Wednesday, January 2, 2019

How Much Does A Stroller Weigh?

stroller weight
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I was looking for a parking spot at a shopping center recently when I saw a woman struggling to shove a folded stroller into her SUV. She actually looked pretty strong, so this scene made me wonder - how much does a stroller weigh?

The short answer is that strollers in the US range from about 7.2 pounds (3.3 kilos) to over 35 pounds (16 kilos). Based on the first two pages of Google results, the average appears to be about 16 pounds (7.3 kilos).

Having owned several strollers myself, I know the real issue for the mom wrestling with the big stroller is a bit more complicated.

The size and weight of a stroller depend partly on its intended use. Once you know how, when and where the stroller will be used, you'll be able to consider other factors, like how heavy it is.

These are a few examples of popular strollers and how much they weigh:

(1) Joggers:

(2) Lightweight Baby Strollers

(3) Travel Systems

  • 38 pounds overall (stroller alone: 30 pounds) - Graco Fastaction Fold Jogger Click Connect Baby Travel System (link to Amazon)
  • 38.5 pounds overall - Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System (link to Amazon)
  • 47.62 pounds overall - Chicco Bravo Trio Travel System (link to Amazon)

What Type of Stroller Do You Need?

The sheer variety of strollers available on today’s market is staggering so it’s hard to blame anyone who finds the effort of buying a stroller to be overwhelming.

Choices include double strollers, fancy systems that include car seats, and those lightweight sling-type strollers with the umbrella handles. And then there are accessories to consider, such as cupholders, platforms for older kids to stand on, coordinating diaper bags, and so forth.

Anyone who’s looking to buy a stroller most likely already has or expects to have a child in their life. The arrival of a baby or the growth of one is exciting and complicated enough. Selecting a stroller that you can live with should be a triumph, not another source of pressure.

Because there are so many different styles, choosing the right stroller boils down to setting priorities. Figure out what’s most important to you and make your decision based on that.

Sometimes size will be a deciding factor. There are some situations where a heavy or large stroller will probably be a bad idea, and a smaller one would be more appropriate. A few examples are:

  • Is the adult using the stroller strong enough to carry it? If Grandma has arthritis or another affliction, don’t make her throw her back out trying to fold up and put away your big old stroller. A nice lightweight sling-type model would be a better selection.
  • Do you have to carry it up and down stairs on a regular basis? Hauling a kid and a stroller plus a diaper bag up a flight or two of stairs is already hard. It shouldn’t be made unbearable because your stroller weighs the same as a kindergartner.
  • Do you have a very small or very large vehicle? If you have to shove a huge stroller into a subcompact car or powerlift a deluxe stroller into a large SUV or pickup, you should probably get a more compact stroller. Your back will probably thank you for it.
  • How much time will you and your child spend in cramped places? Doctor’s offices, restaurants and shops tend to be more crowded, so these are not the places to bring your extra-wide workout stroller.
  • Are you buying more than you need? Keep this in mind when shopping for an older child. The stroller needs to be strong enough to support a larger kid, but it probably doesn’t need an attachable infant-sized car seat.

Types of Strollers

Some models are designed with a specific purpose in mind. They often cost a bit more because they’re specialized, but lots of parents insist it’s money well spent.

Jogging Strollers

These buggies have either three or four wheels and can help you get a workout while keeping an eye on your child. Because the center of gravity is lower than on most strollers, the unit is more stable and less likely to tip over.

Joggers can also have suspension systems with absorbers to keep your baby from being bounced around. Air-filled wheels act as additional shock absorbers, giving a safer and more comfortable ride.

Because of the risk of head and neck injury to infants, this type of stroller isn’t usually meant for babies under six months old.

Tandem Strollers

Can you imagine trying to walk back from the park carrying not one but two sleeping toddlers? Well, you don’t have to, because tandem strollers will let both children sleep peacefully while you walk home or to your car.

Built for two or even more kids, this is the equivalent of a pram-sized minivan. Side-by-side models are wider and allow kids to interact with each other. This interaction can be playful or combative; make sure you know what to watch for in your children when you buy this model.

In-line models place one child in front of the other. This means children can’t readily see each other’s faces, so be aware that they may try to climb over the seatback to play with or talk to each other.

Pushing a stroller that’s carrying twice as many children as normal involves a certain amount of effort. Be sure to test a tandem stroller by pushing it with a heavy purse or even someone else’s children. A handle that’s too small and hard can leave your hands cramped and stiff, while stubborn wheels that don’t turn well will just be frustrating.

Carriage or Bassinet Types

The baby carriage, or pram, has a long history. Once favored by rich people and royal families, this versatile design remains popular and was recently favored by at least one shark thief.

This style is best used for babies, though, and it's ideal for allowing you to watch your sleeping infant while you take a walk or run your errands. Once your child can sit up, you can convert the seat to the standard forward-facing position.

Air Travel

Traveling with your child can be a wondrous, exciting thing. The pleasure of introducing your child to new sights and people is thrilling and enriches your life as well as your child’s.

However, navigating the airport with a child is not always fun. Having to think about what to do with a stroller and/or car seat is more headache than most people probably want.

If you have to travel by plane, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Most airlines will let you keep the stroller with you until you get to the gate, but you need to make sure. If you’ll have to check the stroller at the ticket desk and walk through the terminal with your child, it’s good to know this ahead of time.

It’s also good to know that TSA allows “reasonable amounts” of milk, juice or baby food to be carried onto planes.

Remember that standard TSA rules do apply to liquids like baby lotion and shampoo, so it's okay to take 3.4-ounce containers in a 1-quart plastic bag.

Once you leave the plane, airline staff can direct you to the spot where your stroller and/or car seat are waiting for you.

Clearly, there's a lot more to consider than size and weight in selecting a stroller.

After taking a look at your needs, you may decide you need more than one. Lots of people make this choice, and it’s perfectly understandable.

A larger jogging stroller is ideal for taking your child along on a run, while a collapsible umbrella model would be better for running errands. If you're a bargain hunter, you can probably find a small stroller for a very reasonable price.

Given the number of available options, a second, smaller stroller probably would have been ideal for that woman in the parking lot with her giant SUV and her heavy stroller.

Originally Published here: How Much Does A Stroller Weigh?

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