How to choose the perfect stroller for your family

Nowadays, a stroller is a necessity for many families. It helps give a mom the extra hand she needs when shopping, going to doctor's offices, the park and many other places. With the advent of sport strollers, many parents can now stay fit and healthy. Parents get to share their exercise with their child. Strollers are amazing but choosing the perfect one for your family is not easy.

First off, no stroller is perfect and this fact alone adds to the difficulty parents encounter when shopping for a stroller. Before going out to shop, you need to know what you need in a stroller. Make a list of the things you will be doing with your stroller and then decided from this list what kind of stroller will fit best.

There are many kind of strollers in the market; some are good for strolling only, some are good for commuting and shopping, some for running/jogging and others are versatile and can be used for strolling, shopping, commuting and running/jogging.

What a stroller can do is dependent on the features that it has. For example, a stroller with a swiveling locking front wheel and a suspension system is great for off road jogging, and is also good for indoor shopping if it is not bulky.

Regardless of what you want to do with your stroller, there are certain features that every stroller should have. These features are, a five point safety harness, a canopy and a brake.

Five point safety harness

This type of harness has a strap that secures a child around the shoulders, over both thighs and between the legs. This harness is recommended by pediatricians across the nation because they secure children effectively, allowing no excess room for sliding out.

Many strollers have five point harnesses that can adjust at all levels to provide a better fit for each child. Some need to be tethered will others are non tether harnesses. At the end of the day, the stroller you choose should have a harness that adjust to fit your child properly.

Canopy

Canopy with mesh viewing window

Canopies are very important because they provide shade for your child and protect them from harmful radiations from the sun. Some canopies are UPF 50+ and offer additional protection against harmful UV radiations. Some canopies can adjust to multiple positions offering parents the option to adjust it to the most useful position. Some canopies are big and others small. Big canopies that extend and adjust are better because they offer more protection from the elements.

Canopies do not have to have a viewing window but this feature is great for keeping an eye on your child as you stroll. A canopy that offers ventilation is great for children especially in hot areas. Some canopies have a visor that extend downwards to offer even more protection from the sun.

When you pick a stroller, it is advisable to choose one with a canopy that will protect your little one from the sun regardless of the position of their seat.

Brakes



foot activated parking brake

Brakes are a very necessary part of a stroller, especially if you plan on taking it out to places like the mall, up and down hills and in crowded places. There are many kinds of brakes but the two basic ones are a hand brake and a parking brake.

Most strollers have a parking brake and these are usually foot activated and located on the rear of many strollers. This kind of brake is good foo a stroller that is used mostly on level ground and indoors.


Some strollers have both a parking brake and a hand brake. Most of these strollers are designed to be used for running and jogging. The hand brake is very convenient and help the stroller come to a stop when jogging. It is especially useful when the stroller is on an incline. A stroller like the Bob 2016 Ironman stroller or the Thule glide sports stroller have both a hand brake and a foot activated parking brake. This is so because they are designed for jogging and running on a variety of terrains. 


There are many other features that make a stroller great; they include convenience and comfort. 

Convenience

Convenient features of a stroller depend on what you want to do with the stroller. For example, if you plan on using your stroller as an everyday stroller, then features like a swiveling front wheel, a reclining seat, an easy compact fold and lightweight are very important.

Wheels and tires

Large wheels and air filled tires

Wheels are of course a major part of every stroller. Some stroller designs have a single wheel in front and two behind. Some have double wheels in front and behinds (there are many other configurations). Some strollers have a swivel front wheel, some fixed front wheels and others both.

A swiveling wheel makes a stroller easy to maneuver around corners and tight and crowded places. This kind of wheel is great on roads and indoors. Some strollers offer a way to turn your swivel wheel into a fixed wheel which is great for off road adventures. People who use their stroller mostly for jogging need a fixed front wheel to keep it rolling straight.

The size of the wheels also matter. Strollers made for jogging usually have big wheels (about 16" on the rear and 12" in front). This big wheels make it easy to roll on a variety of terrains. Strollers used for everyday activities like strolling and shopping do not have to have big wheels.

There are many kinds of tires but the most popular is the air filled tires. This kind of tires are like those of bicycles and need to be filled with air regularly. Some tires are filled with foam and do not need to be filled with air at all. 

Seat

Baby trend falcon jogger showing seat with five point harness

A multi position reclining seat is a great feature for a stroller. Some times children are interested in their environment and need their seat to be upright. Other times, they are tired and want to take a nap and need their chair reclined. With a reclining seat, you are sure to find a comfortable sitting position for your child.

A seat that is padded and offers head and side impact protection is a plus. Padded seats offer comfort for long rides especially when they involve jogging. Head and side impact protection is essential to keep your baby safe when jogging or running especially on rough terrain.

Some strollers have seats that sit high and others low. The high seat is not a must have but offers a child who is curious, a better view of their environment.

Some strollers offer multiple seat configurations. If you have multiple kids, take your time when shopping for a stroller and make sure you know all the configurations offered by each stroller you look at. For example, parents with twin infants should consider buying a double stroller that can receive two infant car seats whereas parents with two siblings (a toddle and an infant) will be ok with a double stroller that receives one car seat only.

Some strollers can receive a bassinet, an infant car seat and/or an additional stroller chair. Some chairs can face both forward and backwards while others can only face in one direction.

You have a lot to choose from so take your time.

Folding, storage and transportation

Baby trend manta snap gear stroller folded

The way a stroller folds is very important. Some strollers require multiple steps to fold while others fold in three or less steps. Some fold with a push of a button or pull of a lever. Some have an auto lock feature while others require manual locking. Some fold bulky while others fold compact.

Depending on what you will be using your stroller for, you could choose a light weight stroller that folds easily and compact or you could pick a design that is heavy and steady.

If you plan on using your stroller for shopping and running errands around town, then you need a stroller that folds quickly, is compact when folded and is easy to transport. On the other hand, if you use your stroller for running or jogging, then you might not care about its weight so much; you will probably value a feature like sturdiness more.

Another thing to consider is how much space you have in your car and house. A bulky stroller will take a lot of space and might not be the best kind for someone living in an apartment in New York.  A bulky stroller might not qualify for taking on the bus or train.

If you on the other hand live in a place like Oklahoma, drive an SUV and stay in a home, you might have enough room for a bulky stroller.

Some stroller have carry on handles that make transporting them easy.

Storage space

Jogging type strollers usually offer just enough storage for a diaper bag and other supplies you and your child need when you are outdoors. Someone who is interested in using their stroller for shopping might not like a jogging style stroller for this reason.

Strollers designed for everyday use usually have huge storage basket that can accommodate mall type shopping and more.
Some strollers offer a back seat pocket for storing personal items like phones, purses and car keys while other do not (this feature can be added on to many stroller in the form of a parent organizer).

Comfort 

Features that make a stroller comfortable are very important. A padded seat can help your child stay in their seat longer and even fall asleep during a ride. A reclining seat, a padded harness, a ventilated seat, a suspension system, an adjustable footrest and an adjustable handlebar are all features that offer comfort to children and parents.

Additional features include, parent trays, child trays and head phone ports.

Final thoughts  

It might seem as a daunting task when choose the right stroller for your family but it is not. Do not over think it. Just make a list of all the things you will like a stroller to have and then settle for one that has at least 75%. Be reasonable when making your list. No stroller is perfect but there sure is one out there that will be great for your family.