We've Tested Over 40 Strollers in the Past Four Years. These Ones Are the Best. (2024)

This stroller is great for first-time parents, parents of newborns and growing families. A newborn can lie in the bassinet before graduating to the seat while an older child stands on the Ride-Along Board accessory. Or you can purchase an additional toddler seat and turn this into a double stroller. Or snag a second bassinet if you have newborn twins. You get the idea: It's easy to install a combination of accessories to adapt this baby stroller to your changing family. If you use it with two seats plus a kickboard, you can stroll with three kids at once. You can also turn this stroller into a travel system when you purchase a compatible infant car seat, like the brand's Mesa.

Testers love the stroller's maneuverability and smooth roll thanks to premium foam-filled tires and excellent suspension that can handle bumpy terrain, including sidewalk curbs. It has a roomy toddler seat that can face either direction, comes with both a rain shield and a mesh bug shield, and includes a storage bag. We love the bumper bar for hanging a toy, and appreciate the no-rethread harness, a feature that's on many other strollers in our list as well. "A no-rethread harness is a big deal," says Rachel Rothman, formerly the chief technologist at the Good Housekeeping Institute, who used this stroller for years with her three kids. "It makes readjusting straps as your baby grows so much easier when you don't have to manually reroute the harness through the back of the seat."

If your baby loves the bassinet, we recommend buying the bassinet stand so you can also use it as a sleep space at home. Take note that the stroller itself takes up a lot of space, and the fold and unfold each take a couple of steps. To save money, some parents tell us they use the UPPAbaby Cruz instead. It's not as adaptable as the Vista (you can put a ride board on the back, but can't add a second seat) and it's just as large and heavy as the Vista, but because it comes with fewer accessories it's less expensive.

The 3Dlite is a good choice for everyday errands, travel and use with a toddler or preschooler who hops in and out of a stroller frequently, especially given the affordable price tag. Our Lab experts like that the stroller is lightweight and easy to fold. This stroller is quite compact once folded down — the fold is long and skinny, like an umbrella (that's why strollers like this are sometimes called an "umbrella stroller"). One tester noted: "The carry strap on the back lets you sling it over your shoulder if your kid insists on walking and you need to hold their hand."

This baby stroller lacks the bells and whistles of larger, newborn-ready options. The seat can't recline flat, the canopy doesn't offer much shade and the small plastic wheels aren't meant for tough terrain. Once folded, you'll need to hang it up, lean it on something or lay it down — it doesn't stand on its own. That said, you might hit a point when you feel "done" with a big stroller and crave something small and simple for your walking, talking kid. This is an affordable option that's easy to toss into the trunk of your car, take on mass transit or use for a trip to Disney World or anywhere else.

Weighing only 13 pounds thanks to its aluminum frame, the 3Dlite is one of the lightest strollers on the market, so no matter your weight lifting skills, you'll be able to manage it on your own. We also like that the handle is nearly 43 inches high, higher than many other umbrella strollers, which makes it a great choice for tall parents. Remember, however, not to put heavy items on the handlebars to avoid tipping the stroller over.

The Doona stroller is impressively innovative. It transforms from car seat to stroller in seconds, which we confirmed in our tests both in the Lab and in the real world. Because of the two-in-one-factor, parents can save space and money, since they don't need a separate infant car seat. Our experts found that you can easily maneuver this travel system stroller with one hand, making it convenient for everyday errands and crowded sidewalks.

"You can actually turn it from a car seat to a stroller with your baby still in the seat, since it's such a seamless process," Rothman says. (The brand confirmed this is safe when done properly.) When you're ready to use it as a car seat again, simply press the lever on the back of the seat while holding the front wheel in place with your foot to rotate the seat forward until the wheels lock into place underneath. Watch the video to see how it works.

Families who are happiest with a Doona are those who travel often, apartment-dwellers who want gear for small spaces, parents who rely on rideshares such as Uber or Lyft and those who are often in and out of different family cars. "The Doona is game-changer for city babies in their first year," said one parent who appreciates walking out the door with only one piece of gear. What the Doona is missing is any storage basket or parent console, so parents who use one get used to carrying along their diaper bag. Also, most babies outgrow the Doona shortly after their second birthday, which is when parents will need to switch to using a convertible car seat and a different stroller. But 90 percent of the Doona's Amazon reviews are five-star ones.

"One more thing: There's no set up required, it comes ready to go. That was huge considering we had so many other things to build," a new parent told us. "Also, the infant insert works for babies as little as four pounds. We had a preemie, so that was helpful for us."

