Baby Jogger City Select

Choosing the right stroller can be tough. When I began stroller shopping with my first child, I had no idea what I was in for. I purchased a travel system, tried an umbrella stroller, borrowed a jogging stroller from a friend, and all of them left something to be desired. When I became pregnant with my second child, I knew I needed a stroller that could meet all of our needs and accommodate two passengers to boot. The Baby Jogger City Select is exactly what I was looking for.

I love so many things about this stroller. First of all, it was a cinch to put together. I was miserably nine months pregnant and had a toddler climbing all over the box, the unassembled parts and me, and I still managed to put it together within 10 minutes.

The stroller I received is a lovely red (it comes in nine different shades), and all of the fabric can be detached and machine-washed. It has a humongous, adjustable canopy. I mean, the sun will not touch your child if you don’t want it to. It is UV protected and has a peekaboo window.

Most important, though, is the storage. My diaper bag is always overflowing, but it easily fits in the storage basket beneath the seat. It might even fit two diaper bags if I tried! Cup holders, child trays, weather covers, etc., can be purchased separately.

The City Select is so easy to fold and unfold. You do need two hands, but you just lift the handles, and you’re done. It lies very flat, so you’ll still have plenty of space in the trunk. The brakes operate easily with a handle on one side of the stroller. The front wheels can be locked for tougher terrains, like the park or beach. They are solid, as opposed to inflatable rubber tires, but they should suit your needs fine because the City Select is not intended to be a jogging stroller.

We decided to take the stroller out for a spin at the mall about two weeks before Christmas. I was nervous about handling a new stroller in such a busy, crowded spot, but I was thoroughly impressed (and relieved) with how well it went. The stroller maneuvers very easily. It is also a fairly narrow design, so it fit through aisles and between racks of clothing without issue.

The greatest thing about the City Select is its ability to grow with your family. It has attachments for a bassinet, a car seat adapter and a second seat (all sold separately). There are 16 different configurations, so siblings can sit rear-facing, front-facing, or face one another. Amazingly, even with two seats, the stroller is still compact enough to navigate a busy store. My daughter loves trying out different positions, and it’s easy to move the seats around, so on a long stroller ride, she is never bored. I love that both my 3-year-old and 3-month-old are comfortable riding in the stroller. And when my toddler prefers to walk (or when I’d prefer to carry my newborn in the sling), it’s nice to be able to return our double to a single.

The City Select has everything my family needs. It works well as a single and a double, and it surpasses other strollers I’ve tried both in quality and functionality. I highly recommend it for any family.

Price: from $500
To buy: babyjogger.com