Building stuff on your own is fun. It is a great way to spend some time, and at the end of it all, you have something tangible to show for your efforts. This is especially true when it is something as useful as a baby stroller. Yes, you read that correctly; you can build a baby stroller on your own. If you are interested in taking on this project or just want to understand the procedure for the future, this article is for you.
Before we get started:
Before we jump into the step-by-step guide of how to build a stroller of your own, you need to understand a few things. The first is that it will take a long time from starting the project to tightening the last screw. You can only feasibly do this long before the baby is expected; otherwise, you won’t be able to complete it in time. Secondly, if you are expecting a pair of twins, then your best option is to buy something like the Wonderfold stroller wagon and be done with it. Trying to build two strollers at the same time will not end well.
With that out of the way, let’s dive right into the actual guide.
- Understand the components that you need:
The first step of building a stroller that your baby doesn’t hate is to have an understanding of all the parts that you are going to need. The major components include things like the seat, stroller frame, wheels, canopy, etc. But there are also a lot of smaller yet critical things that you have to look into, like the food tray and bolts to hold everything together.
When doing research on these parts, focus on two elements; the quality of the available parts and their compatibility with each other. The last thing you want is your stroller to break apart when subjected to actual real-world use or for them to not work with each other when it is time for the final assembly.
- Purchase the parts:
Once you’ve fully understood the function of each component, it’s time to purchase them. You might think that this step is easy; you just look up the part online and buy from the first result. The reality, however, is that each part is available from a bunch of different manufacturers with varying degrees of quality and cost. You obviously want something sturdy and strong but also do not want to overpay for anything.
A great way to access the value of a given part is to look at customer reviews for them. They will be your best indicator for what you will actually receive in your mail after placing an order. Similarly, don’t buy the cheapest option; it is most definitely complete garbage.
- Learn how to assemble it all:
The delivery of each and every part might take some time. If you’ve purchased from one website, then there is a great chance of everything coming at once. Once you do have the stuff, it’s time to get assembling. Learning how to do that is so easy that you can just figure it out on your own with a little time. But, if you don’t want to spend time figuring this puzzle out, YouTube videos are the best way of quickly learning the ins and outs of this process.
Make sure you watch the assembly videos from more than one source. This way, if one fails to mention some crucial detail, some others will and will gain the most knowledge. You can just learn and do your own thing, or follow these video guides step by step till completion.
- It’s time for testing:
If you’ve followed all of the steps correctly till this point, then you should have a finished stroller. So, now it is time to test your creation. Just double-check all of the screws, bolts, and connections before stress testing it, and then wheel it around with some weights in it. If you feel anything wrong, like the tires being too stiff or wobbly, look up how to fix it, and you will surely find some proper solution.
- Utilize your creation:
Now that you’ve done all of the hard work, it’s time to reap the benefits. Take your kid on a stroll around the block. Take them to a nearby park and spend some time just showing them the beauty of nature. Maybe take your kid grocery shopping. It’s all up to you.
Final words:
Building your own stroller is definitely a rewarding process. But it doesn’t make sense from a financial perspective, as building one will most likely cost more than buying a pre-built one that was mass-produced. Regardless, if you don’t care about the money and just want to spend some time dabbling into DIY, then go ahead, enjoy yourself.
