How to Choose the Right Stroller for Your Kid

Buying a stroller is one of the many daunting purchases you'll make when expecting a child. Between car seats and cribs, the stroller can feel like one thing too many to navigate buying the perfect model. But fear not, stressed shoppers. We answer some of the questions that might come to mind and break down the types of strollers to help you figure out what you need. 

Be sure to check out our other parenting buying guides, including How to Shop for a Breast Pump, Best Baby Gear, and Best Baby Monitors.

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What Are the Different Types of Strollers?

An everyday stroller might be referred to as a full-size stroller or a traditional stroller. These are your base-style strollers that might have some bells and whistles or might not. Traditional strollers usually fit kids from newborn to around 50 pounds, depending on whether it includes a bassinet mode (see below) or if it can hold an infant car seat.

Lightweight strollers are also called travel or umbrella strollers—the latter name comes from the shape it (usually) has when folded up. These strollers have lighter builds and better folding options to make them easier to tote around but often lose out on other features. These usually fit little ones from newborn to around 50 pounds, depending on whether there's a bassinet mode or infant car seat compatibility.

Jogging strollers have better suspension and higher quality wheels to make it a smooth ride while on the move but are usually much larger and have heavier frames than other types of strollers. These usually fit kids until about 50 pounds. They don't typically hold newborns unless you convert it to hold a car seat or if the manufacturer has a bassinet attachment you can add.

Trike strollers transform from a trike the parents are guiding to one a kid can ride on their own. These are for older kiddos, but can start as early as 6 to 9 months depending on the model, and usually have a recommendation for what age, rather than weight, a child might use it. Most brands recommend using the trike until around 3 or 4 years old.