My husband and I went shopping for a new car; a second car, in fact. It has four wheels (although some models come with three), a soft-top that retracts in less than 10 seconds, a boot capacity of around 20 litres, and it only sits one passenger under the age of four. Yes, I am referring to a baby stroller.
A stroller may seem so much less complex than an actual vehicle, but do not assume that the selection process is any less complicated or exhaustive. You need to go through exactly the same thought process and consider similar factors as you would when buying a car.
You start off by determining your budget and looking at what options fall within your price range, although downpayments and loan interest rates are issues you do not have to contend with in the case of stroller acquisition.
The brand of stroller may be less important to some people compared to the marque of their cars, but my husband actually went into a maternity shop and asked the salesperson for the stroller equivalent of a Bentley!
Then there is the design, which in my book is one of the most important considerations. If it does not look appealing, it is a no-go, even if it’s a “Bentley”.
Strollers are similar to cars in certain ways. They have a chassis, for instance, and their wheel size is measured in inches. Some stroller models even have adjustable suspension to help them tackle different “driving” conditions. Another car-like feature is the reclinable seat. And just like cars, strollers are subject to stringent international test standards, although I assume that they probably do not have to go through a crash test.
There are also plenty of accessories to mod your baby’s ride, but instead of spoilers, HID lights or exhaust mufflers, we have stroller organisers, parasols and cupholders.
We finally decided on a stroller from a renowned Dutch brand. It is not quite a “Bentley”, but it is at least a “Mercedes”, especially since it costs the equivalent of a decent C-Class bodykit.
Our new toddler-mover is a racy three-wheeler with a slick hydraulic system that can automatically unfold itself completely. Its design is versatile enough to accommodate a bassinet or booster instead of the regular pram seat, so it will see the child from infancy through to the age of four.
And just like any excited motorist who has just collected his new car would immediately take his car for its maiden drive, we did, too, with my favourite Eeyore and Tigger soft toys in the seat filling in for Junior.
