When originally introduced to the marketplace, umbrella strollers were considered a very low cost, limited feature way to help parents transport their babies from place to place. Although they are still low cost, then advances in all kinds of technologies have allowed umbrella strollers to become not only comfortable for baby but also quite safe as well. There are several things to consider when you are shopping for an umbrella stroller. Most umbrella strollers share many common features such as lightweight and low cost and smaller size. Other features are not as common but excellent to have. One such feature to consider is how the stroller folds. Most umbrella strollers collapse quite compactly. Some have one hand fold mechanisms while others require you to used both hands and your foot as well. Which one is best for you is a matter of preference, but keep in mind the speed at which you can deploy or put the stroller away will be impacted by this feature.

Since they are generally smaller than the traditional single stroller, umbrella strollers are generally easy to transport and store. Being easy to store makes it easy for mom to pull out the stroller if there is an unexpected occasion which arises where the baby needs to be transported. And since most umbrella strollers are lightweight, using one when you are out for a day of shopping or running errands is a blessing in disguise. They are sturdy in design and can hold children up to 40 to 55 pounds, depending upon the manufacturer, and many are equipped with spring suspension are able to take the shock of going off a curb or a pothole in the sidewalk.

Strollers are designed with safety in mind, and umbrella strollers are no exception. Most strollers have a five-point safety harness which gives children the support they need to ride safely and not be able to get out of the stroller. The safety harness will keep the children in a seated position. The umbrella stroller also has a sturdy design even though it's light weight, so even if it gets banged around little, it will still be able to be used for months and even years.

There are some areas where umbrella strollers cannot compete with their larger counterparts. Usually under stroller storage is not available or minimal when it is there. You may or may not have cup holders or snack trays on your umbrella stroller either. And the wheels on umbrella strollers are not made for rough terrain of any kind as they are usually on the smaller side and many times made of plastic and not as long lasting as the rubber variety. Some umbrella strollers do not have reclining seatbacks and are therefore are not acceptable for infants under 4 – 6 months of age.

If you have a need for a handy baby item and have a small budget, then umbrella strollers are a great item to consider. Umbrella strollers provide many features and benefits for generally low cost and are quite easy to use.