How Many Strollers Do You Need?

Here at BabyZeen we're often being asked by our readers how many strollers do they really need. Strollers, joggers, pram strollers and travel systems - there're a lot of types available today but, do you really need all of them?

The simple answer is it depends. However in my experience in most cases a good travel system, which includes a car seat and a jogging stroller is more than enough from birth to 4-6 month. Later, when your baby is about 4-6 months old an additional lightweight umbrella stroller is convenient for both parents  and babies because it is easy to handle and manouver.

Strollers can be pretty expensive, and there are so many different kinds. If you are a new parent, it could make you anxious thinking about the right size and type of stroller to get. There’s a lot of great things that you can do with a top-rated, certified stroller. In addition, what should you do with the stroller once you get it? There’s a lot of storage and capabilities with the latest strollers these days.

How Many Strollers Do You Need?

In most cases, people think that one stroller is enough for one baby, but what if you don’t want to use your big, bulky stroller to go on a quick walk? There are much more convenient strollers than those with all of the pockets and attachments.

Here’s some general rules for stroller purchases:

• One Stroller: A regular stroller with storage and lots of comfort is great for all babies and works well when you are going on longer shopping trips or walks.
• Two Strollers: This could be ideal if you want a quick walking, umbrella stroller that’s easy to get up and going when you’re just going for a walk around the neighborhood. However, you still want a larger stroller with more storage and comfort for those longer trips.
• Three Strollers: You probably won’t need three strollers unless you’re a runner. There are special strollers made for active parents who want to run and take your baby along. These strollers have special features, such as bike wheels.

You should also consider that you’ll have a different stroller after your baby has just arrived, and you can try combination strollers that grow with your baby’s size and age.

The first thing you should think about as always is your baby. How old is your baby? You should start with a stroller that will fit your baby’s size and age. Newborns need a stroller or carriage where they can lay flat and feel safe. After three months however, you don’t need this type of stroller.

There are combination carriage and strollers where a bassinet can snap into the frame of the stroller for the first three months, and then you can replace it with the regular stroller seat once your baby is big enough.

Another practical idea is to get a stroller that has a fold-back seat. You should be able to use it in an upright position as your baby grows in size. As your baby starts to sit up, you may want to try an umbrella stroller or jogger stroller.

Questions About Baby Strollers

You can spend a lot on strollers so it’s important that you set a budget and learn about the different types before you go too far. There are deluxe strollers that will cost you over $300, and then there are budget strollers that are less expensive but may not have all the features you want for convenience.

Here are some questions to think about before you head out to purchase a stroller:

How much do you want to spend on a stroller?

You should set a budget before you start shopping for a stroller. You can spend as little as $50 or as much as $600 depending on what type of stroller brands you like.

The most popular strollers and above average brands in strollers cost between $100 and $200. These brands include Britax, Jooby, Kolcraft, Baby Jogger City Lite, Chicco Liteway, Eddie Bauer, Jooby Groove, and Sherman BLVD.

As you go up to deluxe styles, you’ll see better materials, more storage, stronger wheels, and better on-trend looks. Some of the brands in this bracket include Stokke, Nuna Pepp, Britax, Uppababy, Doona, Bob Revolution, and Thule.

If you want the ultimate strollers, known for versatility and style, then you may be looking at more expensive types. These aren’t really necessary and mostly seem to be popular with celebrities. However, if you want the most deluxe strollers, you’re looking at brands like Mima Xari, Silver Cross, Ormesa, Versace, iCandy, Stokke, and FendiCarrozina.

What types of strollers are available and which one should I buy?

Let’s start with a regular stroller. These are upright, pushable carriages that have plenty of features for storage, shade, comfort, and mobility. These are not necessarily made for lightweight jogging or newborns. These are typically for older babies and young toddlers that can adapt to your baby’s size and needs.

These strollers have a lot of cushion and typically a shaded top that hides your baby from the sun. You can modify these strollers a bit by removing the shade piece, taking off storage compartments, and expanding the size as your baby gets older.

Strollers Travel Systems

These have become more popular recently as families want to grow with their purchases. Most strollers have travel systems that make it easy to detach the seat and turn it into a car seat. These are perfect for sleeping babies that you don’t want to wake up as you transition to head home.

Prams

When your baby is a newborn, you want a bassinet-style carriage where your baby can lay flat as you walk. While older style prams are adorable, they are quite expensive. There are a number of combination prams and strollers that can change into a jogger when your baby gets to a certain size.

Jogger

These aren’t particularly needed unless you are going for walks and jogs every day. These are recreational strollers that are fun to use if you are very active. They are made with heavy-duty wheels, but they are hard to turn and can’t really fold that easily. Unless you purchase a more expensive brand, you probably won’t enjoy it for your leisurely stroll or trip to the store.

Umbrella Strollers

These are very portable strollers made to be lightweight and convenient. Umbrella strollers are very cheap, but you should look for ones with JPMA certification as it ensures your stroller’s been tested for safety.

Double Strollers

If you have twins or babies close in age, then you should use a double stroller. Since they’re quite large and a little bit awkward, you should really only use these if both of your children can’t walk. Side-by-side models are the preferred stroller because it’s not to heavy and most have seats that fold back in case you have a newborn.

What type of storage do you need for diaper bags and shopping bags?

There are some really great strollers out there that add convenience and storage to your life. If you like to run errands and visit friends, you can keep all of your supplies in some of the larger, regular strollers. There is typically a basket under the seat, as well as a small one at the top on the handlebars, such as a cupholder or small storage container. There are also side pockets that work great for holding pacifiers, toys, keys, and other things you might need for the day.

Do strollers fold easily?

Most strollers should be able to fold up easily so that they can be stored, but larger strollers simply don’t fold that well. Some strollers have a problem where they may not fold all the way or spring back to unfolded position if you can’t strap it together.

The best thing to do is look at strollers made for convenience. You can test before you buy and look at reviews to make sure that a stroller will meet your needs for convenience first.

How much should a stroller weigh?

Lighter strollers will always be easier to steer. Super lightweight strollers range between 7 and 10 pounds. These are mostly umbrella strollers that you should get if you have an older baby and want a more active lifestyle.

Most strollers will be over 15 pounds. These are not super heavy duty but they are heavier to carry and may get heavier when you start to add storage as well.

Prams can weigh a bit more, up to 40 pounds in some cases. You don’t need a pram this large, so make sure to check weight before you purchase to ensure that it’s going to work for you.

Do strollers carry car seats?

These are typically called stroller travel systems have car seats that can be removed from the stroller and placed inside of your vehicle. Most car seat manufacturers sell travel systems. It could be cheaper to buy a stroller and car seat combination, and it will be helpful when you have a sleeping baby that you don’t want to wake to get into your vehicle.

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