The History of Baby Stroller

You can see it everywhere you go. It can be on the street, in a shopping mall, in a restaurant, in a park. You were in one of it everyday when you were a child. You put your children in it everyday so you may take them with you wherever you go. Baby Strollers have been with us for a very long time. Every family in any bigcities owned at least one stroller in their life time. Where did the first Baby stroller came from?

1700S: HORSE-DRAWN BABY CARRIAGES

 It wasn't called a baby stroller at first, because it wasn't meant to be stroll around. The first "Baby Stoller" was invented by William Kent in 1733. It was really a baby carriage, where the carriage was intended to be pulled by a dog, a goat or a miniature horse. It was at the time, a trendy luxury item that only appearred in the wealthiest household, especially the royals.

MID 1800S: HANDLES AND FORWARD-FACING CARRIAGES

In the 1800s, a new design for baby carriage came out. In this design, the parent replaced the role of the animal. There were handles on the carriage that allow parents to pull a stroller behind her, with the baby facing forward. This design made it easy for average families to use. However, most of them were tall and unstable, making it easy for accidents to occur.

1848: THE PRAM

In 1848, American innovaor Charles Burton changed the meaning of baby carriage. From this point on, parents are pushing the stroller instead of pulling them. His design was not welcomed in the United States at first, and so he took it to England and created a big fuss. He then filed a patent for the Perambulator (also known as the Pram) in 1852.

LATE 1800S: THE REVERSIBLE BABY CARRIAGE

 In 1889, William H. Richardson patented a more functional baby reversible carriage — meaning the bassinet could be positioned to face both out and in. In addition to modernizing the carriage, Richardson made structural changes that allowed for the wheels to move separately (until then carriages had axels connecting the wheels, preventing independent wheel movement), making the stroller more maneuverable and convenient for parents.

1920S: SAFETY FEATURES FIRST!

 In the 1920s, following World War I, baby carriages were updated to include safety features that remain in today's prams, like larger wheels, footbrakes, deeper and roomier prams (which made it harder for kids to escape), and lower, sturdier frames (so if little ones did manage to climb out, it wasn't far to the ground).

1930S TO 1950S: MASS-PRODUCED STROLLERS

It wasn't until the 1930s onward that companies began to mass-produced baby strollers. It was made possible because rubber and plastic parts became more common in manufacturing. Inexpensive chrome also became widely available, replacing expensive brass parts. By the 1950s, baby carriages were a must for new parents, as cheap materials and safe designs made them not just fashionable but also budget-friendly.

1965: THE UMBRELLA STROLLER

In 1965, the Umbrella Stroller finally came out. London Aeronautical Engineer Owen Maclaren invented the first umbrella stroller after his daughter complained to him about how difficult it was to travel with her child and a pram. His design was compact-friendly and lightweight, using an aluminum frame that could easily collapse and be stored. By the end of 1967, over 1,000 of these durable, lightweight strollers had been produced and sold. His name may sound familiar? That's because Maclaren strollers are still on the market today, and is still one of the top selling brand for strollers.

MID 1980S: THE JOGGING STROLLER

 In 1984, Phil Baechler, a journalist for his local newspaper and new parent wanted to spend more time with this baby son without having to ditch his favorite hobby: running. Because he knew the standard baby carriage wheels would take a beating on the dirt trails where he liked to run, he replaced them with bicycle tires. After a few tweaks to his design to make for a sturdier frame, the three-wheeled "baby jogger" was born.

1986: THE DOUBLE STROLLER

 In 1986, The stroller company Baby Jogger developed the very first jogging stroller made for two children, "The Twinner." We now have stroller for three or even four babies. The idea originate from here.

 Today, hundreds of stroller models are available, ranging from a $15 Umbrella stroller to a $3000 stroller with the latest technology. Which one will you choose from?

Source and pictures from: whattoexpect.com