Types of Strollers

Here is a quick look at the various types of strollers:

 

o       Lightweight Strollers: These strollers, often referred to as umbrella strollers for their curved handles, are extremely light (typically weighing less than 12 pounds) and are the smallest and least expensive stroller available. They fold up very compactly and are easy to carry by hand or transport in your vehicle. The seats are made of cloth or vinyl, the frame is basic and lightweight and the wheels swivel for easy maneuverability. 

 

Umbrella strollers are made for babies who are older than 6 months and can sit unassisted because there is not much support in these strollers. Nor is there is much padding for comfort and the seats do not adjust to a reclining position for sleepy babies. Therefore, the lightweight umbrella stroller is more appropriate for shorter trips and for toddlers.   

o       Convertible Strollers: These strollers offer the advantage of transitioning with your baby from infancy to the early toddler years. The infant can start out in the stroller’s carriage position and lie completely flat until mom is ready to convert to the stroller position where baby is sitting upright. The conversion is usually as easy as flipping a switch. These strollers are also lightweight like the umbrella stroller, but they tend to be more expensive.

 

o       Travel Systems: These strollers offer several advantages for the on-the-go mom: versatility, sturdiness, storage and often an abundance of features. If you are planning on purchasing just one stroller, this is the type that will take you comfortably from infancy to beyond the toddler years.

 

The infant car seat that locks into its base in your car also locks into this type of stroller, allowing your sleeping child to remain undisturbed when being transferred from car to stroller. The infant seat and the stroller are often sold together as travel systems and are manufactured by quality name brands. Most of these travel systems offer large storage baskets, cup holders, plastic trays for baby’s toys and snacks and canopies to shield baby from the sun. These strollers come with plastic swivel wheels for easy steering and work best on pavement or inside shopping malls. 

 

The disadvantages to these strollers are that they are larger than lightweight strollers and can be heavy and cumbersome. They are also more expensive and are not suited for rough or rugged terrain.

 

o       Jogging Strollers: Looking to lose that extra baby weight or get some fresh air? A jogging stroller might suit your agenda as these strollers are made specifically to give baby a smooth ride while you take baby on long walks, jogs or hiking trips. Jogging strollers have two large inflatable tires in the back and one inflatable tire in the front, a lightweight frame, shock absorbers and hand brakes. 

 

Although jogging strollers do collapse for storage, they are not as compact as the lightweight stroller. Also, they are built for speed and shock absorption so they do not handle as well as the lightweight stroller and don’t offer the numerous features that might get in the way of a dedicated runner. These strollers can be difficult to turn if they don’t offer a front wheel that swivels, and are therefore not ideal for maneuvering down store aisles. As expected, these specialty strollers can be very expensive but are very durable.

 

o       Double Strollers: If you are expecting twins (or triplets!) or have babies close in age, you may look into buying a stroller made to carry multiples. Double strollers typically seat children one in front of the other with the back seat raised slightly so both children have a view of their surroundings. There are models that offer side-by-side seating to prevent arguments of who gets to sit in front. 

 

Choose a double stroller that has independently reclining seats that allow one baby to lie flat if sleeping while the other can sit straight up.