My daughter is 4 months old, and I am trying to figure out when it will be okay to put her in her jogging stroller. I have heard ages from 6 weeks to 12 months from various sources. She has good head control but can't sit on her own yet. I am eager to get back into running but absolutely don't want to risk putting her in there too early if it can do her any harm.
I started with my boys around 8 weeks. I bought a stroller with 20 inch wheels - which provide for a smoother ride as well as less effort with pushing from you. I have a single and double Kool Stride stroller which I love. They have adjustable handles, fold flat and recline and have a 5 point harness. My boys are 3 (almost 4) and 2 (they are 17 months apart) and I have no complaints from either stroller.
Good luck with running!
our pediatrician said 12 months in when babies can really support their heads well (that's also the reasoning behind why you can turn the car seat around as 12 months)
Each one is different. I would say at 4 months she is fine for any of them, just make sure it reclines and maybe you should get one of those head supporter that you can also use in car seats, just so she doesn't bob her head from side to side as you run or turn. some places you go to have floor models and you should bring her with you and try the seat out to see how comfortable and well supported it is for her. I had one after my first child was born but only used it a few times, I think it was Jeep brand and it was great, but I had a knee injury and couldn't run so I got rid of it since it was huge and taking up way too much space. Places like Babies R Us is great since they will let you try them out around the store first and it is great for you so you can see if it fits your stride. I have problems finding a regular stroller since I have short legs but long arms, I feel like every stroller I have tried I am tripping on the back wheels or bending my arms too much and I hate using them. Good Luck!
I think it will depend upon what type of stroller you have and where you will be using it. We have a BOB stroller that has an attachment to use the car carrier (that comes with the travel system car seat) so you just click the car carrier into the stroller like you would your car. The baby is very secure and would be just fine especially if it is on a smooth paved running path. If you do not have a BOB stroller I recommend checking them out - they are the best jogging strollers in my opinion. My husband had our first son in the BOB by at least 8 weeks going on morning walks on rocky roads that provide quite a bit of bumps but he used the carrier attachment for a long time. There are also other attachments available such as a rain guard and a bug guard.
best wishes
if its the kind with an infant are going on non bumpy roads. and if it was my child as long as i wasnt ruing on a path that was bumpy i'd start when baby was about 2-4 months old.
Hi Wendy-
We waited until my son was about 5-6 months to put him in the jogging stroller (5 to walk and 6 to run). It probably depends on the kind of stroller you have and your daughter's size but I think around 6 months you should be safe. I love running with the little one - hope you will too!
You can put a baby in the jogging stroller from birth, since they make them nowdays to lay flat. Everywhere I have heard and read does not reccomend to actually jog till baby is 6 months old. Have no idea why though(baby gets shaken a lot more in one of those cheap strollers when walking than in a quality jogging kind on the paved path while running)
I was told 6 months to be in the jogging stroller and 12 months for jogging or running that "jostled" them around. On a smooth surface like a sidewalk or some other paved area, you have a lot more flexibility. I took Baby Boot Camp classes and we would do some jogging (nothing extreme) on paved surfaces and the younger babies were fine. Maybe you can do laps in a large outdoor basketball court or empty parking lot? I think a smooth surface is key right now. I hope this helps - where there's a will there's a way because Lord knows half the battle is getting motivated so good for you!
Hi Wendy,
My husband and I say, go for it! My son was between 2 & 3 months when we started using ours. The back was able to adjust down so that he was craddled more and we adjusted it to a more upright position as he got a little older. He LOVES riding around outside. We went on walks (rather than jogs) but I took that thing through fields, over sidewalks, everywhere! He was great the entire time! We do put a cotton blanket under him because we found that the stroller material doesn't breathe well and he sweats. Get out, feel good, enjoy because so will your daughter.
Hi Wendi. I have two children and I started running again with both children when they were about 3 months old. You just want to make sure that the stroller you have has a 5 point harness and has good shocks (to absorb any bouncing). I have an Eddie Bauer jogging stroller and it's been great, the kids never got bounced around (the seat also lays flat). I am still using it to this day, my daughter is now 5 and my son just turned 3. Just look for a "good" stroller especially if you plan on using it a lot and plan on having more children. Happy running....
It depends on the type of child restraint in the stroller and the surface over which you are taking baby.
Some joggers accept infant car seats. Those you can use at a very young age. Others allow the child to lie completely flat, but I would be careful about terrain.
As long as the child has good head control and the surface is relatively smooth, I think 4 months is fine.
For normal use of a jogger, I heard 6 months. The baby can get jostled quite a bit.
Congrats on the marathon Wendy! I did the Virginia Beach Rock & Roll Half Marathon last year, then found out I was pregnant the next day! Anyway....my son is 13 weeks old and I've got him in a jogging stroller already. He, too, has great head control, but I've been putting one of those head support things (like you buy to put in a car seat) in the stroller and he does just fine. He usually falls asleep. I asked my pediatrician about it, and she said it's fine as long as his head isn't bopping around. Some of the strollers allow the babies to recline more than others....obviously they do better if they're not sitting straight up. Happy running!
Wendy,
I have read that the child should be 6 months and it was recommened to purchase the style that the seat lays flat. I have put my infants in a jogger with a fully reclined seat but I was not running just walking, I am not sure that this make a difference.
