They See Me Strollin

When Haydn and I first went stroller shopping, we thought we would be in and out of the store in under an hour with our stroller in hand. Ha! We very quickly learned that there are hundreds of stroller options on the market, and we had no idea what we really wanted.

One trip to the store turned into several. We spent weeks researching strollers online, hours pushing sample strollers around stores, and we asked a lot of people what they liked and didn't like. Eventually, we found the perfect stroller for our family. Then, we had a second kid and started the process all over again.

We're now the proud owners of two strollers. In an effort to save you some time with your stroller shopping journey, since we've done this twice now, I've tried to collect and provide all the information I can on the subject.

There are four main categories of baby strollers on the market. There are three types of stroller wheels, two primary handle materials, and two frame styles. Let's go!

Four Main Categories of Baby Strollers

• Lightweight Stroller

• Multi-functional Stroller

• Multiple Children Stroller

• Single Classic Stroller

Lightweight Strollers can be a perfect solution if you are constantly having to carry your stroller around without your baby. Great examples for this are when using public transportation or when climbing stairs. Lightweight Strollers often also fold down to a very compact size and can be great for those traveling often. Many people think Lightweight means cheap, and while that can be the case, it isn't always.

We LOVE our Lightweight Umbrella Stroller and use it on almost all vacations!

Multi-functional Strollers are a great solution for families looking to get more than one use out of their stroller (this is what our family first purchased). If you are looking for a stroller that can also function as an infant car seat, this is the type of stroller for you!

Multiple Children Strollers are best for those of you with more than one kiddo or those of you expecting more than one kiddo. We have a Wagon Stroller, it's freaking amazing.

The Single Classic Stroller is likely the image that comes to mind when you hear the word "stroller". There are tons of these full-size, single-child, options on the market and they vary dramatically on price depending on things such as wheel structure, handle material, and frame style.

Three Types of Stroller Wheels

• Plastic

• Foam

• Rubber

The best advice we ever received when stroller shopping was "pay attention to the wheels". It's easy to get caught up in all the bells and whistles a stroller offers, but the wheels are essential to its success or failure in your home. Plastic Wheels and Foam Wheels are best suited for use on smooth surfaces. If you are planning to only use your stroller indoors or on smooth pavement, a plastic or foam wheel would likely meet your needs. If you have any plans however of using your stroller on rough terrain (such as gravel, grass, or dirt) you may want to look into Rubber Wheels, as they are made to handle various terrains.

Two Handle Materials

• Leather / Faux Leather

• Foam

Fun Fact: the part of the stroller I was most adamant about was the stroller handle. Did I have any idea I would feel passionately about the handle when we first started stroller shopping? Nope, but it didn't take long for me to figure it out! There are two main Handle Materials we came across when stroller shopping: Faux Leather and Foam. While my husband didn't mind either handle, I could not stand how the foam felt in my hands. It almost made me sick to my stomach. I can't explain it, but Faux Leather was the only handle option for me.

Two Frame Styles

• Jogging

• Classic

The final thing I want to talk about is the frame of a stroller. There are two main types: a Jogging Frame (which typically has three wheels) and a Classic Frame (which typically has four wheels). If you're a runner, then you likely will want to look into a Jogging Frame, as it can be unsafe to run with a Classic Frame. I don't run, ever, so consider me useless when it comes to questions on jogging strollers.

I know it can be overwhelming when looking at all of the possible stroller combinations and price tags, but it's important to be informed and educated. A stroller is an investment, and you don't want to waste hundreds of dollars on something that doesn't work for your family!

My hope is that this post finds a way to bring you comfort, wisdom and peace as you begin your stroller search!

Talk soon!