10 Best Baby Travel Systems 2013 Review

2013 Top Baby Travel Systems for Babies

With my first baby I didn’t think a travel system was necessary, I thought the strollers with travel systems were too bulky, and so I didn’t get one before the baby was born. The car seat itself didn’t seem that heavy, and so I figured just carrying it around sometimes wouldn’t be that difficult. But once I had my baby and tried carrying it around, I couldn’t believe how heavy it felt! So I bought the stroller that my car seat would snap into, and wished I had saved money by just buying the travel system to begin with!

When choosing a travel system, usually your first choice is what kind of car seat you want. Obviously, safety is at the top of the priority list when choosing a car seat, and so it is good to know that all car seats sold in the US must pass the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration safety testing. If a seat does not pass their rigorous testing, it doesn’t make it to the market, so when you are buying a new car seat you can know your child is protected no matter which seat you choose. But improperly installed car seats may not protect your baby in a crash, so make sure to closely follow manufacturers directions when installing the seat and many places offer free inspections of car seat installations to help you verify your seat is installed safely. For more information on installing a car seat; check out this link from the NHTSA.

Most travel systems come with one car seat base that you makes getting your baby in and out of the car a snap, but if you will frequently be driving with your baby in more than one car, you will probably want to either choose a travel system that comes with two car seat bases or purchase a second one, because I found getting those bases securely installed is enough work that it’s not something you want to be undoing and redoing on a regular basis! Of course some not all car seats are created equal when it comes to ease of use, and I’ve found some have features that make them much easier to use than others. I really liked reading through these ease-of-use ratings, also published by the NHTSA, which rates each car seat on several different aspect of how parent-friendly it is.

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Evenflo FeatherLite 400 Stroller with Embrace 35 Car Seat

10 Best Baby Travel Systems for 2013

Best Lightweight baby Car Seat Travel Systems

Now let’s get to the reviews. Travel systems fit into 3 overall categories, lightweight, full-size and 3-wheel, or jogging, style. I’m going to start with a couple strollers in the lightweight category; first we have the Graco FastAction Fold Classic Connect Travel System.

The feature that really sets this stroller apart is the super streamlined one-step fold. It takes literally seconds to fold, you just pull the handle in the seat and the whole stroller folds backwards and is ready to load in your car. Of all the strollers I have tried, this was definitely the quickest to fold I have used! The stroller itself weighs 22 pounds, and even though I’m on the petite side it was very easy to lift in and out of the trunk. One thing I like about the Richmond print on this particular travel system is that I think it is very gender neutral, so if you aren’t finding out what you are having or if you want to save your travel system for possible future children, you can use this for a boy or a girl. This travel system includes the Graco SnugRide infant seat and one base for the car. On the stroller the straps convertible so it will be a 5-point harness for infants, and a 3-point harness for when they are older.

Best Graco Travel System for Babies 2013

Another option in the lightweight category is the Graco Dynamo Lite Travel System. This stroller is the lightest of the travel system strollers I looked at, at just over 17 pounds it is a great choice if you are looking for something light and easy to lift. If you are having a little girl, I think this Adaline print is adorable; it is girly and fun without being over the top. This stroller also has the convertible 3 or 5-point harness, and I like how the seat can recline so far back, so it is easy to let your little one nap in it when you’ve had a long day out and about. The front child tray swivels out to make it easy for older kids to climb in and out, and overall I just liked the streamlined look of this stroller. This stroller also comes with the SungRide infant seat and one seat base.

Top Rated Evenflo Stroller with Car Seat

If you are looking for a lightweight travel system from Evenflo, they have the Evenflo Journey 300 Stroller with Embrace 35 Car Seat. There are two different fun prints available, a pink floral and a teal and is a great value for your money. This stroller folds with one hand, and stand on its own when folded, which I think makes storage easier. The harness on this stroller is 3-point instead of 5-point, so if you want to use the stroller alone you will need to wait until the baby is a bit older. It has suspension on both the front and rear wheels for a smoother ride, and the large canopy is great on those long sunny days out and about.

Best Travel System for Toddlers and Babies 2013

A full-sized travel system is heavier, but offer more features such as a larger storage basket and a plusher seat. The Graco Stylus Classic Connect LX Travel System offers these features and more. The adjustable leg rest and full recline make it so this stroller can comfortably hold your baby from the time they are a tiny infant all the way through preschool. For when you want to take a walk without the car seat, I like the infant enclosure you can put in when they are tiny; it keeps them secure in the stroller and their little heads from flopping.

I also like that the stroller handle is adjustable, with many strollers if you are on the tall or short side it is impossible to be really comfortable while pushing the stroller. The extra large basket has plenty of room for all the gear you need for a day around town with a baby, and I like the parent console up top, there are two cup holders and a case that closes that is perfect for my keys and phone. The travel system comes with the Graco SnugRide 30, this seat is a tiny bit larger than the basic SnugRide, and can be used with infants up to 30 pounds, and has 4 harness slots, so it fits tiny infants and small as 4 pounds, and also fits larger infants more comfortably.

Best Trend Expedition Travel System 2013

For a jogging style travel system there is the Baby Trend Expedition LX Travel System, Millennium. Jogging strollers are much smoother and easier to push when walking or running outdoors, and if you are a runner being able to take your baby out on your runs will make it much easier to get back into running again then always having to wait to find times when you can go out on your own. However, experts recommend that you wait until your baby is at least 6 old before you let them ride in a jogging stroller, because there is not proper head support for them before that. By getting a jogging stroller that you can use with the infant car seat, you can start taking your baby out for walks as soon as your doctor clears you for it. The Baby Trend Expedition has a great set of features: a reclining seat with a 5-point harness, a wrist strap for safety, a large storage basket, a large sun canopy and a wrist strap for safety. Air filled tires are important for a smooth ride on a jogging stroller, and the front tire on this stroller can be locked for use when jogging, or swivel for walking around town.

Best Britax Travel System for Kids 2013

For a travel system with tons of flexibility, look at the Britax B-Agile and B-Safe Travel System. Kind of a mix between a jogging stroller and your traditional stroller, this offers many of the advantages of both. While I wouldn’t use it for running, for brisk walks or light jogging on paved trails, the B-Agile performs very well. It is also very lightweight, the stroller and car seat combined weigh only twenty pounds! It also folds very compactly, which is very important if you don’t have much trunk space. Some people feel that babies sleeping flat is better for their spine then being reclined like in a car seat, so if you plan to be out walking for long periods of time when your baby is young and you want the option there is also an optional bassinet available for the B-Safe.