Baby strollers, like babies, are very personal items. Families who drive lots and walk little will want a stroller that is different from families who walk lots and drive little.

Fortunately, the consumer market provides a stroller for just about every need...

We know: Tips For Buying Baby Strollers

Umbrella Strollers

These are light weight, easy-to-pack-and-carry strollers, ideal for short walks, trips through the mall, and to put in grandma’s closet for when the grandbaby arrives. Not so good for long walks over rough terrain, or short runs anywhere.





Conventional Strollers

Heavier than umbrella strollers, and more substantial, conventional strollers are great for long walks that require diaper bags and a bottle of juice. They often come with more storage space and a smoother ride than umbrella strollers. Be sure to get one with an adjustable handle to prevent back aches. The ride may improve with increasingly expensive models, though not always. Try collapsing the stroller to determine how much storage space it requires and how easy it is to undo and then put back together.



Jogging Strollers

Named and designed for the activity of the pusher, not the passenger, jogging strollers usually have three bike-like, air-filled tires. (Some conventional 4-wheel strollers are also suitable for jogging.) These strollers can be used on sidewalks, roadways, and hard surface dirt paths like those found in parks or hiking areas. Not suitable for babies under six months, not good for packing huge diaper bags and not good for squeezing into grandma’s closet.



Two-Kid Strollers

For parents of twins, or two little ones, these strollers can be a lifesaver when there’s only one parent on duty. The two basic designs are side-by-side and tandem (one in front of the other). For the most part, their usefulness and draw backs are similar to conventional strollers. Side-by-side strollers are difficult to maneuver through narrow doorways.



Car Seat Combo Strollers

Manufacturers are now designing more and better ways to enable parents to use baby car seats as stroller seats. Some of these ‘Travel System’ designs come complete with both the baby seat and the matching stroller. Other designs are merely an empty frame that will hold a number of different standard baby seats. In either case, once the child outgrows the infant seat, the stroller is no longer useful. There are also some jogging models available that let you put your baby car seat into a jogging frame.


Want to know more?

To find out more about the cost-effectiveness of specific strollers, check consumer reports. To find out more about stroller safety, check the Consumer Product Safety publications.

SAMPLE STROLLER PRICES BY CATEGORY

Umbrella Strollers

Conventional Strollers

Make/ModelPrice (MSRP)Make/ModelPrice (MSRP)
Kolcraft Umbrella Stroller$19.99Inglesina 2004 Zippy$369.00
Baby Trend Passport Umbrella Stroller$29.99Aprica Quantum Royale$289.99
Kolcarft Hunter Umbrella Stroller$19.99Combi Ultra Savvy Leopard$289.99
Kolcraft (Two-Kid Umbrella Stroller)
Tour Mate Double Reclining Umbrella Stroller
$59.49Combi Ultra Savvy Navy Dot$329.99
Delta Snoopy Umbrella Stroller W/Canopy$16.99Evenflo Comfort Dimensions Plus$99.99
J. Mason York Umbrella Stroller$49.88J. Mason Deluxe Transport$98.99
  Kolcraft Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited$129.99
  Evenflo Journey Premier$140.00
  Kidco Lifestyle Collection$189.99
   Peg-Perego Pliko Matic$219.99

 

Combo Strollers

Jogging Strollers

Make/ModelPrice (MSRP)Make/ModelPrice (MSRP)
Graco Cirrus™ Lightweight Travel System$169.99Instep All-Terrain Jogging Strollers$199.99
Graco Sterling Latch Travel System$199.99Baby Trend Expedition Jogging Stroller$189.99
Graco Chauffeur Latch Travel System$227.99Graco LeisureSport Jogging Travel System$199.90
Baby Trend Expedition Jogging Stroller$189.99Baby Trend Expedition LX Jogging Stroller$149.99
Baby Trend Tahoe Travel System$169.99Baby Jogger Triple Jogging Stroller$498.95