What’s the best car for your family? There’s no one answer. It depends on whether you want a luxurious ride or something more economical. The size of your family and your garage. Whether you’ll be navigating the streets of a crowded city or off-roading on trails. Even your sense of style influences the car you buy.
Buying a baby stroller involves the same decisions, which can be similarly overwhelming. A stroller is one of the biggest and most important purchases you’ll make for your baby. As with a car, it’s something you’ll use every day, and finding a stroller that’s comfortable and safe is a top priority.
We’re here to help you choose the right stroller for your family. In this stroller buying guide from Strolleria, you’ll learn:
Stroller buying basics and factors to consider in your purchase
Characteristics of full-size, convertible, lightweight, double and jogging strollers—and the benefits and limitations of each type
Features and accessories to look for in a stroller
How to test-drive a stroller
Ready to stroll? Read on!
You’ll need a stroller when your baby is a newborn—and when they're a toddler who can’t trek across the zoo on their own. You’ll want one that’s lightweight and easily foldable for errands, but you’ll also need something more sturdy (with plenty of storage) for walks and long periods of time away from home. Maybe you’ll want to take your baby out for a run. And if you have another child, you might want a stroller built for two.
You probably won’t find a single stroller that meets all of your needs. That’s why the average family owns two or three, according to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association.
There are several stroller categories and hundreds of models to choose from. How do you start narrowing down the field? Keep these factors in mind.
Strollers for infants
Some strollers are intended only for certain ages, while others can be adapted as your baby (and family) grows.
Until your baby is about six months old, when they can support their head, they need to be fully reclined when riding in a stroller. That means strollers that require a baby to sit more upright, like jogging strollers and umbrella strollers, can't be used until later on.
To start, many parents look for a stroller that’s compatible with their infant car seat, which is typically used for the baby's first year until she graduates to a convertible car seat.
By using a stroller/car seat combo known as a "travel system," you can let sleeping babies lie while transitioning from the vehicle to the stroller.
But you can also attach a bassinet to your stroller—or simply use the stroller seat itself, as long as it reclines to a flat position that's safe for an infant.
For babies younger than six months, most parents start with one of these options.
Stroller with infant car seat (travel system)
While some manufacturers sell "travel systems" as a set, most strollers and car seats are sold separately.
With the exception of lightweight umbrella strollers used mainly for travel later on, all strollers sold by Strolleria are compatible with infant car seats. We typically recommend picking out your stroller first—you'll likely have at least a few choices for a compatible car seat.
Some manufacturers, such as UPPAbaby, Nuna, Cybex and Peg-Perego, manufacture both car seats and strollers. For these brands, the car seat either connects directly to the stroller or connects using adapters that are included with your stroller purchase.
Other brands only manufacture strollers, not car seats. Still, these strollers can be paired with another brand's car seat with the purchase of car seat adapters (an accessory that typically costs between $20 and $50).
With higher-quality stroller models, the seat is removable so that you can replace it with the infant car seat.
In other cases, the stroller seat cannot be removed, but the infant car seat can be inserted on top of the stroller seat. When your baby is ready, you can use the stroller without the infant car seat.
Stroller with bassinet
Some high-quality strollers can be used with a bassinet in place of an infant car seat.
Not only is a bassinet more spacious, it's also safer for long-term use. Experts recommend that infant car seats be used only for traveling in the car—not for hours of sleeping. Plus, bassinets tend to be more ventilated and breathable compared with car seats, which, with their protective foam, can make babies hot and sweaty.
Strollers including the Bugaboo Fox and Donkey; the UPPAbaby VISTA and the Silver Cross Wave come included with a bassinet approved for overnight use. Bassinets are sold as accessories for several other stroller models.
Rather than purchasing a separate bassinet, many parents use the stroller bassinet as baby's first bed next to their bedside. A bassinet also makes for a portable sleeping option for weekend trips and nights at the grandparents' house.
Stroller seats are safe for newborns as long as they fully recline to a flat position and have a footrest designed to fold upwards and create an enclosed space (for example, the Nuna MIXX Next, TAVO, and Bumbleride Era strollers). Some brands also make infant accessories, like a seat insert with plush head support, to provide additional stability for the baby's head and neck.
