When I first contacted Kristen at Practical Mommy, I was a little wary about this blog post suggestion. After all, most moms would rather save money rather than to spend money when it comes to baby products. As a mom of three, this is something that I’m all for…except when it comes to essential baby items. For me, when I was a first time parent, this ONE essential baby item was a stroller.

Now, you probably already know that [easyazon_link keywords=”strollers” locale=”US” tag=”practmommy-20″]strollers[/easyazon_link] are one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make in terms of baby products, so we actually spent a good amount of time trying to pick out our first stroller. I wanted to get the BEST stroller for my first baby and after weeks (if not months) of stroller researching, my husband and I finally settled on this one stroller. I always share the story of our paralysis by analysis story when it comes to purchasing strollers.

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The fact is, there’s lots of options when it comes to strollers and with the several different stroller types ([easyazon_link keywords=”umbrella stroller” locale=”US” tag=”practmommy-20″]umbrella[/easyazon_link], lightweight, [easyazon_link keywords=”jogging stroller” locale=”US” tag=”practmommy-20″]jogging[/easyazon_link], and so on), it can be challenging for parents trying to pick out a stroller for their family. After the experience we had, we decided to create our website, Mommy Stroller, an ultimate resource when it comes to everything stroller related.

So today, I’m happy to share why I believe strollers are the one thing you want to invest in when it comes to [easyazon_link keywords=”baby products” locale=”US” tag=”practmommy-20″]baby products[/easyazon_link]. Let’s dive into it!

Why Spend More When You Can Spend Less?

I want to reiterate I’m a believer in the idea of “less is more” – in this context, spending less could be beneficial, but for me, the benefits of spending more have far outweighed the cons when it comes to strollers. Here are my five reasons why I invest in a stroller.

It Lasts Longer

One thing I’ve noticed is that the more expensive a stroller is, the better its build and as a result it tends to last much longer than cheaper strollers. This is especially true for jogging and [easyazon_link keywords=”double jogging strollers” locale=”US” tag=”practmommy-20″]double jogging strollers[/easyazon_link] – a good stroller vibrates and wobbles less when you’re jogging with the stroller.

Why does lasting longer matter? Even if you only have one baby, your baby will likely use the strollers for a few years. The hidden gem of investing in a good stroller comes into play when you’re planning to have more than one child. In such a case, the stroller can be reused which saves time, money and resources in the long run.

[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”B00O20OCVC” locale=”US” src=”https://www.practicalmommy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/51ytTej59pL.jpg” tag=”practmommy-20″ width=”500″]

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It Motivates Me to Get My Daily Exercise

[easyazon_link keywords=”Jogging strollers” locale=”US” tag=”practmommy-20″]Jogging strollers[/easyazon_link] are no doubt one of the most expensive types of strollers with most running upward from $350. For me, my double jogging stroller has definitely been one of the best investments I’ve made. Since getting my [easyazon_link keywords=”double jogging stroller” locale=”US” tag=”practmommy-20″]double jogging stroller[/easyazon_link], I’ve been able to achieve a better work-life balance. Now, instead of deciding whether I am able to go for a jog or whether I need to stay at home with the kids, I just go for a jog with the kids!

For more information on how I picked out my double jogging stroller, check out my detailed guide on buying double jogging strollers.

And yes, this motivates me to get my daily jog in almost every day!

Better Functionality

In general, more “nice to have” features are included in more expensive strollers. Things like an adjustable handle bar, air-filled wheels, child and [easyazon_link keywords=”parent trays” locale=”US” tag=”practmommy-20″]parent trays[/easyazon_link] as well as “expandable” features are often included in such strollers. Below are quick descriptions of some of these features:

[easyazon_link identifier=”B00C7AH9T6″ locale=”US” tag=”practmommy-20″]Adjustable Handle Bar[/easyazon_link] – The handle bar of the stroller can be adjusted to better suit the different heights of individuals pushing the stroller. This is especially helpful for parents who are considered tall (6 feet and above) as they do not have to hunch forward in order to push the stroller.

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[easyazon_link identifier=”B00UVW45Q2″ locale=”US” tag=”practmommy-20″]Air-Filled Wheels[/easyazon_link] – Most strollers come with wheels that are made of plastic, and while they are durable, they are not quite suited for use on many surfaces, especially uneven terrains. Air-filled wheels on the other hand, are like bicycle wheels which makes them suitable on most terrains (even or uneven). It is also worthy to note that while only most jogging strollers are equipped with air-filled wheels, there are some everyday use strollers which have air-filled wheels.

“Expandable” Features – Some strollers such as the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00G3XRDSA” locale=”US” tag=”practmommy-20″]Baby Jogger City Select[/easyazon_link] (read my detailed review here) have features that allow it to be expanded. For example, if you have a second baby arriving, all you need to do is buy a seat and attach it to the existing stroller frame. In other words, it essentially allows you to turn a single stroller into a double stroller.

Much More Convenient

Convenience is really the key to making the experience of going out with your kids (in a stroller) not be a nightmare. For me, this means the stroller has to have an easy to use folding mechanism (ideally one-handed), not be too heavy, has some great features (as discussed above) and ideally a small footprint for easy transport.

Umbrella and lightweight strollers are generally the best stroller type to get if what you’re prioritizing is convenience and portability.

[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”B00ZKTVI66″ locale=”US” src=”https://www.practicalmommy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/51w29ubhd1L.jpg” tag=”practmommy-20″ width=”500″]

Better Resale Value

Mid to high end strollers tend to have a much better resale value. What is resale value? It is basically the value of a product that has already been purchased. At the point where your kids have grown and you no longer have a need for it, selling the stroller you have invested in can help you recoup some of the costs. Personally, I have not done this before since I still need my strollers, but I’ve seen used strollers in good conditions which have been sold for as much as 65% of the stroller’s retail price. So if you bought a stroller for say $500 and decide to sell it later on, you might be able to sell it used for as much as $325.

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Stroller selection is not an easy task by any means and price is usually one of the major factors during this process. Most parents find it difficult to find a balance between price and value and as a result, tend to gravitate towards cheaper strollers in order to save money.  I’ve started leaning more towards mid to higher priced strollers in recent years because of the benefits I get from it.

I highly encourage parents to start thinking about the different values and benefits they’ll be able to enjoy if they choose to spend a little extra on not just strollers, but also any purchase in general. If you believe what you’ll be getting outweighs the additional cost you’ll have to pay for it, then I’d say go for it!

Who’s the Writer

Evelyn is the main person behind Mommy Stroller, which focuses on helping parents figure out which stroller they should get. Evelyn and her husband, Paul, decided to blog about strollers after the overwhelming feeling they experienced when trying to pick out their first stroller. Both of them enjoy spending time with family and friend, live music, and going on jogs with their kids (in a stroller).

For detailed guides, stroller reviews and anything and everything stroller related, check out Mommy Stroller! You can also connect with the Mommy Stroller crew on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.