August 2000
LIGHTWEIGHT STROLLERS
What is a lightweight stroller?A lightweight stroller is a basic, quick-fold, go-anywhere pushchair designed for ease of use. It may collapse into a long-thin shape and be described as umbrella folding, or it may fold flat. Do I need one?A lightweight stroller can be critical to parents who travel regularly on public transport or overseas, but they can also make life a lot easier for those largely dependant on the car as they are far less trouble to load into the boot than bigger, bulkier pushchairs. Although many buggies are suitable from birth, many parents buy them in addition to their pram combination as a lightweight alternative for particular types of outings or for holidays. The most basic models do not recline and are only suitable from aged three or six months but many have added features and accessories which can give the stroller greater use. What to look forA stroller should be lightweight, easy to put up and down, comfortable for the child and easy to manoeuvre. Your choice may depend on your child’s age and on the amount of time you expect him or her to sit in it. Some are more supportive and padded than others. Some are suitable from birth because they fully recline and can be adapted with accessories to form a snug alternative to a pram. Others become invaluable as the child gets stronger and heavier. Remember you will often be holding your child in one arm while opening and collapsing the stroller. A good stroller will have an easy lock and release mechanism and will ideally be free-standing when collapsed. Be sure it is easy to carry and fits in the boot of your car when collapsed. Some buggies have removable and washable covers, others are wipe-clean. Some have integral shopping baskets which can be critical as hanging shopping on the back of a stroller will make it unbalanced and unsafe. All buggies should have a five-point harness and a guarantee of at least six months. Test results in brief
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