Choose the right stroller for your baby

MANILA, Philippines - When a baby is on the way, one of the very first things excited parents get is the baby stroller. So, to meet the demand of all eager parents, there are strollers galore in stores these days.

But how will you know which is best for you and your child?

• Safety. When it comes to things used by your baby, safety is always the primary consideration. You need to make sure that your child is safe in his stroller.

First, check if the wheels have easy-to-use locks. Most strollers have wheel locks, but if locking the wheels is too cumbersome to do, you are likely to skip doing it, and a stroller with unlocked wheels spells danger for your child.

Next, look for harnesses and belts. These should be sturdy and padded, or they will scratch your baby’s delicate skin. If there are no harnesses and belts, you baby could fall out of the stroller.

• Comfort. Make sure the materials and design of your stroller keep baby at the right temperature. If your baby gets too hot or too cold in his stroller, he will fidget and fuss and refuse to use it. What’s more, since babies’ ability to regulate their body temperature is not yet fully developed, a stroller that makes baby feel too cold or too hot could make your baby sick.

• Ease of use. Look for strollers that are easy to open, easy to fold, and easy to push. The harnesses should be easy to put on and easy to take off. Babies can be impatient creatures, and they will noisily complain if you take too much time setting up their stroller.

Look, too, for spacious and sturdy carrying baskets at the bottom of the stroller. This will be very handy for holding your baby bags and other stuff you need to lug around when you’re with your baby.

When it comes to safety, comfort, and ease of use, nothing beats Aprica’s Laura Quattro Crossword stroller. This lightweight stroller can be folded and opened using just one hand, and it stands by itself in its folded position. It weighs less than six kg, so you can easily carry it by yourself, too.

It has a big basket underneath, from which you can get things easily even when the stroller is in its full recline position.

To keep baby’s back cool and free from perspiration, this stroller has Aprica’s unique reflective board guards, which keep the heat from the sidewalk from reflecting onto baby’s back. This feature — together with the thermomedical sheet, which allows air to flow freely on baby’s back — keeps baby cool and prevents hyperthermia even in the hot Philippine weather.

Aprica’s Laura Quattro Crossword is lightweight, compact, portable, safe, comfortable, multi-function, and comes with a world-renowned brand. What more could moms ask for? To get one for your own child, visit any Baby Company outlet at SM department stores nationwide. To know more about Aprica, like it on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ApricaPH.