How to Choose a Baby Stroller: What Actually Matters

Choosing a stroller was one of those baby registry decisions that felt much more complicated than it needed to be.

There are travel systems, convertible strollers, lightweight strollers, car seat-stroller combinations and strollers that cost more than some pieces of furniture. And before you actually have a baby, it's really hard to know which features you'll care about once you're using the thing every day.

After two kids, my biggest piece of advice is simple: don't start by asking which stroller is the best. Start by thinking about how you're actually going to use it.

Do you walk everywhere? Drive everywhere? Travel frequently? Need something you can get in and out of the car quickly? Plan to have another baby relatively soon?

Those questions matter much more than finding the stroller with the longest list of features.

I ended up with two very different strollers with my first baby: the Doona and the UPPAbaby Vista. I would buy both of them again because they solve completely different problems for me.

Here's what I'd think about before choosing yours.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through one of my links, at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Everything I recommend is based on my own experience using these products with my kids.

Start With Your Lifestyle, Not the Stroller

If you remember one thing from this article, make it this.

Think about your normal life.

Not the hypothetical version of motherhood you're imagining while you're pregnant. Think about where you live, how you get around and what you actually do during the week.

Do you live somewhere walkable and envision taking the baby on long walks?

Do you drive to most places?

Are you constantly running quick errands?

Do you live in an apartment where you'll need to carry the stroller?

Do you travel frequently?

Do you want more children relatively close together?

There isn't one stroller that's going to be perfect for every one of those situations.

I live in a walkable area where I can walk to restaurants, stores and the grocery store, and I also take long walks around my neighborhood. But I travel frequently, drive places and run errands with my kids too.

That's why having both the UPPAbaby Vista and Doona worked so well for me.

The Doona: The Convenience Stroller

I bought the Doona from birth with my son, and I'm now using one again with my second baby.

I would 100% make the same decision again.

The biggest reason is convenience.

The Doona is both my baby's infant car seat and stroller. I take it out of the car, open the wheels and go.

I don't have to take a large stroller out of my trunk, unfold it and then deal with a separate infant car seat. I clip my Doona diaper bag onto it and I'm on my way.

For errands, appointments, restaurants and everyday getting around, that has been a game changer for me.

Some people point out that the Doona itself is heavy, which is fair. But for me, the alternative of constantly loading and unloading a much larger stroller from my trunk is also inconvenient.

I'd rather have the all-in-one setup.

Why I Love the Doona for Travel

Travel is another huge reason I've loved the Doona.

For my babies' first year, the Doona essentially served as my travel stroller and car seat in one.

Instead of traveling with a stroller AND a separate car seat, I had one piece of baby gear that did both jobs.

When you're already traveling with diapers, bottles, clothes and everything else a baby needs, having one less large item to manage makes a difference.

I also use the Doona storage bag that fits underneath when we're traveling. Between that and my diaper bag, I'm forced to be pretty intentional about what I bring.

And I've realized that's not necessarily a bad thing.

More Stroller Storage Isn't Always Better

A giant stroller basket sounds amazing when you're shopping for a stroller.

And sometimes it is.

I love the huge basket underneath my UPPAbaby Vista. I can walk to the grocery store and put groceries underneath it, which is incredibly convenient.

But I've also learned that the more storage you have, the more stuff you tend to bring.

It's a little like a house. Give yourself more space and somehow you find things to fill it with.

The Doona is the opposite. There isn't endless storage, so I bring what I actually need.

My diaper bag clips onto it, and when I'm traveling I can use the additional storage bag underneath. That's generally enough.

So I wouldn't automatically eliminate a stroller because it doesn't have an enormous basket. Think about when you'll actually need that storage.

The UPPAbaby Vista: My Everyday Walking Stroller

As much as I love the Doona for convenience, I wouldn't want it to be my stroller for everything.

That's where my UPPAbaby Vista comes in.

I take long walks and live somewhere that allows me to walk to restaurants, stores and the grocery store. For that part of my lifestyle, I love having a full-size stroller.

