Getting Started
So you’re on a mission to find the perfect stroller for your little one. With so many out there and so many available options, which should you choose? Which will be most comfortable for your baby? Which strollers fold up and store most easily? Does more expensive mean the stroller is better? We’re going to find answers to all your questions in this list.
Types of Strollers and Features
There are many different types of strollers. You should pick one that suits your lifestyle best. Here are a few types of strollers and a brief description of the features of each:
- Standard Strollers Most standard strollers come with fully reclining seats for baby. This is a great feature, as infants will need to be in a lying position whereas toddlers enjoy sitting up and looking around as you walk.
- Lightweight Strollers A lightweight stroller is easy to tote around, as most weigh less than twelve pounds and are less expensive. Since the seats do not recline, lightweight strollers are perfect for children at least twelve months old and are sitting up safely on their own.
- Umbrella Strollers Umbrella strollers are typically less expensive, they fold up and store easily in a car trunk or in a closet. They are also very lightweight, which makes them perfect for a second stroller that you might need on occasion.
- Jogging Strollers A jogging stroller is perfect for parents who are avid runners or joggers. The frames are sturdy but very lightweight, and the tires are air-filled and more robust. Most come with a safety strap that goes on the parents’ wrist to keep the stroller from getting away as you are running.
- Combo Strollers A combo stroller is very versatile and can be used from infancy to toddlerhood. They consist of a typical toddler-style base and a coordinating bassinet for small infants. Some combo strollers even have extra seat padding, handles with adjustable height and cup holders.
- Travel Systems A travel system type stroller is very handy if you travel with a small infant. The set up includes an infant car seat that can be transferred from the toddler sized stroller base straight into the car without having to remove baby from the infant seat.
- Double Strollers Double strollers come in extra handy if you have twins, or if you have a toddler and a second child. These double strollers make life with two kids in tow so much easier, especially if only one parent is there by themselves with both kids at the same time.
Brands
Here is a list of top stroller brands we recommend:
- Baby Jogger Strollers
- Bumbleride Strollers
- Combi Strollers
- Contours Strollers
- Evenflo Strollers
- Graco Strollers
- Inglesina Strollers
- Jeep Strollers
- Maclaren Strollers
- Mountain Buggy Strollers
- Orbit Baby Strollers
- Peg Perego Strollers
- Quinny Strollers
- Schwinn Strollers
- Stokke Strollers
- Valco Baby Strollers
Safety Tips
Which type of stroller is safest for my newborn? With newborns, it is vital that the stroller seat recline so that their heads and necks are fully supported while in the stroller. Only reclining strollers should be used until your baby is at least six months old and can hold their heads up safely unassisted. The same rule applies to jogging strollers; their seat does not recline and therefore is not safe for a baby under six months old. Can I put my infant in an upright seated position in the stroller? Some research has suggested that sitting upright in a stroller may compress a newborn’s chest and cause your child’s oxygen levels to drop. It is important to know that even slight airway obstruction can affect your child’s development. Can I let my baby nap in a stroller? Sitting in a car seat or stroller for long periods of time can cause a flat spot to develop on the back of baby’s skull. Additionally, being in the stroller for too long can make gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) worse. GERD is a chronic digestive disease. Lessen your child’s risk of developing these afflictions by limiting their time in the stroller or car seat, allowing them to nap in a bassinet or crib instead.
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