How to Find the Best Stroller for Your Family: A Comprehensive Guide

Many single-to-double strollers cost a small fortune: But the Mockingbird stroller is the solution to that expensive problem. Beloved by What to Expect parents, the Mockingbird is often compared to the Uppababy Vista V2 and touted as a more affordable yet just as convenient option.

The Mockingbird delivers so much at a fraction of the price of many luxe strollers. It converts to a double stroller with the 2nd Seat Kit for families planning on having more than one (and can even accommodate three with the Riding Board), but also is ready for use right after bringing baby home if you use the additional bassinet, a car seat adapter or infant inserts to the toddler seat. 

As far as the ride goes? Leah Rocketto, What to Expect’s Associate Commerce Director, says that the Mockingbird glides smoothly, even over bumpy pavement. She also loves the one-handed fold that “actually works,” unlike some other strollers that end up requiring two hands to push the frame down. “Many parents may write this off as unnecessary, but it comes in handy if you’re holding a child while also storing your stroller,” she says. It also comes with added bonuses like an extra-large storage basket that can hold an impressive 25 pounds.

The Chicco Bravo Quick-Fold is one of the more popular strollers in the What to Expect community, and parents love how versatile and generously sized it is given its lower price point.  The forward-facing seat is appropriate for babies 6 months and older, but if you have a newborn, you can easily snap in any Chicco infant car seat to create a versatile travel system — no adapter needed. (If you’re also in the market for a car seat, know that the Chicco Bravo travel system is also very popular and you can save by buying both together.)

The Bravo’s features are impressive and rival those of many higher-end strollers. Think: a UPF canopy, multi-position seat recline, adjustable handlebar (ideal for taller parents), mesh peekaboo window, cup holder and parent tray with plenty of storage for a phone (an underrated feature for long walks). The whole thing swiftly folds with one hand and a single motion which, true to its name, is incredibly easy to do.

Parents say the Bravo works very well on smooth surfaces, though it can be harder to push on bumpier ground. Also, keep in mind that this is a single stroller, so it can’t convert to add more seats in the future, if flexibility is important to you.

For parents on the go, you can’t beat the flexibility and convenience of the Doona, which is actually a hybrid car seat and stroller that weighs just 16.5 pounds.

Simply click a button, and the Doona goes from a stroller to a car seat. The wheels fold in for car rides, then fold back out again to stroll. Use it on planes, trains and automobiles — this system works no matter where the wind takes you.

Don’t expect it to perform quite as well as dedicated strollers, though. The wheels won’t take bumps quite as easily. And because it’s not a true stroller, it’s not the best place for baby to sit for prolonged periods of time. Still, many parents find the convenience of going from car to sidewalk is well worth it.

The biggest downside is longevity — or lack thereof: Once baby hits 35 pounds or 32 inches — somewhere around 1 year old, though often sooner for some children — and outgrows the car seat, you’ll need to spring for both a new car seat and a new stroller. So while it can be an incredibly convenient option, some parents dislike how short a lifespan it has, especially considering that for the price ($550) you could also buy a full-size stroller that would last for a number of years.

For more details on this hybrid piece, read one mom’s honest review of the Doona stroller. 

Sometimes you need a heavy-duty stroller with all the bells and whistles. Other times, you just need an umbrella stroller. Lightweight and smaller than a full-size stroller, umbrella strollers are ideal for on-the-go families. And the 13-pound Summer Infant 3Dlite Convenience Stroller is one of the most popular options within our What to Expect community.

Many umbrella strollers don’t recline, so parents love that the Summer Infant 3Dlite has four different reclining positions, which can help ensure your baby can sit and even sleep comfortably. (Just remember that strollers should not be used for routine sleep, and you should keep a close eye on your little one while she snoozes.) Despite its lighter weight and slimmer profile, this stroller still delivers many of the features you’d want in a stroller of any size — anti-shock front wheels, lockable rear wheels and a large storage basket for anything you need to tote. It's also offered at a lower price point than other strollers.

The Summer Infant 3Dlite Convenience Stroller is also quite sturdy, despite its flexibility, so it takes sidewalks and slightly bumpy terrain in stride. At the end of the day, this stroller is a great way to transport babies who weigh as much as 50 pounds — that’s well into toddlerhood. Because of this, many parents say this is one of the best options for traveling as well as for quick errands.

The AAP warns against hanging bags off the handlebars of any stroller, since the extra weight can cause them to tip backwards. But that’s especially important with an umbrella stroller, because they're so lightweight and, therefore, more tip-prone.

Parents agree that if you’re expecting your first baby but hope to continue expanding your family in the year ahead, the Vista V2 is a great investment. That’s probably one of the reasons why the Uppababy Vista V2 has won Best Stroller in our What to Expect Mom Must-Have Awards four years in a row.

