Best strollers
Strollers are a modern-day essential for many parents. They provide comfort, safety, storage, and peace of mind when you are moving your little one around town, or taking adventures to new places. More and more strollers are meeting the changing needs of families; offering options for multiples, lightweight and responsibly-sourced materials, compact and foldable, you name it.
Do you need a stroller?
A stroller is used to carry your baby or toddler from one place to the next. For most parents the primary goal of having a stroller is convenience. They are meant to supplement a baby carrier, a car seat, and your toddler’s own little feet.
Perhaps, you or your little one needs the wheeled assistance a stroller provides when navigating a tricky outdoor space, a place with heavy foot traffic, or as extra storage to keep one parent’s hands and back free from the diaper bag, sippy cups, snacks, or the just-in-case change of clothes.
Now, before we dive into the types of strollers you can choose from, it is important to note strollers come with very specific instructions for usage that should never be ignored. This is not the time to rely on old wives’ tales. You will want to follow the specific manufacturer instructions provided for any stroller you select.
For example, most strollers are not meant for babies younger than 4 to 6 months, while some strollers may require additional pieces, such as lie-flat seats or pram cots, to make them newborn-safe. Other strollers are made to attach a car seat to movie your newborn from the car to the stroller and beyond.
Beyond the newborn phase, strollers have weight and/or height requirements, specific configurations for use safely, and posted warnings to ensure you don’t inadvertently put your little one at risk. Remember, while convenient, a stroller is still a moving piece of equipment carrying your most precious cargo.
What type of stroller should you choose?
Choosing the right stroller for your family comes down to the stroller matching your lifestyle.
Are you a new mom of one, having twins, or have multiple kids close in age? Do you travel often by plane or by car? What is your tolerance for stroller weight? Do you drive a compact car, a three-row SUV or not at all? Are you splurging or want an economical choice?
Answering these questions is the first step in selecting your ideal stroller. Here are the things you’ll want to consider when choosing your own stroller:
- Budget
- Size and maneuverability
- Storage of stroller when not in use
- Number of children it needs to transport
- Most frequent environment (city streets, suburbs, subways, etc.)
After you get clear on how the stroller will be used you can select the type of stroller that matches your needs. And don’t worry, there is a stroller for almost every parenting scenario.
- Compact strollers: If space is at a premium, or you don’t want to lift a heavy piece of equipment, a compact stroller may be your choice! Lightweight, easy to use, and often able to fit in tight spaces. Compact strollers are a favorite for many parents.
- Jogging strollers: If you still want to experience your runner’s high with your baby in tow, a jogging stroller is what you need. Jogging strollers are made with motion in mind, and offer your little one a safe and snug place to learn the athletic ropes in the family. Given your speed when using these strollers, pay special attention to your stroller’s manual and follow instructions and warnings.
- Umbrella strollers: These no-frill strollers collapse like umbrellas, are ultra-lightweight, easy to use, and keep budget-conscious parents happy. Just a heads up, no-frills may mean no padding or other bells and whistles that make the ride enjoyable for your little one.
- Travel strollers: These strollers are often a mix of compact and umbrella strollers but are designed with travel in mind. That means most fit in airplane overhead bins, fold easily so you aren’t holding up passengers when boarding, and are lightweight. Many often come with durable stroller covers to prevent dings and scrapes.
- Stroller frame: If you have a car seat your newborn loves and you want to select the least disruptive option for them, a stroller frame is a great choice. Stroller frames don’t have a built-in seat, opting instead to fit car seats. This convenience does mean your baby will outgrow the stroller once they get too big for their car seat.
- Double strollers: Parents of multiples now have more options than ever. Double strollers are designed to transport more than one baby or toddler. They often come as tandem seats or side-by-side seats, and some are made to seat three or four children.
- Modular strollers: If you have kids close in age, or want max flexibility, a modular stroller is a great option. They allow you to have at least one dedicated stroller space for your baby or toddler and the ability to add “modules” to fit additional children. They are a great option for visiting theme parks or places with lots of walking.
How we chose the best strollers
With these endless options could come selection fatigue, and since there are so many strollers and families that use them, picking out the options that work can be dicey. So we data-mined decades of posts from BabyCenter’s Community, particularly seeking positive recommendations for strollers that are fairly priced, convenient, and either well-performing all-around or perfectly suited to one particular task.
After finding potential candidates, our editors then winnowed down selections to focus on the strollers that have gotten multiple positive reviews over the last year and are widely available. Keep reading to learn what made the list as our favorite jogging stroller, and which double stroller scored best with readers. And if you’re looking for a specialized stroller, perhaps our favorite jogging strollers or umbrella strollers will do.
Best stroller overall
UPPAbaby Vista V2 Stroller
The UPPAbaby Vista V2 stroller is consistently ranked as a top stroller because it combines luxury with extreme function so you don’t have to choose between the two when moving around with your little one. The Vista can safely transport your baby from birth to toddlerhood with its included lie-flat bassinet, toddler seat, and generous storage basket. Plus there are attachments and accessories that can increase the load from one baby to up to three! The best part is like any luxury purchase, the Vista doesn’t compromise on the user experience, offering your baby a smooth ride in any configuration you choose.
