Guidelines for choosing a baby stroller
The baby is coming and the stroller is not ready?
Although it seems like an easy task where you only need to go to the store – choosing a stroller can often turn into a headache. Unfortunately, too much choice and often insufficient knowledge of the sellers lead to your personal engagement, research, reading reviews on the Internet … and the more other people’s experiences you read, the harder it is for you to make a decision.
Let’s go together through EASY DAILY guidelines that will definitely help you choose a stroller, and over time you will only confirm that you really bought the product you wanted.
The most important things that you need to keep in mind when shopping are to choose a stroller:
1. whose construction seems solid and stable. A stroller that seems fragile should be avoided, otherwise, you will be forced to buy a new one after a few months. “Framed” strollers are not usually the strongest, there are also “umbrella” options that are of high quality. Take a look at all the strollers shown in the store and try different models to meet this requirement. If there are several good models, don’t worry, the following factors will help you to find the perfect one.
2. whose parts can be attached to the existing frame. For practical reasons, choose the one where the car seat, bassinet and all other parts can be attached to the existing frame. This way you will avoid transferring the sleeping baby from one element to another.
3. which have a soft surface. Comfort comes first, if that condition is not met then the baby will definitely not like to be in a stroller.
4. whose textile part is made of quality material and such a texture that it can be easily washed. There are materials where stains could be removed very quickly by wiping with wet wipes.
If you have planned to buy a stroller with the middle price, then you don’t have to worry, it will surely serve one more baby if you use them properly.
Additional guidelines to follow:
2 in 1 or 3 in 1 stroller?
It is definitely up to you.
A 2 in 1 stroller means that you get a car seat and a classic stroller seat in the package.
A 3 in 1 stroller means that in addition to the car seat and a classic stroller seat, you also get a bassinet.
There is a shopping rule to buy the option 3 in 1 if the child will be born in the fall or winter, and the 2 in 1 if it will be born in the spring or summer. However, parents often opt for the 3 in 1 variant because there is a bassinet in which the baby can sleep in a horizontal „flat“ position until almost the 4th month (depending on the size of the baby). It should also be taken into account that the 2 in 1 option is cheaper, so instead of buying 3 in 1, you can buy a better quality 2 in 1 stroller.
Wheel size?
The bigger the wheels the more comfortable the ride. The shock absorbers are an additional advantage.
Basket size?
While you don’t think this is crucial, because you generally never carry a lot of things with you, over time you may be surprised at how useful larger baskets can be. You can put your jacket, baby jacket, bag with baby things and everything you buy in a mini purchase in it.
Armrest height adjustments?
The importance of this option comes to the fore if your height is lower or higher than the average height of the population. Not all baby strollers have this advantage, but it can help your hands and elbows a lot during longer rides.
Does the stroller regular seat have a “zero” position?
It may not be important to you at this moment but take into account that some children outgrow their bassinet or car seat within 3 months. You will be forced to buy a new stroller so that the child can sleep in a horizontal position. If you pay attention, you can often see a situation where the child sleeps in a sitting position with a bent neck because the seat does not have the possibility of lowering to a horizontal position.
The degree of sun-canopy coverage?
All baby strollers have a canopy to protect the baby from the sun, but in the summer that regular protection is usually not enough. In case that the stroller you want to buy does not have the canopy with „ideal“ 180 degrees coverage you do not need to worry since you can always put a cotton diaper over everything to protect the baby from the sun-rays. The size of the covered part is not of great importance if your new stroller meets all other requirements. If there is a possibility to choose the one with a larger canopy coverage (at some strollers it goes up to 180 degrees), then that is definitely a plus.
Car trunk/elevator size?
Before buying, carefully measure the dimensions of the elevator, the width of the elevator entrance, the width of your front door, the dimensions of the car trunk, etc.
Other 10 useful tips when shopping:
1. The bigger the wheels, the more comfortable the ride, but it is harder to pack the larger stroller in the smaller car trunk.
2. If the wheelchair is lighter, it is easier to carry them up the stairs (in a building without an elevator, over a pedestrian bridge etc).
3. If the basket is not big enough, things are mostly hung over the armrests and there is a possibility that the stroller overturns due to the weight of the added items. Besides the fact that the accumulation of things on the armrest is visually not attractive detail.
4. Take care of the seat depth so that the baby does not fall out of them in case it is not tied.
5. the sea or to a mountain with a stroller, then take extra care of whether the wheels can turn on the sand/ice.
6. If you plan to use a stroller during the summer period, there is a possibility that the canopy has a net part for air circulation or to be removed completely, also take care the canopy material does not absorb the heat of the sun as well as the armrest to be made of a material that is not heated in the sun.
7. Some strollers do have lower and some of them higher positioned baby chair. It would be good that the level of baby chair on the stroller be positioned higher if you are going to drive the child on a road
8. Lighter fabrics get dirty faster, so pay attention to textiles, it is on practical side to choose a material that is easy to clean and washes quickly.
9. Additional benefits that come with a stroller (mosquito net, rain coverage, cup holder, mobile phone holder, sun umbrella, baby bag, etc.) can be useful but not crucial because all these things are usually universal so you can buy them later.
10. Unlike the above-mentioned benefits that you can buy for any model of the stroller anytime, some models do not have the option to purchase some parts later such as winter cover for baby legs as well as warmer seat material for winter.