How to choose the best stroller: Part 1

By Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Newborns

A stroller is an important investment and one of the more expensive baby items you’ll purchase. You will likely use it thousands of times, so take time choosing the right one.

Let’s start with an overview of the options here in Part One of a two part series that will help you decide which stroller will be best for you.

Rules for successful shopping 

Here are the basic rules for successful stroller shopping:

1. Shop when you have plenty of time; don’t rush the decision.
2. Make a list of what’s important and take it with you.
3. Don’t compromise, there are plenty of places to buy strollers and it’s worth the wait to get the right one.
4. Don’t purchase a stroller online unless you first try it out in person.

Types of strollers

There are a variety of stroller designs. Here are the main types and important factors to consider.

 

Type	Description	Use for	Benefits	Negatives
Compact and Umbrella	Lightweight, easy-to-fold portable stroller	Keeping in the car and traveling	Light and easy to carry or tote; great for very short trips (such as picking up an older sibling from school)	Usually they don’t fit a newborn nor a toddler – best for the 4 month to 18 month range; not sturdy enough to carry a baby, diaper bag, and other carry-alongs; less room and less comfortable for the baby than a standard stroller
Single standard	An ordinary stroller: a baby seat on wheels	Everyday use	Light enough to pick up, yet has every feature you need;	May be too big to carry easily in a smaller car or to travel with
Double standard; Front and back	Similar to a single stroller but adds a second seat behind the first	Everyday use for two or more; or for one baby plus lots of supplies and shopping bags	An absolute necessity for any family with two or more little ones; or families with one who are planning on adding another baby soon	Can be cumbersome and heavy to fold and lift; tough choice for twins or two young children because usually only one seat reclines fully for naps
Double standard; Side-by-side	Similar to a single stroller but adds a second seat alongside the first	Everyday use for two or more	An alternate to the front and back double; best advantage is that both seats fully recline	My be too wide to maneuver through store aisles, crowed places, narrow sidewalks or some doorways (Measure before purchasing.)
Triple-plus	Specially made strollers with three or more seats	Everyday use for three or more little ones	Necessary for any family with triplets or three very close in age	At nearly 5 feet long these are a challenge to maneuver; pushing uphill is difficult; not all seats recline; tend to be short on storage space; very expensive
Sport (jogger) (Single, double or multiple)	A sturdy stroller with large tires	Jogging, fast-walking or strolling over bumpy terrain	Great for moving fast or covering rough ground such as grass, gravel or sand	The tri-wheel system makes it hard to steer and turn the stroller; young infants don’t fit the seat well and older children often resist the reclining position of the seat; not easily transportable
Travel systems	A combination of infant car seat and stroller base	Everyday use of the car seat portion for the first three to six months, everyday stroller use thereafter	One purchase covers two needs; car seat snaps securely into stroller	They tend to be large and heavy; the car seat is usually a rear-facing infant seat (for a baby up to 20 pounds); some stroller seats don’t fit an older baby; a baby in the seat is much heavier to carry than a baby in your arms but still parents tend to overuse the carrier
Carriage (Buggy)	A basket- type traditional buggy	Ideal for newborns and younger infants	Allows baby to recline to a horizontal position; can also be used as a mobile crib	They don’t stay newborns very long – by three or four months of age most babies have outgrown a carriage.
Rolling car seat base (Mobility base)	A frame that allows you to use your car seat as a stroller	A less expensive alternative to a travel system; A good choice for disabled children in specialized car seats	Light and super compact; folds totally flat	Not a smooth ride; difficult to steer; not as stable as a regular stroller; works only with infant seat (birth to three months) or custom frames for specialized seats
Convertible carseat/stroller	A car seat that has stroller wheels and a handle that retract into the carrier unit.	Everyday use for the first three months	Helpful for families who travel frequently by plane, bus or train	An odd-looking stroller; baby sits very low to the ground; no storage; works only with an infant seat
Non-stroller options	Alternate choices, like a sling or front pack to compliment your stroller, or to use exclusively during the early months.	Everyday use for young babies	Lightweight, easy to bring along, comforting to baby; keeps both hands free, but baby close to you	Difficult to use for extended periods when baby gets heavier; no storage

 

Check my next column for a discussion of specific stroller features and guidelines for making your final decision.

Elizabeth Pantley is a mother of four, grandmother, and author of the bestselling book, The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Newborns plus 8 other books in the No-Cry Solution Series, which helps Moms and Dads through all key stages of parenting.