The best 3 in 1 car seat is one that you can use from when your child is born until he no longer needs it. It starts as a rear-facing car seat that can be converted to front-facing when he’s older. Finally, it turns into a booster seat that he can use until such time that he’s ready for your car’s seat belt.
The best 3 in 1 strollers or travel system, on the other hand, consists of an infant car seat (and/or a bassinet), a car seat base, and the stroller itself. This car seat-stroller combo allows you to easily transfer your little one from the car seat to the stroller without waking him up, and vice versa.
Why you need a 3 in 1 stroller
Some parents may argue that 3 in 1 strollers aren’t necessary and that is true. However, they do offer a few key benefits that are hard to ignore especially if you are a parent who’s always on the go. These benefits are as follows:
Allows you to move a sleeping baby undisturbed
Babies can’t use regular strollers yet until they’re at least six months old. This is the time when they have good neck and head control. Without one of the best 3 in 1 strollers, you’ll need to take your baby out from the car (while he’s sleeping) and transfer him to the stroller. You don’t want to risk waking him up and have to deal with a grumpy baby for sure.
Saves you money
3 in 1 strollers are typically on the expensive side. However, you’re still better getting one as opposed to getting a car seat, a bassinet, and a stroller separately. Besides, these types of strollers are meant to be used by children until they longer need them which makes them a good investment as well.
Space saver
Having a separate stroller and a car seat means you’ll have to deal with packing both of them wherever you go which can be difficult if you have a small car. The best 3 in 1 strollers though, has everything you need so space shouldn’t be much of an issue.
The Best 3 in 1 Strollers
You may already be sold on why you need a 3 in 1 stroller for your bundle of joy. However, not all of these strollers are created equal and shopping for one can be a daunting task. But don’t worry, here are our top picks of the best 3 in 1 strollers to get you started.
Chicco Bravo Trio Travel System
This stroller is one of the best-selling 3 in 1 strollers in the US, and rightly so. It comes with the KeyFit 30 infant car seat that can accommodate newborns up until they are weighing 30 lbs. The car seat base is already included in the package, but you can also purchase an extra to make transferring your little one to another car easier.
The seat of this stroller is removable that is why turning this stroller into an infant car seat carrier is a breeze. This makes the stroller easy to push with the stroller seat removed. And once your bundle of joy gets a little older and wants to see more of the world around him, just remove the canopy and heighten the seat.
Pros
- Adjustable handlebar
- Quick one-hand folding
- Comes with a parent tray and two cup holders
Cons
- Not an all-terrain stroller
- The canopy doesn’t have SPF protection
Peg Perego – Book Pop Up Travel System
If you’re looking for a luxurious stroller that comes equipped with everything that you need, look no further than the Peg Perego – Book Pop Up Travel System. It may be expensive, but it definitely will not disappoint you. Plus, it already comes with an infant car seat and a bassinet for your newborn.
The matching bassinet that comes with it has a removable cover to protect your little angel from the cold. What’s also nice about the bassinet is that it is hard-sided which means you can also use it as a free-standing bassinet at home. The bassinet can also be rocked back and forth because of its slight curve shape.
Pros
- Huge canopy
- Adjustable handlebar
- Leather swing-away bumper bar
- Folds easily
- Adjustable leg rest
Cons
- Expensive
- Not an all-terrain stroller
Britax B-Agile & B-Safe 35 Travel System
The biggest selling point of this stroller is its weight. At only 16.5 lbs, you won’t break a sweat carrying the stroller in and out of your vehicle. Additionally, the tripod wheels design of the B-Agile allows for a smooth ride for your little one and easy steering for you.
Because of the way it is designed, this stroller looks like it’s suitable for jogging, but it isn’t. But even if it’s not an all-terrain stroller, it will still do a decent job of dealing with some bumps on the road. Car seat adapters are also included so you can turn it into a travel system with the B-Safe 35 car seat (also included).
Pros
- Allows one-handed use
- Easy to maneuver because of the tripod suspension
- Lightweight
Cons
- No tray and cup holder
- Small bottom basket
- Non-adjustable handlebar
Baby Trend Expedition LX Travel System
Getting back into shape is something that most parents (especially mums) have difficulty with. However, did you know that there are stroller workout and exercises that you can do while you are spending time with your little one? To do so, you’ll need to have a strong and durable stroller just like the Baby Trend Expedition LX Travel System.
What’s surprising about this 3 in 1 stroller is that it is so affordable and yet, comes with many features for you and your baby. It comes with the Flex-Loc Infant car seat which is very easy to hook and adjust into place to get that snug fit.
Note, however, that you can’t use this stroller for jogging with the infant car seat. After all, you probably wouldn’t want to while your precious angel is still little and fragile.
Pros
- Budget-friendly for a jogging stroller
- Lockable front wheel for easy maneuverability
- Easy to fold and comes with plenty of storage spaces
Cons
- Quite bulky even when folded
- The car seat base can be challenging to install securely
Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System
The one that takes the top spot on this list is none other than the Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System. This is one of the few (if not the only) strollers out there that has a unique design. This is because the stroller seat itself can be converted into a bassinet in just a few seconds.
To do so, it doesn’t matter whether the seat is still attached to the stroller or not which is another plus. All you have to do is recline the seat all the way down, and your little one will have a nice and comfy place to sleep in. However, it’s not a stand-alone bassinet which means you can only use it in this mode while it is attached to the stroller; otherwise, it will collapse.
You can use it as a toddler seat, a bassinet, or an infant car seat carrier. What’s nice about it is that your baby can sit either front-facing or forward facing. That means there’s a total of six different seating options for your bundle of joy!
And don’t forget about the SafeMax Infant Car seat that it comes with as well. With just one click, you can easily remove the car seat from the base and transfer it to the stroller frame. Best of all, you don’t need any adapters which makes it even more convenient.
Pros
- Reversible seat
- Quick and easy to assemble
- Comes with a cup holder and child tray
- Large storage basket
Cons
- Non-adjustable handlebar
- Not an all-terrain stroller
Conclusion
It all boils down to what you think is best for you and your little one. Some parents will find that 3 in 1 strollers suit their lifestyles best while others will not. That said, it’s very important that you take your time when shopping for strollers. Your child will not be using the infant car seat for very long, but you’ll be using the stroller for years so take that into careful consideration.
