Baby Stroller History

Whether you are a parent or not, we all know the baby stroller is a common fixture in public life. Strollers are a convenient way to carry children and protect them from the sun, snow or cold while you walk. But did you know that the modern stroller has a very rich history? In fact, the stroller is one of the most important inventions in human history. Here’s the story of how it all started.

The earliest baby stroller was developed in 1733 by English designer William Kent. He was asked by the Duke of Devonshire to build a means to transport his children while visiting his estate. Kent’s solution was a clam-shaped basket on wheels that was richly decorated and meant to be pulled by a goat or small pony.

By the middle of the 1800’s, strollers were popular among upper-middle and elite classes in major European cities. These wicker basket-style strollers, called perambulators (meaning they were walked rather than pushed) were extremely elaborate works of art that were often adorned with flowers and animal heads. They were also expensive. Only the wealthiest families could afford them, and they became a status symbol.

In the late 1800’s, advancements in materials and design began to make these luxury strollers more affordable for the middle and working class. Rubber tires and handles, tightly-knit woven wicker, collapsible footrests, parking brakes, and lower frames (with a safer and more stable center of gravity) were just some of the changes that came to these early models. Manufacturers like Heywood Wakefield and others developed strollers that used these advances to bring the cost down while still maintaining the luxury look.

While the era of the high-end stroller was in full swing, a more practical stroller was being developed by Benjamin Potter Crandall who began selling a version of the carriage that could be pushed in 1830. His son, Jesse Armour Crandall, made further improvements that included adding brakes to the carriage, designing a frame that could fold, and developing a mechanism for receiving devices such as umbrellas.

Eventually, the pram and carriage would be replaced by the stroller, and this is largely due to Owen Maclaren who designed a lightweight buggy in 1965. Aspects of this design are found in virtually every stroller on the market today, a clear testament to its genius.

Almost three centuries later, strollers have evolved to meet the needs of all types of people from casual walkers to joggers and bicyclists. Today, we are more active than ever and these innovations in stroller design allow us to take our babies along with us wherever we go. And while many parents consider their babies to be “done” with the stroller once they are old enough to walk, there is no age limit when it comes to a stroller. Enjoy it while you can. And if you are looking for your own new baby stroller, be sure to check out our selection of top-rated brands!