A good stroller is a necessity for any parent.Without a stroller, taking the baby to the doctor,the park, the supermarket, or anywhere else becomes next to impossible.
I can’t imagine a new parent not needing a stroller,so I’m going to assume you are in the market for one. Here are your options and some tips on what to look for.
Most of the standard strollers you see today are called carriage strollers. They have reclining seats that can be adjusted to serve as a carriage (with the baby laying flat his back) and a stroller (baby sitting up).
The adjustable seat gives parents the flexibility to let junior look around and enjoy the view, but also put the seat back so he can nap in comfort. The stroller should easily fold for storage, and it typically includes a front bar, a basket for storage and perhaps a cup-holder for mommy or daddy.
Increasingly popular today is the Travel System. A travel system is basically a carriage stroller that somes with its own infant carrier that can pop in and out of the stroller. It will also include a base so it can be installed as an infant car seat.
This feature is incredibly handy as you can take the baby from the car, into the stroller, and back into the car without ever disturbing her. And when she is too big for the infant carrier, you can put aside the infant carrier and still use the stroller. The downside is that travel systems cost more than standard strollers and they are often very heavy.
Sport strollers have 3 large wheels and are able to travel faster than standard strollers. They are also better at absorbing bumps. This makes them great for parents on the go who want to take the little one jogging.
All-Terrain strollers are similar to sport models, but are meant for even more rough and tough activities such as hiking. One thing to keep in mind with these is that the tires are filled with air, so if you get a flat you could be in trouble.
When you go shopping for a stroller, be sure to test out the different models. You’ll be using it a lot so make sure it is comfortable for you. Take it for a spin up and down the store aisles. Pick it up and feel how heavy it is. And be sure to spend time folding and unfolding it. While many models are easy enough to close with just one hand, others require a degree in Engineering to fold for storage.
Filed under: Babies
