Now strollers are getting an electric upgrade

Following the trend of e-bikes and e-scooters, several baby gear brands have announced strollers with battery-boosted assist and other autonomous features. But are these pricey new strollers (most cost more than $2,000) just a flashy status symbol, or can they deliver real benefits? A University of Cincinnati disability expert recently offered her perspective to Forbes.

An electric stroller doesn’t push itself around the neighborhood or cross the street on its own. Most models that are currently available assist in pushing via a battery-powered motor. The stroller requires adults to have their hands on the handlebar at all times while manually engaging the assistive feature. One model also has a rocking feature. 

Beyond the average parent who wants to make day-to-day life a bit easier, these strollers could be a huge breakthrough for parents with mobility limitations.

“I see potential based on my experience of pushing traditional strollers with a manual wheelchair,” said Kara Ayers, PhD, the associate director of the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, an associate professor in the College of Medicine's Department of Pediatrics and Cincinnati Children's Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. “This was easy to manage on flat surfaces, like at the mall, but with a little incline or bumpy terrain, it became difficult. If a stroller was similar to e-assist wheels for wheelchairs, I can see potential.”

Ayers, who parents with a disability, said this is a step in the right direction toward making innovative and accessible baby products.

“We, like all parents, want tools that look like part of any family’s home — not medical devices,” she said.

Older caregivers may benefit from an e-assist, too. 

Any major piece of baby gear carries risks, and e-strollers are no different. Read about the trade-offs in Forbes.

Featured image at top: iStock/Miljan Zivkovic.