Guide: Choose the Right Stroller
A stroller is the most important vehicle for families with small children. It can take you from A to B, create the safest environment for good sleep, and give you the opportunity to go out and experience the world together as a family. But to get as much joy from the stroller as possible, there are many things you can consider or take into account when buying a pram.
Read our guide below and get ready for your stroller purchase!
Overview:
In this guide, we aim to prepare you to make the right choice regarding the purchase of a stroller. It is a significant and important investment, and therefore it requires a lot of consideration.
We have divided it under the following headings, so you can quickly orient yourself and find what is relevant for you:
- General about strollers
- What are your needs?
- Stroller: Different types
- Practical considerations
- Lie-flat position
- Wheels – fixed or swivel
- Accessories
- Handle
- Canopy
- 3 quick tips for choosing correctly
We hope that you find the answers you were looking for below, and that you are now ready to invest in a stroller. If new questions arise, or if you need further guidance, you are always welcome to contact our competent customer service via email: info@mammashop.dk or on weekdays from 10-15 at phone: 36 93 90 22.
Best Stroller in Test
A stroller is necessary baby equipment and is therefore found in almost every home with small children. This also means that it is a type of equipment that many have an opinion about and can therefore give advice on. Good advice can be really useful, but it can also make it even harder to make a decision.
If you need other or more grounds for your decision, you can check our guide here, where we go through the different types of prams and practical aspects of a stroller.
But another guideline that is always good to follow is a "recommended by buyers" marking. On our products, it is marked, and if you click on a stroller, you can read more about the product and see any certifications.
General about Strollers
Maybe you have already spotted a favorite or just know which brand the stroller should be? Most people at least have a clear idea of what a stroller is and what it is used for. Some use it primarily for when the baby needs to take a nap, for others it is a means of transport or for some, it is the reason for many walks.
A pram is designed to keep the child safe, secure, warm, and dry – both for napping and when you are out and about. In terms of safety, there are therefore a number of safety requirements for prams. All the prams you find with us at Mammashop meet the applicable safety standards. In terms of security, you can trust that all our prams meet the strictest requirements.
What are your needs?
This point is among the most important before purchasing a pram, as what should your pram actually be suitable for? Should it easily fit in the car? Should it be able to maneuver around the city or primarily be used for napping on the terrace? Based on considerations like these, you can more easily pinpoint which pram will be right for you.
Which prams are particularly suitable for what will be reviewed continuously under the sections regarding practical considerations. There are both different brands and various small practical differences, but there are also completely different types of prams. You can read more about which types right here below.
Prams: Different Types
Knowing the different types of prams is really important in order to make the right choice. This is because the differences between the types of prams are significant, and therefore suit very different needs. Below, we have described prams, combination prams, and twin/sibling prams.
Additionally, it is also significant to mention that there are of course strollers and running prams. See our Guide: Choose the right stroller.
In the first years of life, and especially in the first months, it is important to have a pram if the child is to sleep outside in the fresh air, or if you often go out. It is best for the child's back at the beginning to lie flat. Only around 6 months, when the child can sit up by itself, can you switch to a stroller for the activities where it works better.
Prams
A pram is the classic type of pram, with a carrycot, a fixed frame, and four wheels. However, there are prams with swivel front wheels and some with fixed ones. They exist as combination prams, which can be converted into a stroller, and some with different lying surfaces. There are different models, brands, and types of prams.
The stroller is to be used in the child's first couple of years. For many, it is the best place for a nap, allowing the child to lie in the fresh air. It is also a means of transportation that helps you and the baby get out into the world together. For many, it is the child's safe base.
At Mammashop, we have handpicked strollers from the brands Cybex, TRILLE, BabyTrold, and UPPAbaby. We have done this because they are strong brands that offer practical, good strollers in various price ranges and with different good qualities.
In this large world of different strollers, we try to make it more manageable for you in this guide.
Combination Strollers
A combination stroller combines the options and functions of a stroller and a folding stroller. In the child's first couple of years, it can function as a stroller with the option to lie flat, just like in a stroller carrycot. When the child begins to sit up on their own, it can be converted into a folding stroller, allowing the child to sit and see around.
The combination stroller is often a bit smaller and easy to take around. It is good for parents in the city or for families where the stroller often needs to be transported. Many combination stroller models are designed to be easier to fold and unfold, but also to take up minimal space when not in use.
It can meet the needs for both a stroller and a folding stroller with minimal extra equipment, but without the need for two strollers. In several of this type of stroller, it is also an option to attach an car seat as the seating unit. This will be indicated in the text below the product.
Twin/Sibling Strollers
Have you been blessed with more than one child? This requires double the diaper changes, but also double the baby gear. Whether it is twins, or a little sister or brother, a sibling stroller or twin stroller can be a really good solution.
It is a stroller with two seating units that can be adjusted individually. This makes it possible to accommodate different needs from the little ones, so the trip out into the big world becomes comfortable for everyone.
If you want even greater freedom to use the strollers together or separately, you can check our other stroller categories, where there are several models that can be combined into a twin or sibling stroller.
Practical Considerations
A stroller is not just a stroller. There are so many different types and models that can do different things. To find the right one for your needs, you can benefit from considering the following:
The canopy
There is always a canopy on a stroller. It allows you to shield the child from the sun, wind, rain, light, and other disturbances during sleeping. However, there are different types of canopies; a soft one and a hard one. The hard one can typically be adjusted to a certain number of positions, some only fully up or fully down. The soft one, on the other hand, is more flexible and can be adjusted in several different ways.
