Baby Strollers
New Zealand Baby Strollers
A baby buggy or stroller is one of the costliest baby products to buy, so it’s worth a little research and planning to make sure it’s a good investment that lasts until your child is well and truly ready to walk by your side.
Strollers are the SUVs of the baby buggy world - suitable for almost any terrain. Two of the most popular brands of New Zealand baby stroller are Phil & Teds and Mountain Buggy, both New Zealand icons and worldwide export stars in the world of baby buggies and infant strollers. Mountain Buggy is so well-loved in this country that it features on the ‘Clever Kiwis’ New Zealand stamp, and Phil & Teds has just won Creative & Design Exporter of the Year Award for the second year in a row. Choosing either will be a good decision, as both have received excellent baby buggy reviews.
Some of the features of these baby strollers are:
- Both can be used from birth because the back reclines to a horizontal position; Mountain Buggies also have the option of purchasing a carrycot to convert the buggy into a pram.
- Phil & Teds buggies can be adjusted to make room for two with their revolutionary toddler seat, however both brands supply twin buggies - and Mountain Buggy even supplies a triple buggy with the option of a ‘Kiddy Board’ for your child to ride on the back.
- Both come in great designs - how about the 1950's inspired urban designer Mountain Buggy with matching nappy bag?
It’s very much a personal choice as to which baby stroller you like best - and which fits your budget - but both are top of the range baby buggies.
Brand new buggy or second-hand stroller?
With price tags for new buggies upwards of $500, second-hand might be the only option for some new parents struggling on a reduced income. Because buggies are constantly being modified and enhanced with new models and colours, even quite a recent purchase tends to look dated. However, what you will learn early on in parenthood is that your baby won’t mind and doesn’t differentiate between expensive or new and bargain or second-hand, so don’t feel like a second-hand parent just because you go for this option! Try ‘almost new’ products from the likes of Potential Unlimited babygear, but remember that Trade Me and other online auction sites do not monitor buggies like they do car child restraints so ‘buyer beware’ applies. Have a good look at any baby buggy before you buy. Second hand accessories are also a way to cut down on your expenditure and these are often in great condition.
Roll with it
Three-wheeler baby strollers are more popular and have advantages in terms of manoeuverability, but the four-wheeler infant stroller has more stability. Check also whether the buggy is suitable for a newborn, if you need it to be, and see whether there will be room for two in the future. Also make sure you can comfortably carry the buggy under one arm (the other may be holding your baby), that you can easily put it up and down, and that it fits in the car boot comfortably.
Safety first
Check the buggy's brakes are effective: a single lever is better than brakes on both sides and the buggy should be certified with the New Zealand ‘S’ mark or a red tick to say it has reached Australian safety standards. Check the warranty conditions, so that if something goes wrong you'll know where to get the buggy or stroller serviced. Looking after your stroller will prolong its life.
Baby stroller accessories
Some extra features and accessories are available and will give added functionality to your baby buggy:
- A rain cover is a useful and cheap addition - children love to watch the rain falling off the clear plastic while they are snug and dry underneath.
- A coffee cup accessory looks useful - but with all the jiggling and trying to hold the buggy with one hand, you are liable to spill the coffee all over yourself, so stick to having a latte at the shop or at home before you go out!
- A woollen sheepskin is essential for keeping your baby cosy and in comfort.
- A canopy for shade and a storage basket for nappies and baby essentials is a must. Daisy Chain Kids stocks Protect-a-Bub sunshades, used by even the most fashion-conscious celebrity mum, Sarah Jessica Parker, and they even come with ‘sparkles’ to make sun protection fun.
Most large shopping centres have buggies and strollers available for hire. It’s a good idea to try these out before the baby arrives, or borrow a friend’s, to see how you like the feel of it before you buy a buggy. For something that you will use most days and at a high expense, it’s worth the funny looks from passers-by politely informing you that you have left the baby at home!
Looking for more information? Find New Zealand baby strollers in the NZS.com Directory.
Do you want to write for NZS.com, New Zealand's top Web directory? We are looking for New Zealand writers for our unique new article writing program - whereby you can write and submit articles for our website, and you will earn 50% of the revenue from the advertising on your article's page. Check out the Article Authors homepage to apply now!
Family images from Flickr: Baby Boots, Kids Classroom and Hands.