There are more than a few things our Lab experts love about the Mockingbird stroller, like the wide wheelbase for stability and great maneuverability. Like its predecessor, the Single Stroller, this well-constructed stroller features a one-handed close and undercarriage storage that can hold up to 25 pounds of cargo.

Like the UPPAbaby Vista V2, the Mockingbird can grow with your family with the purchase of a 2nd Seat Kit and/or the ride board. It can be configured to hold one, two or three kids. But unlike that more expensive stroller, the Mockingbird doesn't come with a bassinet or accessories. The accessories are all extra, though reasonably priced, including a $140 bassinet and $25 rain cover. An infant seat insert and car seat adapter cost $35 and $45, respectively.

The fold takes some time to learn but once you get the hang of squeezing one button while you slide a lever, you'll soon be doing it one-handed while holding your baby in your other arm. The Mockingbird folds with the seat attached or removed. Mockingbird has a short video explainer.

As a mostly direct-to-consumer brand (though this stroller is also at Target), Mockingbird provides outstanding customer care, including free shipping, a month-long at-home trial period and a lifetime limited warranty on the product. (Save your receipts.) On the safety front, Mockingbird voluntarily recalled its single-to-double strollers in November 2022, due to cracking that could develop on the lower side of the stroller frame. It was followed by a recall of its single strollers in March 2023. The brand has since retooled its stroller frames, so buy new and do not accept a hand-me-down.

OUR FULL REVIEW: An Honest Look at Mockingbird Strollers

Stroller wagons have grown in popularity, and this two-seater combines all of the necessary features for a dream ride. Its compact size makes it great for families who are often driving around to outdoor destinations (parks, boardwalks, zoos, festivals, farmer's markets — you name it) because it can easily fit in your trunk. There's a cute storage basket to keep your kids' essentials nearby, and cupholder pockets for kids and parents. But as large (and heavy) as this wagon is, it holds only a third of the non-kid cargo that our best overall stroller pick does.

The appeal is that a wagon is less babyish than a stroller and so toddlers and preschoolers are usually happy customers when riding around in one. For parents, you can reverse the handle to push or pull the Pivot Xplore, making it a great stroller wagon for steering, turning and pushing. A footwell keeps dirty shoes separate from the two seats and the snack tray, and mesh fabric lets it drain if it gets wet from rain. "Each kid seat comes with its own canopy, which is key," Rothman says.

One important thing to keep in mind is that this wagon stroller isn't designed for infants, but rather kids 6 months to 5 years. It's also against Disney stroller rules so don't try to bring this or any stroller wagon into those parks. Finally, though the all-terrain wheels performed better than many other wagon strollers in our testing, they're not the best on supersoft sand. If you're a beachy family and can afford the over-$500 price, our favorite beach-buggy stroller wagon is the Veer.

Share the thrill of a good run with your kid using BOB Gear's Revolution Flex 3.0, a top-of-the-line jogging stroller. Mountain bike-style air-filled tires and suspension offer a smooth ride over all terrain, and the UPF 50+ canopy protects your little one from the sun. Lock the front wheel and use the safety strap for runs, and unlock it when running errands so it can swivel and you can make tight turns. This is also an excellent choice if you want to take a stroller to a beach or on a mountain trail.

The variety of storage pockets and the large basket help you store just about anything while out and about — there's even a phone pocket on the back. Said one tester: "This handlebar adjusts to any of nine positions, making this easily adaptable to parents who are different heights." There's a no-rethread harness that's easy to adjust as your child grows.

This robust stroller can hold a child up to 75 pounds, so it's the best stroller on our list for a big kid or extended use. Note that the large seat is age-graded for babies starting at 2 months, and to protect your baby from jostling you shouldn't take them on a run until they are at least 8 months old. (Just stick to walks from 2 to 8 months.) Even when folded, this stroller is large — about two feet by three feet with two 16-inch rear tires — so though this will fit in your trunk it will hog up some space.

Looking for a luxury ride you can use from day one? The TAVO Next, with its fancy leatherette handle and matching baby bumper bar, has a seat that folds flat for newborns. The frame features a springy suspension that allows the foam-filled rubber tires to glide over bumpy sidewalks. Our Lab pros are impressed by the magnetic buckle, which makes it easy to quickly secure a baby and get them back out again, and the TAVO has a no-rethread harness that you can easily adjust as your baby grows.

