The history of the stroller - from the beginning to the modern day

Not too long ago, the stroller was called the bassinet. Our grandparents used it to transport the youngsters around the area. Nowadays we have modern strollers in different shapes.

Historic stroller, copyright *

These mainly include:

Classic couchette
Combination strollers or stroller sets
buggy
Jogger or tricycle stroller
Sibling and twin strollers

In the past there was only one model and if you go back to the Middle Ages, wheelbarrows were used as aids.

Today’s stroller was created by resourceful developers from the above bassinet. The bassinet basically consisted of a basket with wheels underneath. In principle, the structure is relatively similar, but of course not nearly as pleasant and functional as the modern models. In the photo you can see such a historic stroller.

Developments in the UK

The inventor of the forerunners of today modern stroller come from the UK. They were created around Early 19th century. The British used these models to stroll around with their children. If you look at the history books, you can see that the first pram factory was built in 1840. The models were then only with equipped with three wheels and there were so-called seating cars. That a lying position was not possible for the babies.

Amazingly, these models were only possible for small children, since a lying position was not intended. Actually amazing, but fact. Only one sitting position was possible and that is why these were the forerunners of modern strollers for toddlers suitable and not for babies.

The first couchette cars appeared!

It wasn’t until 1880 that these models were developed and closed classic couchette extended. Along with this progress, the models also got four wheels and a wicker basket. Now you could take your baby with you and choose a suitable carriage between a sitting position and a lying position.

The development to a modern stroller

In 1920, records were found of the first strollers that were actually made of steel. The build-up slowly became lower and the stroller wheels became smaller. This resulted in the modern variant, or the new forms of the stroller models of modern times.

Nowadays we find different models for different purposes:

Kombikinderwagen

They also usually have a device for a lying position and a sitting position. Adjustable backrests are usually used for this.

Sibling or twin strollers

As the name suggests, these models are used for siblings and offer two places in this form. Or they are also offered with several places for twins. Because if you get triplets, which sometimes happens, it is difficult to have three different strollers through the Push area. These twin strollers have been developed for these parents.

The buggy for the city

Being a specialist serves as more compact and lightweight collapsible second car. They are usually very light and agile. As a rule, you use them to drive your toddler into the city and go shopping. It is also ideal for a Sunday walk on a well-concreted surface. Its advantage over the classics is simply the fact that it is much more compact and lighter.

The rehab stroller or rehab buggy

This model was built especially for children with disabilities. They have special devices to offer an adjusted seating and driving comfort. In addition, they are equipped for much heavier children, since children with disabilities sometimes have to be transported longer with these cars.

The development in the future

If you look at that rapid development of technology and the different shapes and types, then you can still expect a lot in the next decades. We looked around and thought about which interfaces we could find with other areas of technology that could also be of interest in a kind of trend research for pram models.

Self-driving strollers

For example, it would be conceivable here self-driving strollers based on the self-driving cars that are sure to be ready for series production in the next few years. Then parents would no longer have to laboriously push their children up the mountain, we would have one Stroller with an electric motor, the GPS-controlled – or also, for example, by a transmitter on the mother or father – always stays nearby. That he would drive programmable to the right or left of the parents or in front of them.

Automatic parking brakes

Automatic brakes, which no longer need to be operated using a foot pedal, would be another useful application. A push on a touchpad on the pushchair of the stroller and the brake is tightened. Cars have had this for a long time and it is much more pleasant. You could also use a hill start aid, for example, where the brake automatically releases when the parents start to push.

Automatically closing rain cover and sun protection

Manual sun protection on the buggy

An automatically closing rain cover or sun cover would be another useful variant. Or what about solar cells on the roof? Development is moving towards flexible solar cells that could be built into the stroller. In this way, the stroller would produce its own electricity in summer, and with it the electric motor, the automatically lockable soft top and other Can supply functions with power.

As you can see, there are still a few possibilities here in the future and these were just a few of us that could be imagined in 5 minutes. If you think about it that way, the industry in this area is actually not really innovative. Because technology already offers many more options for upgrading prams. Because why do strollers have no USB port to charge a smartphone, no digital display with touchpad, no theft protection, no tablet device to surf the Internet or record soothing music, etc.

A baby monitor – integrated into the carrycot would also be an option. Which mother doesn’t let her child sleep a little bit in a stroller at home when she has fallen asleep on the way home. Here a baby monitor would be interesting to determine when the child wakes up. This could be connected to a watch – similar to the concept of the Apple Watch. Or what about a built-in camera that automatically reports to a receiver when the child is uneasy. If we thought about it for 3 hours, we would have an ultra-cool stroller model of the future.

Copyright image rights:
* Historic stroller, copyright below by Freilichtmuseum Massing, Eichinger [Copyrighted free use] (16 votes, average: 4.48 out of 5)