3 stroller options for use with infant car seats

When a baby is born, new parents are still adjusting to the baby’s needs, learning what the child likes/ dislikes, feels comfortable in etc. So, rather than rushing off to buy a full-fledged stroller, it is best if you opt for either a car-seat adapter for your stroller, or a car seat frame.

Just ensure that you buy a seat adapter or frame with the click in method rather than the strap-in method because the click-in method is much faster and easier than the strap-in.

A standardized stroller is much more bulky and heavier than a car seat frame which makes it difficult to use. Besides, such a heavy item is not really required for babies below 12 months. You can move to standard-size products after your baby crosses 6-12 months. Most of the strollers come with a car seat adapter which is an added plus. The only exception to the standard stroller is the Britax B-Agile which is surprisingly light in weight, (weighs 16 lbs) and easy to use with the highly regarded Britax B-Safe car seat.

Why start off using a car seat for strolling?

I have recommended the car seat for strolling on multiple occasions and here is the reason why:

• The car seat is safe, secure, and for a baby of 0-6 months, who has no muscle strength to support his/her own head, the car seat provides ample comfortable support for the baby.
• It’s easier and faster to move the car seat from the car and attach it to the stroller without having to move the child from the car seat.
• If your baby falls asleep while driving or strolling, you will definitely not want to disturb or wake him/her up by moving him/her. With the car seat, you can move it without disturbing your baby smoothly.
• Car Seat Frames are easy to move because they are light in weight and more compact in comparison to the standard-size with a car seat adapter

A stroller that can accept an infant car seat makes it easy for parents to get out and about with your baby. You can move the baby from the car to the stroller (and also the other way round) without having to wake up the baby.

You can even carry the bucket seat around on its own.

So if you’re looking for such an arrangement, you will need a stroller that can accommodate a car seat. And here are the basic options that you have.

• A universal stroller frame
• Use a travel system
• Standard stroller with an adapter.

 

Each of these options have their own pros and cons; depending on your short and long-term plans one might be better than another.

Car Seat Stroller Frame

A car seat stroller frame is a bare bones stroller (just the chassis) on which the infant car seat snaps or locks into. A stroller frame can only be used with a bucket seat.

These frame strollers have a limited lifespan, you can use it as long as the baby fits in their infant car seat.

The advantage of this stroller is that it simplifies things for you. You do not have to spend a lot of time figuring out the best stroller for your needs. Instead you can use a stroller frame for the first few months (say for the first year) and then once you’re sure what features you need in the stroller, you can buy one that matches your needs.

 

 

Travel System

A travel system is a full-size stroller that can accommodate an infant seat (comes with the stroller) either by removing the stroller seat or snapping the bucket seat on top of the entire stroller.

This is everything you need in a stroller, includes the car seat as well. The only downsides are cost (its expensive) and its bulky. so if you’re investing in this option, you have to be pretty sure about why yu need it.

 

 

Standard Stroller with Adapters

Adapters can be used with standard strollers (non travel system strollers) that needs to be purchased separately that turns a standard stroller into a travel system. Several strollers, including jogging strollers, offer infant car seat compatibility using a car seat adapter.

So if you already have a stroller and a car seat from some other brand, you will need an adapter for the stroller to accept the car seat.

 

 

Using a Baby Carrier

For the first few months you can skip the stroller entirely and instead use a baby carrier to transport your baby.

The best baby carriers cost a fraction of the cost of high-end strollers, and infants also love snuggling, so using a baby carrier can be a great pleasure for your baby.

So you have an alternative for the first year if you don’t want a stroller.

Also Read: Stroller / Pram buying guide

Closing Thoughts

Whatever stroller you decide to go with, make sure it is one that is easy for you to get out and explore the world with your baby.

The advantage of a universal stroller frame is that its cheaper, easier to manage, and simplifies things in the first few months, giving you ample time to figure out what stroller to buy for the long term.