Best Strollers of 2025

Two things are nonnegotiable when it comes to strollers: They should be safe for the child and a breeze to use for the adult. In addition to that, the right stroller depends on the child’s age and development, your budget, and your lifestyle. So you’ll want to pick a stroller with features that address your needs. “There’s no one ‘best’ stroller,” Muratore says. 

So to find your ideal stroller, start by zeroing in on your ideal type. In our lab, we categorize strollers according to the following: Traditional strollers, umbrella strollers, double strollers, travel systems, and car seat carrier strollers.

Once you’ve decided on a stroller type, consider the stroller’s various features, including what accessories it includes, how heavy it is, whether it has ample storage and a canopy, and whether it can convert to a double or even triple stroller down the line (crucial if you think you may have more kids!). Every family is different, so you might prioritize some aspects over others, depending on your child’s needs, where you live, and your preferences. We explain how to navigate all these considerations and more in our stroller buying guide.

In recent tests of over a dozen strollers, including models from Chicco, Graco, Mockingbird, Nuna, and Uppababy, several made it into our roundup of top scorers and earned CR Recommended status. To learn about these strollers and more, check our comprehensive stroller ratings, which include more than 100 models. To see the best stroller in each of the categories tested, read on.

Good traditional strollers, also sometimes called full-sized strollers, are all-purpose. They’re great for strolling around the neighborhood and walks in the park, and may offer extra storage, a seat that reclines, or other convenient features. But they’re not always the most travel-friendly.

Umbrella strollers stand out for their convenience on the go. Because they’re lightweight, they’re usually smaller in size than traditional strollers, and they fold up easily, they’re great when running errands and navigating crowded spaces. The downside? Umbrella strollers are a lot less sturdy and all-purpose than traditional strollers. And they usually can’t accommodate an infant car seat, so they’re best for older babies and toddlers.

If you have two children, a double stroller makes toting them around almost as easy as pushing a single stroller. These strollers have two seats, either side by side or one behind the other. Because these models accommodate two seats, they’re heavier and bulkier than single strollers, so finding one with good maneuverability is key.

These strollers can be converted from a single to a double stroller configuration, making them a good pick for families planning to have multiple children.

The best travel system—that is, a stroller and compatible infant car seat that come bundled together—is one that’s top-notch in terms of safety and allows you to transfer the car seat quickly and easily between the stroller and a car.

A jogging stroller should handle smoothly for both child and parent on a run. Don’t use these with infants under 6 months old; wait until your child is old enough to sit upright to jog with them. The top-performing jogging strollers are sturdy and feature aerodynamic designs for a smooth, seamless run with your older baby or toddler.

These frames, paired with a car seat, allow you to travel much more lightly than you can with a full travel system. They’re great for trips where you’re frequently transferring in and out of the car. Just remember that these aren’t complete strollers themselves but merely frames that accommodate a car seat that snaps in.

Although lots of brands market “travel strollers,“ this isn’t a firm product category. A travel stroller might be an umbrella stroller or a car seat carrier, for example, or it could even be a traditional stroller that’s especially slim and lightweight. 

Budget-friendly strollers aren’t a specific product category, and what’s affordable can also be very subjective. Plus, as with any other type of stroller, what’s best for you will depend on the age of your child, where you live, and whether you need a car-seat-compatible stroller, as a few examples. That said, of the models we tested under $300, this one stands out.

The strollers in our comprehensive ratings come in a range of shapes, sizes, and prices. Some have a lot of extra features—like ample storage, cup holders, reversible seats, and more—while others are sleek and minimal. But those that top our list exceeded our expectations in terms of the basic criteria that all parents demand in a stroller. Here’s what our best strollers have in common:

They keep your child safe. All our recommended strollers meet federal safety requirements. They’re also sturdy and have brakes that you can trust.

They’re highly maneuverable. Whether you’re traversing unpaved roads or zigzagging through crowded supermarket aisles, our top picks are easy to push and handle the terrain with ease.

They’re easy to figure out. No one wants to be stuck frantically trying to fold up a stroller to board a bus or struggling to tighten straps on a squirmy child when late for an appointment. Our favorite models are simple to use—because parenting itself is hard enough.

To narrow down the many options on the market, CR tests dozens of strollers in our lab in Yonkers, N.Y., evaluating them for safety, ease of use, and maneuverability.

To assess safety, Joan Muratore and CR test technicians subject each stroller to tests patterned after the Federal Stroller Safety Standard, which is maintained by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and incorporates the American Society for Testing and Materials’ stroller standard.

Depending on the test and the stroller, we use either an infant dummy (a standard design that simulates a 12-month-old child weighing about 17.5 pounds) or a weighted bag filled with 30 to 55 pounds or so of steel shot to simulate a child.

We conduct an impact test to assess the structural integrity of a stroller’s frame in the event of an accident, such as a collision at strolling speed with a curb.

We also conduct stability and braking tests, which involve placing the stroller (with a weight bag) in different orientations on a test platform, engaging the stroller’s brakes, and increasing the degree of incline to see when and if the stroller tips and to ensure the brakes can keep the stroller in place. When we discover a stroller that’s unsafe, we make sure consumers know about potential dangers.

To evaluate ease of use, panelists do a range of assessments and rate their experience. They lift and carry the stroller, fold and unfold it, adjust the safety harness and backrest, engage the wheel brakes, and (if applicable) remove and install the car seat into both the stroller and a car.

To assess maneuverability, testers navigate each stroller—loaded with a 30-pound bag of steel shot—through an S-curve test course, steering it between cones and over obstacles that simulate curbs, grass, mulch, and tree roots.

In our stroller ratings, we also note features like storage options, whether you can fold up the stroller with one hand, and whether the stroller can stand on its own when folded. We even indicate which strollers satisfy strict size requirements at Disney theme parks.

Strollers are essential but expensive—even the most affordable options on the market cost hundreds of dollars—so many parents understandably look to cut costs by purchasing a secondhand stroller or accepting a hand-me-down from generous friends and family.

While it can be cost-effective to inherit or buy a used stroller, you’ll definitely want to do your due diligence first. Most importantly, that means checking that the model you’re considering was made after Sept. 10, 2015, which is when federal safety standards for strollers became mandatory. (You can look at the label on the underside of the frame to find the manufacture date.)

Next, check the CPSC’s Recalls & Product Safety Warnings page to make sure the stroller hasn’t been recalled, and sign up for alerts so you’re notified in case it’s part of any future recalls.

Finally, reference the owner’s manual to make sure everything still works as it should. For example, does the seat recline? Do the brakes work? Can you fold and unfold it properly? If the product manual is long gone, check the manufacturer’s website or call the company’s customer service number to ask for a spare.

Even though strollers are designed for babies, the littlest ones can’t use just any stroller. Newborns don’t have the neck support to sit up on their own, so they need a stroller that can recline fully. That can be one with a seat that lies flat or else can accommodate a newborn bassinet attachment or compatible infant car seat (also called a travel system). 

Strollers that can’t fully recline are usually appropriate for babies 6 months and older; around this time, most infants are able to sit up unassisted.