Strollers

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What's behind our stroller Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 137 models in strollers to see which ones perform best.

We look for:

Overall score
Overall score is based primarily on ease of use, maneuverability and safety. The displayed score is out of a total of 100 points.
Ease of use
Ease of use is based primarily on ease of using and adjusting the safety harness, folding and unfolding, adjusting backrest, lifting and carrying, engaging wheel brakes and car seat removal and installation (only for compatible strollers).
Maneuverability
Maneuverability is assessed by trained staffers on how well the strollers maneuvered S-turns through cones, narrow sections, grass, dirt trails, uphill, downhill and curbs while walking.
Safety
Safety is assessed by testing for compliance with the most current version of the standard, ASTM F833-11, and stability and usage tests designed by Consumers Union.
Folded size
The relative size of the stroller.

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Recommended strollers

Recommended strollers are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices, weigh features, price, and attributes that matter to you.

Recommended strollers

Stroller buying guide

To find the stroller that is right for you, read our expert advice on which features to consider and how to find the best value.

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In addition to finding Ratings for the latest models, you can now shop online using an ad-free interface where you can buy strollers in a safe-shopping environment.

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A stroller is one of the most important pieces of baby gear you'll buy. And as your baby grows, you might end up with more than one. If you're looking for information about strollers, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Consumer Reports’ stroller reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our stroller buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider. We also provide unbiased Ratings and stroller reviews to help you choose the best stroller for your needs.

Ratings & recommended strollers

Traditional strollers (119)

The right stroller for you depends on many factors, like the age of your child and where you plan to use it. For most people, a fully featured stroller is the best all-around choice and offers the most value because it converts from child-seat carrier to regular stroller once the child is able to sit up. But many parents find that their needs are best met by more than one stroller. For a newborn, parents can get a car-seat carrier or a stroller that can carry a car seat and/or convert to a carriage. Once the child is six months old, and able to sit up and hold his head up, parents can use a lightweight stroller. These models may not have as many frills, but are usually light and compact, making them easier to transport. See the features section of the Ratings for models that are suitable for babies six months and younger.

The Ratings list strollers strictly according to performance. All proved acceptably safe in our tests. In the sections below, we list Recommended models for each stroller type. All Recommended models were Very Good or Excellent overall. For further details on a particular model, click on its name n the Ratings table to go to that model's page.

All-terrain strollers (11)

CR Recommended models may not all be CR Best Buys, but have other points to recommend them. In this group of strollers, we feel that the Best Buys are the best choices, period: they are Recommended as well as CR Best Buys. In most cases, higher price tags are not accompanied by better performance. For example, the BOB Revolution, at $390, did receive the highest score for On-Road Maneuverability, but its Off-Road maneuverability got only a Good. It is reasonable to expect an all-terrain stroller to perform well on both types of terrain.

Jogging strollers (7)

A jogging stroller is most useful for just that, jogging or running. Although manufacturers may show images of their jogging strollers being used in all types of situations, we don't recommend using a jogger as your one-and-only stroller. If you often walk briskly, jog, or run outdoors and want to take your child along--and especially if you find yourself using bumpy trails or paths--you will probably want some type of exercise stroller. However, if you are not a serious runner, you probably don't need or want a jogging stroller. Joggers have limited maneuverability in many situations because of their fixed front wheels.

An all-terrain stroller whose manufacturer has approved its use for running may be a better all-around choice. The front wheel can be locked for jogging, or unlocked to allow it to swivel, making it easier to maneuver for everyday use. It's nice to have that option. Consider the Baby Trend Expedition LX or Joovy Zoom 360. (See our All terrain stroller Ratings.)

No matter what type of stroller you choose, always secure your child in the stroller's harness. A 5-point harness, like those on all the joggers we tested, is preferable to a 3-point harness for safety. Due to the bumping and jarring that a child passenger will experience, we do not recommend jogging (or even fast walking on rough terrain) with a child under a year old.

All the tested jogging strollers have a 5-point harness; a hand brake in addition to the foot-operated parking brakes; a parent "leash" or tether strap; air-filled tires (which add a maintenance chore: you must make sure the tires are inflated to the designated pressure when you first use the stroller, and remember to check them again periodically, adding air as needed); and are large in size when folded.

Stroller buying guide

First and foremost, you want your baby to be safe and comfortable in her stroller. But think about yourself, too, since you're the one who'll be pushing it. Here are some things to consider:

If you'll be taking your infant in and out of a car a lot, a lightweight stroller frame, such as the Graco SnugRide Stroller Frame, might be just the ticket. These universal frames let you attach an infant car seat. (See Stroller types.) Simply remove it from the car, baby and all, and snap it right into the frame. It's great for letting your snoozing baby continue his nap. When you're done strolling, you simply snap the car seat back into its base inside the car. Stroller frames are inexpensive, and because of their light weight they're handy for quick trips between parking lot and supermarket, or for hauling on a bus or train.

An alternative is an all-in-one travel system, which consists of an infant car seat, a car-seat base, and a full stroller. They can be heavy and take up more room than just a stroller frame, but once your baby reaches 6 months and can sit up and control his head and neck movements, you'll have the flexibility to use the travel system's stroller without the infant seat snapped in. A travel system is costlier but a good value because the stroller can be used after your child outgrows the infant car seat--unlike a car seat carrier frame, which is useful only for as long as your baby uses her infant car seat --anywhere from 9 months to a year or more, depending on your child's height and weight.

A variation of the travel system theme is a combo stroller. These let you change the stroller from a bassinet on wheels (sort of like an old-fashioned baby carriage) to a regular stroller as your child grows. Like other travel systems, some combos can accept a car seat but you may have to buy that separately along with an adapter to hold it in place inside your car. In some cases, you'll need another adapter to lock the car seat to the stroller. The car adapter for a Bugaboo stroller, for example, costs $45.

Combos tend to be costly and weigh more than stroller frames. The Orbit Baby Travel System G2, for example, has a car seat that weighs 10 pounds and a stroller frame that weights 16 pounds. All things considered, you might decide you don't need the bassinet feature. Many travel systems offer the flat surface of a bassinet as well as a flap that covers the leg holes, to give your baby the same resting area of a bassinet for a much lower average price.

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