Umbrella Strollers – The Simplest Things Are So Useful

30. Jun, 2010 0 Comments

One of my absolutely favorite baby items was the umbrella stroller I bought from a discount store for less than $10. It went everywhere with me once my baby was old enough to sit up in the stroller properly. I’ll admit I didn’t especially car for the gigantic strollers with compartments and cup holders. I prefer a stroller that folds up small enough to slide under a seat in the back of the car and an umbrella stroller does exactly that.

The Functionality of Umbrella Strollers
Umbrella strollers are lovely in how useful they are. They might not be especially stylish, but they certainly get the job done. An umbrella stroller, in its most basic form, is a sling of cloth between a metal frame. The umbrella stroller collapses on itself – hence the name. This means that your folded umbrella stroller is about the size of a golf umbrella which can be slung over your arm going up stairs or tucked under the backseat leaving your trunk free and clear for everything else you need.

The umbrella stroller opens and closes easily by extending the handles out and then clamping the metal lock with your foot. To close it again, simply pop up the metal clamp and squeeze the handles back together. It might not be amazingly stylish, but it can hold a toddler for years for less than a trip for Happy Meals.

The Downside of Umbrella Strollers
Umbrella strollers might be terrific for collapsing to a small size, but that small nature makes them very utilitarian. Most umbrella strollers don’t have cup holders. They don’t have baskets to hold your bags. They are lightweight enough to tip over backwards if you put your purse over the handle without your child sitting down.

There are straps to hold your baby in place, but personal experience has shown those to be tricky to use as they are not overly expensive in design or quality. Personally I loved umbrella strollers because they were so simply and practical. But if you’re into hauling things along with you, an umbrella stroller might not have everything you need. Umbrella strollers are available in many store starting around $10.

Share on Facebook