Best Travel System Stroller for Babies – Top 10 Reviews, Guide, FAQs & More

Many people believe that a travel system necessarily comes with a car seat and a stroller. This is true to the most part. However, some companies do not include a car seat. They do tell which car seat has the best compatibility. This does make the travel system relatively expensive. That said, you get the time to choose the best car seat for your child.

Your travel system comes with a seat unit that allows you to transport your baby onto the stroller. Some other accessories, for example, rain cover, foot muff, etc may also be included. Make sure to check out what is being offered when you buy your travel system.

How Does A Travel System Work?

A travel system essentially means a car seat and a stroller. Most of the parents do not wish to wake up their babies when they fall asleep in the car. And they do love sleeping in the car! You can connect their car seats on to the stroller. This can be done as quickly as clicking it. Sometimes you will need to buy special adapters (which can cost around $30) that let you attach the seat. There are other ways of transporting you baby, like a carry cot, lie-flat pushchair, etc.

What Is The Cost Of A Good Travel System?

Travel systems come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Luckily, they also come at a wide variety of prices, too. A good travel system starts at a little over $100 and can go as far as $1000. The higher-end ones generally come with a lot of features and the quality is premium.  That said, more expensive does not mean “better”. Do you think your travel system is too expensive to buy? Well, we are quite sure there is probably a cheaper version available. You will, however, have to spend some time to find it. There are many travel systems that are relatively cheap. They come with features that are mostly found in expensive systems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Buying a travel system needs a lot of research and can be quite exhausting. Keep in mind that a lot of travel systems are bulky and big. They can be heavier than a usual pushchair. However, like a pushchair, it will be easy to move around. It is convenient, saves time, and most of them can be passed down to other children.

With all that said, we have prepared a list of things you should consider before you buy your travel system.

What Should Be The Budget?

Before you do anything, decide on the budget and always stick to it. Looking at so many choices can be overwhelming and, well, leads to confusion. So, before you go to the shop, research about what is absolutely necessary and what can be compromised. Once you know what is best for you, you can easily stick to your budget.

How To Ensure Safety In A Baby Stroller?

Safety should, and is, always the first priority for parents. No matter how much you like a travel system or the stroller, do not buy it unless it comes with the best security. Most of the travel system strollers are tested against crashes and sudden impacts. However, there are a couple of things you can do to ensure your child’s safety.

First, only buy products that have passed or exceeded standardized tests for safety. Next, make sure that the stroller comes with a 5-point harness.  It should cover your baby’s shoulders, waist and crotch area with safety straps. We do not recommend opting for a 3-point harness. It is safe, but it is not as safe as a 5-point harness. Make sure that the straps fit your baby.

Lastly, a tethered strap to your waist can add to the security measures. This will prevent the stroller from rolling away. Some strollers come with a feature wherein the stroller applies brakes as soon as you let it go.

What’s The First Thing To Look For In A Travel System?

Before you decide which travel system to buy, look at its car seat. You need a car seat that perfectly fits your vehicle. See if you will always need a travel system base to install a car seat. This is very important if you ever need to change cars quickly. The car seat should come with a 5-point harness. This will keep your baby the safest.

There are many inexpensive travel systems. Although the price may not be a huge issue here, the lack of some features might divert some parents. For example, cheap car seats may come with a rear-adjust harness. This means that if you need to tighten or loosen the harness, you will have to look at the bottom or the back. This is not a major deal breaker, but many parents do not use it correctly – due to lack of convenience.

How To Choose The Best Travel Stroller?

There are so many options of travel systems. They come in all shapes and sizes. If you are going to keep your stroller in your vehicle for a long time, check the space you will need. Larger strollers can be harder to navigate, especially in narrow spaces. Jogging stroller, though very handy on any terrain, can be quite bulky. They also take larger space in vehicles. There is most probably a travel system for you – no matter what you need. However, there is no guarantee that it is going to come with a rock-bottom price.

Ensure that the stroller you buy is easy to steer. It should be easy to move around and should not get jammed while you are using it. The best way to check that is to use the stroller at your normal pace.

What Is The Purpose Of Buying The Stroller?

Decide where you will be using your stroller. If you walk or jog regularly, you will want to buy a sturdy stroller. It should be able to work smoothly on all surfaces. It needs to be relatively heavy, high in quality – basically an all-terrain stroller. Check out our list of best all-terrain strollers. You will also want some additional features, like locking and adjusting wheels. This will make it easier for you stroller to move on uneven surfaces.

