Umbrella Strollers Have Come a Long Way
Umbrella strollers are so named because they fold up like an umbrella for easy carrying and storage. They are not as sturdy as a large, regular stroller, but can handle almost as much as their larger counterparts. Generally they only hold approximately 50 pounds in weight so older children are not recommended as riders in the umbrella strollers.
Another reason umbrella strollers have earned their name is named because of the hooked shape of the handles - just like the end of an umbrella. This is an easy grip for parents as they push the stroller. Umbrella strollers are made of a lightweight fabric and usually have a single waist strap holding the child inside. There is no storage area like the bigger baby strollers, no cup holders and no room for fancy toy attachments. The umbrella strollers are the bare bones strollers and meant for limited space and shorter trips where you do not need to carry as much gear.
However, umbrella strollers have come a long way since the 1980's and 1990's when they were just flimsy strollers that you have on hand incase your child falls asleep and you have nothing else around to put them in. The umbrella strollers of yesteryears did not recline. This meant that if your child fell asleep while you were out and about they were sleeping sitting up or in a semi upright position. Today's umbrella strollers do have reclining backs and are a little more stable than the older ones.
Manufacturers have even come up with double umbrella strollers, something unheard of just a decade ago. The safety measures have increased as well, giving more thought to the straps by installing one coming up from between the legs and one across the lap area to help keep the child in place in case of a tumble. Also, the wheels are more flexible and able to take more of the uneven pavement and roughness of sidewalks than the older umbrella strollers whose wheels would not all face the same direction at the same time.
Umbrella strollers are great for children up to 50 pounds who don't want to walk and/or need to rest while you are strolling. They are lightweight and don't take up as much room as the larger baby strollers. However, what you give up for space, you also give up in comfort. The umbrella strollers are thinner, sometimes just a cardboard backing with a thin layer of quilted padding, unlike the bigger strollers with the thick padding all around. But the umbrella strollers are a lot more comfortable than they were years ago.
The umbrella strollers are easier to close than they were years ago. Today they have one-handed closure mechanisms. Simply press a button or pull a lever and the umbrella stroller folds in half and is as thin as an umbrella ready for backseat or trunk storage. This is another reason parents like the umbrella stroller for quick runs to the store or visiting neighbors or grandparents house.
Umbrella strollers can be purchased online or in stores in a variety of styles, colors, materials and designs. Having an umbrella stroller and a bigger baby stroller is a good idea because there are days you don't want the hassle of a big stroller and only need the convenience of smaller, more nimble umbrella stroller.
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