Best Baby Strollers

If you want the functionality of a Bugaboo Gecko for less money, the Peg Perego Uno is a good candidate. What’s more, the Peg Perego Uno has more features than a Bugaboo, making it a practical choice for real parents who need storage and accessories in a stroller.

The Peg Perego Uno is a convertible system that changes from a cozy pram to a stroller with a simple adjustment. Like a Bugaboo, the Peg Perego Uno features a chassis with two small wheels and two large ones. When in pram mode, the Peg Perego Uno’s larger wheels are in front, ensuring a smooth, even ride for young babies. As a stroller, the Peg Perego Uno’s smaller swivel wheels are in front, making the Uno agile and maneuverable. Even in pram mode, the Peg Perego features a “Zero Radius Turning” feature that makes turning in tight spaces easy and effortless. Switching between the two modes is simply a matter of adjusting the Peg Perego Uno’s reversible handle in a way that is very similar to the Bugaboo.

While a Bugaboo Frog or Gecko can cost up to $800, the Peg Perego Uno runs for around $450. The Bugaboo strollers are severely lacking in accessories, the Peg Perego Uno comes loaded with all the necessities: large hood/sunshade, shopping basket, warm foot muff, cup holder, car seat adaptors for any model of car seat, and child snack tray. To go from pram mode to stroller mode in the Bugaboo, you have to remove the bassinette (pram) fabric from the Bugaboo frame and replace it with the seat fabric. The Peg Perego Uno has a much simpler transition. The thickly padded stroller seat becomes the pram, so switching modes is truly a matter of seconds.

Of course, the Peg Perego Uno includes all the standard features you’ll find on any Peg Perego model: full wheel suspension, five-point freedom of movement safety harness, cable brakes, removable bumper/child tray, and adjustable recline seat. The Peg Perego Uno can also be used as both a forward or rear-facing stroller, so you can choose to keep an eye on your baby or let him soak in his surroundings.

While the Peg Perego Uno does fold with one hand, it is a little bulky. When folded, the Peg Perego Uno will take up most of the trunk space in your car, so it’s not ideal for traveling or running errands. Some parents complain that the wheel base on the Peg Perego Uno is a little too wide, making it difficult to push through narrow spaces. The Peg Perego Uno is ideal for city or rural dwellers that run most of their errands on foot. Suburban families may find that transporting the Peg Perego Uno is too much hassle.

So, if that Bugaboo is destined to remain an expensive, out-of-reach dream, look into the Peg Perego Uno as a more down to earth option.

The Peg Perego Venezia is plagued with a multitude of problems, making it Peg Perego’s least popular model and a stroller that you should avoid.

The Peg Perego Venezia isn’t all bad; it does have a few features that set it apart from other convertible strollers. The Peg Perego Venezia transforms from a stroller to a spacious pram, making it a comfortable option for newborns. Thanks to its reversible handle, the Peg Perego Venezia functions as either a forward or rear-facing car seat, a feature lacking in most American stroller models. Folding the Peg Perego Venezia only requires one hand, and built in handles make it easy to carry and load the Venezia into a car. Of course, the Venezia is beautiful to look at, like all Peg Perego strollers.

The Peg Perego Venezia’s looks soon fade however. Multiple parents complain that the fabric on the Venezia, while attractive in the beginning, soon begins to show its age. While other strollers are made of more durable (and less attractive) fabric, the Peg Perego Venezia’s “luxury upholstery” snags easily and fades after washing. For a $300+ stroller, you would expect the fabric to be more durable.

Durability isn’t only a problem with the fabric in the Peg Perego Venezia. Many parents complain that the entire stroller is shoddy and easily scratched and damaged. The accessories on the Peg Perego Venezia if not faulty are impractical. The cup holder on the Peg Perego Venezia’s handle is flimsy and incapable of holding a full can or cup. The Peg Perego Venezia’s child snack tray doesn’t attach very firmly and is easy for toddlers to throw across the room. The shopping basket on the Peg Perego Venezia is small for a full-size stroller and difficult to access. There is more than one account of the wheels on the Peg Perego Venezia wearing out in less than a year, sometimes in as little time as six months. Even when the Peg Perego Venezia’s wheels are working fine, they don’t do well over uneven surfaces and are best suited to smooth pavement or mall floors.

