VancouverMom.ca had a chance to chat with Lusso Baby about some of their top stroller picks. Located at 1037 Marine Drive in North Vancouver, Lusso Baby is a specialty store dedicated to handpicking fine family products and providing customized service in a welcoming environment. I stopped in to pick up a few strollers for this article and found the staff to be exceptionally knowledgeable – and passionate! – about all the merchandise in Lusso Baby, including the strollers.

When Lusso Baby owners Arash Fasihi and Shima Javadi recently had their baby, they purchased the Stokke Xplory Complete stroller. Arash demonstrated the stroller for me and couldn’t say enough about how much he and his wife loved it. I’m a sucker for unique modern design. I love anything unusual and eye-catching and I especially love beauty when it’s coupled with excellent functionality. Stokke seems to have the modern touch – from their iconic Stokke Trip Trapp high chair to their Stokke Sleepi crib – and the Stokke Xplory Complete stroller is no exception.

We had a chance to chat with Lusso Baby about their favourite umbrella baby stroller. They recommended the I’Coo Pluto stroller – part of the Rockstar Baby family. VancouverMom.ca arranged a test drive so we could check out the I’Coo Pluto stroller for ourselves. What we found? Although the I’Coo Pluto stroller might not be as well known as its Maclaren competitor, this stroller does provide some extra value and interesting features.

We had a chance to chat with Lusso Baby about their top pick for double strollers. Lots depends on what you need a double stroller for: you may have twins, in which case a side-by-side stroller is probably the best choice. You might want to accommodate a second child in the future, so a stroller that allows you to add on a second seat is a terrific option. However, an interesting option is the Joovy Caboose family of sit-and-stand strollers. If you’re looking for a double stroller that accommodate a baby and older active child, the Joovy Caboose Ultralight Stand-On stroller is a clever option.

We had a chance to chat with Lusso Baby about their favourite all-round baby stroller. They recommended the Quinny Buzz 3 stroller – hands down. We test drove this stroller and checked out some of the great features of this stroller. If you’re someone who loves a clean sleek design, might do some light activity and don’t need to accommodate a second child, then this is an excellent buy.

Lusso Baby has a phenomenal selection of strollers – both online and in their North Vancouver store. We asked them to name their favourite jogging stroller. Their pick? The BOB Revolution jogging stroller. VancouverMom.ca had a chance to have a look for ourselves and check out the features of this stroller.

Looking for a stroller? Download VancouverMom.ca’s Guide to Buying a Stroller to help you avoid costly mistakes and make the most out of your next stroller purchase.

Every year we are all faced with the same question: what to do for our child’s birthday party? From my personal experience, as children grow older, planning a birthday party gets a lot easier. But I remember those early birthday parties and the dilemma I was faced with (and still am, as my youngest daughter is five years old). I always want something unique and memorable, but something that doesn’t hurt the bank account too much. With four active kids, I’m looking for flexible hours, so that the birthday party can happen between the soccer game and the hockey practice. I know what the solution is: a home birthday party. I can make it as long as I want, and I can make it fit in our busy schedule.

Special offer! VancouverMom.ca readers can enter coupon code VANCOUVERMOM to get 10% off any order. Valid until March 17, 2010. “Some people think our product is a little different at first – and it is!” says Nicole Garza about the leather bibs made by her company Mally Bibs. Nicole’s daughter Malia inspired her to start her company, which designs and manufactures leather baby bibs – the first of their kind. Her daughter was ten months old at the time and Nicole discovered that leather was a much better material for bibs. “It cleans easily and is so durable, lasts forever, and doesn’t stain,” says Nicole, who worked at the Communications and Interior Design Department for Ikea Canada before starting her company.