Heads up
The Vista V2 is on the high end of stroller price points especially if you want extra adapters, attachments, and accessories. Consider how long you might realistically use the stroller to help determine if the investment will pay off for your family.
Parents say
"I have the Vista and I love it! There's a huge basket underneath, and I love that you can turn your baby to face you or face forward. Also, I love the bassinet and that the stroller works with our car seat."
“Also love the Uppababy Vista V2 Stroller! Perfect for the baby through toddler stage! Nothing better than one purchase to last throughout their lives!"
Specs
- Stroller dimensions: 36 x 25.7 x 39.5 inches (unfolded)
- Stroller weight: 27 pounds (without the bassinet)
- Suitable for 3 months to 50 pounds
- Compatible with Mesa infant car seat
- Bassinet included
- Self-standing fold
- Basket weight capacity: 30 pounds
- Adjustable handlebar
Best newborn to toddler stroller
Evenflo Pivot Xpand Modular Stroller
The Evenflo Pivot provides families with a stroller that can grow with your family for years. It can hold your newborn with the built-in bassinet (nothing separate to switch out or lose in the closet!), then handles your growing baby as they transition to front-facing strollers. The Pivot can be configured to hold an infant car seat, a forward-facing toddler seat, and a child standing up, all at the same time, carrying a total of 55 pounds.
Heads up
The Pivot takes only Evenflo car seats without an adapter (sold separately).
Parents say
“I absolutely LOVE this stroller. My daughter hasn’t fused once while being in it. Definitely worth the money. Bonus points because it can be used as a double stroller in the future.”
“We've had our stroller for over a year and it's been wonderful. It has grown with our daughter from infancy to toddlerhood and the stroller is still in great shape.”
Specs
- Stroller dimensions: 26.5 x 41.5 x 34 inches
- Stroller weight: 28.6 pounds
- Suitable for birth up to 55 pounds
- Evenflo car seat compatible; adapter sold separately to hold select Chicco, Graco, and Peg-Perego seats
- Umbrella fold
Best jogging stroller
BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3.0 Jogging Stroller
Avid runners who don’t want to slow down after their baby love the BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3.0 because it allows their little one to be a part of the action. BOB Gear provides a comfortable, safe, and fun way to jog or run, with suspension air-filled tires and an under-seat basket that can fit every piece of workout gear you will need for your next adventure.
Heads up
Given the price point, these are often reserved for dedicated runners who need their runner’s high to get back in the groove.
Parents say
"Our BOB is the best money we've ever spent. If you get the infant car seat adapter, you don't need another stroller. Our daughter loves it and will go 5 miles, no problem."
"I love my BOB. It's so lightweight and maneuverable with one hand. It's like an off-roading stroller."
“We love our Bob stroller! We have enjoyed the ability to use it as a travel system with the Britax infant car seat. Very easy to use together! The reflective accents are perfect when walking at dusk, and it is extremely smooth when jogging - no matter the terrain!”
“Money well spent. We use it every day for 4 miles walk/run.”
Specs
- Stroller dimensions: 46 x 25 x 45 inches
- Stroller weight: 28.5 pounds
- Suitable from birth (with car seat, walking only) through 75 pounds and 44 inches
- Running/jogging beginning at 8 months
- Travel system compatible
Best travel stroller
gb Pockit Air All-Terrain Stroller
The gb Pockit Air All-Terrain stroller brings an ultra-compact design to a stroller meant for almost any surface. When folded down it carries like a handbag, making it easy to travel with, especially on an airplane. Its all-terrain wheels allow it to handle city streets, dusty country roads, and everything in between with ease. The stroller self-stands when folded, has a sun shade and breathable mesh materials, and accessory covers that ensure longevity.
Heads up
Like many other ultra-lightweight strollers, this stroller does not allow for an infant car seat attachment.
Parents say
“The GB Pockit is amazing. We have the first version too so I think the new one is even better. It can support a toddler no problem and can fold down to backpack size with one hand. The wheels look small but I was shocked how well they do. We even took ours to Italy for 10 days and pushed our 3 year old through all sorts of cobblestone and terrain.”
“I have the gb Pockit and it is amazing, it is compact enough to fit in a handbag, max weight is 55 pounds so it's going to be helpful for a long time. It's been with me for 1 year already and it looks new.”
