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How to Pick a Baby Stroller

By: Ereh Winowitz

When looking for the best stroller, try to take as much time as possible so you can match it with your needs. Here are some guidelines for you.

Is your baby less than 6 months old?
When a baby is born, the head and neck areas are not fully developed yet, so upright strollers will not cut it. That's why at the early stages, you will need a stroller that is specific to newborns, or you can get one of those models where you can attach infant seats or bassinets. You can also get one of these newborn inserts that holds the child more securely in the stroller. Also remember that at this early stage, try not too jar the baby too much while in the stroller, so no jogging while pushing the stroller please!

Once babies are over six months old, you will have much more options in terms of shopping for a stroller.

Will you use it a lot?
If you'll be using a stroller daily you will need one that is comfortable and easy to push around. As in picking a shopping cart, you will enjoy it more if you have a nice and smooth rolling stroller. It will be tough to judge this aspect of it if you are buying online, so try to go through various reviews on how a stroller pushes or handles, before you decide to buy it.

The same rule of thumb applies to strollers, shopping carts and even cars -- the larger the wheels, the better. If the wheels are made of rubber, that means the handling will be better. If it has springs or shock absorbers, that means you will have a smoother ride. Sometimes it feels like you are buying a car!
If you do not plan to use it for long strolls frequently, then a really smooth ride is not as important.

Is it Heavy?
The ideal weight is less than 10 pounds. For the full sized and full-featured models, expect more than 25 pounds! Make a note of this especially if you expect to lift this up and down flights of stairs, and the usual in and out exercise when lugging it in your car. It's especially important if you will be doing this daily, so you will need to balance off the features that you really want versus the weight that it adds on to the stroller.

A basic rule of thumb is the lighter the stroller, the fewer features it will have and the less smooth the ride. These lighter models also tend to have less comfort level in terms of seating. Seating adjustments are also limited in terms of available reclining angles. However, these models which are usually 10 pounds or less, are ideal if you are traveling or you tend to have frequent errands to do on a daily basis.

If you can find a full-featured standard stroller that is less than 20 pounds, and the weight is comfortable for you, get it!
The lightest all-terrain strollers or jogger models usually average around 20 pounds. In addition to the weight factor, also check how the stroller folds and make sure it's not to bulky so you can move in and out of your car with ease.

What features should I look for?
There are many but the most common are as follows:

Reclining seats : some models are really easy to adjust and gives you a lot of angles.

Adjustable handles : it's very important to be able to adjust this depending on your height, and makes those long stroller walks very comfortable for parents of all sizes.

Reverse handles : this is a nice feature where you can change the handle positions so you can see the baby's face as you push the stroller.

Cupholders : this is just a bonus, you can always buy these cupholders separately if it's not included.

Storage basket : it's very handy for the usual diapers, bottles and snacks, -- the more storage space, the better.

Canopy : this is a must have to protect your baby from too much sun.

Five-point harness : this is a must have for safety.

Adjustable leg rest : this makes the stroller more comfortable as your child grows.

Toy bars or grab bars : this holds the fun stuff to keep the little tykes amused.

Lastly, for the joggers among you, consider buying a jogger model, also known as a jogging stroller. These strollers have become more common recently, as more folks are getting more health conscious. These models usually have large tires which means you get a smoother ride over rough surfaces. Yo do not need to be a jogger to benefit from this. Jogger models also have these handlebars which are also specially designed to allow you to hold on as you jog behind the stroller. Your baby may not be getting any exercise while you run, but they will definitely have a more enjoyable ride!

Article Source: http://www.gambling-articles.org

Ereh is a a retiree who is trying her hand in technology by doing IM, and is having fun setting up a varied collection of sites, so if you are looking for the best quinny stroller or bumbleride stroller for the baby, come visit her sites!

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