When we were new parents, we had no idea what we needed in a baby stroller. Sure, we wanted one that folded up to be compact, but beyond that, we had no idea which features were important. It turns out that baby prams and strollers are a grass-is-greener type of baby gear: you always want the model that you don’t have. To help you make the right decision, we’ve assembled this guide which includes reviews of some of the best baby strollers. All of these are strollers for single babies; visit the Best of Twins website’s twin or double stroller reviews if you’re looking for a double stroller.
For pram and stroller reviews, we break it down in to these classes:
Contents:
Light-weight/Umbrella Strollers
Pram Style Strollers
Stroller Travel Systems
Light-weight/Umbrella Strollers
Light-weight strollers, especially umbrella strollers, are designed to be compact. They forego some stroller features to save space and weight; in the United States, umbrella-type strollers are sometimes the only kind you can take on the airplane. They’re also advantageous if you have a small car or want to save space in the home or garage.
| Contours Lite Stroller |   |
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Baby Stroller Review:This is a sleek, light-weight stroller with a contemporary look. The 6″ front and 8″ rear single wheels provide low-resistance strolling. It’s also designed so that you can maneuver it with one-hand, which is useful if you have a grocery cart or another child in tow. And it folds with one hand, too. The aluminum frame is strong, modern-looking, and keeps this stroller light enough that you can throw it into the trunk or airplane. There are some “baby comfort” features built in as well: a reclining seat with multiple positions, soft sleeve covers for the 5-point harness, and an adjustable canopy to keep out the sun, rain, and nosy strangers. |
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| Inglesina Swift 2012 Stroller |   |
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Baby Stroller Review:The 2012 Inglesina Swift stroller is a sporty and lightweight umbrella stroller. It folds into a compact shape with convenient carry handle, and the whole thing (including canopy) weighs 13 pounds. One important change made in the 2012 model is an extended canopy system, for better protection from the sun and rain. Also, there’s a roomy basket that matches the color of the seat and provides a surprising amount of cargo space. The ergonomic soft-touch handles allow for easy maneuverability, and the stroller itself is nicely padded. There are four different recline positions so you can find one that’s right for your baby. On the plus side, it folds up to be quite compact. On the minus side, if you have an “oversized” baby or toddler, this model’s probably not going to be comfortable for long periods. If not, however, this is as compact and stylish of an umbrella stroller as I’ve seen. |
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Pram Strollers
Pram strollers are the “classic” style of baby stroller – the basic design has been around over a hundred years. Today, pram strollers maintain that style with state-of-the-art features, like detachable carriers, comfortable suspensions, and rain covers.
| Roan Rocco Classic Pram Stroller |  |
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Baby Stroller Review:The Roan Rocco is a classic pram stroller suitable for multi terrain strolling. It has the traditional look of a pram, married to a modern suspension and inflated wheels for maximum comfort. Everything’s adjustable, from the height-adjustable handle bar (about 27.5 in – 43 in) to the 3-point backrest and adjustable footrest. The bassinet has convenient carry handles, a padded mattress, and a 5-point safety harness. |
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| UPPAbaby Vista Pram Stroller |   |
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Baby Stroller Review:The UPPAbaby Vista Pram Stroller is a pram and portable bassinet all in one. Both are interchangeable with no fabric swapping. This thing is well-built: welded aluminum alloy frame, high performance aluminum spoke wheels, and a shock-absorbing front and rear suspension. I really like the weather protection features. There’s a sun and weather shield that attaches to the canopy with 50 SPF sun protection. The rubber coated tires never go flat. The bassinet is made of all natural cotton and organic soybean fibers. |
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Stroller Travel Systems
Travel systems are a somewhat recent innovation in baby gear: car seats that become full-sized strollers. These are handy for a few reasons:
- They save space, as you don’t need a bulky stroller in the car. All you need is the wheeled base.
- Your baby stays in the car seat, which snaps into a stroller base. Critical if your baby’s already asleep!
- Car seats make for especially safe stroller seats.
- The car seat, base, and stroller base are included, so everything fits nicely together.
| Chicco Cortina Keyfit 30 Travel System |   |
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Travel System Review:One of the top-selling travel systems on Amazon is the Chicco Cortina Keyfit 30. This thing is stylish, and safety-oriented too. The interior is lined with “EPS” energy absorbing foam for improved impact protection. A newborn insert is included for infants from 4-11 pounds. Here’s something to love about this travel system: With one hand, you can remove it from the car, remove it from the stroller base, adjust the 5-point harness, and fold the stroller base to stash in the car. So you can hold a baby or a bag of groceries while doing all of it. Comfort is another strength: the “memory recline” seat remembers the last position the seat was in when the stroller was folded, the leg rest has 3 positions, and the laminated canopy is fully reversible. That’s key for blocking out the bright early morning or late afternoon sun. A couple of convenience features merit mentioning as well: a tray for both parent and child, cup holders, ergonomic carrying handle, and an accessible shopping basket. The brakes are a “one touch” system so you don’t have to set/unseat each rear wheel separately. Also, the Keyfit 30 base has a unique “single pull” latch adjustment to make car installation much easier. All in all, there’s a lot to like and it’s obvious why the Chicco Cortina travel system is a bestseller. |
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| Britax B-Agile Travel System |   |
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Travel System Review:I saved the best for last: currently the #1 bestselling travel system on Amazon is the Britax B-Safe/B-Agile Travel System stroller. This is a lightweight, compact stroller featuring a one-hand, quick-fold design with an automatic chassis lock. The padded, supportive seat features a 5-point harness system with head pad that is adjustable without having to rethread or unhook any straps. Safety is a priority in the design. The side impact protection distributes crash forces, shields from vehicle intrusion and contains the baby’s head and body in the event of a crash. I love the canopy on this travel system. It’s extra-large and has mesh ventilation so that you can see your baby while pushing it. The comfort-ride suspension keeps your comfortable on uneven terrain, and the 3-wheel design makes this stroller uniquely maneuverable. The stroller base is even compatible with other car seats if you get the car seat adapter. |
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