History Of The Stroller/Baby Transport

From the Queen's Land Strollers, or perambulators (prams) as they were called in 18th Century England, began with a baby carriage designed for the Duke of Devonshire in 1733. The pram, which was shaped like a shell, was a small decorative carriage designed to be harnessed to a dog, pony, or goat. Prams became a luxury item owned mostly by the upper class. Once handles were added, parents could push these baby buggies themselves. The carriages of the Victorian age were luxurious, but tall and unstable. Different styles of prams were prestigiously tagged with royal titles like Duke; others were named after famous royal homes such as Windsor.

American Patent
In the later part of the 19th century, an American patented a baby carriage using a special joint that allowed a bassinette to be placed on wheels. Changes in the undercarriage brought consumers a buggy with independent wheels for better turning and maneuvering. In the early 1920s, safety became an issue with modifications like deeper carriage compartments and brakes. Height was reduced, and handles were raised for a steadier ride. Wicker and wood carriages were slowly replaced by plastic for a durable product that was more affordable. Babies of the '50s were riding in style, as sales soared.

America One, England Two
In 1965, a British engineer designed a compact, lightweight baby carrier that was easy to handle and could be folded up and stored away when it wasn't being used. The umbrella stroller had a folding aluminum frame that opened up a diversified baby stroller market. Emphasis turned to convenience and style. Lighter weight materials made it possible to design side-by-side push chairs, as the British called them, for parents of twins.

Today's Baby Stroller
Strollers are continuously changing, adding more advantages for modern parents such as: patterned fabrics, multi-positioned seats, footrests, removable trays, cup holders, baskets, on-board activities, and ergonomic and adjustable handles. Out of the 1980s came the first jogging stroller; after years of improvements, the jogging stroller offers runners a sleek design, off-road wheels, locking front wheel(s), 5-point safety harnesses, and easy one-hand steering. Necessity has redesigned the stroller throughout its evolution. Popular additions to the market are strollers for twins, including: side-by-side double strollers, double umbrella strollers, tandem double strollers, and double jogging strollers. There are even models designed for triplets and quadruplets.