Most young parents prefer a stroller to be able to take their babies around. However, with so many different types of strollers available, how do you choose the right one for your baby that is comfortable as also ensures his or her safety?
Here are a few pointers on how to pick the best stroller for your baby and important stroller safety tips:
- Check the handle and the wheels. Can you push the stroller and turn it easily? Look for the wheels that swivel easily, making it easier to steer – you might need it for the crowded sidewalks and while moving through the malls. Test the brakes and see that the wheels lock well. You will also need a wheelbase that’s wide enough so that it doesn’t trip when you press down on the handle.
- See to it that plastic caps on the tube ends are securely fastened and also there are no sharp edges or gaps to the stroller handles or hinges. Not only can there be a danger of scrapes or cuts, small fingers can even get stuck in the gaps.
- Are the safety belts and buckles easy to latch and unlatch for you but impossible for baby to do so? See to it that the waist belt fits snugly and there are crotch straps that loop into the waist belt. This would prevent the baby from falling out.
- A single footrest is better than two separate. Choose a stroller with a single footrest that extends across both sitting areas. Small feet can get trapped between separate footrests.
Also is the stroller comfortable for you to handle? How simple is it to fold and unfold the stroller? Think about your own physical comfort as well. Adjustable handles of the stroller can help prevent shoulder and back strain for you. The ideal height of a stroller handle is waist-level or slightly below.
Stroller Safety Tips
- Never leave a baby unattended in a stroller.
- Always secure the seat belt.
- If you have older children, don’t let them use the stroller as a toy.
- Keep your stroller working safely. Do frequent check-ups like tightening nuts and bolts, replacing worn straps, examining brakes and lubricating wheels.
- A lot of strollers today have parent-drink holders. Don’t ever place hot liquids in them.
- Be careful with toys. If you hang toys to the stroller bar to amuse the baby, see to it that they are fastened well and also not long enough for the baby to put them in their mouth.