How to Choose the Right Stroller for your Family

Picking the right stroller can be a complicated task! We want to help you make the right decision for you and your family by understanding the various types of strollers, their benefits, and which one fits your family’s needs the best. 

Let's start at the very beginning, there are five main types of stroller and each fulfil a different purpose:

• Standard Size Stroller - this is what you picture when someone says "stroller", it's the middle of the road type and can have lots of variations
• Car Seat Frame Stroller/Travel System - this will usually consist of different parts - stroller, car seat and a carrycot for newborn use
• Jogging Stroller - The clue is in the name here too, specially designed for parents who intend to spend a lot of time out and about exercising with their little ones
• Double Stroller - For those who need to push more than one baby at once, a double stroller can be a handy option. Alternatively we like the one in the stroller one in the carrier method to avoid having to manoeuvre the extra weight and bulk these strollers often come with
• Lightweight/Umbrella Stroller - these are, as the name suggests, lighter-weight strollers which fold down for easy storage/travel. It can be hard to find one that comes with all the padding and handy features of a standard stroller and the car seat compatibility of a travel system, but you're in luck, we have a solution that combines the best of all worlds

But which one is going to suit you best? The best place to start when figuring out which stroller is right for you is to ask yourself the right questions!

What Is Your Budget?

One of the most important starting points. A stroller can be one of the most expensive purchases when having a baby (although it doesn't have to be!) so making sue you set a budget early on is important!

How Many Children Will Be Using The Stroller?

It may be a little soon to ask yourselves this question, particularly if you are on baby number one, but considering how many children need to use your stroller is important. For example, if you're about to have baby number two or more, a stroller that is suitable for newborns and toddlers without needing to switch between a newborn bassinet and a seat is a huge time and energy saver, both things in short supply when you have multiple little ones! Or, if you are on baby number one but know you're planning to have more children, the longevity of your chosen stroller is worth thinking about too.

What Terrain Will You Be Traversing?

Are you city dweller or heading out across more rural terrain? As well as where you can feasibly take your stroller, the type of terrain it is built for will also affect the weight and "pushability" of each model.

Any Size/Travel Restrictions?

Will you be slinging your stroller in the car regularly and if so is your boot big enough to fit it and the shopping/dog/suitcases etc. or do you ideally need something that will slot behind your seat? Do you mostly travel on public transport so need something you can easily manoeuvre on and off buses/trains etc. and collapse easily? Will you be travelling lots with it? Strollers that fold quickly and easily, and are lightweight make a world of difference when you're travelling! All worth bearing in mind when you look at the size and weight stats of various models!

Where Will You Keep It?

One of the best pieces of advice we've ever heard when house hunting was "where will you store the hoover" and the same goes for buying a stroller - where will you store it at home? If you won't have much room it might be worth considering a stroller that folds down nice and small.

Other Questions To Ask

Then a few miscellaneous things worth bearing in mind...

• Do you need it to be compatible with your car seat? If you'll be transferring baby from car to stroller regularly then a stroller that can work with you car seat might be worth considering.
• Who will be pushing the stroller? Some strollers have adjustable handlebars that make them a comfortable fit for families with different height parents and carers.
• Is being able to go running with your stroller important to you? For some mums a jogging stroller is the perfect way to combine nap time and exercise but here at Ergobaby we're BIG fans of CARiFiT's babywearing workouts.

Once you know what you're looking for and which type of stroller might be right for you then we've got a final couple of ways to whittle down your options...

Trusted Awards/Testing

Awards or accolades can be a great way to find out which products are recommended by both expert panels and other parents.

For example the AGR seal of the Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V. (Campaign for Healthier Backs) is a coveted accolade only granted to products that meet their stringent requirements.  A committee of medical and therapeutic experts from a variety of fields certifies that products are ergonomically optimal – both for the one in the stroller and the one pushing it! You can find out more about the AGR in our behind the scenes blog post here.

As well as industry accolades and awards, websites like Mother and Baby, My Baba, Inspired Family, Good To Know etc. are all great places to check out what other parents think of different products so you can get some 'real-world' opinions on how different products fit into real family life.

Get A Feel For Your Favourites

Test your shortlist out in person. It is the best way to get a feel for the strollers you're considering and should help you decide whether it's the right fit for your family. Is it easy to push, is it easy to fold, does it feel comfy for baby, these are all things that are much easier to suss out in person.

Happy stroller shopping!