You may like how solid your full-size stroller is with your kid. However, you might be seeking to downsize when it comes time to throw your stroller into your vehicle trunk, whether doing errands or preparing for a trip.
Umbrella strollers will lighten the load while allowing your child to ride in style because they are lightweight, smaller than a full-size stroller, and built for parents who are always on the move.
Why you may require a stroller with an umbrella
Do you require an umbrella stroller in place of (or in addition to) your regular stroller? Keep the following things in mind:
- You favor a compact, lightweight pram. They are designed to be portable; some even have shoulder straps for carrying convenience. Additionally, they may fold to roughly the size of an umbrella.
- You’re a city resident. Perhaps you have limited storage, or you live in a city where you have to lug the baby and her stroller up and down the stairs to your flat or onto the bus. Since they’re simpler to manage in confined spaces like tiny shops or streets, city parents frequently opt to utilize umbrella strollers for quick errands.
- Your child is at least six months old. You’ll probably need to find another choice for your infant, as most umbrella strollers are for kids who can sit up on their own by the time they’re six months old. Some lightweight baby strollers are suitable for newborns, but if you intend to use one with your child, be sure it is durable and has a seat back that fully reclines or has the option to do so.
How to pick the ideal compact umbrella stroller
Compared to full-size strollers, umbrella strollers often have fewer bells and whistles.
- Maneuverability: Test-drive the stroller while your child is inside to discover how simple or difficult it is to turn around bends.
- Storage: Umbrella strollers offer less storage than full-size strollers due to their simplified design. Others don’t even have any.
- Quality: Does the stroller appear to be well-made and feel sturdy? To determine how many more years of usage you and your child may expect, look at the maximum weight limit.
- Sun protection: Many umbrella strollers include sunscreen to shield you from the sun.
- Recliner seat: If you can adjust the recline while driving, kids will be more comfortable for longer.
- Use simplicity: A stroller that is simple to fold and unfold—ideally with only one hand—is what you desire.
- Safety attributes: A wheel lock and a five-point seat belt must be featured to keep your infant safely fastened in. Additionally, keep an eye out for the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association (JPMA) mark, which denotes that the item has met strict safety requirements. To prevent a tip-over, particularly with a baby on board, keep the baby’s fingers away from the folded mechanism and never hang something from the rear.
Umbrella Strollers
The creators felt there was a need for a lighter version of the stroller once the issues with the standard model were obvious. The first umbrella stroller was created in 1965, and it has helped parents and their kids. These strollers are substantially smaller than typical strollers and have an aluminum frame that can fold. Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks of an umbrella stroller.
Advantages
- Compared to standard strollers, umbrella strollers are lighter and smaller. They are far more convenient and pleasant to store and move around.
- This stroller can fold to a compact size so you can transport it in your car or bring it with you while you’re not home.
- Compared to ordinary strollers, umbrella strollers are significantly less expensive. An umbrella stroller is a good option if you have a limited budget but still want to acquire a stroller for your child.
Disadvantages
- The umbrella stroller’s biggest drawback is that it isn’t roomy enough for parents to feel secure transporting larger kids.
- Most umbrella strollers cannot fully recline. Thus the infant must ride upright. It indicates that it is inappropriate for newborns or infants who are unable to support their heads. According to recommendations, only use an umbrella stroller when your child is at least four months old.
- You must bring an additional bag on your trips because umbrella strollers offer little storage capacity.
Be mindful of your safety.
While purchasing a stroller, there are many factors to consider, but this is the most crucial one. You must confirm that the product is JPMA-certified. In addition, you focus on a few other topics, such as:
- If your infant is lying in the stroller, it does not tip over at the rear.
- Always choose a stroller with a broad base so that it won’t tip over if your child leans to one side.
- Make sure there are no significant gaps where your baby may squeeze through.
- Consider purchasing a device that has a five-point harness system.
- See whether there is a spot where your child’s finger can become stuck.
Purchase Items Based on Usage
It is the next crucial factor to think about when purchasing a stroller. If you frequently carry your child wherever you go, you should choose a high-quality item with sufficient endurance. More mechanical features, such as robust wheels, solid frames, low weight, and so on, are provided by such things.
If you intend to use the stroller for travel, choose a material that will make the trip more pleasant for you and the kids. When purchasing strollers for this use, choose those with shock-absorbing capabilities when running on various surfaces and a compact form that helps to store them. Ensure the umbrella strollers you purchase have shoulder straps to carry them while not in use.
Conclusion
Full recline strollers are ideal for infants, and you may use them up until your child is three months old. You may get convertible strollers for toddlers, and umbrella strollers are great for them. A double stroller can be the best option for you if you have two infants about the same age.
Although umbrella strollers may be a practical substitute for larger, more costly stroller types, the child’s safety must follow the umbrella stroller’s age and weight restrictions when carrying young children.