In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

How We Tested Full-size Strollers

Wednesday November 6, 2024
full size stroller
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Overall Testing


Our testing protocol for standard strollers is very extensive. Over several months, we took these strollers through a gauntlet of more than 50 individual tests to see how they compare to one another in day-to-day use. Hands-on testing during regular use provides a lot of information about how each product compares to the competition in real-world settings. We also perform a series of more controlled tests to look at particular performance elements in an apples-to-apples manner. We design our experiments to push the products to the limits to see how one compares to the others.

full size stroller
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Testing Stroller Performance


We define specific tests to look at key performance elements. These tests range from things such as the ease of unbuckling and buckling a baby using the safety harness and cup holder stability to more obscure tests like pushing strollers over grass, gravel, dirt, and snow.

full size stroller - one of 50 different stroller lab tests, our sideways tip-over angle...
One of 50 different stroller lab tests, our sideways tip-over angle test shown above gives us a measure of which strollers are more tippy than others
Credit: Shellay Glatz

We Take the Measurements


We refrain from using the manufacturer's specifications for weights, size, and other factors in our testing. Instead, we perform our own measurements for every product to compare the apples-to-apples results. We hope that by performing a mix of real-world and lab-style testing, we can give parents a complete picture and information to make the right choice for their families.

The Cybex Balios is a sometimes less expensive quality stroller for...
The Cybex Balios is a sometimes less expensive quality stroller for one.

We Test it All


We test a variety of metrics designed to give a broad and detailed picture of the full-size strollers. Our tests include those for ease of use of everyday functions like the brakes, harness, and storage features. We push each stroller on different surfaces and in small or tight spaces with one and two hands. We look at the design, how the materials come together, and how durable it seems. We assemble and record each product being set up. We compare times and manuals to determine which are the easiest or most challenging. Last, we consider how comfortable each option is for the passenger and the pusher by assessing and comparing the seat recline, leg rest, footrest, and more.