GainesvilleMoms.com

I was at the mall today with my son in the play area and a couple came in with their two children. One was about my sons age, 2 1/2, the baby couldn't have been over a month old, they had the baby in one of those flimsy umbrella strollers! The poor baby was all slouched over and looked like he was about to tumble out! Every time I see this I just want to stop the parents and give them a long, long lecture! They aren't good to put a baby in, it's very bad, actually, for infants. The recommended age is around 1 1/2 and up! Now I do like them, very light weight, don't take up much room and so on. We have one, I use it all the time, but I didn't buy it until my son was 2! This seems to be a growing trend, I see it all the time and it makes me angry and sad. It's mostly with young parents that I see this, mostly teen parents. I'm not saying anything bad about young parents, I was 21 when I had my daughter. It's should be common sense though. Our pediatrician has a first time parent lecture for all new parents and one of her big topics is the use of these things and when to and not to use them! What do you guys think of it?

I just had to get that off my chest.

I agree 100 percent. I think the problem may be cost. THey have discounted car seats for low income parents. I think they should have programs that give discounts on strollers too because those umbrella strollers aren't safe. And sometimes strollers are expensive.

I know how it is to have things you just have to say and needing to control that urge - and I am all 100% for venting in a safe venue so please don't think I am chastising!! I agree that seeing a small infant in an umbrella stroller would give me cause to wonder why parents would do something so obviously less than ideal and I would also have to restrain myself from asking them that very question. With that said....

You indicated a couple of things that might give a clue. Umbrella strollers are inexpensive. Parents were young. It just may be that the umbrella stroller is the only one they could afford or had. I know - what about the stroller the older one had when he/she was a newborn? Well, maybe they passed it along to someone else; maybe they sold it not planning on a second child; maybe they truly don't know this type of stroller is not for an infant - we can all sit and guess. I don't mean to make you feel like you were being mean to ask the question you asked, and I by no means defend parents doing ignorant things with their kids. I know people have to get their priorities in order when kids come into the picture especially, but there just may be circumstances they have no control over too. I cannot stand to see children runnig around barefoot in a store, parking lot(!) or restaurant but there are many people who are fine with it. I don't let my kids go around in just a diaper or a diaper and t-shirt either, it may not harm them one bit but I don't like to see it. Now the stroller thing is a bit different as the infant could get harmed should the stroller tip, and those do tip easily, but I mean to say that some people may not think of it as a problem.

I don't know if you would have been out of line to maybe start a casual chat and maybe say, 'you know I had one of those small strollers but I was able to find the larger, easy to pack and more safety feature type at XZY store for a great deal and it lasted longer/was more sturdy/had more room/etc' but then again, who knows?

Just my thoughts, no harm intended! Its way easier to sit on the sideline and coach than to be the one in the game, who knows what I might have done or said?!

Kristin I agree, I think that would be wonderful. They could do the travel system combo.

Michelle I completely agree with you. Money may be the issue! But my point is, they are cheap, cheap looking, cheaply made and very unsafe for infants! You can just look at them and tell that! I would loved to have started a conversation with them, I even thought to myself, I have a stroller at home that I would give them if they need it. What got to me is the name brands they were wearing right down to the shoes, the COACH bag that the girl had, the diaper bag was vera bradley, I know because my sister has the same one and it's at least a hundred or more and the large amount of jewelry the were both sporting. Not to mention the blackberrys they both had out texting. I don't think these two were lacking in the financial department I think this particular incident was they one that just did it for me! I feel for those who can't afford decent ones and would help them in anyway, but, this one just hit a nerve with me!

KE's Mommy - well now that is ALL kinds of different! I agree that if they can be tech savvy enough to use handhelds and sport designer names then there is indeed no excuse! Again, priorities! I had a flimsy umbrella stroller once but it just didn't give me any comfort to use it. I did give it to my cousin to use for quick walks down her road when she has her granddaughter, but she knows they are not for small kids. We have a nicer umbrella stroller now and it folds up smaller than the flimsy one did!

