Best Baby Strollers

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.

If you need an all-around pushchair that can be used in the city or the country, the Quinny Speedi is the best choice. While not quite as sexy as the Buzz or the Zapp, the Quinny Speedi is still stylish and sporty.

Thanks to 3 air-filled wheels, the Speedi has the smoothest ride of any Quinny and travels well over virtually every surface. The Quinny Speedi also has more storage room than the Buzz or Zapp, and has a seat that is larger and more comfortable for baby.

The Speedi is the largest of the Quinny pushchairs, so it’s not ideal if you have a small boot or limited storage space. The Quinny Speedi comes with rain cover, sunshade, adjustable shopping basket, and car seat adaptors.

If you want a stylish pushchair that is easy to use and beautiful to look at, a Quinny may be a good choice. Quinny is an expensive brand, but they make quality pushchairs that will last for years. Here is a brief overview of Quinny pushchairs available in the UK.

Quinny Buzz Pushchair
Quinny has made the Buzz for city-dwellers who want their baby to travel in style. The Quinny Buzz is the most striking of all the Quinny models, and is a good choice is styling is important to you. Like all Quinnys, the Buzz is light and easy to push, making it maneuverable and well-suited to life in a crowded city.

The most innovative feature of the Quinny Buzz is its ability to automatically unfold. With a simple nudge from your foot, the Quinny Buzz sets up on its own and is ready to use. The only problem with this feature is that the Quinny Buzz can spring open unexpectedly and pinch your fingers.

Quinny includes a sunshade, all weather set, and “Buzz Box,” which is essentially a small shopping basket. The Buzz can also be used with a Quinny Maxi Cosi car seat or the Quinny Dreami carrycot, making it suitable from birth.

Quinny Zapp Pushchair
If you are looking for a second pushchair to keep in the boot or to take on holiday, the Quinny Zapp is a great choice. Quinny has designed the Zapp to be the most compact stroller in the world when collapsed. If you have a small amount of space, the Quinny Zapp will suit you well.

Thanks to wide wheels, the Quinny Zapp can handle bumps and jolts better than most other light strollers, making it a smoother ride for baby. The Zapp comes with a carry case, making it easy to take in the car, carry on a bike, or load on the bus or train. The Quinny Zapp is so small, you can even carry it on to an airplane—anyone who has traveled with a baby knows how nice it is to have a pushchair at hand.

The Quinny Zapp comes with car seat adaptors, sunshade, rain cover, and travel bag.

Quinny is a Dutch brand long popular in Europe and gaining fans in the US. Like their rival Bugaboo, Quinny makes strollers that are minimalist, eye catching, and father friendly. Both companies market to high-end consumers; that’s why you see so many movie stars, politicians, and social elite pushing Bugaboos and Quinnys. If you simply must have the stroller of the stars, you’ll want to consider the Bugaboo Gecko or the Quinny Buzz. This side by side comparison should help you decide.

Design
Let’s face it, design is the real reason you are considering buying a Quinny Buzz or a Bugaboo Gecko. You could find plenty of strollers with similar features for a lot less money, but none of them would look as cool as a Gecko or a Buzz.

Cosmetically, both strollers are nice to look at. The Bugaboo Gecko is older by a few years, and it shows in its slightly boxier design. The Quinny Buzz has a shallower seat that looks a little more modern, but the Gecko’s seat looks more comfortable. The handle on both strollers looks about the same. The real difference between the Buzz and the Gecko is in their chassis. Based solely on looks, the Quinny Buzz has a sleeker chassis with a sporty three-wheel design. However, the Bugaboo Gecko’s four-wheeled chassis is more versatile and can be used in more places. Both the Quinny Buzz and the Bugaboo Gecko feature larger, air-filled rear wheels that give a smooth, effortless ride.

Both the Bugaboo Gecko and the Quinny Buzz come with pointless storage systems that are too small to be practical even if they do look cool.

Function
If you are going to use your stroller primarily in the city, both the Bugaboo Gecko and Quinny Buzz will perform beyond your expectations. The Quinny Buzz is smaller and features a compact fold that opens by itself with a little nudge from you. The Buzz’s narrower wheelbase comes in handy when using public transportation or navigating crowded streets and shops.

If you plan to take your baby off the beaten path, the Bugaboo Gecko is a much better choice. The Buzz doesn’t handle snow, sand, or rough road well. The Bugaboo Gecko by comparison can go virtually anywhere thanks to the chassis’ ability to transform into an all-terrain vehicle.

Value
Both the Bugaboo Gecko and the Quinny Buzz are expensive. The base model of the Bugaboo Gecko comes with chassis, stroller seat, bassinette, weather covers, and a 2-year warranty for about $680. The Quinny Buzz comes with weather covers, car seat adaptors, and a sunshade for around $500. The purchase of the Quinny Dreami bassinette brings the cost up to $690, making both the Quinny Buzz and the Bugaboo Gecko equal in cost.

Are you looking for a unique European stroller that isn’t just another Bugaboo? The Quinny Speedi SX stroller is a great choice. Quinny, a leading manufacturer of baby products in Europe, makes stylish strollers that turn heads everywhere they go. Currently only two Quinny models are readily available in the US: the Quinny Buzz and the Quinny Zapp. Both of these strollers are cool looking, but neither one is Quinny’s best model. Available only in Europe, the Quinny Speedi SX stroller, introduced in 2006, is the only Quinny worth the money you’ll pay for it.

Quinny has taken an interesting tack with its American line. While all the European Quinnys are 3-wheeled, the American version of the Quinny Zapp has four wheels. No doubt Quinny made this decision to address the concerns of parents who found their Quinny strollers to be precariously tippy. Yet, the design of Quinny’s stroller frames really lends itself to three wheels, and it’s sad to see the Quinny’s sleek profile be ruined because of faulty engineering. The Quinny Speedi SX manages to accommodate slick design and stability by using a wider wheel base and lower center of gravity than the other Quinny models. The Quinny Speedi SX has all the hip looks of the Quinny brand without any of its instability. Why spend all that money on a Quinny if it doesn’t look like one?

The Quinny Speedi SX is larger than other Quinny models, but I find this negligible for most US customers. Unlike Europeans who are more likely to be dealing with narrow streets, public transportation, and tiny car trunks, most Americans who can afford a Quinny will have ample room for its larger size. If you live in New York or Chicago, you might do better with a Quinny Buzz, but for the suburbanites, the Quinny Speedi SX is a much smarter choice. Unlike the Buzz and the Zapp, the Quinny Speedi SX has ample storage and can handle just about any terrain you care to push it over. With three air-filled tires, the Quinny Speedi SX is even light and maneuverable enough to use for brisk walks or jogs through the park.

Personally, I want a stroller that can serve me all the time. Quinnys smaller strollers are really meant to be used for travel or as a second stroller. Who wants to pay hundreds of dollars for a second stroller? The Quinny Speedi SX is light enough to take on trips and use when running errands but rugged enough to handle long walks over uneven terrain. It may take some extra effort to get your hands on one, but if you must have a Quinny, the Speedi SX is the way to go.