A convertible stroller, the Vista V2 starts as a single but can be easily converted to a double with the addition of the brand’s RumbleSeat V2 (sold separately). It can also accommodate up to two infant car seats with adaptors (also sold separately) as a travel system. “I invested with this stroller for my first kid because I liked that it could convert to a double stroller,” says Karen Sly, What to Expect’s finance director.

The Vista V2 has the high-end features you’d expect from a luxury stroller, including one-handed folding (“It’s shockingly easy to set up with one hand, which you wouldn't expect from a stroller of this size and weight,” says Leah), a height-adjustable canopy and 100% full-grain leather accents.

Another plus is the superior shock absorption: Lisafe Carreon, What to Expect’s senior project manager, calls it “the Land Rover of strollers.” Leah adds that “I’ve used this on smooth sidewalks, cobblestone streets and muddy fields, and it provides a smooth, seamless ride every time.”

Parents also rave about the under-carriage storage, which is on the roomier side compared to many other stroller on the market. “I love the size of the basket,” Karen says. “It can carry everything we need.”

The bigger frame, ability to add extra seats and roomy storage basket do add bulk: Like many other double and convertible strollers, some reviewers say it can feel a bit heavy to push and is on the larger side when folded. And while the wheels are very responsive, they’re also wide, and some parents find it tricky to maneuver the Vista V2 through tight spaces.

The Vista V2 is also one of the more expensive strollers on our list, although many parents say they’ve been able to use the same model with multiple children, making it a solid long-term investment. “Almost three years later, it's still in great shape,” Karen says.

Once you experience the ease of maneuvering a Bob Jogging Stroller, you may never want to use any other baby stroller ever again. The beloved jogging stroller is incredibly durable and has unmatched suspension (it has a mountain bike-style suspension system!) for a super smooth ride, whether jogging down a trail or taking a stroll around the neighborhood. The model also has oversized tires and an aluminum frame that makes maneuverability a breeze. It truly glides around like butter. What to Expect parents say this stroller has held up over hundreds of miles and navigates different types of terrain with ease. 

There’s plenty more to love, including convenience features that rival those of your everyday stroller — think things like adjustable handlebars, large undercarriage storage, a magnetic “peek and chat” window and a UV 50+ sun canopy. The only downside is that at 28.5 pounds, this stroller is on the heavier side and can be harder to get in and out of a car.

When you’re done for the day, the two-step fold quickly gives it a smaller footprint. It doesn’t go quite as flat as some other strollers, but you can remove the wheels to make it even more compact if you’re storing it long-term.

The Baby Jogger City Select 2 Double Stroller is a popular choice among parents of multiples in the What to Expect community. This is a convertible double stroller, meaning it can be used as a single stroller initially then changed to a double by adding a second seat. You can also use the City Select 2with two seats and a back glider board, allowing you to push three children at once. (Just note that the second seat and glider board are sold separately, so if you intend to use this as a double stroller from day one, make sure to purchase the second seat, too.)

Reviewers appreciate how compatible this stroller is with a variety of car seats — an especially helpful feature for parents of multiples who drive often. It can be much easier to attach a car seat into a stroller as a travel system than unclip and re-clip two babies every time you make a stop. Baby Jogger, Britax, Chicco, Cybex, Graco, Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, Peg Perego and UPPAbaby infant car seats all work in this stroller (you’ll have to purchase adapters separately, however). And because it’s narrower than most side-by-side double strollers (and many convertible doubles, too), you’ll likely find it easier to maneuver in tight spaces, making it an equally good choice for families who live in cities.

Other nice features include reclining seats, a UV 50+ canopy with a peekaboo window (helpful to easily check on baby when she’s forward-facing), a telescoping handlebar and one-handed fold.

Most strollers designed for multiples have just two infant or toddler seats with an optional rider board for an older child. But families with triplets or three under 5 have a much harder time finding a stroller that can fit their whole brood. One of the few options on the market that can accommodate larger families is the Zoe The Triov2, the updated version of the brand’s Trio+. (If you have four kids, the brand also has its Tribe+ stroller that starts as a quad and can be downsized to a double.)

The Triov2 would be an excellent stroller regardless of how many children it could seat. Although it’s not designed for newborns, it reclines 140 degrees (in twin mode) or 120 degrees (with the third add-on seat) and is safe for babies 3 months and older who have good head control. Strollers that accommodate multiple children are often on the bulky side, but this one manages to be as sleek as possible: It has a lightweight aluminum frame, a slim profile and can fold up easily. If you have twins and a toddler, you’ll also appreciate that it can convert down to a double when your older child outgrows the stroller years. 

