Among the most sought-after baby gear, we review, test, and write about here at Motherhood HQ are the strollers. In this article, I have described in detail US-based baby stroller companies, and European baby stroller companies with additional info on companies behind luxury strollers such as Bugaboo, and regular brands such as Graco.
What are baby stroller companies?
Baby stroller companies are those that design, develop, manufacture and market baby strollers. In other words, they provide all the necessary products and services related to baby strollers that parents need in order to allow their infants and toddlers to move around safely.
From William Kent’s first stroller in 1733 to the current modern carriers, there has been a lot of innovation over the years to improve the safety of modern-day buggies. Companies have also worked to make strollers more comfortable for both babies and caregivers, as well as making them easier to use.
Below is an image of the first stroller;
On Google’s Patent repository, there are over 135,828 results on patents relating to strollers as shown in the snapshot below;
See all these stroller patents here.
The first recorded patent for strollers was in 1889 and was awarded to someone called Meloney Henry. Many subsequent patents in the 20s and 30s and later in the 50s and 60s paved the way for the booming stroller market here in the US and in Europe. In 19th century England, it was not customary for infants to be taken outside so the stroller market did not emerge there until much later.
Some of the most popular baby stroller companies in the United States are J.L.childress, Baby Jogger, Chicco and Graco. In Europe, some of the top companies include Maclaren, Bugaboo, Quinny and Silver Cross.
How do strollers manufacturers manufacture Strollers?
Strollers are manufactured in two ways – they can either be injection molded or they can be made from aluminum tubing. Injection-molded strollers are typically cheaper to produce but they are not as sturdy as those made from aluminum tubing. Aluminum tubing strollers are more expensive to produce but they are much more durable and offer a smoother ride.
Some companies make strollers with a removable or replaceable frame which makes them more versatile. These strollers can be used as a traditional strollers or they can be converted into a travel system or a jogging stroller.
US Stroller Companies:
Baby Jogger:
In 1984, local newspaper journalist Phil Baechler had an infant son and wanted to find ways to combine parenting with his favorite hobby–jogging. He attempted using a regular stroller but found that it couldn’t keep up with the long-distance or various surfaces he ran on. So, he designed a specialized Baby Jogger stroller that would better suit those needs. He named the company Baby Jogger.
In 2005, Baby Jogger improved their City Series Strollers by adding a swivel front wheel- making the product more versatile for city living. This newly designed stroller has a switch to lock the wheel straight for brisk walking or release it entirely for easier maneuvering while shopping. As a result of this innovation, The Q-Series and Performance series was also launched; greatly widening the diversity in jogging and strolling needs that the Baby Jogger Company offers.
Below is a snapshot from Baby Jogger’s website showing the different stroller categories sold by Baby Jogger including all-terrain, jogging, compact & lightweight, double, and travel systems. Their collection of brands includes City Sights, City Select 2, City Mini GT2, City Mini2, and their special editions including Summit x Robin. You can read more on the Baby Jogger website here.
Baby Jogger also pioneered the Quick Fold technology which is now a standard in the industry. The technology allows parents to fold the stroller with one hand using a trigger release on the handlebar. The company has also developed a double stroller that can be folded with one hand.
On Amazon’s ranking of best-selling strollers, 4 Baby Jogger stroller brands are in the top 15 with
Baby Jogger City Tour 2 coming on 4th behind 2 Baby Trend Expedition brands and Graco FastAction strollers.
See all Baby Jogger stroller catalogs on Amazon here.
Baby Trend:
Founded in 1988, Baby Trend is based in Ontario, California and sells a wide variety of juvenile products. The company started with just 6 employees in a small 10,000-square-foot facility and has now expanded to a 70,000-square-foot warehouse. They are now one of the leading companies that design and market juvenile products in the United States.
Baby Trend offers an array of different strollers to satisfy the needs of every family. Their product lines include but are not limited to the following:
- Xcel – Jogger Stroller
- Expedition – Jogging Stroller
- Sit N Stand – Double and Triple Strollers
- EZ Flex-Loc and Inertia – Travel Systems
- Align – Compact Folding Stroller
- Snap-N-Go – Universal Infant Car Seat Carrier
- EZ Ride – 5-in-1 Activity Center, High Chair, Swing and Jogger
The company has also come out with an innovative new product known as the Baby Trend Encore Travel System. The travel system is designed for those who are always on the go and need a stroller that can easily be transported. It can be folded up in seconds and has a carrying strap for easy transport.
On Amazon’s ranking of best-selling strollers, 5 Baby Trend brands are in the top 15 with the Baby Trend Expedition Jogger Stroller coming in 2nd place.
See all Baby Trend stroller catalogs on Amazon here.
Graco:
Graco is a world leader in the design, development, and manufacture of juvenile products. The company was founded in 1942 and is headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Graco has been committed to providing families with innovative products that are safe, easy to use, and reliable.
