Best Umbrella Stroller for Newborns

The Twist is a super Zooper umbrella stroller for newborns

Thanks to the popularity of compact, lightweight strollers, a new breed of umbrella stroller is emerging that can recline to support newborn infants and be adapted to accommodate infant car seats. A standout in this category is the Zooper Twist (*Est. $200). The Twist offers a compact umbrella fold, but is a bit heavy for an umbrella stroller at 18 pounds. That said, the Twist has a UV-protected canopy that zips open to cover the entire seat/cabin; the reclining seat has an adjustable padded harness and infant insert, and the seat converts into a bassinet. The Twist comes fully loaded with extras including an adapter strap to accommodate a variety of infant car seats, a padded foot muff for cold weather protection, a rain cover, a cup holder and a storage pocket on the canopy.

The Twist was part of a voluntary recall in May 2011 due to a strangulation risk with the design of the armrest/snack tray. No injuries were reported and Zooper has repaired the problem -- the armrest now has a passive restraint crotch strap to prevent babies from sliding through the seat, and overall the armrest adds an additional form of protection for children.

Another, do-it-all umbrella stroller with a lower, 13-pound weight profile that can accommodate newborns and their car seats is the Bumbleride Flite (*Est. $270). Like the Zooper Twist, the Flite has an adjustable padded five-point harness and comes with padding to support a newborn. The Flite accepts most car seats with an included adapter, but the stroller won't fold with the adapter installed, which adds an extra step when loading/unloading the stroller/seat combo into a car. With a full suspension wheel system, the Flite is built to perform better over mixed terrain and maneuver well. Parents say the stroller is very sturdy but say its best performance will be on relatively smooth ground.

The Britax B-Nimble (*Est. $200) can be used with the Britax infant car seat, reclines fully for newborns and can hold children up to 55 pounds. However, usability reviews for the Britax B-Nimble are mixed. Some parents say that pushing this stroller is difficult and the recline mechanism requires two hands. The real deal breaker with this stroller is a 2011 recall involving faulty brakes that is still being mentioned in current user reviews from 2012.

Finally, the Chicco Liteway (*Est. $140) provides a lower-cost way to carry a newborn, but it is not car seat adaptable. Renowned for its safety and stability, the Liteway offers a fully reclining seat with an adjustable footrest and five-point harness that supports newborns; a sturdy frame with larger suspension wheels to handle mixed terrain; and comfortable, ergonomic handles. While the Liteway is not the lightest at 17 pounds, it does come with nice included extras like a hideaway bunting to keep infants warm and a cup holder.