A new parent’s foray into must-have children equipment is at once intimidating and overwhelming. There’re a lot of options, a lot of features, and really a lot of different price tags.

Dollar figures range from $25 for a cheap umbrella stroller to upward of $400 for stylish high-end models. The real question is: “What really makes up that huge price difference?”

umbrellastrollerguide.com, which thoroughly tests and inspects baby strollers gives a breakdown. We found top-priced ones were generally manufactured using aeronautical-grade, lightweight aluminum, making them very sturdy, durable and much easier to lift out and in of vehicle trunks.

The seats featured much thicker, better-made cushioning (or comprised of higher quality materials), with better back support for the child and top-notch fabric. Furthermore, the ride was smoother. Designer strollers usually had oversized, swivel front wheels with shock absorbers. Swivel wheels made them easier to push as well.

High-end strollers can have any number of bells and whistles. For example, height-adjustable handlebars and an option to position baby facing back or forward, facing mom or whoever is pushing.

The site sets the benchmark at about $300 for a good quality standard model, however warns that the choice should not hang on price tag alone. An umbrella stroller is something parents will depend on for many things in many different situations. Parents will use it for quite a long time and use it frequently. Those are reasons enough to splurge for a model with best price/quality ratio.

On the other hand, higher price does not assure best quality. We found that even the high priced ones were subject to weakness, flawed design as well as breakage.

Always bear in mind that you will possibly need different types of strollers for different daily activities. There’re three-wheel jogging umbrella strollers for much better maneuvering over uneven as well as grass pavements; all-terrain models for hiking; ultra-lightweight models for short trips with older kids; double models made for two (tandem or side by side) and travel systems which come with a snap-in stay-in vehicle base and seat.

Perhaps the smartest course of action is to talk to other more experienced moms and dads, read some consumer reviews and most importantly – test drive a couple of models.

Finally, put the word out that you’re looking. A lot of moms and dads would rather sell or hand-off a decent-quality umbrella stroller than have to store the big thing when the little one has long outgrown it.

Moms and dads use umbrella strollers frequently. A recent huge stroller recall brings up the old question of how really safe little ones are in them, and how these essential pieces of baby gear can be made safer.

Umbrella strollers are designed to keep kids safe. They usually feature harness systems as well as shock absorbing wheels which turn effortlessly when they run into obstacles. On the other hand, they’re used to transport little ones fast in stores with hard floor surfaces or over pavement by moms and dads who do not always use the safety harness correctly. Furthermore, they’re made to fold down fast, leaving aluminum parts exposed to kid’s tiny arms, fingers as well as legs.

Retrospective Study on Stroller Injuries

Each year over thirteen thousands kids under the age of three are injured in stroller related accidents. These accidents have been studied in past several years. A retrospective study on stroller related injuries looked at over sixty five thousand injuries reported by NEISS (a national probability sample of hospitals in the United States and its territories) between ‘94 and ‘98.

The rate of injury was a hundred and eighty four per one hundred thousand kids, with slightly more baby boys than baby girls injured (51 percent to 49 percent), and an average age of eleven months. The majority of injuries were from falls (76 percent) or the stroller tipping over (11 percent), with smaller number of injuries reported from stroller folding, and accidents involving cars.

Types of Injuries Found in Studies

The number of injuries found were face or head injuries; eighty seven percent of all injuries were to the face or head. Of the nearly one thousand kids rushed to ER, seventy percent were for head trauma. Contusions (i.e. bruises), lacerations, fractures and even closed head injuries accounted for most of the injuries.

The recent Maclaren (Maclaren is a famous British stroller manufacturer) stroller recall was initiated due to a notification received – a dozen kids suffered fingertip amputations from hinge accidents! Kids usually put fingertips directly into the side hinge wither while riding in the stroller or when getting out or in of it. Interesting information is that over 1.000.000 strollers made in this century were recalled.

Using Umbrella Strollers Correctly to Put a Stop to Accidents

The main injuries described in studies of stroller related accidents are caused by falling out of it. Umbrella strollers all are designed with some sort of safety harness. On the other hand, moms and dads usually forget to put them on or even do not put them on properly. Simply fastening the belt around the child’s waist is not exactly enough; small babies require the crotch-strap in place in order to keep them from sliding out from under the harness.

Little rascals in strollers need parents to look out for them. Baby deaths have been reported when kids became trapped in the leg opening after slipping under the safety belt or even not being properly strangled or restrained. Others have died of asphyxiation due to incorrect positioning inside the unit.