Specs
- Stroller dimensions: 28 x 16.5 x 40.4 inches
- Stroller weight: 10.4 pounds
- Suitable for 6 months to up to 55 pounds
- No car seat attachment
Best stroller frame
Chicco KeyFit Caddy Frame Stroller
At only 11 pounds, this lightweight stroller frame has a simple game plan: Pop your infant car seat in and go! You'll actually hear an audible "click" as the car set locks into place, so you know you've done it right. Parents love the convenience of a frame – instead of a full-size stroller – that they can toss in the trunk of their car without taking up too much space. The KeyFit Caddy folds almost flat with one hand, so it's very portable. Despite the fact that it's just a stroller frame, it has a lot of the features you'd expect from a traditional stroller: a padded handle, adjustable height positions, all-wheel suspension, toe-tap brakes, an oversize basket with front and rear access, and not one but two cup holders.
Heads up
The KeyFit Caddy will not grow with your baby. Once your baby outgrows its newborn car seat, you will have to upgrade strollers.
Parents say
“We have the Chicco Keyfit 30 that we are using again with this baby. The best stroller for it is the Chicco Keyfit Caddy stroller frame.”
“4th baby here. Chicco Keyfit 30 is the best and we will be using the one we had from #3. I use a Chicco Keyfit Caddy Stroller frame for it. I used big travel systems with #1 and #2 and they were bulky to use with the car seat and pointless. For most of the first year of life, I pretty much just used the Chicco car seat in the Chicco snap stroller. SO MUCH EASIER and nicer than the huge travel systems!!!!”
Specs
- Stroller dimensions (folded): 20 x 11 x 33.5 inches
- Stroller weight: 11.6 pounds
- Chicco car seat compatible
- Self-standing fold
Best double stroller
Joovy Qool
The Joovy Qool has 56 configurations to get the most out of this innovative stroller. This means almost every possible setup is available when transporting more than one child. The Joovy Qool also boasts a genius bench seat for older kids (not just a standing option) that can be deployed if one of your older kids needs a break (insert every visit to a theme park). The Qool has nice features, including an adjustable, telescopic handlebar and front suspension for a smooth ride.
Heads up
To hold up to 135 pounds, the Joovy Qool had to sacrifice being lightweight. At 30 pounds this is not a stroller you can casually whip out of the car and set up in seconds.
Parents say
"This stroller is everything I wanted & more! With a growing family I knew I wanted something that could accommodate multiple kids so I wouldn’t have to buy a bunch of strollers."
"I’m 5 months into using my stroller and I absolutely love it! The basket is huge! It holds so much, when I grocery shop I just plop a grocery basket in the bottom and there is still extra room. The stroller is so smooth and turns on a dime!"
"I have the Joovy and I love it! Very easy to maneuver, lighter weight than my Graco double stroller. Buying the adapters was the most confusing part, but once we got the right adapters it was smooth sailing. I really like the undercarriage too. We load that thing down when we go places."
Specs
- Stroller dimensions: 39.96 x 24.80 x 40.16 inches
- Stroller weight: 30.6 pounds
- Suitable from birth (with car seat); can accommodate up to 135 pounds
- Machine-washable seat fabric
- Compatible with Britax, Chicco, Cybex, Graco, Maxi Cosi, and Nuna car seats
Best lightweight stroller
Kolcraft Cloud Plus Stroller
Want a lightweight stroller that won’t break the bank? The Kolcraft Cloud Plus has what you need for under $100. Weighing less than 12 pounds, the Kolcraft Cloud is designed for parents on the go, with surprising features for a lightweight: an extended sun canopy, a reclining and adjustable seat for your baby, two cup holder trays, and a large storage area under the seat. It also meets Disney size requirements.
Heads up
Infant car seats can not be used with this stroller, so you can only begin to use it after your child is ready to set up in a front-facing stroller.
Parents say
“We have a Kolcraft cloud plus which has been great. It’s very lightweight and easy to fold up and get in and out of the car. Since it has a child tray, we’ve used it on a few occasions as a portable high chair.”
“We bought this with our first for her first trip to Disney and it is nice! Does the job.”
Specs
- Stroller dimensions (un-folded): 17.6 x 29.9 x 41.7 inches
- Stroller weight: 11.8 pounds
- Suitable for children up to 55 pounds
- No car seat attachment
- Umbrella fold
Stroller safety notes
There are no shortage of stroller options to choose from. But before you get your heart set on a brand or must-have features, it is important to follow general safety recommendations when transporting your little one in your stroller of choice. Luckily, the American Academy of Pediatrics has you covered. Here are some stroller safety tips from the AAP.
- Always read and follow stroller manufacturer instructions
- Follow all weight, height, and age requirements
- Only use provided harness straps as described in the instructions
- Place any heavy storage items below the set to prevent tipping
- Use the brake anytime the stroller is parked or not moving
- Do not allow children to sleep in strollers, especially overnight, unless allowed in the manufacturer's instructions. Likely, approved models would involve a detached bassinet.
- Always check with your pediatrician if you are unsure about a feature or use, especially if you are caring for a child with special needs or unique circumstances that may require additional care.
- Lastly, make sure any daycare or child care centers you may use are also adhering to safety requirements and tips. Strollers provide tremendous convenience, but must still be used carefully to ensure your baby remains safe the entire ride.
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