Many baby stores are deciding to no long stock the Peg Perego Venezia because of all the problems consumers have with it. Because of this, you can often find Peg Perego Venezias at steep discounts. If you want a Peg Perego stroller, the Pliko P3 Classico is good all-around model. If you like the reversible handle and pram feature of the Peg Perego Venezia, the newer Peg Perego Uno may be a better choice. The Peg Perego Uno addresses many of the problems with the Venezia and has a smoother ride. If you must have the Venezia, look for an older, second-hand model that won’t cost you as much or have as many problems as the newer Peg Perego Venezia models.

While you have to give kudos to the innovators that make a new product before anyone else, there is something to be said for biding your time. Peg Perego has been patiently observing the obscenely-priced luxury stroller market and learning from their competition. If you thought Bugaboo was the best in the business or that Stokke had the market cornered on innovation, get ready for the Peg Perego Skate. Peg Perego has learned from the successes and failures of Bugaboo, Quinny, Stokke, and other high-end baby gear and has taken the best features of all those other models and combined them into one beautiful piece of baby-moving art.

The Peg Perego Skate is designed to be an all-in-one transport system that goes from pram to rear or forward facing stroller in a few fluid moves. Judging from the Skate website, Peg Perego has thought of just about everything. Unlike the competition, the Peg Perego Skate doesn’t require multiple accessories to go from pram to stroller. The Peg Perego Skate folds in a single piece, a huge blow to Bugaboo’s clumsy folding.

The Peg Perego Skate is truly designed to meet the needs of your baby from infant to toddler. The Pram mode begins completely flat, but can be adjusted to a more upright, sitting position, and thanks to a unique tilt feature, reclining the Peg Perego Skate is smooth and unlikely to wake a sleeping child. Like the Stokke Xplory, the Skate’s seat can be adjusted up or down so baby can be close to mom or a toddler can climb into the lower seat on her own. I like the idea of raising the seat/pram in the Peg Perego Skate when your baby is small so you don’t have to bend over deeply to get her in or out of the stroller.

Another blow to the minimalist luxury strollers out there is the Peg Perego Skate’s accessories. The Peg Perego Skate comes with a large, functional hood, a rain cover, a storage basket (a rather skimpy one that can be improved with the optional Borsa Skate bag), and removable cup holder. Ultimately, Peg Perego has done a good job of balancing style and convenience.

Of course, no stroller is perfect. While the Peg Perego Skate has yet to see any street use (the Skate isn’t available until January of 2008) I can already see some potential problems. The first is the Peg Perego Skate’s nearly $900 price tag—even a Bugaboo looks affordable in comparison. Furthermore, the Peg Perego Skate weighs a whopping 33lbs! I’m not keen to be hefting that much bulk in and out of a car, but I’m guessing suburban moms like me aren’t the Peg Perego Skate’s target audience. The Peg Perego Skate has an adjustable height feature in addition to adjustable handlebars. It seems to me that so many moving parts may make the Peg Perego Skate prone to breakdowns. Of course, until I get my hands on a Skate model, there is no way to tell for sure.

If it weren’t so darn expensive, I might be tempted to give the Peg Perego Skate a try. The Skate is certainly the most appealing high-end stroller I’ve seen so far. Peg Perego has learned, unlike Bugaboo and company, that you can have practical solutions to real-mom problems without sacrificing style and fancy configurations. Is the Peg Perego Skate the next Bugaboo? Only time will tell.

If you have given up on finding a stylish, modern stroller for less than $300, don’t despair! The Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico may be just what you are searching for. Peg Perego is an Italian company with production facilities in the US and Canada among other places. Started in 1949 when Giuseppe Perego decided to create his own pram, the Peg Perego brand has grown to include high chairs, car seats, and motorized toys. Peg Perego hasn’t forgotten their roots in strollers, and with the Pliko P3 Classico, they have created what just might be the perfect ride for your baby.

The Pliko P3 Classico checks all the boxes. If you are tired of clunky, juvenile strollers, the modern European styling of the Pliko P3 Classico will thrill you. The Pliko P3 Classico comes in nearly a dozen hip color combinations, ensuring that everyone from the most conservative soccer mom to the trendy diva will find something they love.