It is important that you choose a stroller with a quality canopy because it needs to withstand frequent use. Regarding the canopy on a stroller, you can also check if there is a window or an extra option to create additional ventilation around the canopy. The windows are a matter of taste, but the possibility for ventilation is important. Some strollers have both a sunshade and a mosquito net in the canopy.
Lie length
The term lie length is just a fancy word for the length of the stroller bassinet. It affects how long your child can use the stroller. Therefore, it primarily concerns your child's height, but also how long the stroller is, and thus how much space it occupies.
Based on the average height of babies in Denmark, a stroller with a lie length between 75-90 cm can be used up to 2 years, and a stroller with a lie length over 95 cm can be used up to 3 years. However, it may be different for you and your baby.
At Mammashop, we sell both strollers with long lie lengths (over 95 cm) and strollers with short lie lengths (75-90 cm). The lie length will be mentioned in the text under the product. The advantage of a stroller with a short lie length is that it is easy to maneuver when you are out and about.
The mattress
It is common for a stroller to come with a standard mattress. This mattress covers the basic needs and works fine. It fits the dimensions of the stroller and provides a soft surface for the child.
At Mammashop, we also sell stroller mattresses if you want to add extra luxury to the stroller. Here we have, for example, mattresses from Cocoon Company, which are 100% organic, chemical-free, and temperature-regulating, or mattresses from the brand Kid’oh, which are produced in Denmark, Swan labeled, and made from extra springy and breathable material.
They come in different sizes and are a popular choice for upgrading the stroller, so the little treasure lies as comfortably as possible in the best surroundings.
The handle
Are you ready to stroll around the city with the stroller? Make sure it becomes a pleasant experience - of course for your baby - but also for you.
One way to do this can be by ensuring that the handle on the stroller fits you. Therefore, it is important to check if a stroller has an adjustable handle, so it can be adapted for parents, grandparents, and whoever else is lucky enough to join on the trip.
Chassis
Should the stroller primarily be used in the same place, or should it preferably be easy to throw in the back of the car? There are strollers with robust frames that are the right choice for many, especially for those who primarily need to use the stroller without too much transport in a car. Some buy what they call "balcony strollers." That is, strollers that are only used at home for napping. These are often chosen with long lying measurements and not as critical on appearance/quality. These consumers often choose to have an extra stroller for trips that is light and agile. There are also strollers designed to be easy to take along. These are often combination strollers.
Shopping basket and storage options
In addition to being the primary means of transport for your child, a stroller often needs to hold much more. Sometimes the entire week's groceries and other times a lot of baby gear, changing items, and toys.
If you think it sounds likely that the stroller will need to accommodate some of that, it might be a really good idea to look for a stroller with a shopping basket or the option to add one to the stroller. There are also strollers with smaller storage compartments, for example, for pacifiers, mosquito nets, or other essential items.
Wheels
Another important thing about a stroller is the wheels, both the size and whether they are fixed or swivel, and what material the wheels are made of. Here you should choose based on how you think you will use the stroller.
The size of the stroller's wheels
A basic rule that you can remember when considering a stroller in relation to the type of wheels is, the larger the wheels, the more stability.
Here you can evaluate it in relation to a trip with the stroller in the city, where the most important thing is that it is easy to maneuver, unlike a trip with the stroller out in nature, where stability can be an advantage. In the city, smaller wheels can be an advantage, while the larger wheels are good in more uneven terrain.
Stroller wheels: fixed or swivel?
If the stroller is primarily going to be used around the home for naps, a solution with fixed wheels might be a good choice. However, it can be more comfortable with swivel front wheels if you need to maneuver around uneven terrain or smaller spaces. This provides a stroller that is easier to maneuver.
Many stroller models, including several that we sell at Mammashop.dk, have swivel wheels that can be locked.
Wheels with air or solid rubber?
With a stroller that has air wheels, you get a more shock-absorbing stroller, which immediately provides a more balanced driving experience. In contrast, a stroller with rubber wheels can feel stiffer. However, while air wheels can risk puncturing and require maintenance, rubber wheels are maintenance-free. Rubber wheels do, however, place greater demands on the stroller's suspension.
Accessories
A good tip for creating the best stroller for your needs is to look at the options for accessories for the stroller. There are many smart stroller accessories, including cup holders and bags. These can provide the stroller with extra functions, making it perfect for you.
It is also a way to make the stroller cozy and safe for the child. This could be with a cute stuffed animal, sleeping bag, or a nice stroller blanket.
A harness for the stroller becomes necessary equipment as soon as the child can sit up by themselves. The harness ensures that the child cannot move out of the stroller on their own.
Stroller test - 3 quick tips for choosing right
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What do you need?
Consider how the stroller will be used in your daily life, how much it will be taken around, and how much functionality it should have. -
Space and budget
Find out how much space you have for a stroller - both at home and possibly in the car - and what makes sense in relation to your budget. -
Your stroller
Think about what is important for you in a stroller. Is it the lying position or the swivel front wheels? Is it whether it is OEKO-tex certified or that it can cover the basic stroller needs?
Take good care of the stroller
Now you have read about how to choose a stroller, and how to select one that fits you and is suitable for the child. But remember to also take care of your new lovely stroller.
You do this best by following these 4 tips:
- Avoid direct sunlight on the stroller, as this can have a bleaching effect.
- Store the stroller in dry environments.
- Read the manual and follow it when washing the fabric.
- Clean the stroller's frame with water, and wipe it down with a cloth if it has been exposed to harsh weather or salt. Remember to lubricate the joints at the wheels with oil.
Off on an adventure!
We hope our guide has helped you get closer to the right choice. If you have questions or need further assistance, we are ready to help you in our customer service. Here we draw on our own experience from when we rolled around with the stroller and our knowledge of the products we sell.
Have a great trip!
