If you’re an urban mama, you know how important it is to have a great stroller. When your daily life involves space limitations, public transportation, and crowded streets, you need a stroller that goes the distance—literally. As an NYC mom, you’ll routinely put tons of miles on your stroller. In fact, most of us think of our strollers as a substitute for a car!
So how do you choose such an important piece of baby gear? Below, we’ve rounded up seven of the best toddler strollers for city living. We considered factors like ease of use, foldability, compactness, weight, and a smooth, even ride.
Baby Jogger City Select, $529.99
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Here’s the minivan of urban strollers. With 16 different configurations, this workhorse can stand up to just about any situation city life throws at you. With the City Select, handling a toddler and an infant is a breeze, but so is two toddlers, or two infants, or three toddlers…we could go on and on. Basically, it’s the only stroller you’ll ever need! And the single-click fold-down and locking features make the City Select relatively simple to haul up stairs and onto public transportation.
City Mini GT, $259.99
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The City Mini is another stroller that goes the distance in urban environments; it’s lightweight and easy to fold, but still has all the bells and whistles you’ll need to keep your toddler comfy on city streets, no matter the weather. The seat reclines just about all the way for those outdoor trips that coincide with naptime, and it’s got an expansive hood to keep out the sun. Great suspension promises an even ride on bumpy city streets.
GB Pockit, $180
Wait just a moment while I pull my stroller out of my handbag. Wait—what? Yes, you read that correctly—the nimble GB Pockit lightweight stroller actually folds down small enough to fit inside a shoulder bag. This ingenious stroller is so small that it’s a Guinness Book of World Records holder! So if you’re looking for something that won’t weigh you down on your daily jaunts in the city with your toddler, this is the stroller for you!
Maclaren Triumph, $160
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Not looking to spend a car payment on a stroller? We totally understand, which is why we’ve included the Maclaren Triumph as one of the best toddler strollers for the city. At a price point of about $160, this lightweight stroller totally performs. It comes in about a zillion colors, and sports one heck of a hood—it extends nearly to your toddler’s knees! But no worries, because it also comes with a free rain cover, which is priceless on rainy days in the city. Multiple seat positions will keep your toddler safe and comfortable.
Doona, $500
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We all know that strollers just aren’t what they used to be, and when you’re living in the city, convenience and versatility are the names of the game. That’s why we’d like to take a moment to thank the folks over at Doona, who’ve created a stroller that’s also a car seat! Or perhaps it’s a car seat that’s also a stroller. Either way, oh my goodness those last-minute Uber rides are now possible! Simply convert the stroller to a car seat and you’re on your way! This may be one of the best inventions ever for urban moms. And—bonus!—it’s also FAA approved, so it’s a great choice for traveling in airplanes as well as cabs.
UppaBaby Vista, $900
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It’s impossible to walk down a single city street without seeing at least one UPPAbaby stroller. And it’s easy to see why; not only is the UPPAbaby versatile and functional, it’s gorgeous. Without a doubt, the UPPAbaby is the BMW of city strollers. The UPPAbaby comes in several different chic colors to choose from, and offers an array of expansion options, making it possible to transport up to three kids at once with the infant bassinet and roller board for bigger kids.
Summer Infant 3D Flip, $95
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The Summer Infant brand’s answer to urban transportation comes in the form of the super-affordable 3D Flip model. This unique stroller deserves to be on this list for a variety of reasons. But more than anything, we’re in love with the option to face your child forward or backward at a variety of reclining positions with just a simple flip of the seat. With spacious storage, a large hood and easy steering, this is a lightweight stroller that’s a wonderful urban companion.
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Christin Perry is a freelance writer and editor living in the DC area. She specializes in the lifestyle genre and her writing has been published by The Knot, The Bump, and LittleThings.com.