If, like me, you are more concerned with function than form, you’ll love the Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico’s convenient features. Adjustable handles ensure that anyone will be comfortable pushing a Pliko P3 Classico, and a cup holder, large under-seat basket, and child snack tray will ensure that everyone is happy and well supplied for long trips out and about. Toddlers can hitch a ride on the Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico’s included rear footrest, making this an ideal stroller for moms with multiple kids. The Pliko P3 Classico has a 4-position adjustable recline seat and 2-position footrest, so your child will be comfortable no matter what size she is.

Peg Perego, in the tradition of other European stroller makers like Bugaboo and Quinny, makes strollers with smooth, easy rides. Peg Perego’s Pliko P3 Classico is no exception. Parents rave about how easy it is to steer and maneuver the Pliko P3 Classico, even with one hand. Full suspension on all wheels makes the Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico ride smooth as silk, so sleeping babies won’t notice bumps or jolts. Folding and unfolding the Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico does take some time to master, but once you get the hang of it, you can collapse the stroller with one hand and use the built in carry handle to haul it around.

The Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico is quite light for a full-size stroller, only 16lbs., and it folds compactly into a freestanding unit, making the Pliko P3 Classico easy to store at home or in the trunk. The only consistent complaint about the Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico is that the under-seat basket can be hard to get to when the seat is reclined. All things considered, such a minor inconvenience can’t outweigh all of the Pliko P3 Classico’s many assets. Best of all, you can get a Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico for around $300, a bit pricey for an average stroller, but a steal for something off the trendy European market. The Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico comes with hood/sunshade, cup holder, storage basket, removable and washable seat fabric, car seat adaptor, and toddler ride-on bar.

Are you an outdoorsy type of mom who needs a stroller that can go anywhere? If so, consider the Peg Perego GT3 Completo—don’t let the name throw you, this is one heck of a stroller. Peg Perego is an Italian company, and you can expect the feel of classic European luxury in the GT3 Completo.

Perhaps the most revolutionary feature of the Peg Perego GT3 Completo is its adjustable rear wheel suspension. Three setting ensure that you get a smooth ride over any surface. The hard setting on the GT3 Completo is great for soft surfaces like sand or grass, while the soft setting compensates on bumpy unpaved roads and gravel. The medium suspension setting glides over smooth, paved surfaces. The Peg Perego GT3 Completo’s suspension system ensures that you can take your baby anywhere, and unlike a Bugaboo, you don’t have to reconfigure your stroller every time you change surfaces.

Peg Perego has included plenty of other feature on the GT3 Completo for active parents. The chassis’ 3-wheel design is agile and sturdy, and locking the front wheel allows the GT3 Completo to be used as a jogging stroller. The included wrist strap and hand brake ensure that the Peg Perego GT3 Completo will never get away from you while you’re running or walking over rough terrain. The GT3 Completo also includes handy fold out drink holders for your baby and a wearable “parent pack” with water bottle holder for you.

Your child will love riding in the spacious, comfy Peg Perego GT3 Completo’s seat, which is made with luxe Italian upholstery. Peg Perego’s strollers include their revolutionary 5-point freedom of movement harness. Essentially, the harness is not connected to the back of the GT3’s seat, so your baby can move comfortably without feeling restricted. The harness is still firmly attached to the Peg Perego GT3 Completo’s seat, so you don’t have to worry about your child falling out of the stroller.

Unfortunately, the Peg Perego GT3 Completo only comes in one color combination, a sporty, eye-catching mix of red and orange. For such an expensive stroller, you would expect more options. Another oversight is that the Peg Perego GT3 Completo’s seat fabric is only hand washable. If I’m going to be dragging my stroller to the beach and through the woods, I want fabric that I can throw into the washing machine as it’s bound to get dirty. The basket on the Peg Perego GT3 Completo, while large, is hard to access, making it impractical for most uses.

All of the Peg Perego GT3 Completo’s luxury comes at a hefty price. Expect to pay well over $500 and even as much as $600 for a GT3 Completo. At that price, you would think that Peg Perego would include a rain cover and mosquito net. Instead, you get a large sunshade, under-seat basket, parent pack, toddler ride-on step, and built in car seat adaptors with the GT3 Completo.

A step up from the Pliko P3 Classico, the Peg Perego Centro Completo is a posh, deluxe stroller designed to appeal to hip, modern parents who also happen to be savvy when it comes to paying a reasonable price for baby gear. Unlike so many other European strollers, the Peg Perego Centro Completo has all the bells and whistles for less than $250.

