartment until he develops a tougher skin and some defensive moves.

Comments

[CCH]

I thought the Air Jordans reference was going to be to price, you can spend as much on a toy as a real one!

[Karen]

Hi CCH
We had the same issue with trying to find one. We found a good sturdy selection at Lulu's Cuts and Toys- my favorite toy store. I think you were right across the street at Area? After we bought it for Cedar it didn't seem like such a desirable toy for him after all those times of stealing other doll strollers! Did you have the same experience?

[Katie]

Bravo for disregarding gender stereotypes and purchasing the toy that your son really wanted. I'm glad he likes and I hope that he can get out there with it again soon. :)