Types of Strollers
If you are looking to
buy a stroller, then first consider our stroller buying guide here (Best
Strollers 2013 Buying Guide ), and then continue reading below to understand
the various types of strollers and their features.
Knowing the right
type of stroller you need for your child
and life is essential. You dont want to end up with the wrong type of stroller
and then go through the hassle of returning it, or worse, just wasting the money
and keeping it. Read below to learn about each type of stroller out there, its
features, as well as the pros and cons for each.
Standard Strollers
Standard strollers
are single strollers that can range from very light strollers (which have a
subcategory of lightweight strollers all to themselves) or even heavy duty
strollers. Overall these strollers are
your average strollers that are on the market and can even be found in
stroller systems where they are also paired with compatible car seats.
Standard strollers
are usually for your everyday needs and can come with quite a few accessories
and handy features depending on the brand and model you decide to go with.
Cons:
Since there are a lot
of different types of standard strollers, choosing the best stroller 2013 if
you are going with a standard stroller can be difficult. Additionally some of
the standard strollers can weigh quite a bit so you need to check the weight of
whatever stroller you plan on buying and make sure you can lift it efficiently.
Jogging Strollers
If you are an active
parent than a jogging stroller is definitely the option for you. Jogging
strollers generally have three wheels with a lock on the front wheel that keeps
it fixed in a forward position so that you dont accidentally turn abruptly
while jogging and tip over your stroller. Jogging strollers often come with
hand breaks and a high handlebar that gives parents more leg room so they dont
keep hitting the stroller while they are jogging. Lastly, jogging strollers
have a much more supportive suspension system for the seat making the ride less
bumpy for the child even if the parent is on less than smooth road.
Pros:
Jogging strollers are
excellent for parents, and especially moms who want to get rid of that extra
baby fat they put on during their pregnancy. They have an excellent suspension
system on the steat, tons of additional safety features for their child, and they
also Additionally its a way for the parents to stay close with their child and
still maintain an active lifestyle!
Cons:
Jogging strollers are
pretty specific in their use, and they are a little larger and heavier for some
parents to use them for all of their stroller needs. If you shop often at a
store with tight aisles, or if you plan on frequently taking your child in and
out of the car, then this stroller may make your life a little difficult
if you dont have any other stroller to
use along with it.
Prams
Prams are for
newborns and small infants because they have a completely flat bed in which the
child rests in and a large canopy on top to prevent the newborn's sensitive
skin from being sunburnt. These prams often have removable carriers and are for
only when the hcild is very young. Once your newborn starts being more mobile
they should be immediately put in a stroller with a five point harness.
Pros:
Prams are fantastic
for traveling about town and to relatives houses with your newborn, and they
are great if they have a removable basket to have a portable bed for your
precious little one. The padding, large cover on top, and great features make
prams very appealing to parents with newborns!
Cons:
The only downside to
prams is that they can only be used for a few months or less because the child
becomes too mobile after that and you risk injury to the child if they
accidentally crawl out of the pram! If you plan on having a larger family,
however, you can use the pram for the next couple of children you have and
ensure you get your moneys worth out of it!
Tandem Strollers
Tandem strollers are
excellent for parents with two children. There are two seats (sometimes three)
and one is in front of the other with the one in the back slightly elevated so
the child can see over the seat in front of him/her.
Pros:
Tandem strollers are
space savers for parents with multiple kids. Not only do you not have to fuss
with two different strollers, but the seats being one behind the other makes it
more convenient if you are shopping or going through somewhere narrow.
Cons:
Tandem strollers,
because they have two or more seats on them, are quite heavy and a little
harder to handle when you are going over curbs, bumps, or less than favorable
terrain.
Lightweight Strollers
Due to parents
already having a large amount of baby supplies to transport whenever they take their little one somewhere, the rise of
lightweight strollers has been met with a lot of positive reviews by parents.
Not only are lightweight strollers, well, light, but they also are a lot easier
to fold with one hand leaving the other arm free to hold the child.
Additionally lightweight strollers also are much smaller and take up very
little space compared to some of the clunky and massive strollers out there on
the market.
Pros:
Lightweight strollers
are easier to use, smaller, and make excellent options for parents who are just
looking to run to the store or over to grandma's house rather than take
leisurely walks in the park. Their portability, ease of use, and very low cost compared to other strollers makes them some of the top rated strollers 2013.
Cons:
Lightweight strollers
are not very comfortable for long trips because they lack some of the essential
padding that larger strollers have in them. Additionally they are not meant for
off road traveling because the suspension system is limited on the seat and the
tires are thinner.
Multi Child Strollers
If you have two,
three, or four children all within their stroller years, then purchasing a
multi-child stroller is a must. These can go up to five plus seats and make
things less hectic for parents with a large herd of children to tend to.
Pros:
Rather than having
five different strollers and five parents to man each one, stroller
manufacturers combined all the strollers into one making it even possible for
one parent to deal with four or more children. No more chasing one child while
trying to maintain a stroller, diaper bags, and more.
Cons:
Multi Child strollers
are big, bulky, and very heavy. They can be difficult enough for men to take
down and put away, which makes it a pain in the rear for petite women.
Additionally multi child strollers are often expensive and may not have enough
luggage space for the diapers, bottles and equipment that you need for the
number of children it can hold.
Umbrella Strollers
These types of
strollers are generally single strollers that are lighter weight and very
compact. They will have a large movable cover on the top that allows for plenty
of protection for the child from rain, wind, and sun. Excellent options for
trips to the beach, or walks outside on a sunny day because they protect your
child better without obscuring their view of the outside world.
Pros:
These strollers are
often lightweight, affordable, and very convenient for parents and
grandparents. They keep your child safe from harmful UV rays, and are great for trips out to town or for walks in the park on a sunny day!
Cons:
Despite being great
for outdoors, the seats often don't have enough padding or the adequate
suspension for off road traveling. Additionally the way the seats are made they
are not great options for children under six months of age, however you should
double check with the specific type of stroller and see what its
recommendations and features are as they do vary depending on the manufacturer.
