Start With Newborn Timing
If you're buying before your baby arrives, decide early whether you want a true bassinet or pram mode versus relying on a compatible infant car seat clicked onto a travel system frame.
Both are safe and common approaches; the bassinet option costs more but gives a flatter sleep surface, while the travel system approach often costs less and reuses a car seat you need anyway.
Match the Stroller to Where You'll Use It
City sidewalks and errands: prioritize a compact fold and easy one-hand maneuvering over large wheels or suspension.
Parks, trails, and uneven terrain: look for larger wheels and some form of suspension, which noticeably smooths the ride over cracks and light trail terrain.
Running: a standard all-terra in stroller isn't enough.
Running specifically calls for a locking front wheel and larger wheels built to handle running-speed impacts.
Check Practical Fit
Measure your trunk space before buying anything bulky.
Premium modular strollers fold larger than compact travel systems, and that difference matters in a small trunk or a tight apartment closet.
If you'll fold and unfold the stroller one-handed while holding your child, a genuine one-hand fold mechanism is worth prioritizing over one that requires two hands or removing the seat first.
Our picks
Products we recommend
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Picks are based on manufacturer specs, independent reviews and owner reports.
Best overallBOB Gear
Suspension and air-filled tires produce a noticeably smoother ride than crossover joggers on trail or uneven pavement
- Swivel-locking front wheel
- Mountain-bike-style suspension with air-filled tires
- Adjustable handlebar
- 6 storage pockets including a cell phone pocket
- Extra-large UPF 50+ canopy
✓ Pros
- Suspension and air-filled tires produce a noticeably smoother ride than crossover joggers on trail or uneven pavement
- Swivel-locking front wheel gives true running stability when locked and everyday maneuverability when unlocked
- Adjustable handlebar fits a wide range of parent heights, useful when both parents run with it
- 6 storage pockets are a real convenience on longer runs
✕ Cons
- Larger folded footprint than everyday strollers, less ideal for small trunks
- Air-filled tires can go flat and need occasional inflation, unlike foam-filled alternatives
Top pickUPPAbaby
Included bassinet gives a genuinely flat, crib-like surface, no separate purchase needed
- Included bassinet rated from birth to 20 lbs
- One-step fold, stands on its own when folded
- Converts to single-to-double system with add-on seats
- Extendable UPF 50+ canopy with mesh peekaboo window
- Compatible with Mesa, Aria, and most major infant car seats via adapter
✓ Pros
- Included bassinet gives a genuinely flat, crib-like surface, no separate purchase needed
- Grows from bassinet to toddler seat to a double stroller for a second child
- One-step fold works with the bassinet or toddler seat still attached
- Large, adjustable canopy with a mesh panel for airflow on warm days
✕ Cons
- Bulkier and heavier than umbrella-style or compact strollers
- Bassinet is an included accessory, not the everyday seat, so it still needs the toddler seat purchased or swapped later
Best overallKolcraft
Cloud Plus for the flattest fold and lightest lift in this list.
- 13 lb lightweight frame
- Folds to roughly 12 by 34 inches
- Multi-position reclining seat
- 3-tier extendable canopy with peekaboo window
- Supports up to 50 lbs / 40 inches
✓ Pros
- 13 lbs and a genuinely flat fold make it the easiest stroller in this list to lift into a small trunk one-handed
- Folds flatter than most umbrella strollers, leaving more trunk space for other cargo
- Reclining seat and large canopy are unusually full-featured for such a light, compact frame
✕ Cons
- No infant car seat compatibility, designed for toddlers who can sit supported
- Smaller wheels mean a noticeably bumpier ride on rough sidewalks than full-size strollers
- Storage basket is smaller than mid-size and full-size strollers
FAQ
Common questions
Do I need a stroller with a bassinet for a newborn?
A newborn can ride safely in a compatible infant car seat attached to a travel system stroller, which most parents already need for the car. A true bassinet or pram mode adds a flatter, more crib-like surface and is worth prioritizing if you plan to use the stroller heavily in the first few months, but it isn't a safety requirement.
Do I need a jogging stroller if I just want to walk, not run?
Jogging-style strollers with large suspension wheels and a locking front wheel do offer a smoother ride on uneven sidewalks, but a standard all-terra in travel system covers most walking needs without the extra bulk and cost of a dedicated jogger.
Should I buy one stroller or a lightweight second stroller for travel?
Many families do end up with two: a full-featured everyday stroller and a lightweight umbrella or compact-fold stroller for air travel, theme parks, or grandparents' houses. If budget only allows for one, prioritize the everyday stroller and add a lightweight option later if travel needs come up.
Keep researching
Related guides & comparisons
