Stroller Shopping Guide and Safety Tips
Purchasing Advice
What are the age, size and weight of your child?
Many strollers have a weight maximum of 40 pounds. (Buywise.com list each strollers capacity at the end of each review.) Also measure your child’s sitting height, and determine if the stroller has enough headroom (i.e. distance from the baby’s head to the stroller’s canopy, or sunshade).
Where and how do you expect to use the stroller?
- Around-the-town, ‘Off-road’, both?
- Basic strolling, or jogging?
- How often you will transport the stroller?
- How many caregivers (grandparents, nannies, siblings) will use the stroller other than you?
Around-the-town. Look for features that make it easy to steer, manage curbs and sidewalk lips. These include:
• front wheels that pivot (swivel)
• twin front wheels (not the single tricycle-style which can tilt on curbs)
• wheels and frame that handle at least 3 inch sidewalk lips
‘Off-road’. This means use on surfaces that are bumpy, and less solid such as dirt trails, grass, beach areas and so on. Features to look for include:
• larger wheel diameter
• option to prevent front wheels from swiveling
• shock absorbers
• padded seat(s)
Jogging. These models are usually designed for ‘off-road’ use as well as jogging. In addition to the above off-road features, look for:
• wind screen
• comfortable and padded harness
• stopping brake
Transporting. If you imagine taking the stroller in the car, bus, or train frequently, look for models that:
• are easy to unfold and fold
• are lightweight
• have a travel system; this includes a car seat carrier that can be transferred from the car into the stroller without removing the baby. These are also necessary for babies less then 6 months old to allow them to lie flat, and to provide head support.
Other Caregivers. If someone other than you (grandparents, nannies, siblings) will frequently push the stroller, consider his or her height and strength when selecting a stroller. Also make sure the caregiver learns how to unfold and fold the stroller, secure the parking brake, fasten the harness, and open and close the tray. Finally, have the care giver take a test drive before using it with the child.
On all models, look for these comfort features:
- canopy (shade, or umbrella) that adjusts for low sun angles and has a see-through window section
- reclining seat adjustment
- comfortable harness with easy adjustments
- adjustable height for handles
- for models with trays, trays that are easy to open and close
- cup-holders for child and adult
- storage basket, and pockets for snacks and other items
- provision for music; iPod, CD, etc
Assembly:
Most of the larger strollers require assembly, and some of them will not be easy to setup. Some instruction manuals can be helpful, but in some cases a second person and extra set of hands is recommended.
Double strollers:
These have either tandem (side-by-side) seats, or in-line (front-and-back) seats. There are triple and quadruple strollers that we have not yet tested. However, many of our current recommendations are relevant to them.
Safety Tips
When purchasing a stroller, check to see if it has F833 certification from ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials). This means it has passed Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Carriages and Strollers. For Travel Systems, additional certifications apply, such as F2050. The Resources section at the end of this page contains links with more information on various standards and tips to help you safely use a car seat for your child.
Important safety considerations when using a stroller:
DO:
- set the parking brake before placing the child in the seat
- ensure that the harness is correctly and comfortably fastened
- ensure babies younger than 6 months have adequate head support and have the leg loops fastened
- be alert for traffic when crossing streets
- select a high-visibility color for the stroller fabric, and reflective striping if available, especially for use in low-light
DON’T:
- make sudden, sharp turns
- push across steep inclines (greater than 25 degrees)
- jog with non-jogging strollers
- jog with babies younger than 6 months (to prevent head or neck trauma)
The Lingo
Here are definitions you’ll see in your search for a baby stroller. We also include terms we used in testing the strollers.
Baby: general term for 3 months to 2 years old
Infant: 3 months to 1 year old
Canopy: the section that shields the baby from sun; also called a sunshade or a umbrella
Double stroller: a model with two seats either side-by-side (tandem), or front-and-rear (in-line)
Ergonomics: how the design of the stroller enhances its use, performance and comfort for the baby and adult
FMVSS 213: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard(s), Regulation for Child Restraint Systems
F833: F833 is a consumer safety specification establishes safety performance requirements, test methods, and labeling requirements to minimize the hazards to children presented by strollers
Jogging stroller: a model that can be pushed by an adult while jogging
Light-duty trails: an off-road use that includes firmly packed (wet) beach sand, dirt or grass
Moderate-duty trails: an off-road use that includes the above surfaces as well as gravel, rougher dirt, and more uneven terrain
NHTSA Consumer Information: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration uses a five-star rating system to help consumers evaluate the ease-of-user for various child safety seats. They also publish a general guide on safety information.
Off-road: refers to surfaces such as dirt, graveled or pebbled trails, firm sand, or grass; ground may also be more irregular, steep and uneven than urban surfaces
Newborn: baby up to 3 months old
Pivoting: see Swivel
Sidewalk lips: raised transitions between sidewalk sections caused by settling or breaking. These cause shocks to the baby and driver, and sometimes can cause the stroller to stop or tip forward. We recommend strollers that can manage at least a one-half inch lip without stopping or tipping forward.
Swivel wheels: front wheel(s) that fully rotate to enable easy steering
Toddler: 1 to 4 years old
Travel System: includes a car seat and base that allows a baby or infant to be transferred between car seat and stroller
Tricycle-style: a design that has one front wheel and two rear wheels
Umbrella: also refers to a type of stroller with this feature
Urban surfaces: asphalt, concrete, level brick, tile, etc
Last edited by on August 18, 2008 at 9:31 pm