Top umbrella strollers: stroller reviews.

Most parents find that an umbrella stroller is a useful and convenient alternative mode of transport for their older baby or toddler. Umbrella strollers are both lightweight and compact which makes them perfect for trips to the mall or park. They often have a one handed fold mechanism which comes in very handy, as you can fold down the stroller with one hand whilst holding on to your child with the other. This makes the umbrella stroller the ideal choice for using on public transport and on holiday. It will also fit neatly into the boot of even the smallest cars.

There is an ever increasing number of umbrella strollers on the market which of course makes the job of choosing more difficult. The best umbrella strollers will score high in the following areas:

Safety: It is very important that the stroller has a strong harness to ensure that your child is securely fastened in the seat. For the younger child, a 5 point harness will be needed as it goes over both shoulders as well as around the waist, which will prevent them from falling forward or wriggling out. A decent brake is also a must and it is extremely important that the stroller brakes are always engaged when parking, although adult supervision will also be required at all times.

Durability: As they are mainly used for older babies and children, an umbrella stroller needs to be sturdy enough to carry the extra weight. You will also hope to get a good two to three years use out of it as young children can be in their strollers until the age of 3 or older.

Maneuverability: There is nothing worse than a stroller that has a mind of its own. I have used such strollers in the past and it is terribly frustrating to have to wrestle with a stroller that is determined to go left when you are attempting to push it to the right. A good quality stroller will steer smoothly and with ease. This will make it much easier to manouver it around shopping malls and busy towns. Most models nowadays also come with the option of using the wheels in a fixed or swiveled mode to suit the user.

Comfort: A quality stroller will provide adequate support for the young child, whether asleep or awake. If the stroller is being used for a baby then it should have a lie back option to support the child’s developing spine. A lightly padded seat will also make the stroller more comfy. Finally, a well designed umbrella stroller will be comfortable for both short and tall parents to push. This is of paramount importance as you could be pushing the stroller for fairly long periods of time. I personally know taller friends that have suffered back pain and even sustained an injury through pushing a badly designed stroller.

Folding Mechanism: One of the biggest advantages of an umbrella stroller is that it folds compactly, which makes it convenient for traveling and also easy to store. As it will be folded and opened on a regular basis, it needs to have an efficient and robust folding mechanism.

Top umbrella strollers will score highly in all of the above areas. Many stroller reviews have been written by both experts and parents who use these strollers on a daily basis. They have given very favourable reviews on the following umbrella strollers on both amazon and top review sites.

                                      Stroller Reviews

Maclaren Triumph

This stroller has a high quality aluminium frame so you can be sure that it is both sturdy and durable. It has 4 seat positions and as it lies almost flat, it is suitable for babies as young as 3 months. It has ergonomic foam covered handles, which measure 41 inches from the ground to the top of the handles. Even very tall parents will be able to comfortably push this stroller without having to hunch over, therefore avoiding the dreaded backache that often occurs with stroller pushing. The Maclaren Triumph stroller is ideal for heavier children, as it will take up to 55 lb in weight and also has a roomy seat. A sun canopy, small basket and rain cover are also included with this stroller. It has a very secure buckle, which will keep little escape artists firmly in their seat. All Maclaren strollers including the Triumph are well known for their extremely efficient one hand fold mechanism. This stroller can literally be folded using one hand while holding your child in the other. This stroller also scores very highly on maneuverability, making it perfect for nipping around the shopping mall or town.

Peg-Perego Si

Although relatively new to the market, there have been very positive reviews about this stroller. Although it comes with a higher price tag, it has lots of extra features including extendable handle bars, extendable leg rest and a large storage basket. The near flat recline, very well padded seat and high quality suspension wheels will also ensure that your little one will have a comfortable ride. It is also one of the only umbrella strollers that is travel system compatible allowing it to accommodate the primo viaggio infant car seat. Parents especially like the very large sunshade with pop out sun visor, which will completely protect your child from the sun. At 16 lb it is still easily portable. It can be folded with one hand and will stand by itself too which is handy when traveling by public transport.

Chicco Liteway

This is the only umbrella stroller on the market that reclines fully to suit newborns. It has an adjustable canopy with viewing window and a fully padded, 5-point harness. It has an easy to use one-handed fold mechanism, which locks automatically. At 17 lb it is one of the heavier umbrella strollers, but still light and compact enough to load easily into the boot of your car. The Chicco Liteway is both stylish and affordable and the fact that it can be used from newborn to 3 years old is an added bonus.

Kolcraft Tour Sport

It has a reclining padded seat back and shock absorbing front swivel wheels ensuring that your little one will be comfortable. In reviews, a number of parents mention that the higher handles on the Kolcraft stroller make it ideal and effortless for taller parents to push. Many parents also recommend it for airport travel as it only weighs 11.5lb and folds easily into a compact size. It also has a sunshade canopy that can be adjusted to protect your child from the sun. There is a cup holder and rear storage bag included when you buy this stroller. As it comes with a 3-point harness, it is more suited to older toddlers. At less than $50 this budget stroller offers fantastic value for money. It may not as robust as the Maclaren or Peg-Perego Si strollers but it is an excellent choice if you are on a budget or even as a spare stroller to keep at Grandma’s house.

Conclusion

Ultimately, choosing the right umbrella stroller for your needs will depend on factors such as the age of your child, your lifestyle and your finances. You will be using the umbrella stroller quite regularly as your child enters toddlerhood, so it's important to choose one that is durable, comfortable and easy to use. All of the above umbrella strollers score well in these areas and come highly recommended by both parents and experts so are well worth considering.