baby registry essentials · car seat adapter · lie-flat bassinet stroller benefits · lightweight vs full-size stroller · NYC baby registry · stroller accessories · stroller registry checklist · travel system stroller ·Sep 08, 2026

Stroller Station Checklist: What You Need

In NYC your stroller is your car, meaning it’s probably the most important thing on your registry as it allows you to get around, so this is the main decision you’ll have to make. Follow that up with choosing compatible essential add ons like the rain cover (if it doesn’t already come with it), the cup holder (for your iced matcha), parent organizer (keys, wallet, paci), car seat adapter (when on the go) and bassinet (for stroller naps!).

In this article, we’ll discuss all the things you’ll need to put on the stroll section of your registry and why they’re so important. City parents need to be ready to zip around the city in comfort and style on a dime.

TLDR

Most city families end up registering for two strollers: a full-size or mid-size for everyday use around the neighborhood, and a fold-flat lightweight for travel, the subway and quick trips. Full-size gives you the smoothest ride over cobblestones and curbs plus the most storage; mid-size trades a little of that terrain performance for a smaller footprint that’s easier to manage day to day, but neither folds down small enough for travel, where you want something light enough to carry solo and small enough to avoid checking as luggage. Round out your stroll. Registry with the essentials: rain cover, cup holder, parent organizer, car seat adapter adn a bassinet for newborn naps on the go.

The Core Checklist
Stroller: Full-Size, Mid-Size, Lightweight, or a Combo
Do You Need Two Strollers
Three Things to Check For No Matter What You Buy
Built for the City
Don’t Forget Your Car Seat
Mixing and Matching Brands

The Core Checklist

When it comes to the stroll section of your registry, you’ll need one or two strollers (most city families do a full- or mid-size and then a second lightweight). You’ll also want to register for key accessories such as the rain cover, car seat adapter, bassinet, parent organizer, and cupholder.

In addition to that, ahead of the colder weather you may also want to register for a newborn-ready footmuff like the 7am Enfant Nido or Cocoon. Some parents will register for a seat liner as well — it’s not relevant until the baby is sitting up in the stroller, but it will save you the need to launder the stroller fabrics themselves.

Instead if your baby spits up or spills food, you can just slip out the liner and toss it in the wash.

Stroller: Full-Size, Mid-Size, Lightweight or a Combo

As we said, most city families choose a full- or mid-size stroller first. This is the workhorse that will get you around town together. Generally you’ll be looking for larger wheels, a sturdy construction, good suspension (so baby doesn’t feel the road), parent facing options, underbasket storage, and a good warranty.

New York City is full of different terrains, from street and curb to cobblestones and park paths. It’s nice to have an option that strolls comfortably on all of these.

Beyond the full- or mid-size stroller, it’s nice to have a lightweight stroller. As strollers are all about tradeoffs, to be light and agile, lightweights have smaller wheels and less suspension. They may be newborn-ready or not, and they’re typically quite limited when it comes to parent facing opportunities — most strollers will allow such only with the car seat attachment or a bassinet, both limited by time.

Most people choose a lightweight that is the lightest option with all the features they need. Once you decide if you’re a one-stroller household (know that there will be compromises if this is the case) or a two-stroller household, you’ll need to also register for the essential accessories.

Rain Cover (Often comes with)

Check to see if your chosen stroller comes with a rain cover. Typically full-size strollers do and lightweight strollers do not. Mid-size strollers can be a mixed bag.

Cup Holder

You know you’ll want your beverage of choice on the go, so you definitely will want a cupholder.

Parent Organizer

A parent organizer is a smaller bag that hangs from the handlebar of the stroller. This is a very helpful add on that can hold a credit card, house keys, phone, paci and maybe a bottle or two.

Car Seat Adapter

You’ll also want the compatible car seat adapter that can attach your chosen car seat to the frame of your stroller for travel. You’ll want one for each of your strollers, though if you choose one, choose the one you’re most likely to be traveling with. In our experience, new parents tend to prefer traveling with their lightweight stroller, which is ideally small enough to fit in the overhead compartment of an airplane. This is key for making your travel headache-free.

Bassinet

Whatever size stroller you choose, we love to see parents having a bassinet option for their child. That lie-flat position is ideal for babies under 6 months, and bassinets are protective during those first months, giving parents a sense of relief. Some of the newer bassinets are even foldable - namely the Cybex Mios/Coya and Silver Cross Breez & Nia.

Do keep in mind that not all bassinets are overnight certified, meaning babies can sleep on the go under your supervision, but they should not be used as their nighttime bassinet. It’s important to check so that you know you’re using it safely.

Do You Need Two Strollers?

As we said, you don’t strictly need two strollers, but most people in the city do end up getting two, either registering for both, or registering for one and buying a second when needed - often ahead of their first trip with baby.

The benefit of two strollers is that you can buy one that best fits the two opposing scenarios. One stroller is for navigating your neighborhood where comfort for the baby/comfort of the push and storage is key, and lightness, and compact fold are nice to have (though as we said the bigger, better wheels always add weight), but not necessary. Think about it - if you have an elevator you’re probably not carrying your stroller and because you use it so much, many people don’t fold the stroller that much. The other stroller is for subway travel, plane and train travel and quick trips in a taxi or uber with your car seat attached. For this purpose you want something easy to fold, compact and as light as possible.

Splitting the middle with one stroller often means a good deal of compromise, but if that is OK, it’s a perfectly viable choice.

