When you begin your search for the best baby stroller for your family it is easy to get seduced by the latest popular models with the snazzy new features you eye in the baby stroller stores. Although these models may be safe, it is important to make sure they have the basic safety features built in to go along with the latest bells and whistles.  A stroller should be the right size for your child. It should have a frame locking mechanism to prevent collapse.  A 5-point harness should be standard, and look for a one-foot-one-time braking system for maximum safety. This article will cover the basic safety features every stroller should have.

Make sure the stroller is the right size for your child. Strollers come with ratings for maximum load capacity. Many newborn/infant strollers are rated to 20 pounds, so if you are looking for a stroller to last beyond the first year, you will want to find a model rated for higher weights. If you do consider a stroller for infant stage and beyond, make sure it has infant friendly features such as a reclining back and washable seat cover. These will become less important as the baby grows, but are necessities in the first year.

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A frame locking mechanism prevents the stroller from collapsing when your child is on board. These locks are needed after you unfold the stroller for use. You simply unlock to fold up. Without a secure lock, the stroller could unfold at any time. All top baby strollers come equipped with this feature.

Strollers do come with many variations of safety harnesses, but you should insist on a 5-point harness for maximum safety. This will prevent the child from leaning to far forward and causing the stroller to tip, especially when your attention is diverted. It also prevents infants from sliding underneath the belt and getting stuck.

You can get a stroller equipped with many different types of braking mechanisms but the one that is best for safety is what is called a one-foot-one-time braking system. As the name implies, you simply apply pressure with one foot and the brake engages, no need to stoop down and use your hand and get distracted. The brake should be engaged anytime you have stopped/parked to prevent unintentional rolling.

Once you have determined a stroller contains these basic safety features you can browse through the other offerings to get the style or particular type of stroller you would like that best fits your needs.

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Before heading out to see what baby stroller stores have to offer, it helps to do some research ahead of time so you can secure the best deal.  Many stores, whether brick and mortar or online, will have frequent sales on particular models or styles, especially if they are about to introduce a new version of the model. If you know this model fits all of the criteria you are looking for, you can get a great price. Prior to shopping, you should decide what features you need, what features you want, read some unbiased reviews from folks who have already purchased the model you are looking at, and finally check for any recalls.  This article will discuss how to go about narrowing down your choices so you can spot the best deal currently being offered by stores.

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Any winnowing down of choices needs to begin with what features are “must haves” in your mind. Do you need a combo car seat/stroller system? Will you need adjustable handles for either tall or short caregivers? Are you looking for a lightweight stroller that folds up into a compact size?  If you are looking for an infant baby stroller, you will want a folding down back and washable seat padding. Once you have created your list of “must haves” you can then look at other features that you would like but are not essential.

Consider what features you would like but are not required. Is there a particular color or pattern you would like, or a nice to have feature like a reversible handle or a plastic cover over the seat. Perhaps extra storage or a coffee cup holder on the handle would be convenient but not necessary. Make a list of the “like to haves” and refer to it when researching the current deals.

There are so many resources available to consumers now to get unbiased reviews of products they are considering buying. If you have a list of some of the models and brands you are interested in, type them in to Google to access online product reviews from a multitude of consumer review sites like Epinions.com. Many online stores also have unbiased customer reviews for products they are selling on their website. You will get very valuable information from consumer reviews and quickly discover which models and makes are worth pursuing.

It is also helpful to check to see if there have been any recalls on any of the models you are considering. Once again, this can be accomplished with a quick web search, simply type in “Stroller Model Name-Recall”. Any recalls should be located with that search.

Once you have narrowed down your choices to the features you must have along with features that would be nice to have, the research time becomes that much less time consuming as you are focused on what you need and can filter out other models.  Many sites will have search criteria where you can enter your choices, and some have the ability to search on just those models on sale. If you know what you want, the process will go a lot smoother and you will probably get a better deal.

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