Best Car Seat Stroller Combo 2023

Baby gear that pulls double duty is always a parenting win. And the best car seat stroller combo systems do just that, providing two pieces of gear in one. With these infant travel systems, parents can seamlessly take their infant from the car to cruising the grocery store aisles by snapping the car seat into the stroller frame. Of course, trying to figure out which of these best car seat stroller combos will work best for your family is the trick.

The best car seat stroller combo systems provide two pieces of key parenting gear in one seamless ... [+] package.

Often the items in these systems can be purchased separately or together as a package if they are from a single brand. It typically will include an infant car seat that easily attaches to an accompanying stroller without an adapter. If you want to mix brands, you may need an adapter to attach your car seat to the desired stroller. The stroller can also be used on its own without the car seat.

For the car seat itself, Michelle Pratt, nationally-certified child passenger safety expert and founder and owner of Safe in the Seat, recommends starting with what she calls the 7 Cs of selection: child's growth percentiles, cost, circumstances, car compatibility, crash, convenience and (other) considerations. "By working through each of these factors, you can prioritize your needs and wants, and the best fits for your child, vehicle and budget," she says. (Find more buying guide tips after our picks.)

With all of this in mind, these are the best car seat stroller combo systems to allow you and baby to stroll around as easily and safely as possible. After reading this story, you may want to check out the best travel strollers, double strollers or convertible car seats.

Target

Car seat weight: 10 pounds | Car seat weight limit: 35 pounds | Car seat height limit: 32 inches | Attachment style: Click and go

Britax is known for car seats with impressive safety records that are easy to use, and this car seat stroller combo is no exception. The car seat itself features a five-point adjustable harness and steel frame to help keep baby snug and secure. The harness doesn't require rethreading and has an easy-release button, making it easy to adjust as baby grows. The seat cover is removable and washable in case of spit-ups and more accidents. The seat also has a contoured shell to minimize side-to-side movement, whether you’re in the car or cruising the streets in the stroller. The stroller is lightweight and easy to open and fold with one hand—crucial when your hands are full.

A ventilated canopy keeps your baby cool in the shade, while an extra-large storage basket houses all your on-the-go essentials. All-wheel suspension keeps baby from getting rocked while you roll. And, once your baby outgrows the infant car seat, you can still use the stroller up to 55 pounds.

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Amazon

Car seat weight: 15 pounds | Car seat weight limit: 35 pounds | Car seat height limit: 32 inches | Attachment style: Click

Car seat stroller combos can cost up to $1,000 (or more), making the Safety 1st travel system a total steal at just $200. The car seat provides extra head and body support for baby that can be removed as your little one grows. The oversized canopy has a peek-a-boo window, allowing you to easily keep tabs on baby. The stroller itself features a seamless one-handed fold and can stand on its own when folded—a great feature for storage. There are also extra perks, such as parent and child trays built into this lightweight value stroller travel system.

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Strolleria

Car seat weight: 10 pounds | Car seat weight limit: 35 pounds | Car seat height limit: 32 inches | Attachment style: Snap

Uppababy's Vista V2 has everything to help your babies ride in style for the first few months. And this travel system package comes with two Mesa infant car seats, two bases, two bassinets and two stroller toddler seats to effortlessly upgrade your little ones’ ride as they get older. Another Forbes parenting writer who owns this car seat says it's a breeze to install with or without the base.

Babies can ride facing forward or back in the stroller seats and, as they get older, can sit angled upright or reclined. Extendable canopies help keep them in the shade, while an extra-large storage basket gives plenty of room to tote a diaper bag and more. The package also includes bug and rain shields, and the telescoping handlebar, easy folding mechanism and smooth strolling are perks, too.

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Amazon

Car seat weight: 10 pounds | Car seat weight limit: 30 pounds | Car seat height limit: 30 inches | Attachment style: Click-in

The Chico Bravo 3-in-1 comes with one of our favorite infant car seats, the KeyFit 30, and in an affordable package. The car seat features the brand's SuperCinch Force Multiplying Tightener to give baby a snug fit without messing with a bunch of straps. It clicks into the stroller with ease.

The stroller itself features treaded tires and all-wheel suspension for a smooth ride, along with a multi-position reclining seat, child tray with cup holders and a decent-sized storage basket. There's also a UPF 50+ canopy to protect baby's delicate skin. The frame folds up small and easily for those moments when you need to quickly get baby out. When baby outgrows the infant car seat, they can still ride in the stroller up to 50 pounds.

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Amazon

Car seat weight: 16.5 pounds | Car seat weight limit: 35 pounds | Car seat height limit: 32 inches | Attachment style: Integrated wheels and seat

No question about it: The Doona is just cool. This infant car seat stroller combo features a built-in stroller so you can pull the stroller legs down from the car seat and cruise right out of the car. The car seat works rear-facing only, with or without the included base. The stroller's handlebar pulls double-duty as an anti-rebound bar inside the car, a sought after safety feature that helps absorb impact during an accident. The infant insert is made from bamboo, so it won't get stinky with time, but the car seat cover is also washable. Tall parents may not appreciate the lower frame, and once your child outgrows the seat, they’ve outgrown their stroller, too. But overall, it makes for an attractive package, especially for travel or daily errands. It's also FAA-approved for flying with baby. Choose from a range of shades, including blush pink, racing green and flame red.

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To choose the best car seat stroller combo systems, we spoke to experts in the field, including a car seat safety expert and a pediatrics professor. I also analyzed the most popular systems on the market, spoke with other parents and relied on my own parenting expertise as a mother of four. I then narrowed it down based on how easy the car seat snaps into a stroller, how lightweight and effortless the system is to carry and other features designed to make life easier. We also double checked that every car seat stroller combo met National Highway Traffic Safety Administration safety requirements. This article is frequently fact-checked to ensure accuracy; it was most recently updated in December 2022.

Forbes also has expertise in reviewing and testing baby and kids. You may want to review these additional stories as you get ready to welcome a new baby.

We found the Britax B-Lively and B-Safe Gen2 FlexFit to be the best car seat stroller combo, because of its versatile features, higher weight and height limits and moderate price. The Britax car seats tend to be dead simple to use and highly rated. But you might be looking for something else based on your family's needs, so we’ve included several other top-notch options.

Benjamin Hoffman, M.D., F.A.A.P., a professor of pediatrics in the Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine, recommends focusing on the car seat first, as well, ensuring it fits in your vehicle and you understand how to use it properly—before figuring out the stroller features you want.

It's important to heed the manufacturer height and weight limits on car seats and strollers. They’ll vary by product. These systems generally have weight limits of 30 to 35 pounds, and length limits of 30 to 32 inches, says car seat safety expert and professor Hoffman. "One of the most important things to look at are those limits," he says. "Most kids will outgrow the length long before they outgrow the weight."

All car seat (and car seat stroller combos) must meet the same safety standards, Hoffman says, making them "unequivocally safe." Instead, "the difference is in fancier fabrics and ease of use," he says.

We think so, but this is up to each family, as well as your definition of a baby travel system. These two-in-one systems ease just a bit of the friction in our daily parenting lives by making it easier to transport a non-mobile about their day. Also, you’ll need at least one stroller and one infant car seat to start your parenting journey, why not pick up one of these combo packages that are made to work together?