"I really appreciate that the basket has high walls and a zippered compartment inside, because I've had bags fall out of strollers that have wide but low-walled baskets," a tester said. The extendable canopy blocks out the sun during nap time and has a mesh panel you can expose for ventilation in hot climates. The handlebar adjusts for parents of different heights. The TAVO folds down toward the ground and then you can lock it and stand it up while its folded. You can also easily roll the folded stroller around by its handlebar (the brand calls that a "trolly function").

The fabric is plush and Greenguard Gold Certified for low chemical emissions. However, we recognize that premium materials may not be a priority for every family. Design touches like those are nice but make the stroller a pricier option, and this does not come with extras like a cupholder or a child's snack tray.

Despite its ultracompact size, the Butterfly packs in a lot of features. Its spacious seat, cushioning materials and leg rest make the stroller super comfortable, and the extendable canopy helps protect your child from the sun. You can secure your kid quickly, thanks to the easy-click harness. This stroller is for 6 months and older.

Our testers loved the compact size, which is ideal for family trips, since the Butterfly can fit inside airplanes' overhead compartments. In fact we named it the best overall travel stroller and it netted a GH Family Travel Award. "If you're a family that travels often, you'll be happy to have this option," one tester said. The basket can hold 17 pounds of cargo, even though the stroller itself weighs only 16 pounds. This also comes with the brand's superior rain cover. "The rain cover works insanely well. I have walked my baby through crazy rain storms and she is always dry and comfortable, I don’t even really know how it’s possible," one mom told us.

We verified in the Lab that the Butterfly can be folded and unfolded in just a second or two. (It's pretty fun, and how often can you say that about a stroller fold?) Our engineers were also wowed by its maneuverability. The small wheels are not meant for tough terrain, but if you're mostly pushing your baby along pedestrian walkways and sidewalks, this is a great choice that makes it easy to move nimbly through a crowd. "Its steering, compact fold, comfortable seat and agile wheels simply can't be beat," one tester said

This is a modular stroller system, which means you can roll either the infant car seat or the toddler seat around on the frame and face either one in either direction. It's a great choice for a stroller that can grow with your baby from birth through preschool. Our Lab pros most appreciate that this stroller comes with the KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat, which is our pick for best overall infant car seat. The car seat base has an anti-rebound bar for safety and stability. "We also like that the regular seat reclines nearly flat for a young baby," a Lab expert noted.

The stroller can fold with the toddler seat still attached, but the seat has to be in the front-facing position. The folded stroller stands on its own, without the push handle touching the ground. The mechanism to fold it is under the seat, which is a little awkward, but users soon get used it it. This stroller is then easy to store without needing to lean it against anything.

The handlebar on this stroller can't be height-adjusted but our Lab experts feel it's a nice middle height that works for most parents. Treaded rubber tires help this travel system go over most types of terrain, and we like the leatherette trim. The canopy can extend almost down to the bumper bar to offer great sun protection, and there's a mesh panel for ventilation. The stroller has a no-rethread harness and storage pockets on the back in addition to a large basket.

Thule claims that the 22-pound Spring Stroller is 30% smaller than traditional three-wheel strollers, which are sometimes called "jogging strollers" even if, as is the case with the Spring, the stroller is not meant for jogging. Like with a jogger you can lock the front wheel of the Spring so it stays straight, for fast exercise walks, or you can set it to swivel for when you need to maneuver around town. So if you love those features of a jogging stroller but want an everyday three-wheeler that is easy to store, the Spring is a great choice.

This features a compact fold and it stands on its own while in its folded position. You can fold it with one hand by pulling up on a handle under the seat. Despite the stroller's more compact size, it can fit a child up to 64 pounds, which is on the large side for maximum weight capacity. It's our favorite for bigger kids who still need a place to sit on long outings or a set of wheels for special circ*mstances like a trip to Disney World. The deep footwell keeps a big kid comfortable and the wide canopy keeps the sun out.

The Spring's large wheels are great for tackling bumpy terrain, such as a trail. "They're also great for snow, ice and big puddles," a tester told us. Our Lab experts felt that the Spring is not quite as easy to maneuver around obstacles as some of the other options, and the storage basket is on the small side, but in general it's a comfy, well-designed three-wheeler.

When we named this direct-from-the-manufacturer stroller a winner in a previous year's Parenting Awards, we said that it's an incredible value, noting, "It even comes with accessories, including a cup holder, a rain cover and a carry bag." At 16 pounds, it's not ultralightweight, but its performance is close to some strollers that are nearly 10 pounds heavier, and it folds down small enough to fit in an airplane's overhead bin.

The Colugo has a quick and simple one-hand fold. A carry strap on the back and an included carry bag mean it's simple to travel with this stroller. If you're flying and the overhead bins are full, pack this stroller into its bag and gate check it.

