The best strollers have the following:

  • Multiple safety features: A five-point harness, one-touch linked brakes and a secure buckle are essential. Optional safety extras include a bumper (belly) bar and wrist strap. Check the canopy hinges; they shouldn't scissor. In addition, any stroller you consider should have not be the subject of recent product recalls.
  • Car-seat compatibility: For infant use, car seat adaptability is a necessity for most families.
  • General ease of use: Car seats and other accessories should change out with ease. Make sure you test your ability to access the child. The stroller should also fold and clean up easily.
  • A locking mechanism: There's nothing more irritating than folding a stroller, only to pick it up and have it unfold. Be sure the model you buy has either an automatic or manual lock when folded, although an auto lock is best.
  • A sturdy design: The stroller shouldn't tip easily in any direction, and the wheels shouldn't wobble.
  • A big canopy: These protect children from the elements and shield them from prying eyes and poking fingers.

Know before you go

Before choosing a stroller, consider the following:

The dimensions of your trunk or closet: Whether you live in the city or the suburbs, the stroller has to be stored and/or transported. Measure the trunk of your car or the closet it will be stored in to be sure the stroller you purchase fits inside. Folded specs are available for virtually all strollers on the manufacturer's website or by calling customer service. If you shop in person, take a tape measure.

Your strength: Be sure you know how much weight you can lift and whether you can comfortably lift that weight multiple times in a day if necessary. City folk should ensure they can carry 17 or more pounds in one hand while cradling an infant in the other as they get on a bus or climb stairs in the subway. Make sure the stroller has a strap, handle or some other comfortable way to carry it.

Number of years you expect to own the stroller: The weight ratings on a stroller are an important guide to when you can start using it and how long its usefulness will last. Some strollers won't accommodate an infant without a car seat or bassinet, so you might not be able to use the stroller seat until 3 to 6 months. If your children tend to be taller or larger, look for a higher weight rating so they won't outgrow the stroller by age 3.

How often you plan to use your stroller: If you plan to use the stroller a lot, be on the lookout for comfort features like a well-padded seat for older children. Infants shouldn't be in a car seat for long periods, so consider a bassinet. If your children are close in age, an optional standing board is a convenient feature.

Your environment and circumstances: Some strollers work well only on smooth terrain. If you have to walk over gravel, in light snow, on playground mulch or through grass, look for a stroller with hard rubber or foam wheels that can lock, which are appropriate for challenging terrain. If you take your baby on a lot of errands, choose a compact stroller with a narrow wheel base that's easy to maneuver; ample storage is another plus. If you walk long distances, look for all-wheel suspension and an easy push. If you take public transport, be sure you can fold the stroller easily with one hand.

Buying tactics and strategies

The following stroller shopping tips are based on common issues we see on consumer-review websites:

  • Try it out in person. It's best to test strollers in person to see whether they are comfortable to maneuver, particularly if you're tall or short. Look for a stroller with an adjustable handle.
  • Get last year's model. Stroller manufacturers often update models on a yearly basis. Like a car, a brand-new stroller that's last year's model can often be found at a deep discount.
  • Check the manual. Stroller websites can be annoyingly inaccurate when it comes to weight ratings. Although many sites will say a model is suitable for newborns, the instruction sheet might warn you not to use the stroller for infants younger than 3 or 6 months -- an unpleasant surprise for many new parents. Others will list one upper weight rating on the website and another on the instruction sheet. Verify the weights with customer service. If you can't get a straight answer, consider that a harbinger of what could happen with future questions or problems. Virtually all stroller manufacturers make the instruction sheet available as a download on their websites.
  • Don't buy used strollers. Strollers are often subject to recalls, and even high-end brands aren't immune; Bugaboo, Peg Perego and Maclaren models have all been involved in recent recalls. The older the stroller, the more likely it is to have been involved in a recall since they're often retroactive. If you buy a stroller new, your product registration will alert you to recalls as soon as they're announced. If you're set on buying a used stroller, check for recalls at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

What's to come

There's always something happening in the world of strollers. For example, Maclaren is under a bit of a cloud, with a large number of its strollers having been recalled twice for the same issue -- potential fingertip amputations. The company filed for bankruptcy in December 2011, and it has also been rumored that the brand will be liquidated. Although Maclaren isn't included in this report because they mostly make umbrella strollers, we suggest holding off on buying a Maclaren until the mess is sorted out.

In better news, Joovy is set to become the U.S. distributor for British stroller Micralite. The new products will carry the Joovy name, so there will no longer be a Micralite brand in the States. Joovy plans to carry the TwoFold, which Micralite first unveiled at the 2011 Kind + Jugend trade show in Cologne, Germany. This versatile, super-light (19 pounds) single to double stroller is tentatively scheduled for release in late 2012. No word yet on the Micralite Toro or Super-Lite, but a Joovy spokesperson says they're considering updating those models with a better canopy and will probably distribute both at some point.

Graco has discontinued several of its most popular stroller models, including the top-rated MicroLite and the Mosaic. It will be interesting to see which of their new models come out on top.

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