What is the best stroller for a newborn?
The best stroller for a newborn provides a supportive, newborn-approved space from birth without requiring additional accessories. This may be an included bassinet or a stroller seat that reclines fully flat and is specifically approved by the manufacturer for newborn use. The right choice will also depend on whether you need a travel stroller, mid-size stroller, all-terrain stroller, convertible stroller, or double stroller.
Why is a flat stroller space important for a newborn?
Newborns do not yet have the head and neck control of older babies, making a supportive, newborn-approved position especially important during stroller rides. A bassinet or fully flat, newborn-ready stroller seat allows baby to lie flat rather than spending an extended outing in the semi-reclined position of an infant car seat.
An infant car seat is essential for safe vehicle travel, and the ability to connect it to a stroller is a necessary convenience for most families. However, an infant car seat should not be relied on as a primary stroller seat. Babies need to lie flat to promote proper spine development and ensure open airways.
What should I look for in a stroller for a newborn?
Start by confirming that the stroller is approved for use from birth and does not require an additional purchase to create a newborn-friendly setup. Look for an included bassinet or a stroller seat with a fully flat, newborn-approved recline or carriage mode. Other useful features include travel-system compatibility, good suspension, protective canopy coverage, easy folding, accessible storage, and a stroller size that fits your everyday lifestyle.
What is the difference between a bassinet and a lay-flat stroller seat?
A stroller bassinet is a separate newborn space with a flat surface that attaches to the stroller frame in place of, or in addition to, the regular stroller seat. A lay-flat stroller seat uses the stroller’s primary seat, reclining into a manufacturer-approved position suitable for newborn use.
Both can provide a from-birth stroller setup, but an included bassinet offers a traditional pram-style environment, while a newborn-ready lay-flat seat eliminates the need to switch between separate stroller components as your baby grows. A bassinet also provides convenience, allowing babies to be transferred from the stroller frame while still in the bassinet, avoiding disturbance.
What is carriage mode on a stroller?
Carriage mode is a feature included on select strollers that allows the seat to be fully reclined and adjusted to mimic a bassinet environment, typically using an integrated newborn foot cover.
Which newborn strollers come with a bassinet included?
Among the strollers in this collection, the Bugaboo Fox 5 Renew, Bugaboo Donkey 6, and Silver Cross Wave 3 include a bassinet with purchase. The other models featured in this collection provide their newborn setup through a newborn-ready lay-flat stroller seat.
Do I have to buy a bassinet separately to use a stroller with a newborn?
Not with the strollers featured in this collection. We specifically selected models that arrive ready for newborn use, either because a bassinet is included or because the stroller seat itself offers a newborn-approved lay-flat position.
Other strollers can become newborn-friendly by purchasing a compatible bassinet separately, but those models are not included here because the additional accessory adds another purchase to your newborn stroller setup.
Can I use an infant car seat instead of a bassinet or lay-flat stroller seat?
Many strollers can accommodate a newborn through a compatible infant car seat, making a travel system particularly convenient for quick transitions between the car and stroller. For longer stroller outings, however, having a dedicated newborn-ready flat space gives parents another option rather than relying exclusively on the infant car seat.
Can a newborn-ready stroller also be used as a travel system?
Yes. The newborn-ready strollers in this collection can also support travel-system use with compatible infant car seats, whether an infant car seat is included with the stroller package or purchased separately. This gives parents the flexibility to use the stroller’s flat newborn space for longer walks while still having the convenience of an infant car seat for quick car-to-stroller transitions.
What are the best travel strollers for newborns?
Newborn-ready travel strollers can provide a compact, lightweight solution without requiring parents to wait until baby is old enough for a standard upright stroller seat. The travel-friendly, IATA-compliant, and cabin-approved newborn-ready models in this collection include the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Plus, Joolz Aer2, Silver Cross Clic, Silver Cross Jet5, Silver Cross Nia, and UPPAbaby Minu V3.
What are the best mid-size strollers for newborns?
Newborn-ready mid-size strollers offer a balance between the portability of a lightweight stroller and the everyday comfort and features of a larger model. Options in this collection include the Joolz Hub2, Nuna TAVO Next, Nuna TRVL lx, Nuna TRIV lx, Silver Cross Breez, and UPPAbaby Kona.
What are the best all-terrain strollers for newborns?
Parents who plan to take frequent neighborhood walks or navigate varied everyday terrain can choose from several full-size, all-terrain strollers that are newborn-ready from the start. This collection includes the Bugaboo Fox 5 Renew, Bumbleride Era, Bumbleride Indie, Maxi-Cosi Oxford, Nuna MIXX Next, Silver Cross Cove 2, Silver Cross Reef 2, and UPPAbaby Cruz V3. The Bugaboo Fox 5 Renew includes its bassinet, while the remaining models provide newborn-ready seating.
Are jogging strollers available for newborns?
Some jogging-style and performance strollers provide a newborn-ready stroller configuration for walking from birth, including models such as the Bumbleride Indie in this collection. However, newborn-ready for strolling does not mean newborn-ready for jogging. Parents should always check with their pediatrician before running or jogging with a baby.
What are the best convertible strollers for newborns?
The Bugaboo Donkey 6 and Silver Cross Wave 3 are newborn-ready convertible strollers in this collection, and both include a bassinet with purchase. Convertible strollers can be especially practical for parents who want a premium newborn setup now with the flexibility to accommodate another child later.
What are the best double strollers for newborns?
Newborn-ready double strollers in this collection include the Bumbleride Indie Twin, Nuna TRVL dubl, UPPAbaby Minu Duo, Valco Slim Twin S2, Valco Ultra Trend S2, and Valco Trend Duo. These models provide newborn-ready seating without requiring a separately purchased bassinet to begin strolling from birth.
What should parents of newborn twins look for in a double stroller?
For newborn twins, look beyond simply having two stroller seats. Confirm that both seating positions can accommodate newborns at the same time, whether through two newborn-approved lay-flat seats or two bassinets. Also consider equal seating capabilities, infant car seat compatibility, stroller width, fold size, storage, and how easily the stroller can be maneuvered with two children aboard.
Is a newborn-ready stroller worth it?
For many families, yes. Choosing a stroller that is ready for use from birth can eliminate the cost of purchasing a separate bassinet simply to make the stroller newborn-compatible. It also provides more flexibility from day one, allowing parents to choose between a flat stroller environment for everyday walks and a compatible infant car seat for convenient travel-system transitions.
Where can I see newborn-friendly strollers near me?
Visit a Bambi Baby showroom to compare newborn-ready strollers in person, see the difference between bassinets and lay-flat stroller seats, test folds and maneuverability, and find the setup that best fits your family. Bambi Baby currently has showroom locations in New Jersey, New York, and Florida, including Paramus, Union, Middletown, New York City, Long Island, and Miami.
Because stroller selection and floor-model availability can vary by location, contact your nearest Bambi Baby store before visiting if there is a specific newborn stroller you would like to test.
