by Mark Hartshorne

At first glance, it appears we are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing and buying a pushchair, stroller or buggy. Some are marketed by the pushchair manufacturers as a fashion accessory, and come with many colour options. Years ago there were pushchairs and prams – now there are pushchairs, sports pushchairs, combi pushchairs, shoppers, buggies, joggers, three wheeler buggies and more…

Oh, and let’s not forget those special pushchairs for different family situations – twin pushchairs, tandem pushchairs and even triple and quad pushchairs.

Now, you are probably starting to get confused with all the choices, but it is still much more complicated. There are pushchairs with large wheels, small wheels, air tyres, rubber tyres. You have to consider weight, width, handle height, shopping basket size.

One of the most important considerations when choosing a pushchair, not yet mentioned, is price. In addition, is a raincover included or is that extra? What about a parasol?

So, now that it all sounds so complicated, let’s try to put some order into this chaos and make it seem so much more straight-forward.

First, before you even begin to search for a new pushchair, you have to decide what your priorities are, what will the pushchair be used for?

That sounds obvious, but for example, will your pushchair mostly be on man-made surfaces, such as going to the shops for shopping – or will your main use be outdoors? A buggy is a light pushchair, small, narrow and lightweight. Definitely not suitable for rough ground but great for shops. So that might suit in this situation. A buggy is most suited to children older than 9 months who sit upright. They fold away quite small and so are easy to transport.

A very different type of pushchair is a jogger. This will suit an active, sporty parent, perfect for using off-road and easy to steer.

So, sit down and make your list of requirements. Consider when and how you will use your pushchair. Consider how important weight is to you. Depending on how tall you are, some pushchairs can be difficult to push because their handle height is high. Some pushchairs have adjustable handle height. Will you have a requirement to carry your pushchair up and down stairs – remember you will have to carry your baby at the same time!

Do you use public transport? – this makes size important as a large pushchair may cause difficulties, particularly on busy services.

We must also consider the baby – the pushchair should be comfortable, a reclining seat could be very important.

In my research I have discovered that many parents make a mistake in choosing their first pushchair and make their choice for many of the wrong reasons. I decided to rationalize many of the factors that should be considered when choosing a pushchair and developed a website where parents can offer their feedback to help others make these choices. The website is My Pushchair.

About The Author
Mark Hartshorne is a father with two young children and created a website to review pushchairs and strollers to offer parents a fair comparison on price, size, design and more. The website is My Pushchair.

There are SO many different types of strollers on the market that it is hard to decide which one is best for your new baby. What is the best deal for the money, how many different strollers do you need, and is there a more affordable way of doing it?

Car Seat Carrier
Not exactly a “stroller”, but performing the same function, a car seat carrier is one of the most inexpensive ways that parents who have a new baby in an infant car seat can push them around. In some cases it is the most convenient as well. The car seat carrier is just a simple frame that sells for around $50 that an infant car seat can fit in. This is good if you borrow a car seat from a friend or relative, but do not have a stroller, or if you have a small car where a stroller would be a hard fit.

Just the Stroller
You can buy just a plain, boring stroller. One that seems sturdy, has a place for baby, cup holders, etc, but no car seat to go along with it. These come in many different sizes and patterns. These are good for parents who choose to get a convertible car seat for their baby from the beginning, and need somewhere to lay their baby down and push him around. They can also be good as a matching brand to a borrowed infant car seat. These can start at around $60 and go up into the $100’s.

Travel System
The travel system is an all in one unit consisting of the full size stroller and infant car seat that match and fit together perfectly. It is a convenient way for parents to purchase both the car seat and stroller that their baby will need. The downside to it however is that once the baby outgrows the car seat the parents just have a stroller. It can turn it into quite a pricy stroller for what it is. These normally start at around $200 and go up from there.

Jogging Stroller
A jogging stroller is a three wheel stroller built for rougher terrain and surfaces. It is great for moms who like to walk, jog or run, and want to be able to take their baby with them. Some of the jogging strollers on the market will have actual rubber wheels on it like the tires of your car. Others will be plastic like regular strollers. They also come with and without swivel front wheels. These are great if you plan on exercising with your baby in tow, but in some cases can be bothersome if just out and about. They normal start at around $130. On a side note, you can also get the jogging stroller in a travel system set up with an infant car seat that attaches.

Double Stroller
There are also double strollers, double travel systems, double jogging strollers and double umbrellas strollers on the market. These are not only necessary and popular for parents who have twins, but also for parents who have kids close in age, where the older one may not be ready to be out of the stroller when the baby is born. These are close to the same price as the regular counterparts.

