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OVERVIEW
There is a relatively new type of stroller on the market that falls right between a standard stroller and a lightweight stroller: the lightweight-plus. Lightweight-plus strollers offer the strength and stability to carry your newborn or infant car seat carrier, but at half the weight.
Lightweight-plus strollers are a little bigger and a lot more stable than a lightweight stroller. An infant car seat carrier rides securely on top, but the stroller you're left with after your baby grows up is nimble, light, and easy to travel with.
Hard to Spot
Lightweight-plus strollers can be hard to find in a crowd because they are usually miscategorized - either thrown in with standard strollers or mixed with the lightweights. Most online stores don't differentiate either, but we think they deserve their own, special category (because we think they are such a special stroller).
The way to spot a lightweight-plus stroller is by stroller weight and infant car seat compatibility. True lightweight strollers weigh less than 15 pounds and are not meant for newborns. (While a few lightweights do advertise they can accept an infant car seat carrier, we personally wouldn't put our newborn in a stroller that weighed less than 15 pounds.) Standard strollers weigh over 20 pounds. Lightweight-plus strollers are between 16 and 19 pounds and can sturdily and safely accommodate a newborn or an infant car seat carrier.
Longest Age Range
While standard strollers can be used from birth to about 4 years, they are large and heavy enough to make you regret them before your child turns 18 months. Many parents, desperate to lighten their load, turn to a lightweight stroller. Lightweight strollers however, offer smaller baskets, less convenience features, and stiffer seats that can be a shocking downgrade to a mom used to having a place to pile everyone's winter coats, 12 shopping bags, 2 Cokes and diaper bag.
Lightweight-plus strollers are genius because they give you much of the room and features of a standard stroller, but in a tinier, lighter package. We actually found we never wanted to retire our Lightweight-plus stroller because we didn't want to lose the big basket, the stability and the cup holder. And since it was only 2 pounds heavier than a lightweight stroller, we never had to.
Reclining Seat
Since they are safe for newborns, lightweight-plus strollers should have a fully reclining seat. Make sure it reclines smoothly and easily.
Carrycots
A few lightweight-plus strollers actually make carrycots, also called bassinets, that attach to their strollers. They are very beautiful, and allow a mom to stroll carriage-style with her newborn, but also take baby into the house to sleep.
If you choose a carrycot, make sure the fabric is breathable, the baby has proper ventilation, the mattress is firm, and you cannot fit more than one finger between the mattress and any side.
FEATURES TO CONSIDER:
- Fully Reclining Seat
- Large, Easily Accessible Basket
- Sun Canopy
- Parent cup holders
- Handle
- Locking Mechanism
- Brakes
- Ease of fold
- Weight
- Suspension
- Pattern
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