Choosing a Jogging Pushchair

A jogging pushchair helps you keep active with your child. Get outside to feel the endorphins and set a healthy example. It's essential to select the right stroller for your family's needs.

Most experts recommend that you wait until your baby is 6-8 months old and has good neck and head control before using a stroller. Certain models can be used with an infant car-seat from the first day.

Safety

A jogging pushchair that has suspension reduces impact and vibrations, providing the smoothest ride for your child and reducing fatigue on both the child's body as well as the parent pushing it. Choose front-wheel or all-wheel suspensions that incorporate shock absorbers or coils to lessen jolts, and provide a stable ride on rough terrain. Another important safety feature to consider is the adjustable tracking feature that ensures that the front wheel is in the right direction even on flat surfaces. This feature is essential because a stroller and pushchair without it will slide in one direction, making it difficult to keep your pace when running, and causing more time you'll have to manually correct when pushing the stroller. For safety's sake, do not listen to music with headphones while running with a toddler or baby in the stroller.

Comfort

Strollers specifically designed for jogging are typically more comfortable for infants. This is largely due to the fact that the seat is more comfortable and cushioned, and it is suspended from the frame rather than being fixed in a way that causes every bump and jump to be felt by the child. Some of the joggers in our tests also have seats that are slightly reclined which makes them more comfortable for infants at the speed of jogging.

Many joggers also have large and deep storage compartments to accommodate food items, diapers and clothing. Some also come with a beverage holder that is far more practical than the narrow and shallow cups that are standard on most strollers. Joggers with a safety tether that you can wrap around your wrists also aid in preventing accidents. They prevent the stroller from rolling if you fall, or lose your grip, particularly close to bodies of water.

If you will have multiple people using the jogger, pick one with adjustable handlebars, so that each user can adjust them to his or her height. Otherwise the handles will remain at a 90 degree angle from your body, which can make you hunch over when pushing and could wear out your arms over the course of time. The strollers we tested included this feature, which was easy to use and made a big difference in the comfort of us as well as our test infants. Other important comfort features include adjustable tracking on the front wheel that can be used to keep the stroller moving straight on flat surfaces without requiring constant manual correction when you're jogging.

Stability

Many strollers with jogging capabilities have front wheel tracking, which is a mechanism for adjustment that helps the stroller remain on track. Strollers that do not have this feature could veer in one direction or another and can be difficult to control while running and requires frequent manual correction that adds to fatigue overall. The best pushchair for newborn strollers for jogging have suspension systems to absorb shock and make the ride more comfortable for infants.

You should only use a baby jogger when your child is six to eight months of age and has acquired the neck control required to lift their head independently. If you are in doubt you should always consult your pediatrician.

A safety tether is a fantastic feature to look for. This is a strap that you can wrap around your wrist in case you lose grip, like in the event of a fall, or in close proximity to the water's surface. This feature is a lifesaver that is not to be missed. All of the jogging strollers we looked at have this vital safety feature.

Weight

One of the most important factors to take into consideration is the weight a jogging pushchair can support. The lighter, the better, because that means less stress on your body. It also allows you to move faster and more efficiently. Another feature to look out for is adjustable tracking. Strollers without this feature tend to veer in a certain direction and can become tiresome and requires constant corrections while running. Most joggers also have front tires that bounce off road bumps. This reduces the impact on your baby's head. It is recommended to consult with your pediatrician before you start running. This will ensure that their neck is strong enough to support the bounce.