Forgoing an in-store trial of a baby stroller puts more weight on the facts and figures and recent parent reviews than it might normally have carried in a store. They are those features that still hold up after several months’ consistent usage, rather than those that solely look good in one version of a single product image.
The five-point harness is the obvious place to start. Adjustable shoulder and waist straps, and a crotch strap that adjusts easily are more critical to a parent’s confidence about heading out, than most would imagine looking at a stroller. The fact that children wriggle all the time; that their jackets and jumpers bunch up; and that a strap that slips or travels higher than it should creates a gap between the child and the harness reducing security – all matter more to parents than you might expect. If the harness can be tightened easily with one hand this is usually the pack they leave the stroller in and then forget they didn’t loosen before putting away. The linked brake (one press on the pedal locks both back wheels simultaneously) is another feature that is consistently mentioned when New Zealand conditions come up. Several parents who buy baby stroller online through NV Kids have specifically identified a five-point harness with a linked brake as a key reason they feel confident taking a stroller off the walk without assistance.
Stability is harder to judge from just the product page, but you realise its importance when you use the stroller daily. If the wheels tend to tip to one side when a child reaches across to grab something, or when a bag hangs from the handlebar, the parent has to be extra vigilant than they might like. Wider wheelbases and lower centres of gravity minimise that tendency. But even just the EN 1888 indicated in product descriptions gives an idea of whether the basic stability and strength criteria have been independently verified. The NV Kids pages of standards and weight limits allow the stroller to be assessed for fit with the child at their current weight, and their future needs, before the order is placed.
More subtle points of everyday safety that should not grab attention in promotional material include a canopy which affords sunshade at the correct low angled position in the sky, not just when hanging over the child’s head with minimal coverage; a bumper bar which leaves a good open space for a child to reach up and grab onto when they can then lift themselves up onto it; and, a folding section which clicks firmly shut and cannot spring open when the trunk is opened from above. These aspects are often overlooked in reading marketing material, yet they can all appear as recurring themes in parent discussions after a few weeks of real-world use.
When studying the product pages it is more helpful to read beyond the introductory persuasive statements and note the type of harness, the description of the brake function, stated weight limits and any mentioned certification. Post-purchase reviews of product that have been used on hills, in shopping centres and with a high energy child can be more useful than those that are simply enthusiastic about the absence of faults. Parents need a reliable base for their baby and a harness that can be quickly loosended for comfort without delay more than they want another cup holder or print on the upholstery.
Specifications on the NV Kids site are listed in a way that allows you to compare the various models without having to make random assumptions about things that are not listed. Once the safety basics are there you are getting a stroller that can be put down and abandoned while you take care of the rest of the shopping trip. That’s what most people want out of whatever they are shopping for online.
“Long term” parents who have tested these products on days, weeks and months of use have more to say, now that the initial enthusiasm has subsided. The harness that was quick to tighten when adjusting on the first day is still quick to tighten when strapped onto the second, third or fourth child after washing the straps over and over. The squeaky clean brake that locked to the frame and held perfectly tight when trying it out in the playroom was doing so when tested in the mud on the first walk, and is doing so when tested in the snow on the fifth walk. The stable feel of the frame when used with a baby is the same when used with a toddler. These are hard data points to gather just from the product page, and that’s where recent reviews that talk about what it’s like to keep using the product come in.
Another easy aspect to consider is how the safety features function in relation to how the stroller is really folded and stored. A harness that is quick and easy to tighten stands a better chance of being used properly if the parent can reach and manipulate it when the stroller is open. A foot break that is easy to activate when the parent has two hands full of wheeled pram makes it more likely to be used consistently. A lock on a fold that is truly secure makes the likelihood of the stroller unexpectedly opening up when being lifted into a car less. These are all little details that make all the difference in real-world use.
It is also interesting to compare the published age and weight ranges with the harness and brake details. A higher weight rating can accommodate an older child, but the harness and seat arrangement must still be comfortable, and function to keep that larger child in their seat. The size ranges listed on the NV Kids site can be compared directly with the child that will be using the stroller, and we find that families that spend the time comparing these published limits to their own child report requiring fewer modifications at a later date.
The general trend is similar from the parent’s point of view: After you get the harness secured correctly, the brake keeps the stroller where you leave it and the frame stays upright while you are moving normally, the stroller can go for a long time without you having to think about it. You are free to think about the kid and the outing rather than the equipment. This is what most people mean when they say that a certain stroller makes frequent outings easier. The specs and reviews are the best available predictors of that outcome.
However, by considering these 15 points before purchasing, you will not be able to avoid all possible shortcomings, but you will avoid running into basic limitations with the stroller after it’s been in daily use for a couple of weeks. The information required to perform that check can be found on the product pages, and the reviews provide perspective from those who have been there before you.
