Stroller Shopping 101

There are SO many fantastic strollers our there today with so many great features and accessories...It can be really hard to navigate making a stroller purchase.  For specific brand ideas you can take a look at my Stroller Round-up and note I'll be doing an updated one soon, but here are some of tips to keep in mind as you start the stroller buying process:

Tips/considerations:

• While this is an important purchase in the world of baby gear, it is not a life
  or death decision :-)  If in the end you aren't happy, the good news is
  that most quality brands have a great re-sale value.
• Have an idea of your budget- best to know what you are willing to spend in this area before walking into the store :-)
• If you can, try to test them out in person.  I live in Maine and know very well that it can be hard to get your hands on some of the higher end brands.. but if you're in Maine, within a drivable distance we have Baby Go Round in NH, and Magic Beans in MA and both offer great brands and have fantastic staff to answer your questions.  Also ask around maybe a friend or fellow play-grouper has the one your considering.
• Ask friends!  People def. have strong opinions about their baby gear, so take it all with a grain of salt, but ask friends you trust and have a similar lifestyle to... Nothing better than a recommendation from a trusted source, and maybe they'll let you try it out.
• Keep your lifestyle in mind throughout the process!!  A stroller is fairly individualized in terms of what will work best for you.  If you're an athlete, runner, jogger, city dweller, live on the country roads, traveler etc.. all of this is important.
• Take into consideration who will be pushing the stroller(s)..  mom, dad, grandma..? Its important that the height and set up feel comfortable for the user.. and if its multiple users perhaps its best to get an adjustable handle bar.
• Its also important to keep in mind how and when you'll be using the stroller...
• A few key questions to keep in mind: Is it important for baby to face you? How much room do you have in your vehicle? Is lifting/the weight of the stroller an issue for you? How many kids do you have?  Do you plan to have another child soon?  (Note that the double stroller buying will be a post in itself :-) )
• Typically you get what you pay for in terms of quality, ease of use, style, and dependability.  HOWEVER, especially with higher end strollers, the most expensive does not always mean its the best/right for you. 
• While style is nice, it doesn't matter to your child and it doesn't effect the ease of use and features of the stroller.  I chose one stroller because it was beautiful in color and appearance, but quickly realized it wasn't right for me.
• Realize that one stroller may not have it all for you.  You might be better off spreading your budget between two strollers with different functions.. i.e. if you're a runner, you likely want a good jogger, but that doesn't always work for everyone as their everyday one and only stroller.. so you might opt to buy a jogger and then a lightweight stroller like a Baby Jogger City Mini for everyday use and travel.
• If you do get multiple strollers, sticking with the same brand can be helpful- i.e. I have the Baby Jogger Summit and the Baby Jogger City Mini.  I love that many of the Baby Jogger accessories can be used with both - which saves me $$ and storage space :-)
• If you are buying a light weight stroller that offers an adapter or quick click technology- don't bother with a snap n go (in my opinion) put the money towards a better everyday stroller
• If you want to be able to use your stroller with your car seat as a travel system, make sure the car seat you want or have is compatible with the stroller (with an adapter or otherwise).
• If you are looking to save money, look at last years colors they tend to be a great deal and not a ton of differences in the basics of the stroller.  Also ask a store about floor models etc..  You may also want to check local swaps, craigslist etc.. just be sure to test it out and make sure it is in good condition.

Favorite accessories that could be worth the $$:

• For many people a car seat adapter is a life-saver
• I am a huge fan of bassinets or pram attachments for strollers (note that I used this a lot and most times instead of the car seat adapter
• Glider boards are the best for older siblings!
• Parent consoles are the best and allow you to store your drink and belongings on a walk etc..
• Snack trays are a nice addition for an older toddler looking to play and eat etc...
• I love the Mom Hook- especially awesome for traveling

These are just the basics!  If you want to talk more about strollers, I'm always happy to!!  More to come; stay tuned!!

Thanks as always for stopping by!

xx
Rebecca

This post may contain an affiliate link, which means if you shop through the link I will be compensated.  This helps me keep the blog running and I truly appreciate it.  Please note that I only affiliate with brands and companies I believe in.