Buying a baby stroller these days can be very difficult, but if you're armed with a little information, your experience can be quite smooth.
The first thing you need to know is you don't have to spend a lot of money on buying a baby stroller. There are a large number of quality, inexpensive, good looking options on the market. Of course, you can spend up to and over a thousand dollars on the stroller, with all the accessories and doo-dads if you wish. But your baby isn't going to know the difference. Riding in a sub-100 dollar baby stroller isn't going to make them feel any worse than if they are riding in the top-of-the-line Italian designed Euro-stroller.
That isn't to say that the expensive options are useless. Many top-end brand name strollers like Stokke, Bugaboo, Quinny, Uppa Baby and others do provide a quality ride. Fashionable, well-thought-out designs constructed with the latest materials combine to make a stroller that will last you and your baby for a very long time. And rolling around with the latest high-fashion stroller does feel good sometimes.
So whatever your preference, or what ever your pocketbook will allow, you need to sit down and think about what kind of baby stroller you really need. The first question you'll need to answer is how many babies are you having. Don't laugh. There are stroller options for twins, triplets, and even quadruplets. However, the larger the number of kids you'll be putting in the stroller, the fewer the options you will have when buying a stroller. If your answer to this question is "one" then you've got the widest range of options.
The next question you'll need to ask yourself is how many kids will be riding on the stroller. Wait, isn't that the same question? Not exactly. If you plan to have your newborn and your toddler both ride in the stroller, then you may still be looking at a double stroller instead of the standard stroller. You can also have the option of the sit-and-stand stroller, where the youngest child will ride in the main stroller seat, while the older child will stand on a small ledge provided at the back of the stroller, safely tucked between you and the stroller.
Now that you've got that part down, you need to start thinking about the stroller options. What options? Well, for starters; sunshade, cup holders (for you and baby), 5-point harness, restraining bar or not, bassinet or no bassinet, ease of folding, weight, extendable handle, etc. You get the picture. The list quickly grows, and soon you'll throw up your hands in frustration. Relax. The easiest thing to do is decide on a budget, figure out what you really will need, and start shopping from there.
And remember; pretty much every choice you make as far as a baby stroller goes will be a good one. These days, everything is safe. It's just what is convenient to you, what matches your lifestyle, and what you think is a good value. Congratulations, and good luck on buying your new baby stroller.