One of the things that set the Peg Perego Centro Completo apart from the slightly more expensive Pliko P3 Classico is its extra accessories. Unlike the Pliko P3 Classico, the Centro Completo comes with a cozy foot muff and an all-weather rain shield, making the Peg Perego Centro Completo a good choice for families in colder climates. The Peg Perego Centro Completo also has a huge storage basket that is more functional than the ones on other Peg Perego models, making the Centro Completo a good choice if you plan on taking long trips with lots of gear.

Like other Peg Perego strollers, the Centro Completo comes with all-wheel suspension for a smooth ride. The most common comment in praise of the Peg Perego Centro Completo is how easy it is to push and maneuver, even with a toddler riding on the included footboard. Some parents even find the Peg Perego Centro Completo to be more maneuverable with a toddler on the back. The Centro Completo has Peg Perego’s trademark 5-point freedom of movement harness that holds your baby securely in the stroller while still giving him the ability to stretch, reach, and move, so even squirmy toddlers will be comfortable and unrestricted.

Alas, there is no such thing as a perfect stroller, and the Peg Perego Centro Completo does have its share of drawbacks. Perhaps the most worrisome problem is a faulty design in the seat recline. Multiple parents have complained that the Peg Perego Centro Completo’s seat can get stuck in the recline position. The mechanism that controls the Centro Completo’s recline is made of plastic, and requires some finesse to adjust. A smaller negative is that the Peg Perego Centro Completo only comes in two color combinations. Fortunately, the brown and tan “toffee” fabric appeals to conservative moms while the bright orange and gray of the “soleo” model is attractive to those with a funkier taste.

One last thing worth mentioning is the Peg Perego Centro Completo’s ability to accommodate virtually any make of car seat with the included car seat strap. So many stroller manufactures try to increase sales by making strollers that are only compatible with their own models of car seats. It is refreshing to see that Peg Perego’s first concern is for parents. That being said, the Centro Completo comes with fold out car seat adaptors that can be used with a Peg Perego car seat, which is much easier than using one from another company.

The Aria OH Classico is Peg Perrego’s entry into the lightweight, compact stroller market. Peg Perego makes quality strollers, but the Aria OH Classico tends to get mixed reviews. Most of the naysayers complain about the Peg Perego Aria OH Classico’s $250 price tag. Most people don’t want to spend that much on what is essentially a second stroller or travel stroller. However, when you consider all the features of the Peg Perego Aria OH Classico, $250 begins to sound more reasonable.

Most travel strollers have several problems in common. First, many models don’t have a recline feature in the seat or have only two positions: flat or upright. The Peg Perego Aria OH Classico has a fully reclining seat with multiple positions, giving it an edge in the light stroller category.

Another issue with many light strollers is the lack of storage. Most models have virtually no storage at all, making them a challenge to work with during a long day of running errands. Granted, the Peg Perego Aria OH Classico isn’t going to hold all your gear and baby’s too, but the under-seat basket will accommodate a normal-sized diaper bag, and both mom and baby have cup holders.

One of my pet peeves is when a stroller doesn’t include a sunshade. So many of the hot new European strollers lack this essential feature, but Peg Perego has included sunshades on all its models, including the Aria OH Classico, their most compact stroller. I love the Peg Perego sunshades because they are huge and offer protection to your baby in all the seat’s recline positions.

In addition to all these features, the Peg Perego Aria OH Classico comes with some unexpected features in a travel stroller like full suspension on all wheels and built in car seat adaptors. What’s more, the Peg Perego Aria OH Classico works with any brand of car seat, making it a great choice for a second stroller if you are still using the infant car seat from your travel system. The Aria OH Classico has a large comfy seat for a compact stroller and comes in four beautiful color combinations.

The “OH” in Aria OH Classico stands for “one-handed,” and true to its name, the Peg Perego Aria OH Classico folds easily with one hand, even while holding a baby. Unfolding is even easier, making the Aria OH Classico an ideal choice for packing in the car.

All things considered, the Peg Perego Aria OH Classico is a top notch stroller with gorgeous styling and a lot of features. While $250 is a lot to spend on a second stroller, there are few light strollers that offer as many features for the same price.

