A stroller is one of the most expensive expenditures you will make as a new parent. After a bed and a bassinet, the most expensive thing you’ll need to buy before your baby comes is a stroller – and the price might be very high. As a result, you should make certain that you choose the model that best meets the demands of your family. Fortunately, there are a plethora of excellent options on the market right now, with something to suit every taste and budget.
Before you buy a stroller, you should be aware that it is conceivable, if not likely, that you may purchase more than one stroller to meet various demands. If you’re a runner, for example, you could need a running stroller in addition to your regular model. Alternatively, you may start with a simple click-in car seat stroller and then upgrade to something with more functionality after your kid outgrows the infant car seat.
Alternatively, many parents prefer a larger stroller or travel system for all-day adventures or visits to amusement parks, while they prefer a smaller compact stroller for a brief jaunt.
WHAT TO EXPECT
First and foremost, ensure that the stroller you’re contemplating meets all of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s regulations (CPSC). They include specifications for secure hinges, wheel locks, seat belts, textiles, and everything else. While all new strollers sold in the United States must comply with these laws, secondhand sellers and select imports may not, hence none are included on our list.
When purchasing a stroller, the most important factors to consider are how you will use it, whether you need a single or double, how and where you will store it, and the parent’s comfort and convenience.
What are you doing with it?
This is the most critical question to ask while shopping for a stroller. Do you live in the suburbs and intend to use it for neighborhood walks and park visits? Are you in the city and need to easily go from Uber to Uber? Do you jog and want something simple to run with? Or are you searching for something light and breezy to take with you everywhere you go?
Do you need a single or a double bed?
This is not as simple a question as you believe. Most people believe that if you are not carrying twins, a single pregnancy will enough. I’d say that a twin stroller is ideal for siblings under the age of four. If this is your first child and you want to have more, a combo stroller like the Mockingbird or the Uppa Baby Vista is a must-have. These strollers begin as a single stroller and may be enlarged to carry numerous children by attaching various extensions.
Where Do You Keep It?
If this is going to be stored in a garage or a mess room, you won’t be concerned about the stroller’s size, which may be substantial for some of them. Apartment residents or parents with limited automobile storage space, on the other hand, may want to select a leaner, smaller stroller that folds up into a compact area.
Convenience and comfort
This is where you look at topics like what accessories are available, how much storage capacity it has, and whether or not the fabric is machine-washable. Is the handlebar adjustable for petite or taller parents? If you travel often, you may want to consider a stroller that can fit in the overhead bin and avoid having to gate-check it.
HOW WE DECIDED
I spent weeks testing strollers, visiting with manufacturers, and speaking with parents about their requirements and preferences for strollers. As a parent and researcher, I utilized my personal experience to analyze variables such as production, sustainability, availability, affordability, repair alternatives, and materials. I made certain that if anything went wrong with the stroller, there would be someone around to assist — as well as a robust repair chain. That means there is a real person on the support line, and if required, components or the whole stroller may be sent in for repairs.
I evaluated these strollers to ensure that they were roadworthy, comfortable for both newborns and toddlers, and simple to construct. While few strollers are going to be easy to assemble, I made sure the directions were clear and succinct, giving new and expectant parents plenty of guidance.
While strollers are a highly personal decision, the following options fulfill my criteria (based on 5 years as a parenting writer and 13 years as a parent) and will meet a wide variety of demands. Here are the top 2023 baby strollers.
1. BEST OVERALL: UPPAbaby VISTA V2 Stroller
Pros:
- It easily converts from a single to a double stroller.
- Various seating arrangements are available.
- Materials that are long-lasting
- Handlebar with many positions
- Recline in many positions
Cons:
- Expensive, even when folded, and bulky
- Hand-wash only
I recall a day in New York City when there was just one luxury stroller around. Nowadays, the type is seldom seen; instead, the UPPAbaby Vista V2 Stroller is the chosen baby-carrying equipment of the Upper East Side’s affluent residents.
And with good cause. If you can afford it, this is a fantastic travel method. The bassinet is plush and sumptuous, with a breathable canopy and simple click-and-go attachments. The seat is soft and lovely without being fussy. The undercarriage storage compartment may accommodate up to 30 pounds of cargo.
It also features several reclining settings, seat configurations (parent-facing or front-facing), and a telescopic handlebar. The aluminum and magnesium frame is lightweight and sturdy, with a ventilated base for optimal ventilation.
