Mamabee

Using Strollers Without a Car Seat: When Is It Safe?

As parents, we’re always looking forward to seeing our babies reach every milestone of their young life. Whether it’s hearing their first words, seeing the moment they’re able to walk on their own, or finding out that they no longer need their car seat, they can bring joy to any parent.

Although there’s normally an accepted timeline for when your children meet these milestones, there are times when your youngsters can either be late or advanced in accomplishing them. As a result, certain decisions concerning child raising can be affected.

Today, we’ll discuss when the ideal time is for babies to use a stroller without a car seat and the things parents should look for in a stroller. It will help ensure that your child has the safest and most comfortable experience riding his or her stroller.

Using the Stroller Without the Car Seat

Honestly, you don’t have to completely ditch the car seat because you can still find a use for it beyond its most useful years. However, when it comes to replacing them in favor of a stroller, you’ll find that this will normally occur when a child is within five to eight months old.

Of course, children sometimes have their own calendar, so the most suitable age for using strollers can vary from one child to another. With that said, it would be safer and more accurate to base your decision on stroller use on your child’s ability to hold up and support their head. Once your little one is physically capable of doing this, then you can place them in the stroller in a sitting position.

Some strollers don’t require you to wait for this physical milestone to use on your children. These models are designed like a rolling bassinet and can be used on newborns, unlike others that don’t recline fully, so they aren’t suitable for babies under four months.

What to Keep in Mind When Getting a Stroller

As soon as your youngster can ride a stroller, expect them to ride it on most days until they become toddlers. In light of this, it’s important to select a stroller that adapts to your child’s development needs and your requirements.

Consider your lifestyle and budget and choose a model that meets both. You should also look at the various sizes, fabrics, and shapes that strollers come in, as well as their weight, terrain suitability, capacity, and other individual features.

Make sure the following things are at the forefront of your mind when purchasing a stroller:

1. Baby’s Age

If you insist on using a stroller for a newborn, make sure that it’s designed to be used from birth. In other words, it should be a fully-reclinable, bassinet-style stroller that can transport your child safely and comfortably while he or she is lying down.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to buy a stroller that doesn’t fully recline, make sure your little one can hold up and support their head. Children typically reach this milestone between five and eight months old.

2. Stroller Size and Weight

Take into consideration the places you will be taking and storing your child’s stroller. Measure its dimensions in its folded and unfolded form so that you can get an idea of where to keep it best. Overlooking this part of the decision-making process can often lead to getting a stroller that doesn’t fit any of the areas you planned to store or transport it.

3. Lifestyle

Your usual modes of transportation and lifestyle should be taken into account when you’re picking a stroller. For instance, if you use a car on your daily commute, choose a stroller model that easily fits in the trunk.

If you’re the active sort, a robust stroller with excellent suspension would be the best choice. Lastly, if you frequently use public transport, like the bus or the train, go for a lightweight and foldable stroller for an effortless carry.

4. Accessories

There are basic strollers, and there are others packed with a whole lot of extras. Think about the features you can and can’t live without given your lifestyle and your child’s needs. In this way, you will be able to decide on a stroller’s most useful qualities and see if they come as a standard for a particular model. 

So, When Should You Forgo a Car Seat When Using a Stroller?

At the end of the day, the answer to this question mainly depends on two things.

First is the type of stroller you plan to use and the age at which your child can hold up and support their head, usually between five and eight months old. Second, if you decide to use a stroller on a newborn, make sure it’s a fully-reclinable model for you to transport your child safely and comfortably while lying down.

After these two main considerations, you should take a closer look at the other factors mentioned above to make the best possible decision. Feel free to see this helpful information to discover the extent of your stroller options in the market.

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