A Baby Stroller for Every Purpose

If you have kids - specifically- if you have young kids -you know that having the right baby stroller for every situation is crucial. If you don't have children, then trust me...it's true!

I am the the father of 3 1/2 year old twins, and my wife and I learned this the hard way. Guys, listen to me very carefully. If your wife is pregnant, and you are just started to look at baby stroller options, you have to understand something very important. When it comes to strollers, they are definitely NOT "one size fits all"!

Expecting parents are often suprised to see how many types of strollers are available. I mean, lets be serious...do we really need more than just a standard stroller? Is it really necessary to have an umbrella stroller and a jogging stroller too? How much of my money do the stroller companies need?

The truth is, having children completely changes your life. You probably won't be going many places without your baby for a while. So if you want to go ANYWHERE, you have to be flexible. Taking the right (or wrong) stroller with you can make (or break) your "outings" as a family.

When you have an infant, a snap-n-go is a great thing. You can just pop the car seat out (with your baby still sleeping soundly) and transfer it to a stroller frame. For a quick trip to the grocery store, umbrella strollers are great. They are extremely compact and lightweight, but they don't have any cushioning, so you wouldn't want your child to sit in one for too long. Plus, there is no storage space for a diaper bag (or a cell phone, cup of coffe, etc.)

If you are planning to stroll the mall, a standard stroller is a better choice. Much more comfortable for the child, and most of them provide room to store your stuff. They are a little more bulky and harder to open up/fold down, it is worth the effort.

When my wife first mentioned getting a jogging stroller, I actually thought she was kidding. But if you spend any length of time ALONE with your children, this is a great way to get some excercise by going for a jog AND let your little one get some fresh air at the same time. And I can tell you, most babies LOVE the movement and subtle bouncing they get while you go jogging. Its a win-win!

Anyway, I could go on, but I think you get the picture. Fortunately, my kids can walk most places now, so my stroller days are almost behing me. Oh, wait a minute...I almost forgot. Just because your kids CAN walk doesn't mean they WILL walk! One last word of advise: If you have kids between 3 and 5, dont EVER take them to Disney World (or any amusement park) without bringing strollers. If you do, trust me, they will be on your shoulders or asking to be carried long before the park closes! So if you want to keep your back healthy, you better bring the right baby stroler.