Baby Strollers, Travel Systems & More

Author : Mark Mccarthy | Published On : 31 Oct 2026

“Parents can switch the baby seat between forward and backward facing. Back in Stauffer’s running days, this was her go-to stroller. “I think everyone agrees this is the best jogging stroller,” she said. To ensure that we were featuring the absolute safest and best strollers on the market, I eliminated any that didn’t have these features. The stroller is heavier than ultra-light competitors and takes up more trunk space. The bassinet loses its shape when removed from the frame for travel.
I’m a freelance writer and hold a master’s degree in psychology. Before becoming a writer, I worked as a mental health researcher. Now I strollers for babies love applying my research chops to parenting-related challenges, including “What are the best booster seats for dining?

The original version of this post was published in 2025 with seven strollers tested by me and Fathercraft contributor Kristan. For 2026, we expanded the lineup, retested everything, and made some big changes to our picks. They’re in our disasters category now, after expanded testing. I can move my baby out of the car and into the stroller without much effort.
This story has been updated by Senior Reviews Writer & Analyst Olivia Lipski, who covers everything from tech to travel, baby gear, home, and more. An avid traveler and mother of a 1-year-old, she has been hands-on with more than a dozen travel strollers in the past year. The Compact+ still comes with all of those perks, but with an even easier auto-fold that doesn't require a latch, a quick-release recline, plus this can stand while folded. Upgrades from the previous version include a larger basket for storage and an adjustable footrest. This comes with an elastic carry strap (one tester found the elastic "weird," another liked that it helped the stroller hang lower) plus a travel bag in case you want to easily gate-check it. For optimal newborn strolling, the ideal environment involves a lay-flat position.
Active parents—there’s no need to hit pause on your healthy lifestyle. With the right stroller, parenthood and movement can go hand in hand, even in the early newborn days. While you won’t be running with your baby during the newborn stage, if your lifestyle calls for a jogging stroller, it’s smart to consider one that can still be used from birth. Parents who maintained an active routine pre-parenthood should look for gear that supports staying on the move—even in those early months. Compare the best newborn strollers by category, newborn setup, weight, fold, storage capacity, and long-term use to find the safest and most practical stroller for your family’s lifestyle. Newborns have specific stroller needs, and it’s important to understand those needs before choosing a stroller that can comfortably and safely accommodate your baby from day one.

What makes the Silver Cross Breez especially versatile is how easily it adapts to both urban and suburban lifestyles. For parents looking for one stroller that feels refined, newborn-ready, and practical across a wide range of everyday settings, the Silver Cross Breez is a balanced choice. It is compatible with Baby Trend infant car seats to create a travel system. While it is great for walking on rough terrain, serious runners might find the front wheel less stable than high-end joggers at high speeds. Safety features should never be compromised, regardless of budget.
However, if functionality and budget are your primary concerns, the standard MIXX Next offers similar performance at a more accessible price point. Wagons are more challenging to maneuver than traditional strollers. They are also large, hard to fit in smaller trunks, and most lack functional storage. If you have gear for more than one kid, you'll have to stack supplies in the footwell between the children. Also, they are easier to pull than push (not all offer the ability to do both). Wearing your baby in a top-rated baby carrier is an excellent alternative to strolling, especially with young infants.

The generously sized hood added to his comfort too—“it was great with lots of adjustability,” Morgan says—keeping the sun out of his eyes and his sensitive skin shielded from the rays. The view window let her check on him without stopping, and the mesh panel at the back kept air circulating on warmer days. “I do find it difficult to get over curbs—I'm surprised by how much I need to push to get the front wheels to lift up,” she says. The real stand-out for both parent testers is the five-point harness, which adjusts to three heights without rethreading—a detail Kira appreciated when switching between kids. “The harness adjusted easily and provided a secure fit for both my 1-year-old and 3-year-old,” she says.
The reversible seat means you can keep eye contact with your little one, which is so reassuring in those early months. For families transitioning from a single stroller to a double to comfortably accommodate two little passengers, the Bumbleride Indie Twin is an excellent choice for a newborn and an older sibling. Similar to its single stroller counterpart, the Indie Twin boasts large, air-filled wheels with rubberized tread and all-wheel suspension.
Infants lack neck strength, so they require a seat that reclines completely flat or connects to an infant car seat (1). Some of these strollers hold the children side by side; others place one child in front of the other. Often you can recline each child individually, and there is usually a storage basket and other handy features similar to a single stroller. Jogging strollers have three wheels, and the front wheel is locked to prevent dangerous wobbling or drifting during a run. Jogging strollers also have a handbrake for safety, good suspension to keep your child comfortable, and large, sturdy wheels for a smooth and easy ride. Lightweight strollers — similar to full-size strollers but smaller and with a lighter frame — are perfect for older babies or toddlers.

We also dismissed several strollers — including the BabyJogger City Mini Air, the Joovy Kooper RS, and the Evenflo Gold Otto — because they are larger or heavier than we think is useful for a travel stroller. This adds another layer of protection if you’re gate-checking or putting the stroller away for long-term storage. It’s not enormous, but it’s a convenient option for thin, lightweight items. In our at-home testing, we found the right back wheel sometimes still spun when the brake was locked, meaning the stroller could pivot but not move forwards or backwards. Unlocking and relocking always fixed the problem, but we’ll keep an eye on it as we long-term test the stroller.
The Clic features a fully reclining, from-birth seat that provides comfortable newborn positioning for long layovers or everyday strolls. While there are other travel-friendly strollers that offer a lay-flat seat, the Clic earns its place on our list by also providing the easiest travel system use. Before choosing any stroller for your newborn, always check the manufacturer’s recommended age, weight, recline position, and approved newborn configurations. The best stroller for newborn use is not just the one with the most features—it’s the one that safely and comfortably fits your baby from day one. While they are most famous for car seats, their strollers are solid and practical. They pair smoothly with their car seats, making them a top choice for travel systems.

Then you attach the included LATCH straps to the vehicle’s anchors and close the lock-off (a lever that ratchets down the strap to remove the extra slack; see this video for a demonstration). Or, if you’d prefer to rely on your car’s seat belt instead of the LATCH system, you’d thread the seat belt through the belt path, buckle it in, and close the lock-off (see this video for a demonstration). Graco calls this lock-off mechanism the SnugLock, and we found that it works as advertised. Most strollers accommodate children from birth up to pounds, typically until around 3-4 years old.