Has anyone retrofitted a baby stroller?

Hi,

My first was born a few months ago and I bought the baby stroller my wife recommended. I went on a night walk with my wife and daughter for the first time a week ago and I was appalled how barely visible they both were.

So now, I'm in the research phase of making some changes to the stroller. Mostly it will be reflective tape, however something on the order of headlights seems appropriate. Everything I've seen on youtube has been gaudy and over-the top, I'm looking more for functional and safe than viewable from space.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Well, someone has made this for a walker: http://hackaday.com/2015/08/20/hackaday-prize-entry-lighting-the-way-for-walkers/

If you are looking to be visible, maybe some bicycle visibility lights could work.

Use reflective tape for visibility. For being able to see, I would recommend either looking at bike lights for mounting to the stroller, and/or a headlamp for you and your wife.

Another option could be a flashlight with a weapon mount, if you cannot find what you want in the bike light world.

Eagle

Yep, i have put a Twofish Lockblock and this will hold the basic 18650 and AA lights.

+1 for bike mount, up on the handle for better spread/out of child's reach.

You guys have me thinking. How about mounting a Fenix bike mount, with a Solarforce light on the bar with a weapon pressure switch. So when you squeeze the grip it lights up.

Str8stroke said:

You guys have me thinking. How about mounting a Fenix bike mount, with a Solarforce light on the bar with a weapon pressure switch. So when you squeeze the grip it lights up.

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You might have to use a few cable ties to make sure that the weapon pressure switch doesn't get caught on anything and make sure the stroller can open and close, my kid is in a Peg Perego Pliko and there aren't that many places to mount it where it will be able to shine the light where its needed. I found that a light on the stroller and a strobe in hand for use at crossings is best for my needs.

I have to wait for the wife to leave before I start snooping around. As soon as she sees flashlights & zip ties and mounts, then the stroller I will be toast, I am gonna get the 3rd degree. lol

She knows hows that will play out. :duck:

For nightly dog walking, I use a flashlight with a momentary Max from ON function. I leave the light in a lower mode comfortable for walking, and when a car approaches from a distance, I fire a couple one-millisecond max output flashes toward them to warn them that pedestrians are ahead - works exactly like car high beam flashers.

Also a fan of the Twofish Lockblocks, but if stroller mounted, I'd also get a red blinky bicycle tail light mounted - I like CatEye's versions.

reppans said:

, but if stroller mounted, I'd also get a red blinky bicycle tail light mounted - I like CatEye's versions.

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The red light will have to be clipped onto the rear of the person pushing the stroller right?

hyperloop said:

The red light will have to be clipped onto the rear of the person pushing the stroller right?

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I was thinking clipping to the left side of the stroller, perhaps at knee level where the OP will be thinner so as to not block its view. But I think your idea may be better - something clipped to the stroller might be annoyingly in your peripheral view.

I'd personally just handhold a flashlight cigar style between pinkie and ring finger, leaving the 3 primary fingers to steer the stroller, or just use a headband - then momentary point light toward approaching traffic for conspicuity.

reppans said:

I was thinking clipping to the left side of the stroller, perhaps at knee level where the OP will be thinner so as to not block its view. But I think your idea may be better - something clipped to the stroller might be annoyingly in your peripheral view.

I'd personally just handhold a flashlight cigar style between pinkie and ring finger, leaving the 3 primary fingers to steer the stroller, or just use a headband - then momentary point light toward approaching traffic for conspicuity.

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That may work for you but with the Peg Perego the design of the stroller means I need 2 hands free to use it so I would rather have the light clipped on and Singapore is reasonably bright such that if I wore a head light I would be getting weird looks unless I was bringing a stroller to the forested areas where it was dark then again why would I be bringing a 2 year old there hahaah

hyperloop said:

That may work for you but with the Peg Perego the design of the stroller means I need 2 hands free to use it so I would rather have the light clipped on and Singapore is reasonably bright such that if I wore a head light I would be getting weird looks unless I was bringing a stroller to the forested areas where it was dark then again why would I be bringing a 2 year old there hahaah

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Yeah, that is my grip when I need 2 hands, and I do live in a dark forest area with no sidewalks, and lots of animals, so I do want my light unmounted to check that rustle in the woods. The smell of a baby is sure bring the coyotes out .

Glad I'm not the only one who has considered up fitting their kids stiller with lights lol. The stroller we have has a plastic tray in the front of it that I could mount a small picatinny rail to the bottom of, out my son's reach, and use a rail mount to hold the light. I thought about a bicycle mount on the handle but the canopy would block most the light. Maybe I should just get it out of the truck and study it lol.

Tac Gunner said:

Glad I'm not the only one who has considered up fitting their kids stiller with lights lol. The stroller we have has a plastic tray in the front of it that I could mount a small picatinny rail to the bottom of, out my son's reach, and use a rail mount to hold the light. I thought about a bicycle mount on the handle but the canopy would block most the light. Maybe I should just get it out of the truck and study it lol.

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it's just begging to be outfitted with glo tape for visiblity purposes, lights, don't forget a horn to alert people in front, maybe add a flywheel dynamo thing to keep it charged up

I have been thinking of mounting a battery pack some where and getting a couple of cheap led day time running lights from Walmart and minting in the front and a couple of red led tail lights for the back, maybe some amber on the sides, oh and turn signals and brake lights, don't want to get a ticket for improper illumination lol

Any CPFer tried mounting 2 SF Hellfighters to a baby stroller? :devil:

For mine I'll just hang my light equipped with traffic cone/wand diffuser with the lanyard off the stroller and use strobe or other blinky modes, if it hangs low enough it won't bother your vision,it seems to work very well. For front illumination I'll just use lights with clips and clip it one of the fairly stiff silicone step/strip thinghy (the place for the kid to rest his legs).

For the parents, reflective clothing would be ideal but not everyone walks around with a reflective vest. So I would suggest another flashlight with diffuser wand hung off the belt or waist on a blinky mode.

No mention of "laser tail lights?" A pimping baby stroller needs these.

Also: ground effects lighting.

look guys if your going to pimp a ride, no half measures. Stick a foursevens maelstrom XM18 up front on this and you're good to go.