The basket isn't as robust as some others on this list, and the stroller requires a $95 bassinet Infant Kit if your baby is younger than 6 months old. We prefer this stroller for quick errands around town, for travel to day care or preschool and for places such as Disney World. It comes in a variety of solid colors and patterns, including a leopard print. You can buy a cute diaper tote to match the stroller color or a handlebar-hanging On the Go Organizer.

The YoYo2 is small, which is why some testers love it and others do not love it so much. Whether you like its little frame will be an individual decision, but in our testing it scored best with families who live in cities. "I love this for our everyday use around Brooklyn. It's great for narrow sidewalks and going in and out of shops and restaurants," one parent told us. "We also just took it on a trip to Australia and it was so easy to travel with. Finally, you can throw all the fabric in the washing machine."

If you like to customize the look of your stroller you can choose either a white frame or a black frame for your YoYo2. The seat comes in pretty colors such as blue, pink, taupe and aqua as well as all black. (The price on Amazon may fluctuate depending on the color combo you choose.) Folded, this lightweight stroller can be worn over your shoulder with the carry strap, and it comes with its own carry bag too if you'd rather use that. It has the tiniest folds of all the strollers on our list and fits in most airplane overhead bins. Actually doing the fold takes a couple of steps and a little practice.

Our experts found this stroller to have impressive maneuverability, especially since it has such small wheels. The storage basket is small but this also features a zippered back pocket. If you want to use this with a newborn you can buy the pretty, lightweight bassinet. But accessories like that, as well as the footrest, can start to rack up costs.

For pushing two kids, say a toddler and a preschooler, without resorting to a stroller wagon, our testers have great things to say about the Caboose. Most families put their youngest child up front with the snack tray and canopy. Then the older child has three options for riding in back either sitting in the second seat, sitting on a bench facing the parent or standing on a platform board.

The tandem-seating situation means this is more narrow than a side-by-side double stroller, which many parents appreciate. And the Caboose is made with steel-frame parts and a decent suspension system, which makes it robust and smooth-rolling. "We've traveled all over the world with this and it's a real workhorse," one parent told us. If you're taking two kids to Disney, this one is park-approved.

The Caboose Too comes with a universal car seat adaptor so you can sit in a newborn in the front seat from birth, if you use the stroller with your own car seat attached. (The adaptor replaces the snack tray; there's a YouTube tutorial.) And it's hard to beat the price of this double. But now the downsides: The basket is small and hard to reach, so we recommend adding on the $30 parent organizer. The seats do not recline as far back as they do on some other strollers and the canopy won't really shade your big kid in the back. Also, when folded this is still a pretty long and wide stroller, but it compacts down fairly flat.

While expensive, this brand gets some rave reviews. "The Baby Jogger City Mini is the perfect balance of substantial and travel-friendly," one parent told us. In Lab testing, we found that even with the two seats, the City Mini was easy to fold. (It basically collapses in half.) Each seat offers individually adjustable calf support, an individual canopy and near-flat recline, so both of your children can get comfy in their own way. Plus, the all-wheel suspension and rubber tires are great for most types of terrain. We named it the best overall double stroller.

In spite of the brand's name, this particular Baby Jogger stroller is not meant for jogging. You can walk fast with this though, and the hand brake makes it easy to start and stop the stroller. There's a huge variety of accessories you can purchase to help customize it, from a glider board to carry a third child to a belly bar that can help keep your little bugs snug. This double stroller meets Disney Park size requirements. (And we see online reviewers who say that the near-flat recline meets their kids' Disney nap requirements!)

With separate car seat adaptors, this double stroller is compatible with many Graco and Baby Jogger infant car seats. The handlebar can be moved up and down to better fit parents of different heights. The storage basket is wide but shallow. Note that if you're pushing only one little one, the City Mini is also offered as a single stroller.

The Good Housekeeping Institute's engineering and parenting pros have reviewed 40 strollers over the past four years using a combination of in-Lab and at-home tests with both expert and consumer reviewers. And we're reviewing new strollers all the time!

We ask manufacturers to provide American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) certification to verify that each stroller passed ASTM's safety standards. Before we recommend a stroller we like to have a Lab expert or consumer test in real-world conditions for at least a year. We also test strollers with babies of different ages and with families who have different everyday use patterns. Finally, we pour over online reviews to make sure we're not missing any pain points or favorite features.

Strollers can range from a hundred bucks to more than a thousand dollars, so we suggest you weigh which features you need in a stroller versus what features you can live without to find the sweet spot of value and usability.

