If you are a mom or dad with a young child and you are an avid jogger, inline skater or power walker (or want to be) and you want to be outdoors and stay fit with your baby you can still do it. More and more families are considering a baby jogging stroller. Times have changed – baby strollers used to be for gentle walks in the park. Not anymore – baby jogging strollers are here to stay – helping moms and dads stay fit and get fit. There are lots of strollers to choose from – so it is not easy to decide. Here are 10 things that will help you to decide which one is best for you.

1. Lightweight. The lighter the better. Strollers with an aluminium frame will be noticeably lighter and much sturdier than strollers with metal tube frames. Look for a jogging stroller that weighs less than 25 pounds.

2. Bicycle style 16 inch wheels. All three of the wheels (two in the back and one in the front) should be spoked, air-filled, 16 inch wheels very similar to a bicycle tire. To be effective when running you want the stroller to run smoothly over any surface. These types of wheels are the most effective size and style for an easy ride for your child and a great run or walk for dads and moms.

3. Seating comfort. Many babies love to nap during their parents run. The stroller seat should tilt back at a 25 percent angle to make it easier for baby to sleep. In addition, the material in the seat should be a light weight fabric that breathes making it comfortable for baby especially on warmer weather days.

4. Sun protection. All jogging strollers have sun canopies to provide shade to your child. Direct sunshine into the baby’s face cause the baby to be very uncomfortable, unhappy, and we are all conscious of the negative impact of the sun’s rays. For best sun protection choose one that has a sun canopy that fully rotates to provide shade to your baby no matter what the angle of the sun.

5. Safety is top priority. Your child`s safety is the top priority when choosing a stroller. Strollers with a 5 point harness will keep you baby safely and securely in their stroller. You want to be able to stop your stroller when you need to. The strollers with a hand brake similar to a bicycle`s hand brake will provide the jogger with reliable stopping power. When the stroller is at rest you will want to secure it with a parking brake which is usually a foot activated bar that is positioned behind the rear wheels.

6. Fits in trunk of car. The process for folding should be simple. Many strollers have a trigger on each side of the handlebar that allow the stroller to easily fold into itself. Most car trunks can hold a folded stroller if it is smaller than 25 x 45 x 18 (inches). In order to fold it into a smaller dimension find a stroller that has one-touch pop-off wheels that are easy to remove for storage.

7. Handlebar adjustment. If people of different heights will be using the stroller a very good feature to have in your stroller is the ability to – with a push of a button – change the height of the handlebar. Some strollers now provide the ability to change the height of the handlebar anywhere from 35 in. to 43 in., and it can be done even while on the run.

8. Make sure the baby will not outgrow the stroller. The stroller is not just for use for a year. You want to make sure that you maximize its use over several years. Make sure that the seating area is large enough for your child as they grow (it should be 24 or 25 inches high in the seating area) and make sure that the stroller is rated to handle your child`s weight as they get older (look for a weight rating of up to 80 pounds).

9. Make sure the manufacturer and retailer stand behind their product. You should expect to have many years of enjoyment from your stroller for your family. Shop for a stroller that provides a solid long term warranty on the frame (5 years is good) and at least a 1 year warranty on the seat material. And when you purchase your stroller make sure that you have at least 30 days to try it out – if it isn`t all that you had expected it to be – make sure that you can return it for a refund.

10. They cost as little as $280 and can be over $1,000. Don`t overpay, and don`t pay for the branding of the stroller. List the features and benefits that are most important to you. Keep in mind that the purchase will provide many years of benefits to you and your family. Then look for the least expensive stroller that meets those features and benefits. In all likelihood you can purchase one for $280 or slightly higher.

You can save yourself a lot of frustration, not to mention time and money by following this list of things to do – and in the end you will get the stroller that best meets the needs of your family.

10 Quick Steps for Getting the Best Baby Jogging Stroller for You is a post from: Baby Carrier Backpacks

Baby Bjorn Active Carrier

Baby Bjorn Active Carrier Whether it’s hiking in the woods or taking a trip to the city, the Baby Bjorn Active Carrier will get the job done.

It was developed especially for parents on the move as it features increased back and shoulder support. The Baby Bjorn carrier is great on the torso because it features wide, cushioned straps which distributes the weight evenly throughout the body.

One complaint about most versions of a baby carrier is that it hurts the body. Sliding lumbar support adjusts and also conforms to the torso. The Baby Bjorn active baby carrier grows with the baby as well thanks to the multi adjustable buckle. Its unique design allows breast feeding as well without removing the baby.

The Baby Bjorn Active Carrier is an award winning baby carrier which has one awards in England and throughout Europe.

Review

If you aren’t sure if you’ll like it, go to babies R’ us and see if they will let you try on the display model. They would at my store. LOL Throw in some heavy cans of liquid formula to see how it feels with weight.

Why I love this carrier:

1. I love giving my little girl kisses on her head when I am out running errands.
2. I love the attention she gets and the “oh isn’t that cute” when I have her in it, while at the same time I love the distance those people keep since she’s strapped to my chest (as opposed to my friend who has people leaning in on her stroller to get a closer look at the baby.) Ewww.
3. I love being able to use my arms when I shop or go out.
4. I don’t feel lop-sided like I do when I carry around a car carrier. (I hate seeing guys lug around infant car carriers while their wives follow behind them with the diaper bag. The baby jerks around in the carrier with each uncomfortable step his/her parent takes.)
5. I really don’t have any trouble sitting or even eating when I have the carrier on with her in it.
6. The lumbar support saves my back. I have degenerative disk disease and have had two herniated disks, but with this carrier, I have not had any problems even after a day at the mall (at least 3 hours of walking around with a 12 pound baby.)
7. It really is quite soothing to my little girl as she tends to sleep the entire time unless she’s hungry.

The only thing I don’t like about it is that it’s getting warmer outside and with the padding I get a little sweaty where the carrier sits (the small of my back and my shoulders.)

Buy/More Info

Baby Bjorn Active Carrier is a post from: Baby Carrier Backpacks