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Stroller Buying Guide: Choosing the Best Stroller for Your Family

A stroller is a must-have baby item and one of the most important purchases you’ll make when it comes to baby gear. Just like parenting, picking a stroller is personal and every family is different. This guide introduces the seven types of strollers and who they work best for, so you can make an informed decision on the ideal fit for your family.

All-Purpose

Best For
Everyday activities

Age Range
Infancy through toddler years

GoodBuy Gear Pricing
$68-$849

All-purpose strollers, also known as full-size strollers, are just how they sound. They serve several purposes and are great for everyday tasks like grocery shopping, walks around the block or trips to a theme park. These strollers are dependable and convenient, usually coming with handy features like cup holders, sun shades and storage baskets.

Pros

  • Often connects with car seat, allowing easy transferring
  • Often have large storage baskets
  • Often have cup holders
  • Often have reclining seats

Cons

  • Bulky and heavy
  • May take some effort to fold down


Our Recommendations:

UPPAbaby CRUZ

Bugaboo Fox

UPPAbaby VISTA V2

Mockingbird Single to Double


Travel Strollers

Best For
Travel, urban families or small cars

Age Range
6 months or older

GoodBuy Gear Pricing
$86-$434

Similar to all-purpose strollers, travel strollers are just how they sound—they’re great for travel. They’re also called lightweight strollers because of their slim design and weight (most are 15lbs or less). The best part? They’re easy to fold and have a slim profile making them great for families who travel a lot or families who have limited storage space in their home or car.

Pros

  • Designed for portability
  • Lightweight compared to other strollers
  • Some can fit in overhead airplane bins
  • Fold easily and compactly

Cons

  • They don’t offer many features or much storage
  • Some lack all the features found on full size strollers
  • Suspension and shock absorption can be suboptimal
  • Bumpy terrain can be tricky to navigate

Our Recommendations:

UPPAbaby MINU

Babyzen YOYO2

Larktale Chit Chat

Baby Jogger City Tour 2


Travel Systems

Best For
Suburban families running errands

Age Range
0-6 months

GoodBuy Gear Pricing
$199-$849

Stroller travel systems are a stroller, infant car seat, car seat base and adaptors (if needed) all in one. You can think of it as a stroller that breaks up into a car seat. A lot of the parents at GoodBuy Gear love travel systems because of the convenience factor (like not waking baby from a nap when you have to move from the car seat back to the stroller).

Pros

  • Easy to get little one in and out of the car
  • Takes the confusion out of finding a car seat that clicks into a stroller base
  • Everything comes in one box

Cons

  • They are big and bulky
  • Can be expensive


Our Recommendations:

Nuna Tavo

Baby Jogger City Tour 2

Chicco Bravo

Evenflo Pivot


Double Strollers

Best For
Families with two children under 4

Age Range
0-4 years

GoodBuy Gear Pricing
$119-$945

Double strollers have seats for two children. These types of strollers are best for families with twins or two kids who are close in age. They typically offer two seating options: side by side and tandem, where one child sits behind the other.

When shopping for a double stroller, keep in mind the age of your children and the type of seating option you’ll want. If you have two kids further apart in age, choose a stroller with two different seats, like the Joovy Caboose. If you have twins or two kids close in age, the Baby Jogger City Select works well. When it comes to seating options, you’ll want to get tandem if you live in a city or are often going through doors and elevators.

Pros

  • Two seats
  • Two seating options (side by side or tandem)
  • Most have dual cup holders, large sun shades and decent-sized storage baskets

Cons

  • They tend to be BIG
  • On the pricier side


Our Recommendations:

Baby Jogger City Select

Baby Jogger City Mini GT2

Joovy Zoomx2

Joovy Caboose Too Ultralight


Convertible Strollers

Best For
Families looking to expand

Age Range
0-4 years

GoodBuy Gear Pricing
$207-$849

Convertible strollers are strollers that can be converted from a single stroller to a double (or even triple!) stroller. Just like double strollers, they come with two seating options (side by side and tandem) and are great for families who have an infant, but are looking to expand soon.

Pros

  • Versatile for a family planning to expand
  • Can be both a single stroller and a double
  • Most offer a variety of seat configurations upping your chances of keeping two kids happy

Cons

  • They tend to be large and heavy
  • More expensive


Our Recommendations:

Nuna Demi Grow

Uppababy Vista V2

Mockingbird Single to Double

Bugaboo Donkey 3 Mono


Jogging Strollers

Best For
Active parents

Age Range
6-8 months and older

GoodBuy Gear Pricing
$126-$499

Bring baby along on your next jog (or fast-paced mom walk) with a jogging stroller. While great for working out, they can also be taken on outdoor adventures like hikes. Jogging strollers are typically designed with three oversized wheels in order to handle uneven surfaces and bumpy terrain.

