Travel Baby

Have you ever been in public and seen some poor parent or grandparent struggling to open a massive stroller? These “one handed” operations usually require several hands to open and close, which is not always possible when you have a squirming infant or toddler to deal with as well. Convenience strollers provide an alternative to parents or grandparents who want a stroller but do not want to have to deal with the size and hassle of the larger strollers that come with baby travel systems.

Convenience strollers are lightweight strollers that fold up easily to stash in your car’s trunk. They are more durable and comfortable than umbrella strollers, but less bulky than the single stroller that comes with a baby travel system. They typically forgo the luxuries like parent cup holders or huge under-carriage baskets. They do have conveniences, such as a cup holder for the child or a small basket for carrying necessary items, but the main goal of the stroller is to be compact, comfortable, and convenient to use.

Convenience strollers do not attach to infant carriers, so many parents wait to use them until the child is able to sit up on his own. However, many of these lightweight strollers do recline fully, so infants can use them comfortably, just not with the infant carrier.

Whenever you purchase a stroller, whether it be a normal sized stroller or a convenience stroller, you need to be concerned with safety. If you plan to use the stroller with a baby, not a toddler, you need a 5-point safety harness restraint system to keep your baby where she needs to be. Always check the weight guidelines on a stroller before using it to make sure that your baby fits properly. Stability can also be a concern. Some types of lightweight strollers, such as umbrella strollers, can tip easily. Convenience strollers tend to have sturdy wheels and strong suspension systems to add stability for your baby. Finally, locking wheels will protect your baby from rolling away when you park the stroller, so this is an important safety feature.

If you have decided that convenience strollers fit your lifestyle well, there are some features you may wish to look for as you shop. First, look for a stroller that has adjustable handles. This will ensure that the stroller is comfortable for all of the adults that may be using it, no matter how different they are in height. Next, look for a stroller with a sunshade. This will protect your baby’s delicate head if you are out on a sunny day.

You will also want to note the age that the stroller’s manufacturer says you can safely begin using the stroller. Some are not safe to use until a baby is six months old, so make sure you check this if you intend to use the stroller with a young infant. Finally, consider the storage options you need. Do you need and under-the-seat basket? You can find convenience strollers with this feature. What about a cup holder for your child? This is also available, but not all models have it.

Convenience strollers help fill the gap between the larger single strollers which are heavy and sometimes difficult to store and the much smaller umbrella strollers which are very limited in features and capabilities.

By: David Cummings

The GR8X Baby Traveller bag is a unique diaper bag in that it contains a built in change pad for changing your baby.

This diaper bag is manufactured in Australia. This bag is destined to become the hottest diaper bag on the market within the next year.

It is starting to get some justified recognition. Recently on a review site called Baby Scoop it out rated all other diaper bags as the most versatile diaper bag on the market.

The GR8X Baby Traveller diaper bag takes some explaining but the most useful and versatile bag on the market. This diaper bag is less of a fashion statement, but totally useful and functional. It comes in 8 great colors and does back pack, shoulder and messenger carrying positions along with the ability to hang on a stroller.

For those that own this diaper bag it has become an amazing baby accessory. It helps moms and dads out of jams – since you can unfurl its built in change pad virtually anywhere… even on a bathroom floor (not fun but sometimes necessary).

With its built in diaper pad the Baby Traveller bag unfolds like a large “T” and baby lies on the bag, with his/her accessories on each side. When done, the bag folds into itself and forms into a neat backpack. Very cool.

It is essentially your portable diaper changing table. For parents on the go, it’s a dream bag that not only includes the built in changing pad but has several convenient pockets for all of your diaper changing essentials, such as pockets for diapers, wipes, a change of clothes and little baby toys. It also has an insulated bottle holder that often came in handy.

Imagine being at a place where there is no washroom, or where the washroom has no change table, or if they have one it may be filthy – all you do is fold out the change pad, lie baby down and change their diapers. You can change your child anywhere – people have used this bag and it’s built in change pad to change their baby’s diapers on the sidelines of sports fields, changing room floors, and park benches – total flexibility.

The GR8X Baby Traveller comes with an additional changing pad, which can be replaced when you have those messier changes.

The design is simple and stylish, and does not look like a typical diaper bag. The back pack function allows free hands and is quite comfortable if you are carrying it for long periods of time.

By: Joseph Peterson