It may cost more than your crib, but it is well worth the extra money. Our reviewer has been using this stroller for over a year and is impressed with its durability. Her two sons aren’t any better. Furthermore, since the chairs can be easily moved from facing in to facing away, you may have your kid gaze at you to relax or at the world to interest them.
2. BEST LIGHTWEIGHT: Babyzen YOYO2 Stroller
Pros:
- Large storage container
- Extremely light weight
- It will fit in an overhead bin.
- Simple to fold
Cons:
- Small wheels might become shaky.
- It is not adjustable.
- This is not a good main stroller.
If you’re tight on room or travel often, the Babyzen Yoyo2 is a good option. Babyzen’s tiny design folds down in one motion, making it small enough to fit in an airline overhead bin or one car seat. It’s really that little.
It includes a multiposition reclining seat that may be used from the moment a baby can sit on their own until they weigh 40 pounds. There’s lots of storage below, particularly considering the stroller’s size, but it’s not truly adjustable, so it’s ideal for parents of average height. All of the textiles are machine washable, and the canopy has a UPF rating of 50+.
Joana Mascioli, our deputy editor, has started using it for her little nugget and has been quite pleased. She describes it as “the ideal stroller for a busy parent who doesn’t want to tote around a hefty stroller.”
The one significant disadvantage is that this is not an infant-to-elementary stroller. This baby and toddler stroller is designed for travel and compact areas. Mascioli also mentions that, although the wheels are durable, they may become awkward or inaccurate with heavy usage.
3. BEST FOR CITY PARENTS: DOONA Infant Car Seat & Latch Base
Pros:
- Machine-washable all-in-one design
- Convenient
Cons:
- Storage is not available.
I’ve discovered you, lovely mystery of infant travel.
If you live in a city or often get in and out of your vehicle with your kid, this infant car seat and stroller combo will be your new best friend.
It’s a fantastic car seat with an easy-to-thread five-point harness, three layers of side impact protection, and the option to be fastened in the cab of the vehicle with a latch or a seat belt – a commuter’s dream. The whole thing unfolds with a snap, the wheels sliding down like Top Gun, and it suddenly transforms into a solid, easy-to-push stroller.
The DOONA stroller is an editor’s choice and not just one of the greatest strollers for many families, but it’s also one of the best car seats – period. The Doona is a versatile baby seat that may be used from four to thirty pounds and up to 32 inches tall.
I wish you could extend the handle a little farther, but it’s at a good height for most people. This model has no storage, which is unfortunate, but what you miss in storage you make up for in convenience.
4. BEST TRAVEL SYSTEM: Chicco Bravo Trio Travel System
Pros:
- Excellent value
- Included is a car seat.
- Handle may be adjusted
- Ample storage space
Cons:
- There is no bassinet.
- Not ideal for soft floors.
Chicco went to great lengths to make this stroller as user-friendly and baby-safe as possible — and believe me, this travel system has it all. With a multiposition reclining seat and big foam-filled rubber tires that glide on the tarmac like a sports car, the stroller is intended for ultimate comfort. A folding kid tray, a contoured reversible seat cushion (for comfort and unexpected messes), and a wide UPF-rated canopy with a pull-out visor and flip-open mesh panel are all included.
Best of all, folding the stroller is a piece of cake. It is suitable for both urban and suburban families and includes an adjustable handle to assist more petite parents. I have a partly paralyzed left hand, yet I had no trouble installing or removing the car seat or folding the stroller.
However, the stroller fails to travel readily over sand and cobblestones, but most strollers do.
5. BEST STROLLER WAGON: Evenflo Pivot Xplore All-Terrain Double Stroller Wagon
Pros:
- Versatile
- More lightweight than other wagon strollers
- Simple to clean
Cons:
- Bulky might be difficult to move.
It’s difficult to put into words how stunning this twin stroller wagon is. If you have numerous children, reside in a city, or are a sports coach, this is the ideal stroller for long-distance travel.
To begin with, it is car seat compatible. You can also add a stroller seat to the top to make it more resemble a standard stroller. It can fit an IKEA bag full of groceries and laundry, and the mesh on the wagon is airy and pleasant. Furthermore, the wheels nearly float above the ground, and the additional bag in the rear carries a complete 5 Guys dinner plus an Oreo shake.
It’s car seat compatible, you can put a second jump seat on top, and you can select who or what your kid faces since you can push or pull it. The textiles are machine-washable, the wheels are sturdy yet designed for challenging terrain, and the double canopy provides UPF 50+ protection while also allowing for optimal airflow via the mesh sides.