Lightweight Baby Strollers

Chicco Liteway Stroller

Lightweight baby strollers have come a very long way since the days of the simple "umbrella" baby strollers. Nowadays, parents have many choices if they want a baby stroller that is fairly portable, light and easy to handle. And while lighter strollers did not used to be as comfortable for babies and toddlers as heavier strollers, they’ve made a lot of headway in both comfort and construction.

What To Look For In Lightweight Baby Strollers

When looking at lightweight baby strollers, safety is your first consideration. Some things seem obvious and others might not have occurred to you before. The first thing to look at is the stability of the stroller. Does it tip if you lean on it a little? Can it stay upright and balanced when a diaper bag is hung from it? If not, you need to look at more stable models.

Lightweight baby strollers should come equipped with a 5-point harness to hold your child securely in the seat.

Some of the cheaper ones are only 3-point harnesses and while these are adequate, they won’t protect the child much if the stroller tips over or you lose control of it.

Look for places that could pinch your or your child’s fingers and see if there are any sharp corners on the stroller. If you see caps covering any ends, be sure that they are secure and can’t be pulled off.

Baby Jogger City Mini Single Stroller

Try Before You Buy Any Baby Strollers

When you’re shopping for baby strollers of any kind, you should always walk them around the store, using different speeds and gaits. If your feet hit the wheels at any time, that stroller is not for you.

Make sure that the height of the handles is comfortable for you; there’s nothing worse than an aching back from bending over a stroller! Smooth cornering is also a must; many strollers have ball bearing in the wheels to improve the ride as well as ease of operation.

You test drive a car before you buy it, right? You’ll be spending a lot of time wheeling that baby stroller around so you need to make sure it’s a good fit for you as well as your child.

Keekaroo Karoo Lightweight Stroller

What Features Do You Need In Your Baby Stroller?

Another thing to consider is what sort of conveniences you want on the stroller. This largely depends on how long you will be using the baby stroller at any one time.

Of course, you need a place to store some basic necessities but if you like to stay in the park or the mall for a couple hours at a time you will need more than a small pocket in the back of the baby stroller! Do you want your child to have a play tray with or without a cup holder and do you need a place for your own drink?

Finally, and just as important as the safety features, will your child be comfortable in the stroller? It there the right amount of support for an infant and small child whose bones are just developing? Check to see what other parents are saying about the model you’re looking at by checking the internet for reviews. And of course, check the brand name and model to make sure it is not being recalled.