The Best Stroller For You? Ask Yourself These 4 Questions
Don’t buy a stroller before you read this! No matter how highly rated a stroller is, it is useless if it doesn’t fit into your life.
Remember, there isn’t a “perfect” stroller that can meet ALL of your needs (e.g. able to carry multiple children yet can fit in your handbag) – at least, not yet! Each stroller has its unique selling point, and you need to decide on the trade-offs you are willing to make, such as increased weight for additional recline or larger basket.
For better context, first learn about the 4 main types of strollers. All strollers fall into one of these 4 main types of strollers, which include full-sized, compact, double, and jogging stroller.
So, whatever your budget is, here are the 4 main questions to consider to find the best stroller for YOU.
1. How will you use the stroller 90% of the time?
Will you use the stroller on a daily basis to take your child to the park or run errands? Invest in a sturdy full-sized one with a roomy basket. It’s nice to be able to throw everything in the basket and not have to carry everything on your shoulders. Sure, super lightweight strollers can go in the overhead bins, however consider how much utility and durability you may be giving up.
Will you take the stroller on hikes and jogs? Invest in a jogging stroller with reliable wheels and steering. Jogging strollers can also be used as everyday strollers, however, they are bulkier due to the larger wheels. So, think carefully whether you will really need to take the baby out on a jog or hike before going for a jogging stroller.
Will you only use it for trips by plane? Compact travel systems will save you the hassle of gate checking several large pieces of baby equipment. There is nothing more stress-inducing than having dozens of pieces of luggage plus tiny humans to keep an eye on when travelling thousands of miles across the country.
2. Do you have to navigate stairs?
When I was expecting my first child, I received a lot of peer pressure to purchase a certain high-end type of stroller. I also knew that I would be having a second child, so we purchased a large, reliable stroller that can convert into a double. However, this stroller sat unused for two years in our home because we lived in a condo with a narrow entryway that had a number of steps.
This is not something I had considered! Our entryway not only had steps, it was also narrow, so it was virtually impossible to get the full-sized stroller in and out of the house without first folding it.
Also, large strollers are heavy! They weight 30 lbs alone, and to that your baby (10 lbs) or toddler (30 lbs) and your diaper bag (10 lbs), you are looking at pushing almost 80 lbs up up some steps!
The lesson here is that if you have any entryway restrictions, it may be better to go with a compact stroller, unless you intend to keep your full-sized stroller in the trunk or garage.
3. Do you have adequate storage space?
Where will you keep your stroller at home? It’s not fun to have your entryway look like a stroller parking zone. I can’t imagine it being nice for residents or guests for that matter.
Most families who use the car a lot will leave their stroller in the car. However, I keep another one at home for walks to the playground or around the neighborhood. The one I keep near the door has to be more compact, otherwise it would take up my entire entryway.
If you don’t have enough storage space in your entryway, you probably want to keep the stroller in your trunk, or the garage, which leads me to the next point…
4. Is your trunk large enough?
The stroller will probably fit into your trunk, but does it take up the entire space? It is a pain to have to move the large stroller out of the trunk whenever you need the trunk space.
No, really, it is a P.I.T.A to have to take the stroller out so you can actually use the trunk, and then remember to put the stroller back in when you need it. This also means you need space in your garage to store the stroller.
The solution to this is to either a) get a more compact stroller, of b) get a bigger car. The answer may be more obvious than you think – if you need a big stroller, chances are, you are or have multiple children, so you are probably better off getting a bigger car.
Or maybe you like to stock up at the grocery store, or take the kids on a Costco run – you’ll need the space for your groceries AND the stroller.
Conclusion
Buying, or investing in a stroller may seem like a daunting, monumental decision, however, there is no need to fret! Most families will use more than one stroller as their children grow. It’s not a be all and end all decision.
You can find great deals on second hand strollers, and many of them go on sale regularly! Good Buy Gear is a great place to purchase refurbished strollers at a discounted price.
Finally, my advice is to go with the stroller you will enjoy using the most – go for the fancy one! Treat yourself! You will use this stroller a lot, so you might as well feel good using it. Check out these best sellers in each category:
Good luck! Let me know which stroller you ended up with in the comments!
