Choosing a stroller was one of the most difficult decisions we had to make as new parents. The first mistake I made when choosing a stroller was trying to find one stroller that had it all, which just isn’t a thing. There are many types of strollers – travel system strollers, full-sized strollers, umbrella strollers, convertible strollers, double strollers, and infant car seat strollers! I got very overwhelmed very quickly to say the least. I ended up compiling comparison charts and scouring the Stroller Chat Facebook group, the overwhelm was real!

I ended up buying the Uppababy Minu V2 travel stroller and I haven’t bought another one (safe for babies that have neck strength, around 3+ months). Prior to that I just used a carrier to carry her around.

*I do also have my eye on the Guava Roam jogging stroller, however, now that my baby is 6+ months and able to ride in one.

Uppababy strollers are also free from flame retardants, BPA, phthalates, lead, and latex which was important to me. There are other nontoxic brands which include Nuna, Bob, Mountain Buggy, Maclaren, Bumbleride, Chicco Cleartex, Britax, Zoe, Stokke, Mockingbird, and Silvercross.

The reason why I went with Uppababy brand is because it is known to accommodate tall babies (hello 98% percentile!) unlike Nuna which is notorious for babies growing out of quickly. If you anticipate having a tall baby, this is definitely something to consider. It also came with an extended handlebar to accommodate tall parents which I thought was pretty cool, but my husband who is 6’3” didn’t find it to be a necessary adjustment and was fine with the regular handlebar.

Pros:

• Lightweight (just under 17lbs!) This makes it perfect for travel and it can be stowed away in the overhead compartments of most airplanes
• One-handed and one step fold makes it easy to setup and breakdown while holding your baby
• Extendable UPF 50+ Canopy with a flap that can be flipped open and fastened to expose a mesh window for checking on your little one
• Leather handlebar for you to hold, no plastic leeching into your hands
• Decent shock-absorbing all-wheel suspension
• 3 year warranty
• Multiple position recline

Cons:

While the wheels are nice, they don’t provide the smooth ride that a stroller, such as a jogger or full-sized stroller, with bigger wheels would. But again it’s a travel stroller, its main function is to be compact and lightweight, not to be for all-terrain. My main complaint with the Uppababy Minu V2 is that my baby often slumps in the seat, since it is more of a sloped seat versus a bucket seat. This can be a little risky for asphyxiation. I also would have loved to have a parent-facing stroller in the early days for peace of mind, I found myself constantly going to the front of the stroller to check on her.

Takeaway

Overall, I am very happy with the Uppababy Minu V2. The quality is great despite it being lightweight, it doesn’t feel flimsy and it’s a smooth ride. If I had to do it again I’d probably get a Chicco Cleartex travel system with both the car seat and stroller (since I originally had the Chicco Cleartex Infant Car Seat to begin with) for two reasons. One, because not having to transfer baby from car seat to stroller is such a nice feature in the early days when they are constantly napping and you don’t want to wake them; and two because I really didn’t need something as fancy or pricey as the Uppababy and would now feel a little better about also splurging on a Guava Roam. We did travel with our baby a lot in the first six months of her birth, so I am grateful for the ease of the Uppababy Minu V2 for plane rides and such.

Compatibility: the Nuna Minu V2 can be used with the Aria or Mesa Infant Car Seats or select Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, and Cybex Infant Car Seats

Additions include: cupholder ($29.99), piggyback ($99.99), snack tray ($44.99), and travel bag ($89.99)

I hope this post helped you come to a decision regarding your stroller choice, as I know it can be super overwhelming especially for first time moms. Talking with others, I realized many have multiple strollers for different occasions, one mom said she had twelve! It also helps to go to a store that sells them so you can experience the ride, the quality, and the size. I’ve heard BuyBuyBaby is great for this but unfortunately all of the locations near us closed and we opted for Cribs and Kids instead. Good luck!