There are also a number of nice-to-have features included, such as a parent cup holder, two child cup holders, a snack cup and adjustable footrest (notable, since those are often add-ons you pay extra for with other strollers). Many families also appreciate that it’s approved for use in Disney.

More kids typically means less maneuverability, so it’s not very surprising that The Triov2 isn’t the easiest to push on tough terrain. But on pavement, parents say it works well. And you can’t beat the price and design for larger families. 

A travel system is a full-size stroller and a compatible infant car seat that clips into the stroller when you're on foot or into the car. Many parents appreciate that these seat-stroller combos allow you to travel with your baby from infancy right up through the toddler years. They can also be a more economical way to purchase two pieces of essential baby gear at once that can otherwise be pretty pricey.

When it comes to value, few travel systems deliver quite like the Graco Modes line. And the brand’s 3 Lite DLX model is particularly great. The price for both the stroller, compatible infant car seat and car seat base is $320 — car seats alone can cost that much, and quite a few of the standalone strollers on this list top that price, too. You can fit any Graco infant car seat directly into the frame or seat with a one-step attachment, making it incredibly easy to take your baby from car to stroller and back again.

Graco is a trusted name in the baby world, so you can feel confident that you won’t be sacrificing quality either. “This travel system offers a great price point, and I think you get good quality for that price point,” says Kimberlee Beck, What to Expect’s engagement marketing manager. She loves the stroller’s one-handed fold and the fact that it stands up on its own when closed, as well as its versatility — there are nine seat configurations you can take advantage of. 

The Graco Modes 3 Lite DLX is technically the line’s jogging stroller, which Kimberlee says helps make it so easy to maneuver. The two front wheels, which are close together, make turning corners a breeze. “It’s not too heavy to handle, either,” she says. 

While the stroller is uncomplicated to fold, Kimberlee does wish it was easier to open. “You have to hold the lock feature open while maneuvering the handle and then it opens toward you,” she says. Reviewers also say that this stroller isn’t quite as shock-absorbing and smooth as some of the pricier models out there, so if you’ll be navigating bumpy terrain often, it may not be the best stroller choice for you. 

As far as the best strollers go, few brands have as loyal a following as the Babyzen Yoyo 2 Stroller. This stroller is incredibly popular, particularly among city-dwellers and frequent travelers, who love its sleek design and travel-friendly features.

You can fold and unfold its extremely compact design with just one hand, and it even fits in the overhead luggage bin on a plane. The two-position pop-up canopy protects your baby from the elements, and the four-wheel suspension makes sure she never feels the bumps of the road. The stroller itself weighs about 14 pounds, so if you do need to haul it anywhere, it won't be too cumbersome.

While the Yoyo 2 really shines as a travel stroller, some families do use it as their regular everyday stroller. For a lightweight stroller, the Yoyo 2 is incredibly sturdy and well-made. “Our Yo-Yo is a workhorse,” says Jamison Hermann, What to Expect’s senior video producer and father to two. “We have probably put a few hundred miles on it walking to the park, preschool and all around our neighborhood, and overloaded it with diaper bags and groceries, and it’s still going strong.”

But there are a few things to keep in mind if you choose to use the Yoyo 2 as your regular stroller. First, the under-carriage storage is significantly smaller than the baskets you’ll find on most full-size strollers — that can be tricky if you’re often running errands and need a place to stash bags or extra baby gear. What to Expect editors are also mixed on its maneuverability. Jamison has found it “easy to steer one-handed and handles cracked sidewalks decently well,” though Melissa Bykofsky, What to Expect’s executive editor, notes that the wheels can be tough to get over broken curbs.

I used the Yoyo 2 as my full-time stroller for two years while living in Brooklyn, New York (when my second son was born, we invested in a double stroller). There are definitely pros and cons in terms of the Yoyo’s ability to navigate city streets. On the one hand, it’s ultra narrow and nimble, a breeze to maneuver through tight doorways or cramped shopping aisles, and light enough to bring onto the subway. If you, like I did, live in a smaller apartment with limited storage, you’ll likely appreciate how easy it is to fold up the Yoyo 2 and put it in a closet when you get home. 

But the wheels are indeed small. I’d sometimes get stuck in a cobblestone or crack while I watched my neighbors with full-size strollers effortlessly glide by, so you’ll definitely want to take your local streets into account. And while our Yoyo 2 has generally held up very well — we’re now going on 3.5 years of heavy use — I’ve found it slightly annoying that the foam handlebar is peeling a little. 

