Strollers and baby carriers provide parents with an easier way to travel with their child. Both tools make navigating through crowds of people, getting through narrow doorways or subway gates as well as climbing and descending stairs easier.
However, both have their own set of drawbacks, particularly when using public transportation. Many parents who practice babywearing prefer carriers over strollers in these cases.
Strollers Vs Baby Carriers – Comfort
Parents often opt for baby carriers as a means of increasing intimacy between parent and child and making babies feel close to them. Furthermore, baby carriers provide many health benefits for infants such as reducing colic attacks and encouraging brain development – not to mention helping you manoeuvre quickly through crowds!
At times, however, children cannot tolerate being contained within baby carriers, instead becoming distressed and fussy instead of soothing and falling asleep easily. When this occurs stroller may be more appropriate as an option.
Strollers offer ample storage space to hold essentials like food, diapers, and toys for baby. Most come equipped with canopy shades to shield baby from harmful UV rays of the sun’s UV rays while adjustable handlebars make manoeuvring the stroller simple with one hand.
When traveling by air, it’s ideal to use a lightweight stroller that is compact enough to fit in the overhead compartment of the plane or train. Before making your selection, be sure to inquire with your airline about its luggage policies, such as whether extra fees apply. Ryanair and Easyjet allow strollers as part of hand luggage allowance.
Strollers Vs Baby Carriers – Safety
Strollers (commonly referred to as baby prams or pushchairs) are the perfect solution if you plan on taking your child on long day trips and travel. Convenient to carry and store in a trunk of your car, strollers are also suitable for use on public transit such as buses and trains. Furthermore, strollers come equipped with hand brakes and foot brakes as well as front wheel, back wheel, and all-wheel brakes which allow you to maintain control at all times over your stroller.
Baby carriers allow you to comfortably and intimately hold your infant, which offers them comfort while creating intimacy between mother and infant. They have many health advantages for both of you – deeper bonds and improved sleep patterns for example – plus they make travel much simpler in places such as cobbled streets, sandy beaches or stairs where strollers would otherwise be impractical or impossible to use.
Some types of carriers have been linked with infant suffocation deaths, particularly framed and backpack-style carriers; however, most issues stem from misuse by parents and faulty design. Whatever type of carrier you select, be sure to follow manufacturer’s instructions and never leave your infant unattended. Strollers can also pose risks; particularly if their seat faces backwards or their handlebars are set too high.
Ease of Use of Strollers Vs Baby Carriers
Strollers provide babies with a comfortable place to sit, with most babies preferring their reclining seats. Furthermore, strollers offer additional features and customization opportunities (such as adding storage or attaching a bassinet).
Some infants under one year of age don’t like sitting still for long and may become fussy or upset while in a stroller; therefore babywearing might be better as an option to provide comfort. Furthermore, baby carriers don’t need pushing and can handle more challenging surfaces compared to strollers which may be harder to manage over rough terrain or bumpy roads.
Baby carriers are much easier to pack for trips and transport when compared to strollers; taking up far less space in terms of space required for storage and weighing far less overall. Some models can even serve as travel carriers that can be used on an airplane.
As well, traveling on public transport with a baby carrier will make manoeuvring through metro gates, narrow doorways and buses much simpler than with a stroller. Keep in mind that strollers may be banned at certain museums and sites so be sure to double-check before bringing one along.
Storage
Strollers can provide the ideal way to keep your child close as you shop, run errands and meet with friends. Strollers also make traveling easy; provided that your trunk space allows or it fits into overhead storage lockers on buses, trains or airplanes.
However, if your car or trunk are too small to accommodate a stroller, a baby carrier could be a more efficient solution. As it allows one-handed manoeuvrability and keeps baby close by without you needing to worry about holding onto handles or setting down shopping bags while shopping or getting lunch, a carrier makes an ideal solution.
Strollers also provide more storage solutions for parents, from hanging bags from the straps to transporting coffee in an inbuilt cup holder. You can even find models with sun protection features or recline to multiple positions so your child can sleep.
