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Rolling With Your Baby

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. A few guidelines might help.

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 know you will be using this daily and often, then you need to focus on ease of use and how comfortable it will be to push around. As in picking a shopping cart, you will enjoy it more if you have a nice and smooth rolling stroller. If you are buying online, this will be hard to figure, so try to check the online reviews first on how a specific model handles, before you even think of purchasing.

In general, the larger the wheels, the easier it is to push. 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 the stroller that much for long strolls, then it's not as important to be concerned about the ride.

How many pounds?
A good quality light stroller weighs about 8 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. If your lifestyle tends to be towards frequent use, then it's really important to weigh the must-have features versus the weight it will add to the stroller.

Remember that the lighter the stroller, the less smooth is the ride and the less features it will have. These lighter models also tend to have less comfort level in terms of seating. They will also have less seating adjustments such as reclining angles. On the positive side, these lighter models are great if you are traveling frequently or you do a lot of daily errands with the baby.

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 are available?
The most common are as follows:

Reclining seats : the more angles the better, plus some are easier to adjust than others.

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 lets you see your baby as you are pushing, a very nice feature to have.

Cupholders : it's a nice-to-have but not a must-have since you can always purchase separately.

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.

Last but not least, if you are an avid jogger, consider getting one of those jogger models. 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. Joggers also have large handlebars that are designed so you can hold the stroller securely while jogging behind it. Your baby may not be getting any exercise while you run, but they will definitely have a more enjoyable ride!

Article Source: http://www.onlinearticlessite.com

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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