Shopping for A Stroller: A Beginner's Guide

Do you remember when a stroller was just a stroller? Four fragile plastic wheels, a slice of fabric that once donned disco dancers, a couple of handles, and done. Simple, right? Not anymore.

Now, there are lightweight strollers, midsize strollers, travel systems, advanced travel systems, jogging strollers, all-terrain strollers (because the available stroller terrain simply isn't sufficient, I suppose), umbrella strollers, sit and stand strollers, tandem strollers and even special needs strollers. Shopping for a stroller is as bad if not worse than shopping for a car. And why not(?), you are buying your child's first ride, are you not?

If there was a stroller for parents with special needs, I needed it. I especially needed a way to figure out which stroller I needed. If this sounds like you, don't worry, I've tried to put together a beginner's guide to stroller buying to help you meet your special needs.

So which stroller did we get? The jogger/advanced travel system hybrid, of course. As first-time stroller shoppers, our suckertude was apparent from the moment we walked in the door...apparently.

Otherwise known simply as a stroller.

The lightweight or light duty stroller is probably what comes to mind when most people think of the traditional stroller. Although some strollerphiles may poo poo the lightweight stroller, if all you need is something to push your infant around the mall, get a lightweight stroller.

The time you will take reading the instruction booklet for an advanced travel system or putting together a jogger can be better spent doing other things, like playing with your kid or learning a new language, not to mention the money you will save can be better spent on other things, like putting your kid through college or buying a new house.

You laugh now, but wait until you start pricing the higher-end models.

Price Range: $20 - 100.

The mid-size stroller is the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry of strollers - nice strollers, completely functional, and smart buys.

If you have a car seat and carrier from an older child or otherwise, and you want a solid stroller without all of the accoutrements, the mid-size is for you, assuming your baby won't be off-roading in the new stroller or you're not trying to impress the stroller fashionistas, but even if you are, they still come in some pretty cool colors and some carry such brand names as Eddie Bauer and Jeep.

Price Range: $75 - 250.

If you're having difficulty cracking the creative marketing code, the advanced travel system is a combo of any or all of the following: a stroller, a carrier and/or a car seat.

If you are a first-time parent, consider the combo, or, if you prefer, "advanced travel system." Although the travel systems are a little pricier, you will likely still come out better than buying the stroller, carrier, and/or car seat individually, and your travel system will be color coordinated like a matching set of luggage.

If, on principle, you refuse to buy anything called an "advanced travel system", (1) I applaud you, and (2) go ahead and get over it now because this is only the beginning of your manipulation by marketing madmen trying to justify higher prices by adding little more than syllables to the title of their products.

However, along with more syllables, with the advanced travel system, you do get a carrier and/or car seat and more in-stroller storage space, so you can justify it to yourself.

Price Range: $120 - 350.

Now you can go jogging or off-roading while pushing your child in your new jogging stroller. These rugged strollers are the SUVs of the stroller world.

When a pleasant stroll on a nice trail or a brisk walk on a freshly paved road just aren't good enough, now your options are virtually unlimited. Pot holes, speed bumps, the Grand Canyon and Mount Everest are no match for these monsters of the stroller aisle.

With co-branding biggies such as Jeep and Expedition lending their clout to the jogging strollers, you can rest assured your baby will grow to appreciate the safety and size of hulking off-road vehicles.

You can never begin grooming a future Hummer owner too soon.

Price Range: An Arm - A Leg ($120 - 1000).

If you still haven't found exactly what you are looking, perhaps a specialty stroller is what you need. There are plenty to choose from.

Tandem Strollers: Also known as duo strollers, double or triple strollers, even duallie strollers. Also known as strollers for twins, triplets or multiple kids. If you have twins or triplets, or have two young children close in age, why push two or three strollers when one will do.

Stand-on Strollers: Similar to tandem strollers, but where one child is young enough to sit and one is old enough to stand.

Umbrella Strollers: Designed for toddlers primarily, lightweight, and capable of folding into small spaces. Umbrella strollers are useful for short trips or when trunk space is limited, but not ideal for babies.

Prams: Bassinets on wheels. Definitely not for jogging, and not all that great for strolling. A traditional hold over from the good ole days.

Pet Strollers: Yes, you can give the phrase "walking your dog" a whole new meaning with a pet stroller. If you enjoy a nice walk or jog, but your pet doesn't, you can find a variety of pet strollers to fit your and your pet's needs.

Yes, shopping for a stroller can be overwhelming. I found myself walking into an enormous Babies "R" Us and looking around in amazement at the selection. There were rows and rows of strollers.

Being first-time stroller buyers, we had researched enough to know that we wanted a jogging stroller (although neither of us jog, so I'm still trying to figure that one out) or a travel system (it still hurts me to say that - or write it). You would think this would have narrowed the choices, and it did, rather than trying to choose from thousands, we were now only choosing from among hundreds.

To save a little time...and sanity, before you dive into the sea of strollers out there, try these tips:

1. Pick A Stoller Type: Whether a travel system, jogging stroller, tandem stoller, or whatever, know your needs ahead of time. You do not want to be deciding in store where you can easily be manipulated into buying more stroller than you will ever need. For example, you can get the stroller with the ipod connection or without, and if you don't know that ahead of time you will end up buying the stroller with it (you will easily be manipulated into imagining yourself jogging away while listening to your Kenny G downloads - nevermind that you haven't jogged in 10 years or that you might need to listen for your child crying, coughing, or breathing, so be wise).

2. Pick A Basic Color Scheme: We bailed on our's almost immediately and went with a black and gray with red trim ultimately, but we narrowed our search a lot by eliminating what colors we weren't going to buy. The salmon super sport might have been super cool, but we didn't even take the time to look. Some colors can be tempting because they are trendy, but, if you are color conscious, be mindful that these color schemes may not be fashionable next year, or with your next child.

3. Know Your Budget: You can easily spend an entire paycheck on a stroller, but you don't have to. The difference between the $250 stroller and the $1,000 is purely style, not substance. If money is no object, or, if you are fortunate enough to have a prospective grandparent give you a stroller gift card (as we were), go crazy. But, if you do your research (or, read this hub), you can get an awesome stroller for $125 - $250.

4. Test Drive: This was the deciding factor in our stroller purchase. We narrowed our choices to our top 2 or 3 and then just pushed, and pushed, and pushed, straight ahead, turning, testing turning radii, handle grip, etc. We probably put 3-4 miles on those strollers, but we knew which stroller we wanted afterward.

5. Make It Fun: Do you know how you feel when you get the new car bug? You feel all giddy inside, kind of like going on a first date. You can make your stroller shopping experience feel the same way. Look around online for strollers that you like, read a few reviews, then go play around with them. You will fall in love with one of them, and you will know you've found the right one.