What To Look For in a Stroller – Pay Attention To These Specs When Purchasing a New Stroller

If you’re looking for a stroller for the first time, this guide will teach you what to check for to ensure you make the best investment for your child’s safety and comfort.

These specifications are roughly in order of importance, but it ultimately depends on what works best for your lifestyle.

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How far does the seat recline?

When you’re on the go, your child will need to nap at some point and you won’t always be able to take them to their proper beds, so it’s convenient if the stroller is comfortable and safe enough for them to nap in.

The seat doesn’t have to recline fully, unless your child is a baby and needs neck support, but just enough for them to be comfortable.

Image above shows a sample of strollers in order of amount of recline: BabyZen Yoyo, Colugo, Zoe tour, Mompush Lithe V2

Is the canopy large enough to be useful?

Does it have a large extendable canopy?

Again, this is mainly to help your baby’s nap! Nannies often take kids to the park in the stroller for the day and have the kids nap in the stroller. Having an extendable canopy is so handy. I love love the Zoe stroller’s extendable canopy. I’m not an ambassador or an affiliate!

Image above shows a sample of strollers in order of canopy coverage: BabyZen Yoyo, Colugo, Mompush Lithe V2, Zoe tour

Does it have an adjustable leg rest?

Does it have a leg rest or foot rest?

In keeping with the napping theme, being able to stretch out your legs instead of bending them would make for a more comfortable sleeping position.

Some strollers such as the nuna mixx, baby jogger city tour, and Zoe trip.

Is the basket large and accessible enough?

If you don’t want to carry stuff on your back or shoulder, it’s nice to have a larger basket. This may not always be possible for compact strollers, but there are options.

Beware of some baskets that are actually obstructed by the frame itself (the biggest disadvantage of the Babyzen Yoyo)

Is the stroller light enough for you to carry?

You may not need to carry the stroller for extended periods of time, but you will need to lift it into the trunk, into an airplane overhead, or to a top level walk-up with no elevator.

Can the wheels handle cracks in the pavement?

You might not be taking your stroller off-roading, but you don’t want to get stuck when you’re pushing a fully loaded 70 pound stroller across badly paved streets. Check for wheels with built-in suspension, double wheels, or wider tires.

Is the handle extendable?

This is important for users who are on the taller side. It’s not a deal breaker, and most strollers have a decent handlebar height, but it would save your back in the long run.

Most full-sized strollers will have extendable handles compared to compact lightweight strollers for obvious reasons.

Is the cover removable for washing?

You’re going to have to wash the fabrics at some point. Thankfully, you probably don’t need to do this too often.

Does it matter how “easily” the covers can be removed? Not really, as each product will have its own learning curve.

Is the seat comfortable and safe?

The product listing will usually advertise it as comfortable if they’ve put effort into padding the seat. Otherwise, cheaper strollers may have seats that feel like plywood wrapped in single layer polyester.

Look at a 5 point harness, which means it goes over both shoulders, around the hips, and between the legs, to keep your child secure over even the bumpiest roads.