The forward-facing seat accommodates a 6-month-old baby up to a toddler weighing 45 pounds, but Babyzen also has a newborn bassinet attachment that allows you to use the stroller from birth. (I used the newborn attachment with my firstborn and loved it, although because it’s a travel stroller, the bassinet is a bit lower than the ones on most full-size frames.) The stroller frame can also accommodate a number of infant car seats with attachments.

While a stroller wagon probably wouldn’t be your main stroller, it does offer some undeniable benefits. Although big, bulky, and harder to push than a regular stroller, families with multiple children find that stroller wagons are ideal for for shorter, more leisurely walks — think around the neighborhood, trips to the zoo or walking to the beach on vacation

Many stroller wagons, however, only have a three-point harness, which the AAP considers less safe. So the Jeep Deluxe Wrangler Stroller Wagon by Delta Children stands out in that it can fit up to two kids in safe five-point harness seats. It can also accommodate an infant car seat with adaptors (sold separately) and has tons of storage space.

At 50 pounds, this stroller wagon is definitely heavy — you wouldn’t want to be taking it in and out of your car very often. But for certain situations, parents love the flexibility it offers.

For a stroller wagon that offers a few more bells and whistles without taking up more space, consider the Larktale Caravan Coupe. Though only slightly bigger than competitors, this luxe stroller wagon offers a slew of features that make it worth the more expensive price tag. To start, there are five — yes five! — storage units that help you bring everything you need in an organized fashion. This includes a rear- or front-attaching storage basket; an inner storage console and interior mesh pockets so riders have easy access to snacks, drinks and more; an exterior mesh pocket; and a removable handlebar console to keep your necessities within reach. 

The stroller wagon features a large, foldable sun canopy with a mesh panel to ensure proper air flow, and comes with a rain cover to keep kids dry during drizzly adventures. Plus, it’s easy to fold flat for convenient storage in cars and closets. 

The Larktale Caravan Coupe can comfortably fit up to two kids, with individually reclining seats to enhance comfort. The one downside is that it’s pretty heavy at 40 pounds, but Leah says that’s a small price to pay for what the Larktale provides. 

“I was shocked that, despite being heavy, the Larktale stroller wagon is super easy to maneuver,” she says, adding that she recently used the wagon on a trip to the zoo and had no trouble weaving in and out of crowds or moving through doors. “My 2-year-old daughter and her 3-year-old friend were securely seated and had plenty of room to stretch their legs, and they were able to take in the views even with the canopy up. I especially loved and appreciated the console which held each of their water bottles and snack canisters. It gave them a sense of independence and gave me a break from constantly fetching food.”

Leah adds that the break can be a little difficult to operate when you first use the wagon, but after a few pushes it loosens for easy foot operation.  

Few travel strollers — let alone strollers in general — can compete with the GB Pockit+ All-Terrain. But this sleek and cleverly designed stroller is incredibly appealing for travelers. Not only does it weigh less than 10 pounds, but it collapses easily and efficiently (in fact, folded, it’s about the size of a bread box). So not only can this stroller fit in a large tote within the overhead bin of an airplane, but it’s a breeze to stash in your car or simply fold up and carry.

Like many travel-friendly strollers, this one can be a little light and less substantial-feeling compared to its full-size counterparts. The canopy, while made of UPF 50 fabric, is also a little on the smaller side, so you’ll want to have baby wear a hat on sunnier days. But many parents say these are small prices to pay for the GB Pockit+ All-Terrain’s amazing ease of use. Many rave about how easy this stroller is to push and maneuver, thanks to front swivel wheels, as well as the substantial storage, which isn’t always a given on lightweight strollers.

Once your little one is a not-so-little toddler, your stroller needs change. A newborn bassinet or travel system functionality is no longer necessary, and you may not feel like you need the biggest, sturdiest stroller on the block these days. Instead, you likely want a compact model that’s streamlined enough to stash away when not in use (as your tot is willing to walk more and more, you’ll use it less and less often) but is still easy to maneuver (crucial, as some strollers get harder to push as kids get heavier!) and has storage to stash various toddler items like water bottles, snacks and that favorite toy she can’t leave home without. For all of this, the Bugaboo Butterfly delivers.

The Butterfly is extremely easy to use and manage when you’re out and about, parents say, thanks to a super-simple one-handed fold (the brand claims it can be collapsed in just one second) and that it’s impressively lightweight (it’s just over 16 pounds with a number of different carrying modes). Once collapsed, it’s extremely compact — you can fold it up and put it in a closet when not in use, and it’s also small enough to put in most overhead compartments. There’s even a spacious under-carriage basket.

Though certainly on pricier side as far as more streamlined strollers go, many parents say the Bee is worth it for the longer-term use it offers: You can use it until your child weighs 50 pounds, one of the highest weight limits among the best strollers on this list, and the backrest is extra high for taller tots.