If you will mostly be using it indoors, like shopping malls, etc, then you will need a lightweight stroller. This is to ensure that the stroller is easy to carry and fold. You do not want a heavy or broad stroller for this.

Universal Stroller Frame vs. Travel System

Travel systems are for people who transfer their babies from car seats to the strollers. Most of the times, you will only have to click the car seat onto the stroller. It is quick, easy and an “all-in-one” solution.

A universal stroller frame lets you decide if you want a stroller or not. You attach the car seat to the bottom and decide whether a stroller is needed.

Depending on your need, choose the one more convenient for your situation.

Can You Add More Seats On The Stroller Of A Travel System?

Is this your first travel system? Do you plan to have more kids in the future? If yes, then we highly recommend you look for a model that lets you add more seats in the future. Not only will this save you money, but also time and space. There are many options in the market that come with this additional feature.

What Should Be The Weight Of A Travel Stroller?

Umbrella stroller is generally recommended for indoors. An all-terrain is best suited for outdoors. However, keep in mind that an all-terrain stroller will be bigger and heavier.

Consider the weight the stroller will have with the baby and some shopping bags. Some strollers are harder to push in this case. With that said, if neither of the parents has any problem will pushing such weight, go for it. But, if either of you won’t be able to do it, we recommend you search for another stroller.

Many parents buy a lightweight stroller along with a heavy one. This is for short trips to the shops or malls. It makes it easier to move around and carry things.

Does The Travel System Folds Easily?

Many new parents do not realize how important this is! The last thing you will want is your child crying on one side and you trying to collapse your stroller. Not only is this stressful for you, but your baby will be very unhappy.

So, before you buy a stroller, attempt to collapse the stroller in the shop. You should be confident about your ability to do it. Some strollers come with complicated buttons and levers. These can be challenging for many.

Why Strollers Should Have Large Spaces?

When you are taking a baby, you know you will be packing for every circumstance on this planet. It is safe to say that you will be taking a small country with you. Grab a water bottle and a couple of shopping bags and you will find yourself with no more hands to help you. This is why having a stroller with large and even extra space can be very crucial. We highly recommend you buy a stroller with enough space to hold your beverage, keys and mobile phone. This may be in the form of a basket or a compartment at the bottom of the stroller.  

Does The Stroller Have Height Adjustments?

If you are taller or shorter than an average person, then you will want a stroller with height adjustment. It is going to make your life a whole lot easier. It can be really bad for your posture to push the stroller in the wrong manner. Not to mention how uncomfortable and exhausting that can be. So, look for a stroller that has an adjustable handle. You will enjoy your evening walks!

What Type Of Wheels Should A Stroller Have?

There are basically two options you can go for – 3 wheeler or 4 wheeler. Most of the three-wheelers are lightweight and easy to maneuver.

You should also inspect the type of wheels. Are they hard or soft? Do they look swelled? Swelled wheels are more forgiving. They can be used on all sorts of terrains. And because of that, they come highly recommended for outdoors. If the wheels are only hard, they will be better suited for indoors.

Are the wheels big or small? Smaller wheels do not appreciate uneven surfaces. Bigger wheels withstand rough surfaces better.

How Should The General Use Of A Stroller Be?

Your stroller should generally be easy to use. What do we mean by that? Well, for starters it should not have many components. There will be higher chances of something getting destroyed. If you have to play around with the buttons and levers, run the other way. You won’t have much time to do so many things anyway.

What Should Be The Weight Capacity Of A Stroller?

There are all sorts of weight limits in a stroller. Yet, some of them can only carry 25 pounds. This can be troublesome if your baby grows quickly. It means that you will be buying a new stroller within the first few years. A stroller should, thus, at least have 30 pounds as the weight capacity. Some of the best baby strollers can accommodate upwards of 50 pounds. This saves you the hassle of buying a new stroller. It can also be passed down to other children – if you plan to have more. So, we recommend you buy a travel system whose stroller can at least hold onto 30 pounds of weight.  

Travel System for Doubles

If you are having twins or already have a toddler, you may want to look into getting a double stroller. This way you can take out both of your children for a walk. There are some great options available for double riders. Make sure there is enough room for both of them. You can check out our article on the best travel system for toddler and a baby. Here, we have given a list of the best options and what to look for when you buy a double stroller.