Full- or Mid-Size for Daily Use

The big decision point is whether you want a bigger, full-size stroller for navigating your neighborhood, or if a mid-size compact stroller will do. Basically a full-size prioritizes a comfortable ride for the baby, a comfortable push for the parent, and lots of storage. A mid-size concedes some of the comfort for compactness. So, when deciding what’s better, it depends on your situation - if you anticipate folding it in your home or carrying it some, a mid-size might be perfect. If you want the most comfortable push with the biggest storage, opt for a full-size.

The best thing to do is to test them in the shop to see what feels best aligned with your lifestyle.

A Fold Flat Lightweight for Travel and the Subway

The fold of your lightweight stroller is going to be important, as well as the overall weight, the convenience of a carry strap (and how easy it is). We suggest that parents do the “one handed fold” test, where they hold our Babesta practice baby in one arm and try to fold the stroller with the other and get it over your shoulder.

You want to be sure you can do it all by yourself, with no help from anyone else. This will give you the most confidence when the time comes that you’re out and about in the city with your little one.

Can One Stroller Actually Do Both Jobs?

In short, yes, but not as well as two. There’s no unicorn when it comes to strollers. One stroller means it will be either heavier than you want or not as good ride/suspension.

Three Things to Check For, No Matter What You Buy

There are three features you want to look for when selecting your strollers. Let’s take a look.

Newborn Compatibility

First of all you want to understand how the stroller serves from day one. Some strollers just come with a seat, for instance, that’s only safe for babies 3 or 6 months and higher (for younger ages, you have to buy the newborn bassinet accessory). Other strollers offer newborn-ready seats from the get go by either including a bassinet, or having a seat recline safe for a newborn. Most strollers allow for car seat compatibility, although you'll have to check the specific brands allowed.

Make sure you know all the configurations that are newborn-safe with your chosen model.

Wheel Size for City Terrain

Then, take a look at the wheels. Are they going to handle city streets sufficiently? City parents stroll more than anyone else in the world, and low quality or small wheels will degrade quickly. Think about what your day to day looks like in terms of cobblestones, curbs, and park paths and choose accordingly.

Easy Fold

Then take a look at the fold. You may not fold it every day but you want to be able to do it easily. If it’s your travel stroller, we recommend you ensure you can do it by yourself while holding the baby. If it’s a bigger stroller, you’ll probably just wheel it to your apartment and take the baby out, so one hand by yourself isn’t strictly necessary but still nice to have.

Built for the City

Strollers that are built for the city have certain features. These include a relatively slim frame for bodegas and narrow aisles in your neighborhood stores, city-ready wheels for all terrain (curbs and cobblestones included), and (for your lightweight) easy to fold and carry through the turnstile or up the subway stairs if you’re traveling by subway.

Before choosing a model it’s important to look at the front door of your building, and the entrance and exit to the elevator in your building, in case there is some dimensional limitation. If you live in a walkup, take a look at our article Best Strollers for Walkups, as stroller weight will be determinative.

Don’t Forget Your Car Seat

The other essential part of your stroller decision is pairing it with the right car seat. As strollers and car seats click together to make a travel system, it’s good to think about this at the same time. We think it’s best if you choose your stroller first if you’re a city family, as generally the stroller gets used more. Once you know your chosen strollers, find a car seat that works with both. This will give you the most choice when it comes to traveling.

Mixing and Matching Brands

A last note about the stroller-car seat combo is that you’ll have a choice to do everything by one brand (full- or mid-size stroller, lightweight stroller and car seat) or mix brands. Although staying in-brand can be slick and easy, sometimes mixing it up better fits what you need for your lifestyle. We like to see parents choose the best strollers for them regardless of brand and then find a car seat that can bridge the gap. Car seats like the Clek Liing tend to be cross-compatible with most high-quality strollers.

Strolling with Babesta

Dragonfly Seat & Bassinet Stroller Complete - Babesta

Now that you know what you need for the stroll section of your registry checklist, it’s time to start evaluating the strollers out there.

At Babesta you can test any of our models both in store and on the street. If you have a tricky door or elevator, we’ll even let you test it at home to ensure that it fits what you need (by arrangement). In store we’ll also teach you to fold it and use all of its features, and can face off any other contenders you might be thinking about.

We try to make building your registry easy and won’t let you lose your cool as you navigate baby gear. Babesta will always have your back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use one stroller for two kids close in age?

It depends on the gap. If your kids will be riding together for a while, a true double stroller (side-by-side or tandem) is worth registering for instead of trying to make a single stroller work. Most single strollers can add a standing board or rumble seat for an older sibling once they’re steady enough to ride along, but that’s a short-term bridge, not a long-term fix. Come in and we’ll talk through side-by-side vs. tandem for your specific age gap and stairs situation.

When should I size down to a lightweight stroller?

Most families don’t size down so much as add the lightweight as a second stroller from the start, for travel and subway days. If you’re choosing just one lightweight, the natural trigger is either your first trip with baby or the point your child can sit up well and hold their head steady on their own - generally around 6 months - since that’s when most lightweights without newborn-ready recline become usable.

Do I need a travel system, or can I buy the stroller and car seat separately?

You don’t need a matched set. Buying the stroller and car seat separately gives you more choice on both ends, and a compatible car seat adapter bridges the gap - car seats like the Clek Liing are built to be cross-compatible with most high-quality strollers. A true travel system mainly saves you the adapter -shopping step; it doesn’t change the ride or the safety. See our full Travel Systems guide for how to decide.

How many strollers do I actually need?

Most city families end up with two: a full-size or a mid-size for daily neighborhood use,a nd a lightweight for travel, subway days, and quick trips. One stroller can work if you’re comfortable compromising - you’ll either carry more weight on travel days or give up some ride comfort and storage day to day. Two lets you get the best of both without trading one off against the other.

Stroller Station Checklist: What You Need

TLDR

Table of Contents

The Core Checklist