Anyway, yes I do 100% agree with you and I think now it would have been even harder for me to keep quiet..LOL. I used to volunteer at Gainesville Community Ministry in the food pantry and the people who showed up and needed the help were so kind but the ones who pulled up in Mercedes with their acrylic nails done, hair all done and sporting enough jewelry to choke a whale - then had an attitude if they didn't get the 'name brand' canned goods in their 2 or 3 boxes of FREE FOOD - that used to get me going but good.

If you can't put your kids before yourself in safety, then maybe you need to re-think having kids just yet. (yes I know, people have the right to procreate, yadda yadda yadda)

I have to give you kudos for NOT saying anything - don't think I would have been able!

Wow that does change things. Another problem may be the size of the combo strollers. If they were riding with a friend or had special circumstances that may have been a factor. I know I went to the mall with my friend last week and we could not fit both strollers in my little Kia trunk so she brought her umbrella. Her girl is one and was fine in it but I have to admit I'm always looking for a way to not have to drag my beautiful stroller out of my sorry excuse for a trunk! Me personally, I worry so much that I have to keep well above all saftey standards just so I can walk around with some level of peace of mind over my new little one!

I drive a KIA to Mary!! I know what you are talking about! Such a small trunk, no space. But your friends baby is one, no doubt walking if not then very close, able to catch herself if for some reason the stroller were to tip over she could have at least braced herself! My rant is about infant babies! I have notice this being a growing trend with young parents these days, myself being a young parent, not understanding why these specific people today didn't know or care to acknowledge the fact that it's just plan dangerous for their not hardly one month old to be in this stroller! I would have just resorted to carrying the love!
Don't get me wrong, umbrella strollers serve a great purpose! Very cheap, take up way less room and are easy to navigate! Like I said, I have one that we use on a regular basis, but my son is going on 3!


Michelle, that is unbelievable! Who would complain about FREE food?! Crazy.

I don't know, it just hit a nerve in me today harder than usual and I had to vent somewhere!

I just really don't think umbrella strollers are all that great in general. I mean, they have NO support for a little neck and head (I'm sure that baby looked so uncomfortable!), and they can tip pretty easy. I don't even think they are great for older kids (in my experience). I bought one for my daughter when she was about 1.5, and we only used it like two times. She just looked so uncomfortable!

Maybe the parents really didn't realize how unsafe the stroller was. If no one ever told them, or if that's what their parents used, they probably think there is nothing wrong with it. Maybe the parents will take their baby in the stroller to his/her next doctor's appointment, and hopefully a nurse or doctor will mention something...

There are some umbrella strollers, the more expensive ones that are a little more sturdy, but I agree, definitely not for a baby of only a couple months!

On a similar subject, how old/big do you think a child needs to be to ride in a bike seat? I have heard many different opinions, some pediatricians have said 1 year, others said when they can sit up on their own and have good head support...I'm talking about a good sturdy durable seat with padding (which unfortunately are usually around $100 and up!), not a flimsy cheap one, I would never trust one like that. I know the main reason for concern is balancing and worrying about bumps in the road, but if the entire bike tipped over, even a bigger kid would risk injury. What do you all think? I asked my mother and she said she had her kids (myself included) in the plain plastic ones with no padding, head rests or bar (just a seat buckle) at around 9 months. But that was over 20 years ago too.

I would really like suggestions for good bike seats, too! My daughter is a bit older, but I still have no idea what is the safest seat to buy! Any suggestions?

I am a young parent, and own one of the duo-umbrella strollers; I have a new born (8wks old) and a 2 year old. I did ask my pediatrician about it, and he said that as long as I have the "infant insert" for the stroller that it is not a problem! They sell the inserts at Toys-r-us for $20. It is irresponsible to have an infant in an umbrella stroller WITHOUT the insert, but it is ok to have them in one with the insert!