Commentary: Buying a stroller? You have options; here are some tips

Ah, yes. I do remember the fleet of crumby, gummy vehicles which packed my garage. Into which fine chassis would we pack our twins today? Would we take the front-back tandem or the side-by-side? Maybe we'd take two umbrella strollers or the knobby-wheeled all-terrain double? So many options for our sleek and sexy adventure. Which one would I watch my children spit up on today? If you're a first-time stroller buyer, you may feel a bit overwhelmed by the options. They vary in price from $30 for an umbrella stroller to $2,000 or more for fancy doubles! So, what do you need? What's going to grow with the kids? What are the features to consider? First comes infancy, right? In the beginning, you'll want a stroller into which you can clip an infant car seat. You will unlatch the car seat from the car, set it onto a stroller attachment, and off you go, babies still sleeping. OK, your babies may still be sleeping at this point, but mine always woke up. For early infancy, you can get a snap-n-go, or invest in a stroller with a car seat adapter that converts to a toddler stroller for later. You may get by for six to nine months with a snap-n-go. At some point, however, your kiddos will be getting a wee bit too heavy to heave around in their car seats. And, they may want to be more upright to see the world. Now, you'll leave the car seat in the car and transfer the babes into a stroller that's designed for older infants or toddlers. Usually, these work best with kids who are old enough to sit independently. If you bought a stroller with car seat adapters, then you can take the adapter off and you're ready for this next phase. As time goes on, kids get bigger and the activities you want to do with them will change. This can affect what you want down the road in your suburban hot rod. Stroller features to consider by age: Infant: Car seat adaptor. If you're expecting twins, make sure your arrangement can work with a car seat rated down to 4 to 5 pounds since many twins are preemie. Not all seats are rated for the lower weights. Young toddler: Snack trays are very helpful. If you're in line at a store and a kid starts to fuss you can throw a few Cheerios or a toy on the tray to keep them happy until you can finish. You want a good snack tray! Good sun shades are also important. Older toddler/young child: Snack trays are still important. Look for a size that is easy for kids to climb in and out of when unbuckled. This makes trips to the zoo or fair easier on parents who won't have to lift the kids in and out of the stroller. Kids 4-6 years old: These kids can do longer outings but will tire by the end. Having a stroller that can still handle two heavy kids will allow you to take longer hikes. The kids can walk out and ride back. It makes the end of your day at the fair more pleasant since you don't have to try to cajole tired kids into walking back to the car. It can also be a gear holder for the first half of the day, and a containment system in large crowds. Feature notes: Under seat gear storage: This can balance the stroller so it's less likely to tip over backward when the kids get out. Size: Important if you live in an apartment or have a small car. Check both set-up and folded size. On the other hand, if you have a garage and minivan, this is less of an issue. Weight: Lighter is better if you're going to have to fold and lift it a lot. Heavier and solid is better for longevity and durability. These things will take a beating! Sunshades: Important, look for them. Accessories: Many have attachments you can add like cup holders, phone holders, bag hooks. Strollers can be big-budget purchases, but you can often find good deals on used ones. Hopefully, all this will give you an idea of what to start looking for when shopping for a stroller. One of the hardest parts is to try to think ahead and find a stroller that will grow with the changing needs and activities of your kids. Kathleen Cawley is a physician assistant and author. Her book "Navigating the Shock of Parenthood: Warty Truths and Modern Practicalities from a mom with twins" is available in ebook on Amazon. Paperback coming Feb. 15.