How to Pick the Right Stroller

If you’re an active parent, you’ll push your child’s stroller around for miles. You might fold and store it hundreds of times. And it’s your child’s special little place for all that time, so you want to get the right kind. While strollers have gotten better over the years, they’ve also become more complicated and diverse, giving parents a lot of options to consider. Here’s some useful information to help you pick the perfect stroller (or two) for you and your child.

HOW MANY ARE IN YOUR PARTY?

An important factor of course is how many small children you have. Many double strollers are available, in side-by-side or tandem configurations. Clearly these are bulkier than single strollers but a lot more manageable than two single strollers! Side-by-side is wider, and harder to get through doors or along busy sidewalks, but they tend to give you better access to your children. Some tandem strollers have a customizable feature that allows you to add or remove the second seat, so you might not need another stroller, ever. And some models allow the rear seat to face you, giving you better access to whichever child needs your attention the most.

JOGGER STROLLER

Jogger strollers are durable and maneuverable, with suspension to absorb shocks, and three large wheels. For extra safety, it’s important that they have a hand brake, a five-point harness and a wrist strap. The large wheels and sturdy frame make these strollers bulkier and harder to fit into smaller cars.

UMBRELLA STROLLER

These strollers are named for their low weight and how well they fold for storage. This convenience comes at a cost, as they aren’t as durable or sturdy as other kinds of strollers. Since they tend to be inexpensive, it’s good to keep one around as a backup.

CAR SEAT CARRIER

These are designed especially to carry your car seat, and can come with it. They often are missing some of the extra features of other strollers.

FEATURES

Here are a few important features your new stroller should have::

• Rain cover
• Cup holders
• Large underbasket for storage
• Easy folding capability
• Adjustable seat angle – to help your child sleep or stay awake

And a few nice extras you may want to pay extra for:

• Adjustable handlebars – in case you and your partner are of different heights
• Handlebar braking. Some brakes have to be manually engaged at each wheel.
• Travel bag
• Bunting for cold weather
• Compatibility with your car seat
• One-handed folding
• Easily removable and washable fabric – accidents will happen

BEFORE YOU BUY

• Test drive if possible. See how easy you find it to operate the stroller. Try some tight turns and stops.
• Ask friends and family for recommendations. Many reviews on Amazon are fake.
• Check the weight capacity. How long will this stroller work for your child?

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