Purchasing a stroller can be scary business; we shall not try to fool you!
But we’re here to help you select the perfect baby pushing machine with ease.
With so many choices out there, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with all the details of purchasing your first (or fourth) stroller. We’ve created this handy guide to help you find, test and select your perfect stroller so you can rest easy knowing your selection is the perfect selection for ‘you’.
Make sure to do your research online first, but we highly recommend going to a brick and mortar store to do some test runs and purchasing.
Some of our favorite NJ baby stores that carry a variety of stroller brands are:
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- NessaLee Baby
- Bambi Baby
- WeeBabe
- Babies ‘R Us
- Lucky Baby Boutique
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Ok, Let’s start with the Baby Pushing Machine basics.
There are six main types of strollers to choose from:
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- Full-size Stroller
- Travel Stroller
- Convenience Stroller
- Umbrella Stroller
- Double Stroller
- Jogging Stroller
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Many parents have more than one stroller to accommodate different activities (i.e., hiking, urban living, jogging, shopping, etc).
A stroller is an ‘investment piece’
Naturally, you want your baby to be safe, but you also need to think about how the stroller will affect you as well. This is an accessory with a potential 5 year shelf life (depending on the versatility of the stroller and how many little ones you have) so it’s really an ‘investment piece’ and lots of things should be considered prior to committing to the purchase.
Set a budget before you begin shopping for the perfect stroller.
Do you want to go all out on a deluxe model ($500 or more) or do you want a popular, basic model that runs for $150-400? Mapping out a budget first will help narrow down your choices.
You’ll want to start out with a stroller that will fit a newborn. The best one would be one where the seat folds back, so you can continue to use it as the baby grows. Once they reach six months old, you’ll need to buy a stroller where the seat doesn’t recline. Our favorite strollers are lightweight and can easily be folded with one hand. Most of the time, one hand is all that’s available when it comes time to put the stroller away- whether it’s going into your car or closet- so make sure to test out the one-handed fold at the store.
While testing out strollers in the store, you’ll need to determine the handlebar height; is it high enough?
You’ll also want to consider:
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- Does it have space for a diaper bag, shopping bags, etc.?
- Can you fold it easily (give it the one-handed fold test)?
- Can you steer it/ maneuver it easily?
- How much does it weigh?
- Can it carry a car seat?
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Ensuring a stroller has the features you want and need may take a little bit of time and testing, research and asking other, more veteraned, mommy friends for their words of advice. Our best recco of all when asking around; ask moms who share a similar lifestyle to you (urban mom, suburban mom, country mom, etc?)
In the end, you’ll want to find the perfect stroller for ‘you.’ The stroller that fits your lifestyle, feels comfortable pushing around and keeps baby safe and sound.
