Top umbrella strollers: stroller reviews 2014

Many 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, enabling you to fold down the stroller with one hand whilst holding on to your child with the other. This makes it 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 will score high in the following areas:

Safety: It's 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's 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's 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 it's 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 it around 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.

_________________________________

Umbrella Stroller Reviews

_________________________________

Maclaren Triumph Review

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 it 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. 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. It 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 Review

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 Review

The Chicco Liteway is one of the few umbrella strollers on the market that reclines fully to suit newborns. This is a sturdy stroller that's well worth considering and has all of the following features:

1. Adjustable canopy with viewing window

2. Fully padded, 5-point harness.

3. Easy to use one-handed fold mechanism, which locks automatically.

4. 5 position back rest and extendable leg rest makes it suitable from 0 to 3 years.

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.

First Years Ignite Stroller Review

This fantastic stroller is currently the best selling umbrella stroller sold on Amazon.

Here are some of the reasons why the First Years Ignite Stroller has become a best seller on Amazon:-

1. It has a sturdy frame that will carry toddlers that weigh up to 50 lb.

2. It has tall handles so great for taller parents, avoiding backache.

3. High comfort factor with it's padded, deep, wide reclining seat.

4. Its one had fold mechanism and gliding wheels makes it a great travel stroller.

5. It has a 5 point harness which will keep your toddler safely strapped in the stroller.

All in all, the First Years Ignite Stroller is a stroller well worth considering if you're looking for a travel stroller and on a tight budget as you get a lot for your money with this little gem.

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 it regularly as your child enters toddler hood, so it's important to choose one that is durable, comfortable and easy to use. All of these umbrella strollers tick the right boxes and come highly recommended by both parents and experts so are well worth considering.