How to choose a Stroller
Parenting a child is pure bliss, taking the little one out to the park, zoo or even shopping is truly exhilarating and during these times a good stroller is inevitable. Choosing a good stroller is not a tough task if few important aspects are kept in mind. Strollers are available for all kinds of purpose hence determining the usage level is the primary step while deciding on a stroller.
Safety of the infant is high priority, so ensuring the sturdiness of the stroller is highly essential. The stroller harness should be a five-point harness, especially for infants or babies who are in the stroller a lot. For occasional mall trips, a three-point harness is acceptable. Keep an eye for pinch points and sharp corners, too.
Test the chosen stroller before purchasing it by walking it through the store. Check the height of the handles to be sure they are comfortable for your height, taller parents should look for strollers with adjustable handle heights so they don’t have to stoop. Choose a stroller that makes corners smoothly, especially if you’ll use it in crowded places. Also try walking with the strollers at a faster pace to be sure your feet don’t hit the wheels. Test the brakes too; they should hold firmly, preferably on both back wheels, and should not disengage even when you attempt to push the carriage forward. Wheels with plastic spokes do not hold up well. Opt for steel or aluminum hubs. Suspension systems are seldom available on medium-weight strollers, but heavyweight models may offer springs or other types of shock absorbers, which give your baby a less jarring ride.
Check for the additional features of the strollers and decide on the attributes you require according to your lifestyle. Is a drink holder essential or a reflector helpful? Some strollers come with parent organization trays, toy bars, snack and drink holders, rain hoods and more. How the stroller folds and how much trunk space it may take are important considerations.
There are various mishaps that can occur due to a stroller. Babies’ fingers can become entrapped or crushed in the scissoring action of the joints as the stroller is folded. Babies have also been injured by falling into protruding sharp edges of bolts and other metal parts. Also, many strollers, particularly the umbrella styles, are unstable and can fall over backward when a baby stands or attempts to stand up in the seat.
To avoid any pain to your baby look for various features in the stroller. Look at the manufacturer’s age limits for the strollers, as some are for those children that are aged newborn to 6 months, while there are others that are listed for 12 to 24 month olds only. Others simply have a weight limit and this should be strictly adhered to. Things to look out for comfort include quick release tires and lockable front wheels, material of bedding as well as ease of folding for storage. Therefore a little care while choosing the stroller can make infant accidents rare.
