Strolln' the Baby

Stroller Expert

2009-05-28T08:02:00.001-07:00

Nobody knows what strollers are best better than a mom of multiples! To see one mom's advice, go here.

Extreme Baby Stroller

2008-11-11T09:39:00.000-08:00

Some enjoy the convenience & luxury of a lightweight or deluxe baby strollers, but there are those who love to stroll in style. This hot rod stroller maybe could be a hot item in 2112.

Safety Features Are Important

2008-11-10T10:53:00.001-08:00

As always, baby's safety is the biggest concern. Check strollers for stability before buying, and don't forget to see if the stroller will remain upright with a diaper bag hanging over the handles! Also check the stroller harness. A five-point harness that goes over baby's shoulders is best, especially for infants or babies who are in the stroller a lot. For occasional mall trips, a three-point harness might be OK.

History of the Stroller

2008-11-03T09:27:00.001-08:00

Strollers have come a long way in the past few centuries. Did you know that strollers were initially meant to be pulled by dogs or ponies for a child’s amusement? They were also originally only available in high society.

The very first buggy was designed by William Kent in 1733. His design caught on in high society, and the buggy started appearing in the societies highest social circles. These buggy’s were quite decorative, and really considered works of art.

As time went on, the buggy was redesigned to have handles. This was where the buggy took its first step towards convenience for the parent rather than amusement for the child.

On June 18, 1889, William H. Richardson walked into a patent office with an idea that changed the design of a stroller forever. He made several changes to the axles. One of these changes was allowing each wheel to turn separately, allowing for a much smaller turn radius. Before his changes, the front wheels and back wheels turned together, requiring a large radius for turning around. One of his other ideas was for a special joint that allowed the bassinet to face outward or toward the person pushing; essentially creating the first reversible stroller. Many of his ideas are still in use in strollers today.

Shortly after World War I, there was a baby boom. Manufacturers took advantage of this boom, and the stroller market exploded as a result. It was during this time that safety recall really became an issue, and safety features were added. The footbrake became standard for all strollers, the basket in which the child was held became deeper (thus more difficult to escape from) and the stroller itself was made shorter, so that children who did escape their strollers would have a shorter trip to the hard ground below.

In 1965, Owen Mclaren developed the first lightweight aluminum buggy that could fold into a more compact shape after listening to his daughters concerns about her large, awkward buggy. Because this stroller would be transporting his grandchild, he made sure it could safely handle the load placed on it. His design modernized the baby buggy into what we commonly see as the stroller today.

The most recent renovation of the stroller took place in 1980 by Phil Baechler. He was a running enthusiast. He felt the plastic wheels on his child’s stroller would never withstand the running trips he planned. He decided to replace the plastic wheels with bicycle wheels. After a couple renovations of his design, the three wheeled jogging stroller was born.

From Kent in the 1700’s to Baechler in 1980, strollers have really come a long way.

Full Size Stroller

2008-11-03T08:57:00.000-08:00

The full size stroller is perhaps the most commonly used stroller in the U.S. These often have more storage space for cups, keys, and your diaper bag. These strollers also have many different designs and styles. Many of the full size strollers are collapsible. Some brands have even made it possible to collapse the stroller using only one hand; they realize that holding a baby while trying to collapse a stroller takes more hands than a mom has without that feature. However, women with smaller cars claim that these strollers take up all the trunk space, leaving little room for any purchases made.

Lightweight Stroller

2008-11-03T08:56:00.000-08:00

If the idea of lugging around a heavy stroller, diaper bag, baby, and whatever you purchase does not appeal to you, you may want to try a lightweight stroller. These generally weigh less than 20 lbs. The lightweight is helpful when you are trying to juggle shopping bags and your baby while trying to put the stroller in the trunk. They are tend to take up less room in your trunk, leaving more room for luggage, shopping bags, or anything else. A lightweight stroller may be best if you're going to be doing a lot of traveling!

Travel System

2008-11-03T08:54:00.000-08:00

Travel systems are great if you're a parent on the go! A travel system includes a car base, a stroller, and a car seat that can latch into both. The biggest perk of the travel system is the ability to transfer a sleeping child from a car to stroller without removing the baby from the car seat. No more waking baby up just as they fall asleep in the car! If you're a soccer mom or dad, or just have several errands to run, this is the perfect stroller for you!

Jogging with your baby.

2008-11-02T21:53:00.000-08:00

Running has been show to increase health in many ways. Once you have a baby a really great way to stay in shape, burn some weight and take your baby along for the ride is with a new jogging stroller.

Health benefits of running.

"Running is one of the best activities most people can do to improve their health. Running regularly can help with weight loss, fighting aging and disease, and with generally staying healthy.

Many people start running in order to win the battle of the bulge. Whether they are obese or just want to lose that last five pounds, or even if they just want to stay at the weight they are at, approximately 60% of runners start running to manage their weight. Running is one of the top activities for burning fat. In fact, with the exception of cross country skiing, running burns more calories per minute than any other form of cardiovascular exercise.

Running regularly also has been proven to help fight the aging process. It prevents muscle and bone loss that often occur with age. Our bones are made to accommodate the demands placed upon them. By sitting at a computer all day many of us allow our bones to grow weaker, but by running regularly our skeleton gets the demand it needs to stay healthy. In addition to keep our insides from aging quickly, regular, high-intensity exercise, like running, has also been proven to promote the human growth hormone, which celebrities have taken injections of for years to keep them looking young.

Amazingly running also helps to fight disease. Running reduces the risk of stroke and breast cancer. Regular running has become a treatment option for doctors to prescribe to patients who are at a high risk, or early stages, of osteoporosis, diabetes, and hypertension. It reduces the risk of heart attacks, by strengthening the heart and lowering blood pressure. Running lowers blood pressure and maintains the elasticity of arteries incredibly well because as you run your arteries expand and contract nearly three times as much as usual." By Jesslyn Cummings

Which baby stroller to choose from?

2008-11-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

Deciding On a Stroller

If you're trying to decide what kind of stroller is best for your needs, you're not alone. There are several different strollers, each with a different purpose. The best idea is to look at your lifestyle to determine which stroller will best suit your needs.

Jogging Stroller

If you love to run, then jogging stroller is for you. Jogging strollers have different sized wheels to suit your running style. The larger wheels are best for longer distances and rougher terrain. Larger wheels are also better if you will be going over curbs or other bumps in the road. The smaller wheels are best suited for going around town. Jogging strollers with smaller wheels are easier to maneuver, and fit better in your trunk.

Baby Stroller Durability

2008-11-01T11:42:00.000-07:00

Don't try with your little ones, but check out the durability

of this baby stroller.

Baby Accessories while Strollin

2008-10-27T23:24:00.000-07:00

Be the parent who takes your baby out for a walk in style. Some of babies favorite accessories are sunglasses, hats, blankets, and pacifiers.