One of the best ways to spend time with your baby is to take them out for a stroll. It’s great for your health and for your babies. The fresh air and sunlight can help improve your mood, and it’s a wonderful way to exercise and introduce your little one to the world they’ve been born into.
Of course, if you’re going to take your little one for a stroll, you’ll need something to take them in. Although wraps can be useful around the house or when going to visit a friend or attend a birthday party, they can be a tad warm for walks, especially in the summer. Strollers are a popular choice for parents who need to do a lot of walking with their little ones.
There are so many types of strollers, but most strollers have a seat where your little one will need to sit up. However, newborns can’t really sit up on their own, so when can your little one sit in a stroller? Let’s find out.
When Can My Baby Sit Up In a Stroller?
Newborns don’t have a lot of neck strength, so they can’t sit up until they’re a few months older. They need someone to help support their heads. Newborns can sit in car seats because these seats recline back far enough that your little one doesn’t need to be able to hold their heads up.
However, most stroller seats don’t have the same feature. Your little one’s neck isn’t strong enough to keep their head up. However, they will eventually be able to do so. As your baby grows, and with a little help from tummy time, your little one will eventually be able to hold their head up.
Most babies are able to hold their heads up when they’re around four months old. They may start doing it for short periods when they’re two or three months old, but they won’t be able to hold their head up consistently by the time they’re four months.
However, an infant won’t be able to sit up on their own until they are around six months old. They’ll need support during this period, like pillows, you or your partner, or a seat with a back.
Fortunately, strollers usually have plenty of support for your little one who can hold their head up. With a secure buckle and fabric seat back, your little one should be able to sit in the stroller for at least short periods.
By the time they’re six months old, a baby may be able to start sitting on their own for short periods. Still, typically they won’t be able to sit up fully by themselves until they’re nine months old.
What If I Want to Use a Stroller Before Then?
Four to six months is a long time to wait for your baby to be able to sit up in the stroller, so you’re probably wondering if there are any alternatives. Fortunately, there are plenty of strollers that are made for younger babies.
Some strollers are essentially bassinets on wheels. They provide a safe place for a baby to look at the sky, but they also have covers to ensure the baby has a restful naptime.
For a more compact option, consider stroller frames that attach a baby’s car seat. That way, you have a multipurpose car seat and something easier to fold than a bassinet stroller.
What Should I Look for In a Stroller?
When buying a stroller for your little one, there are a few features to review. As parents, we want what’s best for our children, from our first ultrasound to meeting our own grandchildren, which means finding a stroller that suits our babies’ needs while also being handy for us.
One of the biggest things your baby needs is protection from the sun. Fortunately, most strollers have a canopy that can protect your baby from the sun. If you need to, rely on a blanket for some additional protection.
You may desire a stroller with storage space on the bottom for your diaper bag. Trying to hang bags on the back can cause them to tip, so it’s better to store your diaper bags and other comfort essentials underneath the stroller.
If you can, adjustable handlebars are extremely helpful, especially if you and your partner have a big height difference.
Safety Features
When your little one is in the stroller, you’ll want to make sure that your baby is as safe as possible. When you’re shopping for a stroller, you should look for these critical safety features:
- A wide base
- Five-point harness (like a car seat)
- Locks that prevent it from collapsing without help
- Easy-to-use brakes (but not so easy that your baby can release them)
Each of these keeps your little one safe, preventing them from hurting themselves.
If you need a twin stroller, double-check that the footrest goes all the way across the seats. If there’s a gap, an infant’s leg may get stuck. If you decide on one where an older child can stand or sit in the back, you will want to check the weight guidelines and ensure they don’t accidentally tip it.
What Types of Strollers Are There?
There are several variations of strollers, not including the ones that allow you to use the car seat as part of the stroller (which are called travel strollers) and the bassinet strollers. Different strollers are better for different things, so take your lifestyle into account when purchasing a stroller.
Some strollers are better for travel, while others might be better for an active lifestyle.
Full-Sized Stroller
A full-sized stroller is one of the most versatile strollers. There are tons of added features, and some models can even fully recline so that newborns can use them too. The seats are padded to support your little one.
You can use it as a forward-facing stroller or convert it so that it’s rear-facing. If a baby has some separation anxiety, you’ll still be able to see them with convertible options.
Other features include:
- Footrest
- Canopy
- Good suspension
- Weather boot
- Storage basket
- Front tray
- Dual-wheel brakes
Lightweight/Umbrella
Lightweight strollers are the lightest. They are called umbrella strollers because the handles are typically shaped like umbrella handles. The seats are slightly reclined, although some models may fully recline.
They’re easy to fold, easy to carry, and can fit in the trunk of the car without taking up too much space.
Compact/Portable
These strollers are usually a bit bigger than lightweight strollers, but they are smaller than their full-sized counterparts. As you can probably guess from the name, they are pretty small when folded.
They’re usually easy to fold, and they have storage space underneath the stroller, as well as a canopy. Some models may have seats that fully recline, but again, it may not be as common.
Jogging Strollers
A jogging stroller might be ideal if you’re an active family and want your newest addition accompanying you on morning runs. Usually, they have three all-terrain wheels that can allow you to go on trails, although it’s best to avoid trails that will cause a lot of bouncing.
These strollers have incredible suspension and often have hand brakes and weatherproof fabric. Other features include storage space, adjustable handles, and a wrist strap.
Unfortunately, jogging strollers are often best suited for older babies. Although some six-month-olds may be able to sit in a jogging stroller, it’s better to wait another couple of months.
Traveling With A Baby
Whether you like jogging or want to take your little one to a fair, strollers can be extremely helpful tools. That being said, it’s important for your little one’s safety that you find strollers suitable for their age and ensure they are ready to go for a ride.
The main indicator that your baby is ready to ride in a stroller is that they can consistently hold their head up on their own. If you’re concerned about whether your little one is ready or not, you can always check with your baby’s pediatrician to make sure.
By having tummy time consistently and keeping your little one’s comfort and needs in mind, you can help your baby strengthen their neck muscles so that they’ll be able to sit in a stroller in no time.
Strollers are helpful for any family, but especially if you like walking around your town, malls, or parks. Your little one can see the world from the safety of their own seat.
Sources
Baby Milestones – When Babies Sit Up, Roll Over and Crawl | Help Me Grow MN
How to Choose a Safe Baby Stroller | HealthyChildren.org
When Can Babies Sit Up? Plus Warning Signs and Ways You Can Help | Healthline