The Bumbo is the best baby seat on the market bar none. I began using a Bumbo baby seat when my son was only 10 weeks old and I still occasionally use it as a booster seat now that he is nearly 2. I like the Bumbo baby seat so much that I give it to every new mother I know.

The Bumbo baby seat is designed to help babies sit up on their own as soon as they can hold up their heads independently. Each Bumbo is made of a single piece of lightweight low-density foam, making it very easy to travel with. The Bumbo seat is specially designed to conform to a baby’s body, holding her in such a way that sitting upright is natural and easy. The Bumbo baby seat’s bottom is lower than the leg openings. This position allows the baby to sit up and relieves pressure on the lower spine. My baby would sit happily in his Bumbo for up to an hour at a time.

The Bumbo baby seat is extremely convenient for moms. If you have a baby with reflux, the Bumbo is a godsend because it allows your baby to sit up after eating, keeping food down in baby’s stomach where it belongs. The Bumbo baby seat is also a good way to help your baby strengthen his core muscles and prevent flat spots on his head. Best of all, the Bumbo is like an extra set of hands. Instead of having to carry your baby everywhere, you can sit her in the Bumbo baby seat while you do dishes, get dinner on the table, or just take a few minutes for yourself.

The Bumbo baby seat is also a dream to travel with. I always take my Bumbo to restaurants so I don’t have to worry about germy highchairs or booster seats. My relatives have a beach house, and the Bumbo baby seat was great on the sand. The Bumbo also serves as a travel high chair, making it easy to feed baby while on vacation.

While I was using my Bumbo baby seat there wasn’t any sort of tray attachment, but now Bumbo makes a play tray that easily attaches to the Bumbo and lets your child entertain or feed herself. The lack of tray was my only complaint about the Bumbo baby seat, and now I can’t even whine about that anymore.

The Bumbo baby seat is easy to clean and store because it is so compact. The only danger with the Bumbo baby seat is that it can lull parents into a false sense of security. Never leave a baby unattended in a Bumbo, and don’t use the Bumbo baby seat on high tables or counters unless you are sitting within arms-reach of it. Bumbo adds that the Bumbo baby seat is not for use in the bath, but that seems pretty obvious since it’s made of foam and clearly floats.

I don’t hesitate to call the Bumbo baby seat an essential piece of baby gear. Every mother needs a Bumbo, and so does every baby.

Busy moms need a safe place for baby to sit while they do any of the million things a mom does in a day. For me, the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker has been the perfect seat for my son from infancy to toddlerhood.

The Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker starts out very much like a typical baby bouncer. The cloth seat cradles your baby comfortably and features two recline positions. In the beginning, I used the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler rocker in the flattest position, and my son often fell asleep and napped in it. The Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker has a kickstand that keeps the whole unit stable so you don’t have to worry about your baby rolling out. My son enjoyed the vibration function as an infant, and I liked it because it helped him go to the bathroom when he was constipated. I took the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler rocker with me everywhere because it was so light and portable, and it really acted as a second pair of hands, holding my son while I folded laundry, showered, or tidied up.

When my son was older, I attached the included toy bar with its cute animal toys. My son learned how to reach by grabbing at the toys. I also found the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker’s more upright position helpful once my son started solids because he had reflux and needed to sit in a more upright position after eating to stay comfortable. As my son grew, I folded back the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker’s kick stand and let him enjoy rocking himself.

Now that my son is a toddler, I have converted the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker into a toddler rocking chair. My son loves to sit in the chair when he watches movies or reads books. He moves the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker from room to room and had no problem dragging it around to where he wants it.

My only complaint about the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker is that is can be quite prone to tipping when babies who are just learning to sit up and crawl use it in rocking mode. Several parents complained that their kids were able to tip the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker by leaning far forward. Of course, children learning to sit up don’t have enough control to stop the rocker from tipping, and can be topple the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker over if an adult isn’t there to stop them. I found that I put the rocker away while my son was learning to crawl. Once he could walk and climb in and out of the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker on his own, I got it back out.

The best thing about the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker, and the reason my husband and I chose it, is that it lasts throughout your baby’s early development. In the first months of infancy, the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker was vital to my sanity, and now I enjoy watching my toddler continue to use it. The Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker has stood up to my first child, and I plan to use it for my next baby and beyond.