Choosing a Stroller: How to Navigate the Myriad of Choices
When choosing a stroller, you’ll need to decide how much you will probably be using it. We’ll talk about three different kinds of families, and which options are best for them. We’ll also discuss double and triple strollers.
City Living
For families that live in the city, the stroller may be the sole vehicle. Parents will be lifting the stroller up and down flights of stairs and in and out of taxicabs. They’ll also be maneuvering through tight isles in small shops. For these families, a compact, lightweight stroller is probably the best option.
Suburban Families
In the suburbs, a stroller will be used mostly in the mall and for walks around the block or to the park. Parents can manage with a heavier stroller. Basket size becomes an important feature. Midsize strollers are popular with these families.
Country Folk
If you live in the country, you’ll want a stroller that can handle rougher terrain. A stroller with large wheels and a good suspension, like a jogging stroller, will be a sound choice.
Some other questions to consider are:
Who will be riding in the stroller? Do you want a stroller made specifically for an infant or a todder, or one that will last until your newborn is in preschool?
Who will be pushing the stroller? If the person who will be doing most of the pushing is above or below average height, you’ll want to pay attention to the height of the handlebars. Some strollers have adjustable handlebars, and you can buy attachments for others.
Where will you store it? If space is tight, either in the trunk or in the home, a more compact model is essential.
What special features are you looking for? From rain covers and boots to cup holders and extra pockets, there are a myriad of choices to consider.
How much do you want to spend? Parents might be tempted to just buy the cheapest model that will fit their needs, but they’ll probably regret it when the stroller breaks after just a few months of use. Likewise, you wouldn’t want to spend $500 on a stroller and end up hating it. Research which models are most durable and try the stroller out in the store before purchasing. Make sure the store you buy from has a good return policy, too.
There are several different types of stroller on the market. Here’s a brief overview:
Stroller Frames – These strollers are basically just stroller frames with wheels, and occasionally a basket. They will accept any infant car seat, making transferring baby from car to stroller a snap. The only problem is that once your child outgrows the infant car seat (which is usually shockingly quick), you’ll need to buy a new stroller. Plus, many midsize strollers can hold an infant car seat safely. Graco’s Snugride Stroller, Kolcraft’s Universal Car Seat Carrier, and Baby Trend’s Snap N Go are examples of these stroller frames.
Travel Systems – A travel system is a stroller and infant car seat combination. Most manufacturers offer at least one travel system: Graco, Evenflo, and Baby Trend have several on the market. While a travel system sounds like a good idea-matching stroller and car seat, bought for a good deal-they’re usually not. Many of the lower priced travel systems come with a great car seat but a very cheap stroller.
Lightweight Strollers – A compact stroller that weighs less than 12 pounds sounds like a great idea, and for older babies (six months and up), it is. These strollers are easy to use and maneuver and can be inexpensive. You’ll want to be careful with the models selling for under $100, as the price can reflect the quality. Brands like Peg Perego, Maclaren, and Combi sell fantastic lightweight strollers, but can cost $200-$300. Some lightweight strollers don’t have a full recline, however, which makes them a poor choice for young babies.
Umbrella Strollers – These strollers are usually quite inexpensive, about $30-$50. They have very few features (sometimes not even a basket), but for older children, they usually work just fine. Umbrella strollers are very light and compact, but they don’t recline, so if your child is likely to fall asleep in the stroller, you may want to skip the umbrellas.
Midsize Strollers/Carriages – Standard-sized strollers are normally over 12 pounds and a bit bulkier than most strollers. However, they’re also more comfortable for your children and recline fully into a carriage suitable for newborns. Some even have reversible handlebars so that you have the option of having your child face you.
Jogging Strollers – Aside from the obvious use, these strollers are great for rough terrain. Their large wheels can handle city curbs, dirt roads, grass, and sand. Jogging strollers are becoming more and more popular, though they’re not recommended for babies under 6 months as they don’t usually recline. There are few inexpensive jogging strollers on the market as well, with some priced upwards of $500.
Double and Triple Strollers – For most parents of two or more children, these strollers are a necessity. Double strollers come in two varieties-tandem and side-by-side. Tandem strollers have two seats in a row, which means that one child will always be looking at the back of another child’s head. These strollers are fine for children spaced further apart (because soon the older child won’t need the stroller as much) than those born 2 years or fewer apart. Graco and Peg Perego make tandem double strollers, both of which are fairly common. Side-by-side strollers are usually lighter and easier to maneuver than tandems, but can be too wide to fit through some doorways. Standard doorways are about 32 inches wide, so you’ll want to make sure the stroller is less than 32 inches wide. Some models have a set of wheels in the middle of the stroller, which can get in the way for some people with a longer stride. Maclaren, Peg Perego, Zooper, and Combi make super side-by-side strollers. All triple strollers are front to back (tandem) in design. Peg Perego is the only major manufacturer of triple strollers.
So what are my picks in each of these categories?
For stroller frames, I like Baby Trend’s Snap N Go. It has a basket and a cup holder, and is fairly sturdy. At $50, it’s inexpensive enough that buying a second stroller when your child outgrows the infant seat isn’t as painful.
I would avoid travel systems if at all possible, with the possible exception of the Graco Quattro Tour. At least you’d be getting a Snugride infant car seat-one of the best on the market.
My favorite lightweight strollers are the Peg Perego Pliko and Peg Perego Aria. Maclaren also has some really nice lightweight strollers.
For an umbrella stroller, I would skip the super cheap $30 models and spend a bit more money. I have a $60 Baby Trend umbrella stroller that is in like-new condition after a year and a half of daily use. Maclaren makes some umbrella strollers that I’m sure are great quality, but at $100, they seem a bit much.
Peg Perego’s Venezia is my favorite for midsize strollers. It was perfect for our newborn and with the boot it came with, we were able to use it in the winter and not worry about the baby getting cold. We still use it on longer trips because our toddler has more room to stash toys and books beside him.
Baby Jogger’s models are great for higher-end jogging strollers, with the Baby Trend and InStep joggers good for lower-end strollers. Of course, if you don’t mind spending a lot of cash, the Mountain Buggy Urban Singles and Doubles are fantastic jogging strollers.
I prefer side-by-side double strollers in general, and the Peg Perego Aria Double and Maclaren Twin Rally are great options. My true favorite is the Zooper Tango, though it’s not as widely available.
There a few things to keep in mind when buying a stroller. For the most part, you get what you pay for. If you buy a $80 Graco stroller, don’t expect it to last for more than a year or so. Peg Perego is the best for quality, and they’re not overly expensive. If you find a model you think you like, spend a lot of time trying it out in the store. Make sure you can fold it and lift it fairly easily.
Remember that some issues are very important for some people but not for others. Many parents obsess over basket size, but if you don’t do a lot of shopping, it’s not that important. Likewise, weight is a big factor for many people, but you may find that you don’t mind lifting a heavy stroller in and out of your car if you only do it once or twice a day.
As daunting as choosing a stroller can seem to a new parent, remember that it’s just a stroller and that once your baby is actually here, you’ll have a whole new perspective. Suddenly, deciding between a Graco Metrolite and Quattro Tour won’t seem nearly as important-you’ll have that lovely new baby to occupy all your thoughts.
