As we’ve been discussing in previous posts, the stroller is an important piece of gear for babies and young children. Pick the right one and it will make taking your baby to the store, the mall, the doctor’s office and around the block a joy. Pick the wrong one and you face the frustrating prospect of using a stroller that doesn’t fit your needs or you end up spending extra money to replace it.We want you to know all you can about strollers before you buy. We’ve seen too many parents end up buying multiple strollers and wind up with extras they didn’t use or didn’t really need in their garage when their child no longer needs a stroller.
Choosing the right stroller begins with you.
Where you live and how you plan to use the stroller are important decision criteria. See our previous posts on where you live and how you will use the stroller for some important tips on selecting a stroller if you live in the city vs. the suburbs.
Another important consideration is who will push it? The comfort of your baby is not the only person to consider here. Is the adult pushing the stroller tall or short? Are both parents the same height, or is one significantly taller than the other. You want to choose a stroller with handlebars at a comfortable height without having to bend over and strain to push it. Some strollers have adjustable handlebars to accommodate varying adult heights. Some specialty catalogs sell handle-bar extenders to make it more comfortable for exceptionally tall caregivers.
How often will you use your stroller is another important consideration. Will you unpack your stroller occasionally from your automobile’s trunk and use it in the mall? If so, then choose an easy folding and lightweight model over a more durability but heavy one. Do you walk everywhere? Ask other parents which strollers keep their wheels and maintain their ease of steering over the long haul
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Where will you use it? Your climate makes a difference; a stroll on dirt roads or heavy gravel (or the softer surface of a beach or snow) is considerably different from smooth hard surfaces and may require larger, heavy-duty wheels. But if you are pushing your baby down a paved sidewalk or at the mall more often, you may prefer something lightweight with small wheels.
The current and future make-up of your family is an important part of the equation.
If you have twins or two children close in age and weight, a double stroller with an independent reclining system can be the difference in an enjoyable stroll and a hair-pulling frustration. Double strollers for two babies come in two basic configurations. The traditional style of double stroller for twins is a side-by-side double-wide stroller with two seats facing the same way, positioning both twins in an equal setting.Another model type is a “tandem” double stroller, where the seats are arranged in a line with one behind the other. Some tandems have a stadium seat, where the child in back sits above the child in front. Other tandem styles can place the second child underneath and behind the child in front. There are advantages and disadvantages to both styles, and most parents have a strong preference for one or the other.
The side-by-side stroller style goes up and over sidewalk curbs more easily than a tandem, but the wider profile can make the side-by-side more difficult to maneuver through narrow doorways or hallways. If you are shopping for infant twins and want a side-by-side, be sure to look for one in which both sides recline.
The difficulty in side-by-sides comes when one child is significant heavier than the other. The stroller can tend to veer to one side which can make the stroller difficult to maneuver. You should also remember that a folded side-by-side typically requires twice as much space for storage, and may be more suitable for an SUV or mini-van than the trunk of a compact sedan.
Tandem double strollers are generally praised for their maneuverability through narrow spaces (think grocery stores and department stores here), but they can also be heavier and more cumbersome than side-by-side models. Some tandem models allow you to add the tandem seat when you need it but store it when you don’t. The ability to add on the tandem seat can be especially helpful with an infant and a toddler on a long day at an amusement park.
Take a test drive in the store before you buy.
We encourage all of our customers to try the stroller out in the store before purchasing. Our sales associates at A Room Of Their Own are trained to help you with the right questions. Compare maneuverability and practice opening and closing it – with one hand as well as two. See how easy it is to adjust the backrest, lift and carry the stroller, and apply the rear brakes. Make sure you can stand tall when you push the stroller and walk comfortably behind it without having your legs or feet hitting the wheels as you walk.
If both spouses will use the stroller (and most do), you should both try it out. We’ll even ask you to take the stroller for a walk in the parking lot and practice folding and storing the stroller in your car before purchase to make sure it’s right for you. Our goal in everything we do is to work with you to make the right choice for your personal situation.