Strollers must never be carried down and upstairs with the little one in them. Deaths as well as worst injuries have resulted when strollers were accidentally dropped, particularly in case the little one was not fastened and fell out of the unit.

Remember to put the safety wheel brakes on! Kids have been fatally or seriously injured when strollers rolled into the path of automobiles or in bodies of water. A responsible parent should keep a hand on the handlebars at all times, i.e. whenever possible. Make sure to check the stroller’s brakes and other mechanical parts frequently, in order to ensure they are still okay, particularly in case the unit is an old model.

Check the hinges as well as other movable parts on the unit for pinching potential. Ensure kids do not place fingertips, legs or hands anywhere near the hinge when getting out or in of the unit or when riding inside it. Do not hang bulky handbags or shopping bags from handlebars, particularly lightweight umbrella strollers. They can and will cause the whole unit to tip backward.

How to Avoid Injuries?

Baby strollers are built to be safe. On the other hand, even the safest models are only as good as the parents using it. Furthermore, even those with best reputations for safety can (and sometimes will) malfunction or even have some potentially dangerous design flaws. Therefore, moms and dads simply have to be vigilant about checking umbrella strollers for safety concerns and, most importantly, use harness at all times – when the little one is inside, even on short trips to the local grocery store.

Perhaps best umbrella strollers for toddlers are ones which perfectly suits individual family’s way of life as well as planned family size, are practical, safe, simple to fold and unfold and reasonably priced or cheap. Choosing the very best umbrella stroller is usually very tricky, with a whole bunch of ‘must-have’ features available at a boggling array of prices. General rule of thumb goes: “Keep shopping simple by considering lifestyle, practicality, safety standards, family planning as well as ease of use prior to getting one.”

Lifestyle

When deciding on a particular model, think about where and exactly how it will be used. Crowded city areas are generally not stroller-friendly, sometimes with extremely narrow store aisles (not to mention very busy sidewalks). However, country areas usually have gravel roads or uneven pavement, with frequent short trips in the vehicle to do shopping and run everyday tasks. Lifestyle will basically set which features are crucial.

Travel System

These days a lot of models such as Chicco Cortina Keyfit 30 are being constructed with the ability to safely hold an infant car-seat (and not toddler car seat!) on top of the aluminum frame. So, a travel system is a huge bonus for families with an infant (or newborn) and a toddler. However, while this can save moms and dads the huge hassle of waking a napping infant, it’s not exactly safe to keep an infant in a car-seat for long periods of time.

Strollers and Family Planning

Young moms and dads who are planning on more than just one kid will perhaps want to think about how a particular model will grow with the family. Maclaren strollers are great for moms and dads planning on having two or more babies within one to four years. Manufacturers such as Peg Perego design strollers with ride-on boards that the toddler (or slightly older sibling – please see manufacturer instructions first!) can safely stand on and enjoy the ride.

How simple and fun it’s to open and fold down a stroller is sometimes underrated, particularly if first time moms and dads are getting one before the child is actually born. A big, heavy, difficult to fold or not so easy to open will be difficult to use, particularly if there’s an active toddler to carry and keep track of too. Once again, models from Maclaren are quite popular since they’re not that complicated, practical solution for on the go moms and dads.

It will be difficult to get a model which promises to be the one and only one a family will ever need. On the other hand, consider the fact that a lot of moms and dads still choose to use an umbrella stroller when shopping in narrow spaces or traveling on airplanes.

Choosing a stroller is generally part of how moms and dads prepare for life with a little rascal. Umbrella strollers for toddlers can and will be wonderful tools for on the go moms and dads, particularly with features like car-seat attachments, expanding to seat two kids of different age, lightweight and space efficient frames as well as big storage baskets, however, getting the best one means looking carefully at lifestyle and budget considerations as well.

Are you shopping for a cheap umbrella strollers? Here is how to make wise, good choices when buying discount models.

A brand new umbrella stroller tops the shopping lists of many moms and dads to be. However, with price tags which usually run into the dozens or even hundreds of dollars, it is unquestionably a big investment. Needless to say, it’s possible to get cheap ones, however moms and dads must proceed with caution. Safety simply has to be the main priority, particularly because, according to hospital reports cited by the CPSC (for those parents who do not know, the CPSC stands for Consumer Product Safety Commission), some ten thousand baby stroller-related injuries occurs every year.

Having that in mind, budget strollers are great picks, as long as moms and dads know what to look for. Below are several useful tips to bear in mind when searching for the best cheap umbrella stroller at a low price.

