Gear Advice > How to Choose the Best Stroller

How to Choose the Best Stroller

A stroller is one of the most important things you can buy for your baby and with so many on the market, in so many price ranges, the choice can be overwhelming. You are going to be spending a lot of time pushing your stroller around for the next couple of years, so loving your stroller is vital. Since this will basically be your babies first set of 'wheels', it's important to spend the extra time researching your purchase. Below, I've outlined some key points to consider when you're ready to test drive a few strollers.

Price.
You can buy a stroller in just about any price range these days, from $40 up to over $1000, but what is best for you? How often will you be using your stroller? One a week? Every day? If you will be using your stroller often, I would suggest that you splurge for the stroller that you are going to love living with. After all, this will be something you spend the next couple of years with. If you don't plan on using your stroller all that often, then buying a cheaper one might just be the way to go.

Weight.
Try to find as lightweight a stroller as you can. More times than not, you will have your baby in one arm while you are lifting the stroller in an out of the car with the other hand and having a lightweight stroller will really come in handy. Nothing will be more irritating that having to lug a 20 pound stroller out of the car when you already have your hands full. If you fall in love with a heavy stroller, you might consider leaving that one at home and keeping a lightweight umbrella stroller in the trunk of your car.

Wheels.
Consider where you will be taking your stroller for the most part to determine what kind of wheels you will need. If you plan on doing a lot of urban hiking on paved streets and sidewalks then you don't necessarily need the big 12" wheels that some strollers have. If you are going to be going on a hikes and strolling along dirt roads, those big, sturdy wheels on jogging strollers will come in handy.

Agility.
Make sure those wheels move smoothly. How easily does the stroller turn? The last thing you want to be doing is struggling to get the stroller to go the way you want it to go. Many strollers move gracefully when they are empty, so make sure to borrow a friends toddler to place in it while you give it a test drive.

Width.
Check out how wide the stroller is. A narrow stroller is a godsend when shopping in tight aisles or maneuvering between telephone pole and bush on an overgrown sidewalk.

Folding and Unfolding.
How easy is the stroller to fold up and then unfold? Can you do it with one hand? Being able to open a stroller with one hand can be a huge benefit when you have a toddler and a diaper bag in your arms.

Attachable Car Seat.
While not necessary, it is nice to have a stroller that has a matching infant carseat. When your baby falls asleep driving it's an easy transition to just pull the whole infant car seat out and place it on top of your stroller.

Bottom Compartment.
Check out how easy it is to access the bottom storage basket when the stroller seat is fully reclined. Depending on how often you think you will need to access this storage, this might be an important factor. That basket is great for storing your purse and if you have to disrupt your babies sleep to get to your wallet, you might be regretting your decision in strollers.

Sunshade/Rainshield.
What kind of sunshade does the stroller have? Make sure you look for a deep sunshade or rainshield too keep your baby protected from the elements. A sunshade that flips sides so that if you are walking into the sun your baby is still shaded is a big bonus. Keep in mind, however, if your favorite stroller doesn't have this feature, you can purchase sun shade extenders or rain shield attachments.

Aesthetics.
While this may be a frivolous point to some, make sure that you like the way the stroller looks. This piece of equipment could very will be a frequent extension of yourself for years to come and you want to like what you are pushing around. Life is too short to buy ugly things.

A stroller can be a mom's best friend or her worst enemy as it will be one of the baby products you use longest. As any mother can attest, having a stroller you love can be worth it's weight in gold.