Umbrella Stroller
An umbrella stroller is a light weight, small stroller that can easily be thrown in the trunk of the car. It is also the cheapest with versions starting at $10. However, it isn’t always the best choice or the most convenient choice, especially not as your family’s ONLY stroller. An umbrella stroller is intended for bigger babies who can sit up on their own already. It doesn’t have the support that a newborn needs. On the other end of things as your toddler gets heavier, it will drag and be extremely hard to push, plus the wheels are within foot range of your child which leads to your child putting his foot on the wheels and slowing you down.

How Many Do You Need?
Depending on the age of your baby and your interests, you may only need one stroller, or you may need three. If you aren’t real active and don’t see yourself taking up walking/running with your baby then you would be able to get along just fine with a regular stroller, or the stroller that comes as part of the travel system. If you have twins, then the double would be fine for you. If you do see yourself jogging, then you may choose to have a regular stroller for times when you are going to the mall or a doctor appointment. If your baby is older you may choose to go ahead and buy an umbrella stroller for the quick jaunts in stores, so that you don’t’ have to drag out your bigger stroller. Or you may decide just to retire your big stroller completely and keep the umbrella stroller for your use.

The strollers you need and use will change throughout your child’s journey from newborn to toddler. It is best for you to keep an open mind and be flexible, willing to adjust to your baby’s and your families needs.

With all the furniture, toys, clothing and other gear on the market for baby, what are the essentials when it comes to raising your baby? Many new parents ask this question when they are standing in the baby store preparing their registry and feeling a bit overwhelmed. While the truth is your baby could sleep in a bed made out of a drawer, or in bed with you, and could be carried around 24/7 in your arms, there are items like cribs and strollers which are great to have.

Cribs
Traditionally the place that a baby would spend most of his time while asleep, a crib is a big purchase made by parents. A crib in many ways is a baby’s only spot that is all their own. When you buy a crib for your baby you not only buy the frame, but you must buy the mattress and crib bedding as well. This can become an expensive purchase.

Pack-N-Play’s and Play Pens
Some people choose to use a pack-n-play in place of a crib, or buy a pack-n-play or play pen for trips and to give their baby a safe place to play and be alone. It can easily be used as your baby’s main bed during the first few months of life while you want to keep the baby close to you in your room, before you move him to his own room down the hall. It may not be a necessity, but it is a great item to have when you bring your new baby home.

Car Seats
One of the only true “must haves” in a baby’s world is a car seat. There are many different types of car seats on the market including infant and convertibles, all of which have their pros and cons. It is against the law to not have your baby in a car seat when in a moving vehicle so do your research and pick the best car seat for your family.

Strollers
Whoever invented the stroller should be given a Nobel Prize. The invention of a stroller had to have saved many arms from being broken from carrying around heavy babies and toddlers. There are so many different types of strollers, from travel systems to umbrella strollers, in so many price ranges that just about everyone can afford a stroller.

Dresser/Changing Table
A dresser is definitely nice to have for your baby. Just like you need a spot for your clothes, your baby needs a spot for his. The dresser can grow with your baby, but a changing table will only last for a little while. As your baby gets older, even while still in diapers you may find that you don’t using the changing table as often to change him. A good way to get the essential but save money is to get either a dresser/changing table combo, or just get a changing pad to place on top of the dresser while it is needed.

Entertainers
There are several different types of entertainers on the market. Years ago it used to just be walkers but now there is variety to choose from. Walkers have gotten increasingly less popular by experts and pediatricians with there being some concern on the safety of your baby being able to walk around the house and get hurt. Because of this they have created exersaucers where the baby can sit in the middle of a bunch of toys and spin around. The latest entertainer is the Around We Go which has all the toys in the center and your baby on the outside about to walk his seat in a circle to get to the toys.

Swings
A swing is a great way to rock and calm your baby when your arms are feeling tired. Swings today come in all shapes and sizes including the newer take-a-long swings. There are so many designs now that they range from simple to complex with toys attached for your baby to enjoy. They even have swings that go side to side, instead of the traditional back and forth.

Highchairs
Once your baby starts eating cereal and other baby foods it is important that you get him his own chair to pull up to the table. Not only will your baby feel more like part of the family as he gets older but a highchair makes it much easier to feed your baby. There are many more options today for a highchair than there were 20 years ago. There is the old traditional chair that stands on its’ own legs, but there is also a seat that can be strapped onto one of your dining room chairs, or a chair that hooks onto the table that can be taken with you when you go out to restaurants.