Top benefits of using a baby stroller and why you definitely need one, in case you’re wondering if strollers are necessary and if you should be carrying the baby or buying a stroller.
There are some parents who think they can probably do without strollers. However, for most parents, the experience of taking their babies outdoors, in a stroller is much better than carrying them around.
A baby stroller is an important piece of equipment for most modern families, as it makes it easier to handle kids and provides them with the best care when outdoors.
A baby stroller provides several benefits as listed below.
I know this for a fact that many new parents (if not all) tend to go and buy anything and everything that they think the baby will need. Many of my friends have done that and later regretted buying some items which were just wrong choices because either their baby is not comfortable using it, or it’s just not practical to use.
It is understandable that as a parent you want to give the best for your child, but I would suggest that you ask the question “Does my baby really need this?” before going on a shopping spree. Strollers, for instance, does your baby really need a stroller? The answer – If your baby is under 12 months, a stroller is not really needed.
Surprised? Let me explain.
Strollers are meant for transporting your baby from one place to another. It is a convenient transporting system that will not require you to carry your baby in your arms while you are traveling.
If you carry your baby, just after a few minutes itself, you will realize that it starts putting pressure on your back and then it really hurts.
The result is that you will either cut short your walk, or you will skip that shopping that you wanted to do at the grocery shop on the way. Just because you are carrying your baby, you decide to do that some other time.
But with Baby Strollers, it is easy; and if you have twins or a couple of babies, it’s even more helpful.
Its definitely a great joy to have kids, but at times, especially when you decide to step out of the house, it can be a challenge without the right transportation system. That is where parents find a stroller really convenient.
Even the thought of wading through a crowded mall with the kids in hand can give any parent a panic attack. With a stroller, you can safely secure your children in it and move around easily.
In general, strolling is Easy, Convenient & Affordable
Strollers have its own set of benefits and a lot of loyal customer base among parents who find it convenient to use. So much so that they take it everywhere whenever they wish to take their baby along. There a many key benefits of strollers, such as:
It offers Convenience.
As opposed to carrying your baby for long hours, pushing a stroller is relatively easier.
It’s very convenient to take your child in a stroller when you’re going on shopping trips, it makes it easier to navigate narrow aisles, and allows you to focus on the shopping.
These are easy to fold and doesn’t take up much space int he car trunk when shopping for groceries. The more compact strollers are less cumbersome to use than the bigger prams with lots of features and accessories.
They can offer lot of customization options.
If you’re going out just for a short while, then any stroller should be fone.
However, if it’s going to be a while, you may need a stroller that allows more customizations such as various seating positions, ability to extend the canopy, more storage beneath the seat, etc.
Thankfully, strollers nowadays allow a lot of customizations, and you can even add additional accessories in order to make your strolling convenient.
Strollers are relatively safe for a baby.
It provides features such as a safety belt, canopy for protection from harsh sun or rain etc.
While a baby carrier gives you the comfort of keeping your baby close to you, you will have to be extra vigilant and avoid carrying any hot beverage as there may be a risk of spilling on the baby.
Bumping into or bending down to pick something is also another risk factor. Comparatively, as stroller bypasses all the risk factors of a baby carrier
.They offer some degree of protection when outdoors.
Many-a-times, when you are in a crowded place or are trying to cross a road, you want your kids to be near you.
In that sense, a stroller offers protection because you are sure that your kids are safely seated in the stroller.
A stroller also offers some degree of protection from incidents such as someone’s shopping trolley accidentally bumping the pram.
So, a stroller provides peace of mind to a parent that the child is protected in situations that could accidentally occur while out in public or walking on the street.
Babies love the gentle stroll and find the ride very soothing; this is a great way to get some fresh air and also develop better bonding with your child.
Because the seats recline, they easily go off to sleep when seated in the stroller.
Strollers also help you carry your baby items. Most strollers have ample storage to help you carry the essential item you will need for the baby such as extra clothes, diaper bags, snacks, toys, etc.
Shopping for hours, carrying the baby in your baby carrier can make you feel a bit restricted.
You need to have your hands free to shop without having to worry about your child’s safety.
That’s when having a stroller really helps. Your baby is safe, you can move around freely and the strollers also have storage to carry small items.
If you like to jog or enjoy a healthy lifestyle, there are special jogging strollers available in the market that can help you combine your exercise without having to leave your baby at home.
These jogging strollers are safe with suspension systems to protect your child from the bumps and jerks while jogging.
Pros and Cons. There are more advantages (pros) than disadvantages (cons) of buying a stroller. There are some parents who manage their kids without a stroller; however, for most parents, the benefits of a stroller far outweigh the disadvantages.
If you were to ask me about the disadvantages of owning a stroller, I would mention the following:
No one stroller is the perfect fit. They can be inconvenient to carry and store. Some of them can be expensive.
Many parents fear that a stroller may be a waste of money since it outgrows its use after a year or two of the baby.
I beg to differ here.
In fact, if you invest in a quality stroller, you can easily use it for many years.
You can either use it for your baby from the time he/she is 6 months up to 3+ years or pass it on to your friends or someone in the family who has a baby.
You also have the option of selling it and don’t worry about the price factor, because quality strollers have good resale value.
Being a new parent involves a series of questions of should we? Should we not?
Especially when it comes to buying something for the baby, one can never be sure until you buy a baby product and start using it.
Buying a stroller for instance, with so many varieties available, how do you decide what is good for your baby?
That is why I thought of writing this article to help you shortlist and identify the stroller that suits your needs.
Also Read: Baby Stroller buying guide for parents and caregivers
So you definitely need a stroller to make your life easy, but choosing the perfect stroller does require some research, especially if you’re looking for that one perfect stroller. In that case, buy a stroller that will suit both the parents and comes with sturdy wheels; it should come in use for along time.
But do remember that needs change over time, so you may want to start jogging or feel the need to go on nature trails, or you may plan for another baby. So there is always this small likelihood that you may have to upgrade to another one, or probably buy an additional stroller.
StrollerBoards is a family managed website with me (Ben) and my wife doing most of the work. We are proud parents of two wonderful kids and love reviewing baby travel gear. We have a firm but friendly “democratic parenting” style and offer several practical solutions backed by extensive research. Our own experience with raising two children prompted us to share our knowledge. Read more.
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