Taking a baby out and about requires a lot more than slipping on a coat and a pair of shoes. Babies come with some serious but very welcome baggage. One item that parents would do well to keep stored in the back of their vehicle is a reclining umbrella stroller.
Although we all love holding and cuddling with our babies it’s impossible to carry them at all times. When you are out at the mall or waiting in line at the bank, a reclining umbrella stroller is ideal. Finding one is fairly simple and they are generally very inexpensive.
I actually received two at separate baby showers before the birth of my daughter. I had every intention of returning one but never got around to it. I’m now glad that I didn’t. One of the nicest things about an umbrella stroller is that it takes up such a small amount of space. I popped one in the back of my mini-van and we ended up putting the other in the trunk of my husband’s car. It saved us from having to worry about how we’d transport the baby if we stopped at a restaurant or did some window shopping one Saturday afternoon.
The two I have differ a bit from one another but they are both just as easy to use. Setting up a reclining umbrella stroller is simply a matter of unfolding it and locking it into place. Putting it away after use requires the unlocking of the latch that holds it in place and then folding it in half.
You do have to remember though if you are a walker or someone who enjoys taking the baby out and about around the neighborhood, you’re probably going to want a sturdier stroller. Also, an infant can’t really sit properly in a reclining umbrella stroller. Once our daughter was about eight months old she could be strapped into the umbrella stroller much easier.
After I had used the strollers for several months I realized what a great gift they had been. I’ve got several friends who are all expecting and I have every intention of giving each one of them a reclining umbrella stroller as a gift as well.
My daughter is now over two-years-old and she can still fit comfortably in them. The only drawback to using a reclining umbrella stroller with a toddler is that they move around a great deal and if they spend enough time playing with the belt, there is a chance that they can unlock themselves. It’s really just a matter of keeping both eyes on your little one at that point. We all know how much mischief a two-year-old can get into.