7 Useful Ideas on How to Choose a Stroller

Wondering how to choose a stroller for your baby when there are so many options out there?

If you have started shopping, you already know the problem. Rows and rows of strollers, prams, travel systems and buggies, all claiming to be exactly what you need. Many parents assume the priciest option must be the best all-rounder. It usually isn’t.

Picking the most expensive stroller on the shelf is not how to choose the right one for your baby.

Strollers are built for specific jobs. A model designed for smooth pavements and quick trips to the shops will behave very differently on a gravel path or a cobbled high street. Hand-me-downs need just as much scrutiny, maybe more, because you don’t know how heavily they were used, whether they’ve been recalled, or whether the fabric and straps have degraded from years of sun and washing.

How to choose a stroller: 7 things that actually matter

Working out what you need is harder than it looks, because you’re trying to plan for a version of your life that hasn’t happened yet. The best approach is to be honest about your real routine rather than the one you imagine you’ll have. Think about your daily walk to nursery or school runs with older kids, whether you rely on public transport, how your home is laid out (stairs, narrow hallways, a small car boot), and how active you plan to be once you’re back on your feet. Choosing a stroller properly means weighing all of this, not just how sleek it looks in the showroom.

1. The age of your baby

It’s easy to get swept up and buy a stroller you won’t actually use for months. Newborns can’t sit unsupported or hold their own heads up, so for the first few months you need something that lets them lie flat or nearly flat: either a carrycot/bassinet attachment, a car seat clipped onto a compatible frame, or a stroller seat that reclines fully. Most health visitors and paediatricians recommend babies lie flat or semi-reclined until they have good head control, usually somewhere around 4 to 6 months, though every baby is different so check with your GP or health visitor if you’re unsure.

A bassinet is lovely for newborn naps and looks gorgeous in photos, but be realistic: you’ll likely outgrow it within three to four months. If budget is tight, a travel system with a reclining seat and a compatible infant car seat often gives you more use for your money than a standalone bassinet stroller.

2. The weight of the stroller

Picture the moments when you’ll be managing baby, stroller, changing bag and possibly a toddler too, entirely on your own. You might need to fold it one-handed, lift it up a flight of steps, or heave it into a train carriage. A good stroller should feel sturdy but manageable. Don’t judge weight by pushing it empty around the showroom floor. Ask if you can load it with something heavy, roughly 4 to 5 kg to mimic a small baby, or better still, bring your own child along once they arrive and see how it handles for real.

It’s also worth considering babywearing with a well-fitted sling or carrier for the times when a stroller simply isn’t practical. In a lot of ways, it can make your life easier, especially on stairs, in crowded shops, or during the newborn phase when your baby wants to be close to you.

3. Manoeuvrability and fold

Showrooms have smooth, polished floors and no baby weight to contend with, so a stroller that glides effortlessly there might feel completely different on a cracked pavement or a muddy park path. Ask to try it outside if the shop allows it, or at least push it over a rug or uneven flooring to get a sense of the wheels.

Manoeuvrability isn’t only about how it steers. It’s also about how easily it folds, how compact it becomes, and whether it can stand up on its own once folded (handy for train platforms and shop counters). If you’re regularly on buses, trams or trains, look for a model that folds quickly with one hand while you’re still holding the baby. Check it fits in your car boot before you buy, not after.

Always lift your baby out before folding the stroller. There have been genuine recalls over the years linked to finger injuries during folding, so check your model against current recall notices (in the UK this is the product safety alerts and recalls database, and in the US the Consumer Product Safety Commission) before you buy new or accept a hand-me-down.

4. Safety first

Choosing a stroller is ultimately a question of safety. The harness and the brakes matter more than the colour of the fabric or how fashionable the brand is. Look for a proper 5-point harness rather than a 3-point one, since it holds a wriggling baby far more securely. Practice fastening and releasing it in the shop with the assistant’s help so you’re confident doing it one-handed, in the rain, with a squirming toddler.

Check the brakes properly too. It isn’t a car, but a stroller rolling towards a road or a body of water is genuinely frightening. Engage the brake and give the stroller a firm push or jiggle to make sure it actually holds. Some brakes look locked but release the moment the stroller is pushed at an angle, so test this thoroughly rather than trusting it on sight.

In the UK, look for strollers that meet BS EN 1888 safety standards. In the US, look for JPMA certification, which confirms the model meets ASTM F833 standards. These aren’t a guarantee against every accident, but they’re a reasonable baseline.

5. Storage room

You won’t just be transporting your baby. The changing bag, spare clothes, snacks, your own bag, shopping, and whatever else the day throws at you will need somewhere to go. Check the size and shape of the under-seat basket, whether it’s still accessible with a carrycot or car seat attached (on some models it isn’t), and whether there’s a weight limit on it. If you’re the sort of parent who packs half the house for a short walk, and many of us are, this is worth testing properly in the shop rather than assuming it’ll be fine.

6. Jogging and exercise

This one catches people out. Plenty of parents assume that any stroller with wheels will do for a run around the park. It won’t. Ordinary strollers, even sturdy ones, aren’t built to absorb the repeated jolts of jogging, and a baby’s developing spine and neck are far more sensitive to that kind of repeated impact than an adult’s body.

If you want to jog or run with your baby, buy a stroller specifically designed for it. These typically have a fixed or lockable front wheel, larger air-filled tyres, and better suspension. Most manufacturers also recommend waiting until your baby is at least 6 to 8 months old and has good head and neck control before jogging with them, so check the guidance that comes with your specific model, and speak to your GP if you’re planning serious running with a young baby.

7. The terrain you’ll actually use it on

If you live near a beach, woodland, or parks with unpaved paths, or you’ll regularly be dealing with kerbs, cobbles or gravel, look for a stroller built to cope with mixed surfaces. In the shop, ask specifically how it performs on sand, gravel, grass and snow, not just tiled floors. Look at wheel size (larger wheels generally cope better with rough ground), whether the front wheels swivel or lock, and how easily you can tip it back to get over a kerb or up a step. A stroller that’s brilliant for city pavements might be a nightmare on a muddy trail, and vice versa.

A quick word on hand-me-downs and secondhand strollers

Don’t skip the checks just because a stroller was a gift or came free from a friend. Look up the model against current recall lists, check the harness and brakes work properly, inspect the fabric and stitching for wear, and check the frame for cracks or rust, especially around folding joints. If it’s more than a few years old, safety standards and designs may have moved on, so it’s worth weighing that against the money you’ll save.

Choosing a stroller isn’t really about branding or how good it looks in the hallway. It’s about how it fits your baby’s age and stage, your daily routine, and your own strength and stamina on a tired Tuesday morning. Take your time, test things properly in store, and don’t be afraid to ask the assistant awkward questions about weight, folding and brakes. Your baby’s comfort and safety are worth a bit of extra effort at the shopping stage.