The Vista is comfortable to push, has plenty of storage and gives me room for everything I need when I'm going to be out walking for a while.

I also loved being able to use the bassinet when my babies were little and then transition into the toddler seat as they got older.

It's a stroller we've been able to grow into rather than something designed only for the newborn stage.

Think About Whether You Want the Stroller to Convert to a Double

This is a feature that didn't become truly useful until I had my second baby.

I'm now using the same UPPAbaby Vista I bought with my first child for both kids.

I bought the adapters, and I can have my daughter in the bassinet while my son rides in the other seat.

That has been incredibly convenient.

Eventually, I could buy another toddler seat, but I'm not sure I will. My son is getting to the point where he's starting to age out of needing a stroller regularly, so I may not need another seat.

Still, I'm really glad I bought a stroller that gave me the option.

If you're fairly certain you want children relatively close together, I would at least consider whether the stroller you're buying can eventually accommodate two kids.

If you don't plan to have another child or expect a larger age gap, that feature may matter much less.

Do You Need a Stroller That Works With an Infant Car Seat?

One of the most common stroller setups is an infant car seat that can click into a separate stroller.

I personally never used that setup.

The Doona was my infant car seat, so when I got somewhere, the car seat itself became my stroller.

For me, that was easier than keeping a full-size stroller in my trunk and taking it in and out every time I went somewhere.

There is a tradeoff.

Once my babies outgrew the Doona, I needed to buy their next-stage car seat. Other families may choose a convertible car seat from the beginning that lasts much longer.

For me, the extra convenience during that first year was worth it.

This is exactly why I don't think there's one universally correct stroller or car-seat setup. You're deciding which tradeoffs matter to you.

What About a Travel Stroller?

I didn't really need a separate travel stroller during my son's first year because the Doona filled that role.

Once he outgrew the Doona, I started using our Stokke YOYO, which my in-laws had bought for us.

I love that stroller too.

My son is now three, and I'm still using it. I'll also use it with my daughter as she gets older.

For me, that progression has worked really well:

Newborn and infant travel: Doona

Long neighborhood walks and everyday walking: UPPAbaby Vista

Travel after the Doona stage: Stokke YOYO

Do you need three strollers immediately? Absolutely not.

But I do think it's helpful to understand that the stroller that's perfect for the newborn stage may not be the stroller you want for travel two or three years later.

You can buy what you need for your life now and add something later if your needs change.

Which Stroller Features Actually Matter?

I wouldn't get overwhelmed comparing 25 stroller specifications.

Instead, I'd focus on how the stroller fits into your daily routine.

For me, the most important considerations are:

Convenience: How quickly can I get the baby in and out and get moving?

Size: Am I willing to put this stroller in my trunk every time I leave the house?

Walking: Will I actually enjoy pushing this stroller for a long walk?

Storage: Do I need room for groceries and gear, or am I usually carrying just a diaper bag?

Travel: Am I going to fly frequently with this stroller?

Longevity: Can I use it through multiple stages?

Future children: Can it accommodate another child if that's important to me?

You may answer those questions completely differently than I do, and that's the point.

What I Wouldn't Obsess Over

It's very easy to compare every little stroller feature when you're building your registry.

I wouldn't.

I care much more about whether the stroller makes my everyday life easier than whether it wins on a spreadsheet of specifications.

A huge basket is great when I'm walking to the grocery store. It's irrelevant when I'm trying to run into a store quickly with my baby.

A big, sturdy stroller is great for a long neighborhood walk. It's much less appealing when I'm thinking about folding it, lifting it into my trunk and taking it back out 20 minutes later.

Instead of trying to find one stroller that's theoretically the best at everything, figure out what you'll actually use it for most often.

Do You Need More Than One Stroller?

No.

But I also don't think owning more than one stroller is necessarily excessive if they serve genuinely different purposes.

My Doona and UPPAbaby Vista are not interchangeable.

