Best Baby Strollers

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.

If you are planning on taking a vacation with your kids in tow, travel toys are essential, especially if, like me, you hate the idea of your kids being glued to a TV screen for the whole trip. Whether you are driving in a car or flying in a plane, these travel toys are guaranteed to keep kids busy and parents sane.

Travel Magnadoodle
There is nothing new or fancy about the Travel Magnadoodle; it’s essentially the same travel toy you played with as a kid, only a little more compact. Kids of all ages love to draw pictures on magnadoodles almost as much as they like to erase them. You’ll love not having to keep track of crayons and paper.

Glove Compartment Games by Klutz Guides
If you are traveling with a kid who can talk, point, or listen, then you should bring along a copy of Klutz Guides’ Glove Compartment Games. Older kids will get a huge kick out of silly games, and younger kids will have fun watching mom and dad play with this wonderful, low-tech travel toy.

Monkey Magnets Jungle and Monkey Magnets Vehicles
Monkey magnets are like the color forms you used to play with as a kid only more portable. Each Monkey Magnets set comes with fun templates to follow, or kids can create their own special designs. Monkey Magnets are a great toy for “quiet time,” because most kids get so absorbed with them they don’t even realize they aren’t talking. All the Monkey Magnets come in a metal case that serves as a work surface and storage unit all in one.

Magnetic Travel USA Map Puzzle by Anatex
My cousin swears by this travel toy for older kids. Magnetic Travel USA is a clear map of the United States with channels around the edge of each state. Up to two kids at a time use the included magnetic wands to move small balls through the states from one coast to the other. I love this travel toy because it is educational and lets two kids play together at the same time.

Best Travel Activity Book Ever by Backseat Books
The name really says it all. The Best Travel Activity Book Ever really is the best. Kids from 4-8 will spend hours pouring over this book’s coloring pages, dot-to-dots, mazes, games, and more. The Best Travel Activity Book ever is a classic travel toy that will help your kids forget that the DVD player even exists.

Alex Car Valet
Get your hands on all the travel toys listed here and you’ll need a place to keep them all. The Alex Car Valet is the perfect storage solution for travel toys. The Alex Car Valet fits on the back of most car headrests. Kids can store all their crafts, stickers, snacks, and toys in one place, keeping the car clean. The cover of the Alex Car Valet also serves as a work surface, and when kids are done, the whole thing zips up into a nice little package. This travel toy keeper is a must have.

As the mother of a busy toddler, I know how much moms rely on engaging toys that stimulate their kids (and keep them busy for at least 10 minutes). Over the past two years, I have come up with a list of my son’s favorite toys. If you are looking for a birthday or holiday gift for a 2-4 year old, consider some of these choices.

Fisher-Price Amazing Animals Sing & Go Choo Choo
My son got this for his first Christmas, and he still plays with it all the time. I like this toddler toy because it plays educational songs (and, gasp, they aren’t that annoying!) and encourages creative play. My son likes the Amazing Animals Sing & Go Choo Choo because, well, it’s a train, and that’s about all it takes. My boy loves moving the animals around the different cars and watching the train drive around the living room. This is a toddler toy that will continue to entertain into the school years.

LeapFrog Word Whammer Fridge Phonics
Thanks to this great educational toddler toy, my son knew all his letters before he was two. I like the LeapFrog Word Whammer because it endlessly entertains my son (and his friends of all ages) while teaching him valuable pre-reading skills. My son loves this toddler toy because it has a million parts to play with and sings silly songs. He loves following the Word Whammer’s directions to find letters and spell words.

Radio Flyer Retro Rocket
This was my son’s first ride-on toddler toy, and it’s still his favorite. The Radio Flyer Retro Rocket has fun buttons to push, a secret compartment under the seat, vibration, and lights. My son loves driving his “rock” down the sidewalk and pushing the buttons to make a noise whenever someone walks past him. I love the way this toddler toy looks like a vintage toy my parents might have played with. After two years of use, the only maintenance our Radio Flyer Retro Rocket has needed is new batteries.

Brio Jungle Safari Figure 8 Set
As I mentioned before, my son loves trains, so it’s no surprise that when he goes to visit Nana, all he wants to do is play with the Brio Jungle Safari Figure 8 Set. Brio recommends this product for children ages 3+, but with proper adult supervision, I think this toddler toy is suitable for children as young as 2. The Brio Jungle Safari Set comes with track, train cars, and adorable wooden animal figures. My son will push the train cars around the track for hours at a time, and I’m guilty of playing with this toddler toy too, even when my son wasn’t with me!

Melissa and Doug Cardboard Blocks
My husband loved playing with cardboard blocks when he was a kid, and my son is no different. Melissa and Doug’s cardboard blocks are very sturdy and durable—my son sits on them all the time. I love that my child spends hours in creative play. It’s true the blocks take up a lot of space, but it’s worth it for this must have toddler toy.

Quinny is a Dutch company popular in Europe. Americans are discovering Quinny’s unique style and quality craftsmanship. If you want a stroller that will get attention, Quinny may be a good choice. There are only two models readily available in America. Here is a quick overview of each.

Quinny Buzz Stroller
The Buzz is Quinny’s newest and most chic stroller. Like Bugaboo, Quinny designs strollers that are functional and cool without being juvenile or cutesy. Men will enjoy pushing the 3-wheeled Quinny Buzz because it’s extremely maneuverable and sporty looking. The Quinny Buzz is very light and has a smooth ride thanks to its rear air-filled tires. The Buzz’s seat has two positions, flat recline and upright. For newborns, Quinny offers the optional Dreami carrycot that easily attaches to the Buzz’s Chassis.

Perhaps the most innovative feature of the Quinny Buzz is its ability to automatically unfold. Thanks to a unique “gas spring” mechanism, the Quinny Buzz unfolds with a nudge from your foot. While the Quinny Buzz’s automatic unfold is a neat trick, it’s also problematic. Because the Quinny Buzz is designed to unfold automatically, folding it takes more effort. What’s more, some parents complain that the Quinny Buzz can snap open unexpectedly, painfully trapping their fingers.

In addition to the reversible seat (front or rear facing) and chassis, the Quinny Buzz comes with car seat adaptors (compatible with the Quinny Maxi Cozi car seat), a sunshade, shopping basket, bug net, and rain cover.

Quinny Zapp Stroller
The Quinny Zapp is a light stroller designed especially for traveling or as a second stroller. Most of Quinny’s strollers have three wheels, but the American version of the Quinny Zapp has four, unlike its European counterpart. Extra wheels mean extra stability, but they come at the cost of a more cohesive design. The Quinny Zapp is still nice to look at, and it has Quinny’s trademark smooth ride, despite the lack of air-filled tires. The Quinny Zapp has wide tires that allow it to handle slightly rougher terrain than other light strollers.

What really sets the Quinny Zapp apart from other strollers is its ultra-compact 3D fold. When folded, Quinny claims that the Zapp is the smallest stroller in the world. The Quinny Zapp is light and easy to carry and travel with. Quinny even sells a special adaptor to make it possible to carry the Quinny Zapp on a bicycle.

The only downside to the Quinny Zapp is that it is so small and light it can seem a little flimsy. This stroller isn’t for everyone. If you spend a lot of time on rough road or need a lot of storage, you’ll find the Quinny Zapp lacking. However, if you need an easy stroller to use for short walks or trips to the mall, the Quinny Zapp is a great choice. Quinny includes a rain cover, carry bag, car seat adaptors, sunshade, and shopping basket with the Zapp.