Travel systems (car-seat stroller combos) bundle three baby necessities into one convenient box: infant car seat, car seat base and stroller. The idea is that you won't have to disturb your baby's sleep when you move her from the house to the car to the stroller -- simply snap the car seat onto the stay-in-car base or onto the stroller. All of the pieces are color-coordinated, too.

The drawback is that many of these car-seat stroller combos are big and heavy -- some weigh nearly 40 pounds. And experts say the strollers that come with some travel systems are junk. Once the baby outgrows the infant car seat (usually at age 1), many parents find themselves shopping for a lighter, better stroller.

We did find a couple of lightweight travel systems that get good reviews for safety and usability for both the car seat and the stroller. Or you might try an alternative: Some top-rated strollers that are sold by themselves (including some jogging and double strollers) offer adapters that allow you to hook on an infant car seat that you buy separately. Or, if the stroller you really want doesn't offer this, you can buy an inexpensive, lightweight stroller frame (no built-in seats, accommodates car seat only) to use until your baby grows out of the infant car seat. Of course, you don't have to use a car seat with your stroller at all, if the seat reclines enough to support a newborn -- although this might disturb the baby's sleep as you transfer her in and out of the stroller.

If you're shopping for a travel system, experts give the following advice:

  • Avoid buying a used travel system. It may seem like a tempting bargain, but worn mechanisms and potential recall notices should make you wary of buying a used car seat. In addition, car seats come with an expiration date -- that's because over time (experts say about six years) plastic can dry out and degrade, making the car seat susceptible to cracking.
  • Five-point harnesses are the most secure. Some strollers use a three-point belt (around the waist and between the legs). This is acceptable, but some parents say their toddlers quickly learned how to wiggle out of a three-point belt. Many strollers have a five-point belt (which also goes over the shoulders) -- like the harness infant car seats use.
  • When looking at a travel system, make sure to pay close attention to the wheels. Front and rear swivel wheels are easier to move; larger wheels mean a smoother ride. Some fancier strollers now come with air-filled wheels, but this significantly adds to the cost. In addition, note the wheel brakes. Some have one wheel that can be locked, others have two. No matter how many wheels lock, never leave the stroller unattended with the baby in it.
  • Check the stroller for balance. Make sure the travel system doesn't tip backwards when light pressure is placed on the handlebars, and check for sturdiness and stability (such as a wide wheel base with seat mounted low and deep within the frame). This may be more difficult to judge with a car seat/universal frame combination, so make sure to try this out at the store before you make your purchase.
  • Taller parents may want longer or adjustable handlebars for easier pushing. Many of the more popular travel systems are equipped with adjustable bars so that taller parents may push the stroller with as much ease as shorter parents. A tip for effective shopping is for all primary users of the stroller to shop together so that everyone has a chance to test out the handle height.
  • Think light. Don't let fancy features lure you into buying a bloated, heavy travel system -- what one top source calls a "baby Hummer." Some popular travel systems weigh almost 40 pounds -- and that's before you add a baby. Reviews caution that although these travel systems might seem luxurious for your tiny newborn, they'll just feel unwieldy once your baby is adding another 20 pounds to the weight. When you're testing a travel system, make sure the folded stroller fits in the trunk of your car, and that you can lift it without straining.

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