The Doona is about convenience. The Vista is about walking, storage and having a full-size stroller that can grow with our family.

I use both.

And now, with my second baby, I'm using both all over again.

That's why I feel good about having invested in them rather than buying one stroller and expecting it to perfectly handle every possible situation.

If I Could Only Choose One Stroller

This is actually hard for me to answer.

If I had to choose one stroller based purely on longevity, I'd probably choose the UPPAbaby Vista because it can take you from the newborn stage through toddlerhood and potentially accommodate another child.

But that answer comes with a big caveat.

You still need a car seat.

And you lose the thing I've loved most about the Doona: being able to take my baby's car seat out of the car and immediately turn it into a stroller.

That's why, for my own lifestyle, I wouldn't want to choose between them.

If I were doing it all over again, I'd buy the Doona and UPPAbaby Vista again.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Stroller

Before adding a stroller to your baby registry, I'd ask yourself:

How often will I walk with my baby?

Will I mostly drive places?

How often will I be getting the stroller in and out of my trunk?

Do I travel frequently?

How much storage do I realistically need?

Do I want something lightweight or am I comfortable with a larger stroller?

Do I want a bassinet option?

Do I hope to use the stroller with another baby someday?

Could I eventually need it to carry two children?

Do I actually need one stroller to do everything?

Those answers should narrow your options much faster than reading another 50 stroller reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I look for when choosing a baby stroller?

Start with your lifestyle. Think about whether you primarily walk or drive, how often you'll travel, how much storage you need, whether you'll frequently put the stroller in your trunk and whether you may eventually need it for two children. The features that matter most will depend on how you actually plan to use the stroller.

Is the Doona worth it?

For my lifestyle, absolutely. I've used a Doona from birth with both of my babies, and the convenience of having my infant car seat turn directly into a stroller has been one of my favorite baby gear features. I especially love it for errands and travel. It won't be the right choice for everyone, particularly if those aren't priorities for you.

Is the UPPAbaby Vista worth it?

I've gotten a lot of use out of mine. I bought it with my first child and am now using it with my second. I particularly like it for long walks, the large storage basket, the bassinet and toddler configurations, and the ability to accommodate two children.

Do I need a travel stroller?

Not necessarily, especially right away. I used the Doona as my travel stroller during my son's first year and transitioned to the Stokke YOYO once he outgrew it. I wouldn't buy a separate travel stroller before your baby arrives unless you know you'll need one.

Should I buy a stroller that converts to a double?

If you hope to have children relatively close together, it's worth considering. I've been able to convert my UPPAbaby Vista to carry my toddler and baby, which has been very useful. If you're not planning another child or expect a larger age gap, this feature may be much less important.

Do I need an infant car seat that clicks into my stroller?

No. I never used that setup because the Doona itself was my infant car seat and stroller. Other families love traditional travel systems. Think about whether you'd rather have a separate stroller and compatible infant car seat or prioritize an all-in-one option during the infant stage.

My Take

The best stroller isn't necessarily the one with the most features, the biggest basket or the highest price tag.

It's the one that makes your particular life easier.

For me, that meant not trying to make one stroller do everything.

I wanted the convenience of taking the Doona out of my car and immediately being on my way. I also wanted a full-size stroller I could take on long walks, load groceries into and eventually use with two children.

The Doona and UPPAbaby Vista gave me both.

Now that I'm using them again with my second baby, I wouldn't change that decision.

So if you're overwhelmed by stroller shopping, stop comparing every stroller for a minute and think about an average day in your life with a baby.

Where are you going? How are you getting there? How much are you walking? How much are you driving? And what would make getting out of the house easier?

Start there.

More Baby Gear Tips From Mom 411

If you're building your registry and trying to figure out what you actually need, check out my baby registry must-haves, what not to put on your baby registry, newborn essentials, how to choose a high chair and my guide to baby registry must-haves vs. nice-to-haves. I also share the baby travel gear I've actually used after flying with my kids, including what has been worth bringing and what I'd skip.