As an alternative to a stroller in the first few months, parents can purchase a car seat frame or car seat carrier. These products are sometimes referred to generically as a "Snap-N-Go," which is the name of a specific model.
With these products, the infant car seat becomes a minimalistic stroller by snapping into the lightweight frame, which does not include a stroller seat and could not be used as a true stroller after your child has outgrown their infant car seat.
Pro: Frames are inexpensive and easy to use. Con: You won't be able to use them once your baby outgrows her infant car seat—and still needs to ride in a stroller. Additionally, stroller frames have lower-quality wheels and can be more difficult to maneuver on different surfaces.
A similar option in a category all its own is the Doona, a car seat with built-in wheels that tuck under the seat when not in use. Like a car seat frame, the Doona can be used only until the baby outgrows the infant car seat.
Urban dwellers who get around on public transportation probably wouldn't buy the same stroller as parents cruising the suburbs in an SUV.
Ask yourself these questions when choosing a stroller that fits your lifestyle:
If you expect to have two children who are both stroller-age, consider a convertible stroller: one that converts from a single stroller to a double stroller.
Convertible strollers give you the flexibility to change the stroller based on your needs and spare you from having to purchase two strollers over time.
Start with it as a single stroller, add a second seat for a double, then take it back to a single when your older child doesn't ride in a stroller anymore.
Sometimes included - and often sold separately - as an accessory for your stroller's toddler seat, a bumper bar is a piece that attaches in front of your child to either side of the seat, and provides a place for them to hold on or rest their hands while you stroll.
If you're shopping in-store, follow these tips for test-driving a stroller.
Try some turns, stops and, if possible, curbs to get a feel for the stroller's maneuverability. If you're in Strolleria, make sure to try our stroller track to try the different terrain!
As you're testing the stroller, don't forget that you'll someday have a child who weighs as much as 50 pounds sitting in it. Throw in your purse to see how easily the stroller pushes with added weight.
To see how sturdy the stroller feels, give it a little side-to-side shake. Activate the brake to ensure it stays put.
See if the handlebar is comfortable for both you and your partner, and make sure you both have ample leg room as you walk with the stroller.
Every model folds differently: some in a single step, some in a two-step process after you remove the seat. A two-piece fold isn't necessarily worse than a one-piece fold, as it may make the stroller easier to lift into the car.
Don't be discouraged if you don't master the fold on the first try: You'll need a bit of practice before you get the hang of it.
That said, if you truly struggle with the fold, you may want to consider a different model. Folding the stroller is something you'll do every day, multiple times a day—sometimes with one hand, when you're holding the baby!
Lift it as if you're loading it into the car to see how heavy it is, and practice unlocking it to see how easily it springs back into place. Note how the stroller functions when folded. For example, Nuna strollers can be trolleyed like luggage, and the UPPAbaby VISTA and CRUZ strollers stand when folded for easier lifting and storage.
Look at infant car seats that are compatible with your stroller and see which one you like best, both off and on the stroller.
Test how easy the car seat is to attach and detach, keeping in mind you'll be doing this multiple times per day. Does the car seat connect directly to the stroller frame, or do you need to purchase a car seat adapter? Can the stroller seat be replaced by the infant car seat, or does the car seat sit on top of the stroller seat?
If possible, fold the stroller and see how it fits in the trunk of your car. Check out where you'll store your strolling essentials, like your diaper bag, snacks and phone.
Thanks for reading Strolleria's Ultimate Stroller Buying Guide! We hope we've helped make the decision a little less confusing.
What's Strolleria, anyway? We're a retailer of strollers, car seats and baby gear from exclusively high-quality brands. Whether you're shopping at Strolleria online or in our showroom in Scottsdale, Arizona, we're here to help you find the baby gear that's right for your family unique needs. We also offer the lowest prices available, plus a loyalty rewards program and free shipping on orders over $49.
At Strolleria, our mission is to make the gear-buying experience easier on parents. That includes you! Feel free to e-mail any of our baby gear specialists with questions at customercare@strolleria.com.
For more information Wholesale Baby Strollers, Multi-Function 3 In 1 Baby Stroller, Double and Triple Strollers, please get in touch with us!