Anyone else get super excited about purchasing a jogging stroller when they got pregnant Did you get one as a gift for the holidays this past year? It was seriously the first thing on my list before anything else when I found out I was pregnant with my first... even a car seat or a crib wasn’t on my registry before the jogging stroller!
Anyone else in sticker shock like me when you started researching those jogging strollers? WOAH! Well let me tell you that 3 kids and 2 different jogging strollers later (one single and one double), they are worth the investment! Quality wise, you get what you pay for, however, there are a few things that you can do in order for the longevity of that investment to last.
Here my top 6 tips for keeping those joggers running smoothly (and safely) so that they continue to sway our littles to sleep as each foot hits the pavement one after the other:
1. Store your stroller in a covered area and/or away from the sun and weather. The outside elements, like with most things, can wreak havoc even on the high quality materials that make up the strollers if stored outside. This could be in the garage, the back of your vehicle, or even on a covered porch or lanai. Just like any other materials, the wind, rain, and sun can bleach out the coloring or wear down the materials much quicker if the stroller is left out. I do NOT recommend just putting a tarp over it to cover it. From experience with trying this tactic, I can tell you that mold can start growing into the materials from snacks left behind, rain, and humidity.
2. Vacuum out any snack crumbs as often as possible. Long after your littles leave their crumbs behind, there are much smaller critters and birds that would love to get their teeth/beak on those left behind goodies which can be very unsanitary.
3. Wash the fabric of the stroller at least once a month. Without having to take apart the stroller, you can rinse it with a hose, use a mild soapy water (I like to use dish soap), and a sponge and you can scrub out any food and baby sweat residue that might have been left behind as well. This will help with prolonging the fabric materials. In addition, this could also be a fun activity to do with your little one! Make sure to let the stroller sit out to air dry completely before properly re-storing it in the covered area.
4. Do yourself a HUGE favor and make sure that your tires are properly inflated! Pumping up your tires before every run or walk may be the last thing on your mind when loading up and heading out, but it will help with the longevity of the tire tubes and wheels! If the tires are even remotely flat, it will also make for more resistance between the road and your stroller, and an even harder push for you to get that stroller moving! But hey... if you want to get in more of a sweat and the challenge go for it! Haha I recommend purchasing a hand held pump like this one that I have (small jogging stroller pump) It’s small enough that I can store it right in the pocket of my stroller.
5. Just like any moving parts, regularly greasing the stroller shock system and the wheels with WD-40 as needed will help keep those wheels and shocks working properly. This will keep any annoying squeak away especially when your out for a run and your little wants to nap. It will also prolong the life of the shocks.
6. Make sure to register your stroller with the manufacturer. Both of my strollers are BOB jogging strollers and Britax, the BOB jogging stroller manufacturer, has an amazing warranty policy. They have been more than willing to help me out with any parts that may have broken over the course of the last 6 years and many miles! (I am pretty rough on my strollers since I have taught stroller based group fitness classes for over 5 years, with the mileage I put on them, and we have traveled with them all over the country on planes, ran in the desert, on the beach, in the mud and in the snow)
Happy Running!
Britt
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