The Very Best Strollers for Newborns and Toddlers

The Nia offers three different configurations for traveling with a newborn. The separately sold Silver Cross Nia Bassinet provides an enclosed newborn friendly environment and folds compactly while attached to the stroller. The Silver Cross Nia is the only travel stroller that can fit in an overhead bin with its bassinet attached. Separately sold accessories expand the functionality of the Joolz Aer2. The Aer2 Cot provides the most comfortable newborn environment, while the Aer2 Footboard offers a rest for older siblings. At MacroBaby, our team works with high-end stroller brands from Nuna, UPPAbaby, Cybex, Stokke, Bugaboo, Silver Cross, Mima, and Doona every day. This guide pulls that experience together to explain what makes a stroller feel luxury, which models stand out right now, and how to figure out if one actually fits your family. As with other Baby Jogger strollers that we’ve tested, the seat can’t be positioned fully upright, which may be frustrating for a bigger kid who wants to look around (or a parent who doesn’t want a toddler to nap). does a stroller count as luggage Unlike with our top pick, there are only two recline options — what the company calls “relaxed” and “sleep.” To recline the seat, you unzip a large panel and the back of the toddler seat slides back. This prevents back pain and ensures the taller person does not hit the back of the stroller while walking. Lightweight bassinet strollers merge newborn support with portability. They fold quickly, weigh less than standard bassinets, and maintain flat sleeping positions for infants. Despite their small size, top models offer reclining seats, extendable canopies, and storage space for essentials—making them ideal for flights or city commutes. They fold compactly, fit overhead bins, and can be carried with integrated shoulder straps. Each model was selected for its build quality, safety, comfort, and real-world performance based on verified parent reviews and expert testing. It’s also packed with thoughtful details families appreciate, including generous storage, smooth suspension, a compact fold, and stylish finishes that don’t compromise on function. The Babybee Juno is a strong choice for families who are expecting a second baby in the future or want the flexibility of a single-to-double pram system from the start. Its ability to convert into multiple configurations makes it especially appealing for growing families who want to avoid buying a second pram down the track. Always check with your airline because bin sizes vary between airlines. The Doona Car Seat & Stroller is FAA-approved and can roll down the aisle to your seat, but it's too big to fit in the overhead storage. The toddler seat expands to become a bassinet, then converts back when they're bigger. The seat takes an infant insert, or you can buy the bassinet separately. The bassinet works for overnight sleep when you buy the stand—handy if you want one sleep solution that moves around the house. This double stroller from Bombi gives you features you won’t find in a modular tandem stroller, including easy visibility of both kids and a one-handed fold for compact storage. Plus, it has all the bells and whistles, including wide seats that recline fully, a wide canopy, a sun cover for legs, mesh openings for airflow, magnetic buckles, and more. It’s ideal for twins and siblings of different ages, especially because it comes with a built-in bassinet feature. When your 2nd baby comes along, you can add either a regular 2nd seat or an optional bench seat (currently not available) for your older toddler or preschooler (approx. age 2.5 and up). The aluminum frame is thinner than most others, though it still felt plenty sturdy and durable. The seating surface was reasonably comfortable and the recline adjustments were vast and continuous, and we loved the addition of the parent accessories. On rougher terrain, the Joovy Zoom 360 fell short of our expectations when it came to shock absorption; the shock absorbers are very small and do not have wide travel or adjustability. While the stroller is relatively lightweight, we thought it was surprisingly durable over trails and cobblestone streets. But the recline mechanism the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 is far superior to the cumbersome one on the Joolz Aer2 (which, as I wrote above, is nearly impossible to use while there is a child in the stroller). Even without any recline, the Butterfly 2 has more substantial edges to its seat, so if my son falls asleep, there is more of a barrier to catch his head when it inevitably flops to one side. As with car seats and baby carriers, the stroller you buy should provide a safe environment for your baby or toddler. One way of ensuring this is by checking for the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (JPMA) certification, which signifies that the stroller has been tested and meets current safety standards. Transparent pricing, seasonal savings, and secure checkout create peace of mind from cart to doorstep. Multiple payment methods and clear delivery timeframes help you plan around family schedules. With this balance, parents can compare models, weigh priorities, and select a convertible stroller for newborn to toddler that aligns with lifestyle and budget. It features the tallest seat back in the compact stroller category, a fully upright seating position for curious toddlers, an adjustable leg rest, and a large, easily accessible storage basket. Parents will also appreciate its smooth push, one-hand fold, integrated carry strap, and excellent compact stroller performance through airports, city sidewalks, zoos, theme parks, and everyday outings. Frequent travelers should prioritize ultra-compact, lightweight strollers designed for air travel. Look for models with one-hand folding mechanisms, small folded dimensions that fit overhead airplane bins, and features like carry straps or travel bags. Our friends at The New York Times (Wirecutter) and Lucie's List also consider it a top pick! The Cruz V3 features an upgraded all-wheel suspension system that delivers a smooth comfortable push across a range of terrains. It’s wide enough to be stable, narrow enough to fit easily through doorways, and folds flat enough to work well for travel. But its nimble frame still allows for a large underseat basket that Uppababy says can hold up to 30 pounds, making it a useful option for shopping trips or long days out. The underseat basket also includes a hidden bluetooth tracker pocket and a water bottle holder. How easy prams are to use, including folding and unfolding them, adjusting the seat and safety harness, loading and unloading the basket, and using the brakes and wheel lock. My kids joined me on walks long and short so we could assess how the best strollers on the market today held up to the demands of a real family on the move. The trade-off for carbon-fiber lightness is a modest storage basket, so pack light or clip on a caddy. It is built for flying, small cars, and apartment living rather than hauling a week of groceries. Release the latch and the stroller collapses to a carry-on-approved package you can sling over a shoulder or drop in an overhead bin. It is JPMA certified, so it meets the federal stroller safety standard plus the program’s added checks. The secret is the suspension system and air-filled tires, similar to a mountain bike.