Fair warning: Few of us make it through parenthood with only one stroller. Often you buy something for your first baby and then find yourself buying another down the line, such as a lightweight travel stroller for the toddler years and then maybe a double stroller if you add another child. What we're saying is, your first stroller is unlikely to be your last, and you'll learn as you go what you really like and don't like about any given model.

Our parenting product pros recommend taking into account the following features:

✔️ Safety: Pay attention to a stroller's maximum weight and height capacity. Look at the minimum age, too: Not all strollers are safe for newborns. You never want to put a newborn baby in a stroller without a seat that reclines nearly flat, because at that age they still need neck support. If your stroller lets you put your infant car seat on top, that is another safe way to transport an infant, but be sure your stroller and your car seat are compatible before you buy.

✔️ JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) Certification: Look for strollers that have this certification, which signifies that they meet minimum government requirements on safety and use, as tested by an independent third party.

✔️ Adjustable handlebar: If you're looking for a stroller for tall or short parents, a telescoping handlebar that can be raised and lowered to varying heights really helps.

✔️ Reversible seat(s): Some strollers give you the ability to turn the position of the seat from rear-facing to forward-facing. The latter is beneficial as your child gets older so they can engage more with their environment.

✔️ Large undercarriage storage: This comes in handy for carrying all the baby essentials, big and small.

✔️ Large canopy: You'll want a well-designed canopy that's large enough to cover your child from the sun or wind.

There are many types of strollers on the market. All are good at something; none are good at everything. Below are six stroller styles to know about:

✔️ Full-sized stroller: Standard-size strollers can often be used from birth to kindergarten. Full-sized strollers typically feature the most storage, full-coverage canopies and seats that can recline. Often they have a snack tray or a bumper bar and parent extras, like storage pockets or cupholders. Do the fold up tiny and are they lightweight? No and no. But they are comfy workhorses for everyday use in your hometown.

✔️ Modular stroller: Many of the newest strollers come in pieces. There's a frame, and then you can add on a car seat, a toddler seat, a bassinet, a second seat — you name it. Some come with lots of options, and with others you buy each piece separately. You might see modular strollers advertising many configurations, because the seats can face toward the person pushing or out toward the world. These are the most customizable kinds of strollers and the best for adapting to your changing family needs. But when it comes to storage, there are a lot of parts to put away and keep track of, and modular strollers are often expensive.

✔️ Lightweight stroller: Often referred to as "umbrella" or "compact" strollers, lightweight strollers can fold up to the size of a traditional umbrella or into a neat square. Although they're great for travel and storage, they usually aren't meant for newborns and don't offer as much undercarriage storage. Because they're light you have to be careful how much you try and hang from the handles because you don't want to tip your's over. The good news is that lightweight strollers are often (but not always) the least expensive.

✔️ Double stroller: Double strollers feature two seats, making them perfect for twins or siblings. The two seats may be set up side by side or in tandem, front to back. Double strollers are by definition larger and heavier than single strollers.

✔️ Jogging stroller: These strollers are designed to be sturdy enough for you to jog while your baby rests safely inside — usually thanks, in part, to a locking front wheel. If you'll run with a stroller you should always use the safety strap as well.

There are also three-wheeled strollers that people refer to as "jogging strollers" even though they are just standard, full-size strollers with three wheels instead of four. Be sure you're crystal clear about how you want to use a three-wheeled stroller before you buy it: Don't accidentally buy one that's not built for running and then try to run with it.

✔️ Travel system: A stroller that comes sold with an infant car seat is called a "travel system" or a car seat stroller combo, and can be used from birth. Remove the car seat from the stroller and snap it into a car seat base in your vehicle — and, vice versa, you can take the car seat out of your car and snap it right onto the stroller frame. The big advantage is you don't need to unbuckle and re-buckle your infant as you move from your vehicle to strolling.

The Good Housekeeping Institute provides expert reviews and advice on everything a parent needs, including strollers. See our reviews of healthy organic baby food, developmentally appropriate infant toys and what you really need, the best drip coffee makers.

Contributing writer Jessica Hartshorn wrote this guide based on her 25 years of experience reviewing baby products, including strollers. She worked previously at Parents magazine and before that at American Baby magazine, and has appeared on outlets such as the TODAY Show and CBS News to talk about baby products and parenting issues.

For more than 15 years, Rachel Rothman, former chief technologist and director of engineering at the GH Institute, put her training in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics to work by researching, testing and writing about parenting products. As a mom to three kids 7 and under, she personally tested many of the products we recommend here.