In winter, many mothers face an important question: what to roll their child on in the snow. And if for 3-year-olds a sled or a snow scooter is perfect for this, then very little ones need more serious transport - a stroller. And besides, one that can easily overcome snow drifts, unclean roads and ice.
For Russian winters
Start your stroller choice with an objective assessment of the weather conditions in your area and the integrity of the city's utilities. There is a big difference in which stroller to roll a child on asphalt in zero weather or along snow-covered streets in frost. Start looking at the stroller from the stroller seat or bassinet.
It is better to carry a newborn baby from 0 to 6-8 months in a cradle. It has a rigid, anatomical, ventilated bottom. The deep hood protects the child from wind and snow. The cradle is not blown anywhere from the side, and the child is covered with a cover on top. You can put a fur envelope inside the stroller, so choose the largest possible cradle for the winter.
A child sitting in a stroller should always wear a seat belt. Toddlers can fall out of the seat so quickly that you don't have time to react.
Walking option
Babies older than 6-8 months can explore the world while sitting in a stroller. And here the cradle can become uncomfortable and dangerous for them. Therefore, such children need a stroller with a walking block. On such wheelchairs, the seat has several backrest positions and seat belts. What is important in winter is a large hood with which you can protect your child from snow and strong winds. Ideally, it should have several sections and go down to the middle of the seat or even to the bumper of the stroller.
Seat belts should have a tension regulator so that they can be lengthened when placing a baby in a tight winter overalls. A good warm option is seats with leg covers. If there is no cover, place a special warm zippered envelope on the seat.
For warmth, you can put a merino lamb skin in the stroller. It has the ability to maintain thermal balance.
Off-road stroller
The wheels and damping of the stroller should be given the utmost attention. If you live in a city where the streets are thoroughly cleaned to asphalt, and you do not plan to walk in the park, you can buy a stroller with small wheels. For everyone else, cross-country ability should be the most important selection criterion.
Large diameter wheels will better ride on snow and snowy mud. There are now models with inflatable wheels (Bumbleride, Valco Baby) that can be inflated before the start of the season. There are strollers with wide wheels that provide stability on uneven roads (Teutonia, Emmaljunga). But the now fashionable strollers with small front wheels in winter can let you down. This is a great summer option, the stroller with swivel front wheels is more maneuverable and lighter in weight. But it's very easy to get stuck on them in a snowdrift.
In wheelchairs, the principle of "front-wheel drive" also works, i.e. the driving wheels pull the rear wheels behind them. The same goes for three-wheeled models. The front wheel can sag on large bumps and you will have to forcefully balance the wheelchair. Some manufacturers began to produce special winter accessories, including replacement winter wheels (Hartan, Bugaboo), which turn an ordinary stroller into a real SUV.