Pros

  • Very sturdy
  • Great for running (of course)
  • Good on bumpy terrain like trails and grass
  • Most come with sun shades
  • Some come with hand brakes

Cons

  • Tires can require more maintenance
  • Due to their sturdiness, they can be heavier
  • Bulky


Our Recommendations:

BOB Gear Revo Flex 3.0

Thule Urban Glide 2

Baby Trend Expedition

Phil & Ted's Inline Double

How to Choose a Stroller

A big piece of the puzzle when it comes to buying a stroller is your lifestyle and where you live. You’ll want your stroller to fit into your lifestyle—whether that be walks through the park, storage in a compact apartment or being approved for Disneyland.

When picking out the best baby stroller, here are the top things you’ll want to look for and keep in mind.

  • Size of family: If you’re one and done when it comes to children, look for something more simple like an all-purpose or travel stroller. However, if you plan on expanding your family, a stroller that accompanies more than one child (like a double stroller or convertible stroller is your best bet.

  • Where you live: Live in the city where you’ll be lugging your stroller on a subway or four-story walk-up? Consider something like a travel stroller that is light and foldable. Will you be pushing your stroller on tough terrain? All-purpose strollers have thick wheels that work great for this. If you live in a city and need a double stroller, opt for a tandem as it will get through a lot more doors than a side-by-side!

  • Storage space: If you live in a small space or have a car with limited storage, you’ll want to look for a stroller that is small and foldable like a travel stroller.

  • Lifestyle: Consider how active you are and where you plan on taking your stroller. If you’ll be traveling by plane, a travel stroller is a must. If you’ll be hiking or running, a jogging or all-purpose stroller might be right for you. If you plan to be in and out of the car a lot, consider a car seat carrier or travel system.

  • Price: Strollers come at a variety of price points, so look for one that is within your budget. If price is important to you, consider shopping with retailers like us that offer an average of 50% off retail.

  • Height and weight limits: Every stroller will have height and weight limits. Consider how old your child is not and what they weigh before purchasing. You don’t want to buy a stroller that they’ll grow out of in a month.

  • Size of stroller: If your husband is 6 foot 5 and you’re on the shorter side (or vice versa!), make sure to look for a stroller with adjustable handles so you both can use it comfortably.

Stroller Features: What to Look For

Photo of the parts of a stroller

Strollers come with a lot of basic features that you’ll want to take a close look at to ensure they’ll match your lifestyle and family. Here are some of the top features to keep in mind:

  • Canopy: A canopy will protect baby from the sun and rain. Bonus points if it’s adjustable!

  • Storage: Some strollers come with storage baskets or an undercarriage. This allows you to hold important items like diapers, snacks and your purse.

  • Safety features: Most importantly, make sure your stroller is safe. All strollers from trusted retailers should be, but if you’re unsure, read through the CPSC’s Stroller Standards.

  • Reclining features: If you plan to use a stroller for your newborn you’ll need to look for reclining features like bassinet mode or make sure it can be used with a carrier.

  • Sturdy wheels: Even bumpy sidewalks can cause wear and tear on wheels. Look for wheels that are thick if you plan to be on any uneven terrain.

How Much Does a Stroller Cost?

How much should you spend on a stroller will depend on a lot of factors, but the general price range for strollers is around $50-$300 for traditional strollers and $700-$1,000+ for high-end strollers. However, if you shop used or open box with us you’ll get an average of 50% off retail.

Top Stroller Brands We Recommend

At GoodBuy Gear, we’re lucky to sell over 40 stroller brands and have insight into which products parents love most. Here are some of the most popular stroller brands we sell today:

 

Looking for more newborn gear recommendations? Check out our Must-Have Newborn Essentials List.

Stroller FAQs

When Should You Start Buying a Stroller?

You can buy a stroller whenever you want. However, we recommend starting shopping for a stroller around 16-20 weeks before your stomach is too big. That way you can see how the stroller fits with your body and can practice folding it.  

Can You Put a Newborn in a Stroller?

You can put a newborn in a stroller only if the stroller reclines. Newborns are unable to hold their heads up so you need to make sure your stroller reclines and will support them.  

How Long Do Strollers Last?

There is no expiration date for how long you can use a stroller. However, how long a stroller lasts will depend on the brand. Some cheaper brands would wear down in less than a year, while the best, quality brands can still be in shape after 10 years. The biggest thing to note is safety. There were some big standards and safety changes made in 2015, so we recommend buying a stroller that was built any time after that.

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