Best Car Seat Stroller Frames

The Chicco KeyFit Caddy is our top-rated pick

Car seat stroller frames are a great choice for parents who don't want to commit to a permanent stroller right off the bat, or prefer a lighter-weight alternative to transporting an infant in a car seat. We advise choosing an infant car seat first based on your preferences, then buying the car seat stroller frame that fits it the best.

Paired with any of Chicco's top-rated infant car seats, the Chicco KeyFit Caddy (*Est. $100) is safe and easy to use. It also comes with an impressive list of convenience features, such as cup holders, a huge, expandable underseat basket and an adjustable handle. It folds compactly with one hand and locks when folded. It accepts only Chicco car seats, however, but they're some of the most highly rated car seats for safety and ease of use.

Critics say it's worth buying a stroller frame from the same manufacturer as your infant seat, which is why the Graco SnugRider (*Est. $70), which accepts only Graco infant car seats, is a top contender in this category. It lacks the all-wheel suspension of the Chicco, and Graco infant car seats don't perform as well in independent safety tests as Chicco models, but it costs quite a bit less. Still, if you can use the Chicco for six months or more, the cost of ownership is incredibly low for a frame that has more high-end features than strollers costing three times as much.

Unlike the Chicco KeyFit Caddy and Graco SnugRider, the Baby Trend Snap-N-Go (*Est. $80) accepts a variety of car seats. It's the original and much-copied car seat stroller frame, but isn't up to par with the newer models by Graco and Chicco. Its handles aren't adjustable, the basket is hard to access and parents are leery about the safety of a strap-in system. Most owners seem to be happy with it overall, but infant car seats and their transport options have evolved since the Snap-N-Go's heyday.