How to Choose a Stroller

Title:
How to Choose a Stroller

Word Count:
630

Summary:
There are many varieties of strollers. Some are designed for specific users, such as lightweight strollers and joggers, while others are designed for more regular use. Regardless of the type of stroller you are looking to buy, here are some things to look at before purchasing a new  stroller.


Keywords:
strollers, kids, reviews, rankings


Article Body:
There are several varieties of strollers. Some are designed for specific users, such as lightweight strollers and joggers,  other strollers are intended for more everyday use. Irrespective of the type of stroller you are purchasing, here are some considerations to look at before you buy your new stroller.

Make absolutely sure the stroller comes  with a proper, and effective, restraint system. At the minimum, look for a three-point restraint that wraps the waist and comes up between the legs. The latch should be comfortable up against your child. If you are purchasing a jogging stroller, make sure you get a five-point restraint system (shoulder straps) since jogging will lead to your child being jostled about. The shoulder straps must keep them in place well even when jogging.

Be sure the stroller has a brake. For most casual strollers, this will just be a parking brake. Make sure it works reliably and is easy to use. For jogging strollers, you should also insist on a brake that can be used to brake the stroller while jogging. Be certain that the brake is easy to use and that you can lock up the tire(s) without too much effort.

Just about every stroller has a mechanism that permits the stroller to be folded up for travel. Make sure that you can easily fold the stroller up by yourself; it's not much fun to be standing in a parking lot in the foul weather desperately trying to fold your stroller. Even more critical than how easy the stroller is to fold, consider how secure it is when it is open. Be certain that when opened, there is a reliable locking mechanism that keeps the stroller from folding accidentally. If this happens when your child is in the stroller, serious injury can result.

Try out the stroller and see how comfortable it is to operate. You should be able to operate the stroller with one hand. Strollers with both front and rear swivel wheels will be easier to operate. Strollers with wheels that only move in one direction are usually more awkward to steer.

Check out the height of the handle. The stroller will be easier to operate if the handle is at waist  level. For most averaged sized people, this will not be an issue. But if you are very tall or short, you should consider a stroller with a handle that can be adjusted.

Look for features that can make your child more comfortable when riding in the stroller. These include reclining seats (makes nappy time easier); comfortable padding; canopies to protect and against sun, rain, and wind; cup holders and bins for snacks.

Be sure that the stroller has plenty of storage space for things like diaper bags, bags used when shopping, changes of clothes, etc. The more storage you have, the happier you will be with your stroller.

All kids make messes. If your kids are especially prone to spilling, try to find a stroller with removable fabric covers over the seats. Removable or not, make sure that the fabric on the stroller can  be cleaned with water and mild detergent. While a specially designed fabric may look great  new, if it can't be washed the shine will quickly fade.

Carefully check the frame of the stroller for sharp edges or things that can poke or snag. Also look for gaps that could trap small fingers and toes. Check the leg openings of the stroller; make certain that they are not wide enough for an infant to accidentally slip through them.

Before you buy a new stroller, or any other product for your child,  check the product recall finder website (http://www.babycenter.com/product-recall-finder)  to see if there is a recall against the product you are about to buy.

Car Seat Safety Suggestions

Using a car seat is the most important step in helping to secure the security of your kids in the car. But just owning a car seat is not enough in itself: the car seat needs to be used, and it has to be used properly. Here are helpful steps to follow to help assure that your kids will be as secure as possible in their car seats.

- Always be sure to read and understand the manufacturer's recommendations on how to use the car seat properly. Improper car seat usage is the main cause of car seat failure. Also completely read the owner's manual for your car as it relates to the usage of car seats. Most car owner's manuals have specific instructions for car seat installation and these instructions must always be adhered to.

- To increase the security of your children, only put the car seat in the rear set of your vehicle, not in the front seat. Ideally, you should put the car set in the middle of the rear seat to increase protection against intrusion during side-impact collisions.

- If your car seat can only be used in the front seat (if there is no back seat), only install it there if there is no front seat airbag or if the airbag can be disabled. And then make sure that the airbag is indeed off. Never use a car seat in the front seat of a vehicle if the passenger-side airbag is enabled.

- Keep your infant in a rear-facing car seat for as long as they meet the size and weight restrictions for that car seat when it is rear-facing. In general, it is safer for your kids to be facing to the rear.

- When you place your child in their car seat, be certain the straps fit snugly and be sure to use the chest strap. The chest strap should go over the chest as per the manufacturer's instructions. If this strap is too low, your child may not be secure in the event of an accident. If the chest strap is too high, it may crush your child's neck in an accident.

- Once your child gets to big or heavy for their car seat, you should use a booster seat until such time as the seat belt fits them properly. This is typically until they are about 4' 9" tall or 80 pounds. Check your vehicle owner's guide for the exact limits on your vehicle. When it does fit correctly, the shoulder belt should fit over the shoulders, not on the neck, and the lap belt should fit across the hips, not on the belly.

- After you suppose you have the car seat correctly put in, have it examined by a certified car seat technician. This can usually be done in minutes, usually at no charge. Check http://www.seatcheck.org/ to locate the closest seat check location to you.

- Avoid used car seats unless you know the history and age of the car seat. Do not buy car seats more than five years old, or car seats that have been in an accident. Be certain that used car seats still have all of their labels with the manufacturing information, manufacturing date, and model number. In addition, make sure that the manual is available; never purchase a car seat without the manual.

- If your automobile comes equipped with the LATCH system for car seats, make sure you get LATCH-compatible car seats. Using the LATCH system makes for easier installation, leading to increased security and reduced chance of installation mistakes. Despite this, the installation should still be checked by a certified car seat technician.

- Check out the web site for the manufacturer for your vehicle. Many times, automobile manufacturer's website will list, on a per-model basis, the car seats that they recommend for usage in their cars.