Types of Strollers

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.

Pros:

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.