Selecting the right stroller pt.2 - What do you want to DO with it?

For part one, which covers the number of kids, click here!

Looking around Victoria, there is one stroller you will see more often than any other.  Different years, different models, different colours, the BOB is everywhere.  And it has some good features.  It's a reasonable pricepoint, it's durable, and it can be good for running with.

However... I very rarely anyone running with one.  And if you're not going to run with your stroller, there are better ones out there.  Even if you are, there are other, arguably better ones out there!  Buying the right stroller can make your life a whole lot easier, so before choosing a stroller, ask yourself these questions.

Are you going to run with it?
If you plan on running with your stroller regularly - and I do mean plan, not just have vague intentions you really know you won't fulfill - you need a stroller that's designed for it.  Running strollers have three big wheels.  The front wheel will either be permanently locked or be lockable.  They can only face forward, and they have a distinctive wedge shape.  Popular brands for running include BOB, Bumbleride, Baby Jogger, and Valco.  Which one depends on where you plan on running, how many kids, what your budget is, etc.  Keep in mind that most manufacturers don't recommend running with babies much younger than about 8 months.

Orbit Baby strollers are beloved by the dads

If you aren't going to run with it, and plan on using it with a young baby, consider a different option.  Jogging strollers offer only one direction for baby to face - out.  Studies have shown that facing their caregivers during the first two years is critical to the development of language skills - babies need to see the world through you in order to learn how to make sense of what they see.  Many strollers are reversible, and one, the super-trendy Orbit Baby, can rotate 360 degrees!

What kind of terrain?
The smaller the wheels, the smoother the terrain has to be to keep baby from being bounced around all over, but the more space the stroller takes up, both when collapsed and when in use.  If you plan on taking the stroller on trails, dirt roads, grass and other rough surfaces, you'll want to look for wheels that are about 12 inches in diametre or larger, preferably with a surface that looks like mountain bike tires, so that baby will be comfortable.  If that's not a part of your lifestyle, smaller, more manoeuvrable wheels are wonderful for navigating narrow aisles in stores and crowded sidewalks.

Cameleon ready for beach or snow

If you spend a lot of time at the beach or on the ski hill, take a look at the Bugaboo Frog or Cameleon's dolly ability.  It's virtually impossible to push pretty much any stroller through snow or sand - but these can be pulled quite easily.

If you plan on running on trails, you'll need to look for one that has a combination of the three-wheeled, wedge shape with with big tires that have good tread on them.  Look for excellent suspension, as well, or baby won't be very comfortable!

Planes, trains and automobiles?
Strollers range in weight from a few pounds for the flimsiest umbrella stroller to 25 pounds plus for a sturdy stroller intended for multiple children.  Bear in mind that whichever stroller you choose, you will likely be hauling it in and out of the trunk of your car a lot.  Try not to choose a stroller you need help handling.  Bear in mind also whether you plan on travelling a great deal - lighter strollers are easier in airports when you already have luggage and baby to handle.  Also consider how many pieces it folds down into.  A stroller with a two piece fold isn't as convenient for travelling by public transit as one that goes down into one piece, and one with quick release wheels can make packing everything into the trunk for a road trip much easier.

Coming up next
stroller bassinets, car seat adaptors, and probably some other stuff too!

You get what you pay for: stroller edition

I'm on maternity leave right now, and so I sometimes find myself with spare time.  (read: time when I can no longer stand being at home, no matter how much laundry needs doing!)  Some of that time I spend helping out at a friend's baby store.  (Yay Cat and Fiddle Kids!)  I have fun meeting other moms, sharing my passion for cloth diapering and babywearing, and I get to try out all the gear.

We often see moms come in with the inexpensive travel systems sold at major chains.  They come in at first with newborns tucked cozily into the carseats attached to the strollers (my opinion on THAT for another post) and at first they look all right.  Everything works, they're not stylish but they're fine.

And then we see the moms with babies a few months older.  Now they're crammed into those same carseats, and half the time the strollers have one wheel that seems to want to go in a different direction from the other three like the worst shopping cart at the grocery store.  The plastic frame of the stroller is showing wear and tear, and it looks like it's been through the wars - and the kid it's supposed to grow with can't even sit up without help yet.

And then the stroller goes in the landfill, and another one is purchased - plus a new carseat because the travel system ones don't hold a very big baby.

And I know cost is a huge factor.  But here's the thing - you can buy one good quality stroller and one carseat that will both last from birth right through the toddler years for the same price as buying a couple of the cheap ones - and your child will be safer, the products will be easier to use, you will both be more comfortable, and there will be less garbage in the landfill.  Not to mention, depending on how hard you are on the stroller, you might even be able to sell it or donate it when you're done with it.  Makes sense to  me.

Selecting the Right Stroller pt. 1 - How Many Kids?

There are a LOT of strollers available even here in the Canadian market, and choosing the one that will best meet your needs can seem overwhelming. By taking the time to think about how you want to use the stroller, you can make the choice a lot easier.

How is this green? Buying one good quality stroller that will meet your family's needs - and ideally that you will be able to sell when you're done with it, to keep it out of the landfill - is much better for your family and the environment.

How many?

If you are having twins, you need a double stroller, and you probably need one that's rated for use from birth because you won't be able to carry two babies around all the time. It won't matter to you whether it converts back to a single, because your two kids will outgrow it at the same time. There are many companies making double strollers, and which one to go with in that case has more to do with other features. Accommodating children of different ages is trickier.

If you have an older child still in the stroller years, you may want a stroller that can turn back into a single later when your older child isn't riding anymore. The same applies if you know you want a second child - it's a good idea to have a stroller you can turn into a double later.

How this works changes between brands. The hotly anticipated Bugaboo Donkey does it by becoming wider to accommodate a second seat or bassinet. The Valco toddler seat puts the older child in a seat above the main body of the stroller, where the younger child goes. Both Baby Jogger and iCandy do it on certain models by adding a second seat for an inline double that's easy to push in an urban environment. The Baby Jogger set up allows the children to face each other, which isn't possible with iCandy, but the iCandy seats are much more comfortable and the stroller is far more stylish. Baby Jogger hand brakes are also easily triggered by a mischievous child, which results in a jolting stop for everyone.

Many other stroller companies such as Uppababy and Phil&Ted's put the second, older child underneath the first, with their feet in the shopping basket. I know a lot of parents choose to go that route, but I personally don't like it for a few reasons. One, the child can really only see the bum of the child in front, and usually has very, very little space. Two, there have been cases reported where the child in the jump seat at the rear was able to get fingers caught in the spokes of the wheels.  Lastly, where do you put your stuff if the kid's feet are in the basket?