Stroller Buying Guide: Choosing the Best Stroller for Your Family

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.

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 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.

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:

• UPPAbaby
• Baby Jogger
• Bugaboo
• Cybex 
• Doona
• Joovy 
• Larktale 
• Maxi-Cosi 
• Mockingbird 
• Nuna
• Stokke 

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

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.  

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.  

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.