Safety Features

The JPMA (for those moms and dads who do not know, the JPMA stands for Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association) recommends that moms and dads go for the following features:

• Umbrella stroller which will never tip backwards once the little one lies down in a reclining or flat position
• A sturdy and wide stroller base in order to prevent tipping, even once the little one leans over the side
• In order to prevent the child from falling out it should feature adjustable parts which reduce the size of seat openings in the front (once the seatback is fully reclined this feature is particularly important)

Furthermore, parents should always buy a stroller which has the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association Certification Seal. What this means is that the unit has undergone approval procedures before it hits the market.

Even in case the particular model does have the Certification Seal, parents are advised to check both Consumer Product Safety Commission and Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association Internet pages for the latest recall info. Several of the world wide known and most reputable brand names, such as Maclaren have been subject to recalls.

Convenience Features

While not important for a child’s safety, below are several features which can and will make a mom’s and dad’s lives a lot easier when strolling

• Height adjustable handlebars – a must have when dad is quite taller than the mom
• A mechanism which lets parents fold the unit using only one hand
• Over-sized wheels which can maneuver through almost all terrains such as grass

Considerations for Jogging and Double Umbrella Strollers

The very same safety considerations apply parents are searching for a specialty umbrella stroller. For this reason, parents have to ensure to bear them in mind when shopping for cheap ones. Cheap umbrella strollers are usually lower-priced, and discount shoppers will find really a lot of options. Double and jogging ones, on the other hand, are usually very expensive. Although discount-priced ones are usually available at discount or big shopping malls, parents should ensure to test them carefully, keeping in mind all of the safety tips mentioned above.

Last but not least, be extremely careful before getting a used model – or any used children equipment, for that matter. Once more, check on-line for latest recall info, ensure to get all the attachments as well as instruction manuals, and clean the unit carefully with some sort of a baby-safe cleaning solution prior to using it.

Luckily, regardless of how many high-end models turn up each year in children equipment shops, it is not necessary to get one. What’s more, in case new moms and dads shop with care, keep safety in mind, and do some research prior to making the final choice, getting a cheap umbrella stroller is a very wise decision actually.

There are a lot of pink umbrella stroller types on the market parents have to choose from. In this article parents will find out what options do they have, and what to look for. Depending on what type, what features, and what model parents choose will determine what price their new model will cost.

High-End Pink Umbrella Stroller

High-end models are manufactured out of top quality materials and built to last for many years. Generally, they have much better wheel suspension and are more durable when compared to cheap ones. Moms and dads should expect foam insulated height adjustable handlebars. For a single model these are more expensive at around $450 to $600 in the United States. However, shopping around can mean making real savings.

The Maclaren Juicy Couture is a complete, suitable from birth, year round stroller that has almost everything parents need. It is perfect for fashion conscious on-the-go moms and dads who require a reliable stroller for year-round use. Not only is it stylish, but it is very easy to maneuver as well. All four wheels have suspension to smooth out uneven terrain and provide a very comfortable ride. This model is made to cope with all of the little one’s requirements. It features 4 reclining seat positions, easily adjustable footrest for the growing child, head huger for comfort and safety, cozy shoulder pads, and a 5-sec one-hand compact fold. Therefore, moms will never get caught out by a rain shower. This powder pink and brown stroller gives moms the entire wow factor they want. And the price tag – real bargain, $450.

Cheap Pink Umbrella Stroller

For those moms and dads searching for a budget stroller, cheap ones don’t generally offer a lot of convenient features. They’re usually forward facing featuring fixed position handlebars. Furthermore, they’re usually a lot harder to maneuver. On the other hand, they serve a function in being a far less expensive alternative and quite convenient second stroller for time-to-time use.

The popular budget model is the Evenflo XSport. It is one of the least expensive, it retails for around $40 in the United States. Surprisingly (or maybe not) it comes equipped with quite a wide range of features including a fully rotating removable sun canopy, parent console with 2 cup holders, large storage basket, and height adjustable handles. Perhaps it is the least expensive piece of baby girl gear featuring an adjustable handle height. Furthermore, it weighs only 10.1 pounds and is forward facing. Weather-covers and hideaway boot may be included as well. Unlike a lot of other pink strollers this will not ‘hurt’ your eyes. This one is very stylish and definitely not a standard girlie hue.

These are both forward facing units. However, stylish moms and dads want to have their infant or their bigger child facing back when traveling. Also, there’s a study to suggest that this is perfect for kids. Back facing strollers are becoming more and more popular. Unfortunately, parents will not find many of these back facing pink umbrella strollers in shops.