I’d been running three or four times a week for years before my daughter arrived, so by the time she was about seven months old I was itching to get back out there, and pushing the pram at a brisk walk round the block wasn’t cutting it anymore. I figured a jogging stroller would be simple enough. Clip her in, lace up, off we go.
It turned out to be a little more involved than that. Nothing went badly wrong, thankfully, but those first few weeks taught me a handful of things that I now pass on to pretty much any parent who mentions they’re thinking of running with their baby.
Don’t be in a hurry to start
Honestly, this is the one I’d underline. Jogging strollers are generally made for babies who’ve got good head control and can sit up with a bit of support, because running is bumpy in a way that walking just isn’t, and a really young baby’s neck isn’t built for that jiggling. Have a look at the age range on the stroller and stick to it (plenty of them start from around six months). If you’re not sure your little one is ready, bring it up with your GP or Plunket nurse at the next check. They get asked this kind of thing all the time.
Lock that front wheel
Most jogging strollers have a front wheel that swivels when you’re walking and can be locked straight when you want to run. I didn’t bother locking it on my second run and found out why you should when it caught a crack in the footpath and the whole stroller lurched sideways, which gave me a fright even though my daughter thought it was hilarious. Now I lock it before I start running and flick it back to swivel when we’re pottering around the shops and need to get round tight corners. After a couple of weeks you stop even thinking about it.
The brake goes on every single time you stop
You’d think this goes without saying, right up until you pause at the bottom of a hill to stretch your calf and realise the stroller is quietly rolling away from you. Even a gentle slope will do it. These days, hands off the handle means brake on, no matter how quick the stop. Got a wrist strap on yours? Use it. No strap means one hand stays on the handle the whole time it’s rolling.
Tyre pressure (boring but worth it)
Air-filled tyres are a big reason jogging strollers ride so smoothly, but like bike tyres they slowly go soft, and a soft tyre makes the whole thing harder work and can have it pulling off to one side. I keep a little pump in the garage and give each tyre a quick squeeze before we head out. It takes about half a minute.
Choosing where to run
Some of our paths are just made for this. Waterfronts, wide shared paths and loops around a big park are brilliant. Narrow footpaths lined with driveways are another matter, because people backing out of their drive often can’t see something as low as a stroller, so I slow right down past those. Gravel and grass are fine at walking pace but a bit sketchy at speed. On shared paths I keep left and keep an ear out for bikes and e-scooters coming up from behind. And steep downhills I just walk, every time, because losing your grip going down a steep hill is the one thing you really don’t want.
Dressing for our weather
A sunny morning here can be sideways rain by half nine. There’s permanently a light cover, a sunhat and a spare merino stuffed in our basket, and the canopy comes down even when it’s overcast because the UV still bites. Winter’s a funny one, because you’re the one puffing and sweating up the hill. You’ll be warm after ten minutes, but your baby is just sitting there in the breeze, so dress them a layer warmer than you’d think.
Harness, bumper bar and recline
Use the full harness every time and have it snug enough that you can only slide a couple of fingers under the straps. My daughter likes having the bumper bar in front of her to hang onto, and on longer runs I tilt the seat back a bit so she’s comfy and can nod off if she wants to (which she usually does, about ten minutes in).
Go easy on yourself, too
My first proper run with the stroller was a measly fifteen minutes and it felt harder than any 10k I’d done. You’re using your arms and core differently and your stride changes, so build up slowly. Babies need a bit of time to get used to it as well. Some love it from day one and some take a few goes before they settle.
If you’re shopping for one
My wish list would be chunky air tyres (bigger ones at the back if you can), a front wheel you can lock and unlock, a brake you trust, a stated age and weight limit, a reclining seat, a bumper bar and a proper harness. For a real-world comparison, I had a look at the NV Kids jogging stroller. It’s got a 12-inch wheel up front and 16-inch ones at the back, the front one locks for jogging, the wheels are shock-absorbing, and the backrest reclines, with an adjustable bumper bar too. They list it for kids from 6 months to 4 years, up to 15 kg, and it’s $275. NV Kids is an Auckland-based baby stroller shop in NZ, and they’ve got lighter everyday strollers too if running isn’t really your thing.
Get the safety stuff right and, honestly? Those runs end up being a highlight of my week. I sneak in my kilometres, she has a snooze and stares at the ducks, and we both get home happier than when we left. Ease into it, keep an eye on the gear, and walk the hills.