Graco offers a variety of strollers for different needs including but not limited to the following:
- FastAction – Jogger Stroller
- FastAction Fold – Compact Folding Stroller
- Modes – Click Connect Travel System
- LiteRider – Lightweight Stroller
- literider Click Connect – Travel System
- urbanlite – Compact Folding Stroller
The company has also come out with a new product known as the Graco Modes Click Connect Travel System. The travel system is designed for those who are always on the go and need a stroller that can easily be transported. It can be folded up in seconds and has a carrying strap for easy transport.
On Amazon’s ranking of best-selling strollers, 3 Graco brands are in the top 15 with the Graco FastAction Jogger Stroller coming in 1st place.
See all Graco stroller catalogs on Amazon here.
Evenflo:
Evenflo is a leading manufacturer of juvenile products. The company was founded in 1920 and is headquartered in Miamisburg, Ohio. Evenflo has been committed to providing families with safe, easy-to-use, and reliable products for over 90 years. Read more about Evenflo here.
Evenflo offers a variety of strollers for different needs including but not limited to the following:
- Expedition – Jogging Stroller
- Pivot – Modular Travel System
- Luxe – Lightweight Stroller
- Sonus – Compact Folding Stroller
- Victory – Jogger Stroller
- Chase – LX Harnessed Booster
On Amazon’s ranking of best-selling strollers, 2 Evenflo brands are in the top 15 with the Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System coming in 2nd place and with high average rating of 4.7/5 by over 10k customers.
See all Evenflo stroller catalogs on Amazon here.
Summer Infant:
Our next company on this list that makes strollers in the Summer Infant. This is an American brand that’s doing fairly well given that its leading brand, the Summer Infant, 3D Mini Convenience Stroller is currently the overall best-selling lightweight stroller on Amazon.
Summer® is owned by Kids2, a group of companies dedicated to aiding new parents with some of their most pressing issues. The Baby Einstein, Ingenuity and Bright Starts brands are all included in the Kids2 portfolio, along with Summer®. Thanks to constant innovation and ideation investments as well as emerging technologies, we’re making each day easier for parents around the world.
On its website, Summer Infant has listed US and UK contacts but being a subsidiary of a larger brand, chances are that their products are being sold in other countries as well.
In reviewing Summer Infant’s strollers, it appears that they’re focussed on lightweight or frame stroller models. Here is another one of its inexpensive lightweight brands going for less than $100 and is also among the best-selling models on Amazon.
Check out Summer Infants Products Catalog on Amazon here.
Joovy:
The Joovy company started out in 2005 with just 3 strollers in its catalog but has, over time, managed to increase both its product range and number of sales. In 2012, it was ranked 228 on the Inc. 500 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies and has continued to grow in popularity and sales over the years.
Its best-performing brand is a jogging stroller called Joovy Zoom 360 Ultralight Jogging Stroller which is actually in the top 20 best-sellers.
Joovy offers a variety of strollers for different needs including but not limited to the following:
- Caboose – Sit and Stand Stroller
- Kooper – Lightweight Stroller
- Zoom – Ultra Compact Stroller
- ScooterX2 – Double Stroller
- Noodle – Lightweight Stroller
- Qool – convertible stroller system
- Big Caboose – Stand-On Triple Stroller
- Tooq – Large Storage Basket
Check out Joovy’s Products Catalog on Amazon
European Baby Stroller Companies:
Chicco:
In Europe, we’ve been following a few baby stroller companies and Chicco comes top among our favorites. As I am writing this for the US market, I think it is worth noting that Chicco retails its products in the US and has an entire distribution and supply chain dedicated to serving and supporting the US market. To separate it from its European businesses of Chicco, Chicco has a dedicated US site called Chicco USA. That said, here is a blurb about this company;
Chicco is an Italian company that’s part of the Artsana Group. It started out as a rubber production company in the late 1940s before moving on to produce baby-related items like feeding bottles and nipples in the 1960s. Since then, it has grown to become one of the leading child care brands not only in Europe but around the globe.
The company has a wide range of products in its catalog including but not limited to the following:
- Baby Car Seats
- Strollers & Travel Systems
- Highchairs & Boosters
- Playards & Swings
Currently, two of its brands features on the best-selling list. The Chicco Bravo 3-in-1 Trio Travel System for $400 and Chicco KeyFit Caddy Frame Stroller for less than $100 are in the top 20. Of all verified reviews of Chicco Bravo brand above, more than 90% approve it with excellent rating of 4.8/5 from over 1,300 customers.
Chicco has pioneered fabric technology with its ClearTex products which use fabrics (plus foam and labels!) that comply with federal car safety flammability standards (FMVSS 302)without any added chemical treatments. ClearTex® products meet federal flammability standards without using flame retardants. Flame retardants are added to many consumer goods and have been linked to serious health concerns. Read more about Chicco’s fabric innovations here.
After learning about flame retardants and its toxicity, I have been an advocate of toxic-free fabrics in strollers. Watch the short video below to learn more;
Chicco is also GREENGUARD Gold Certified products have been tested to meet standards for low chemical emissions, contributing to healthier air quality around baby
You can check out Chicco’s Products Catalog on Amazon here
Maclaren:
Maclaren is a British company that was founded in 1965 by Owen Maclaren, an aeronautical engineer. It started as a maker of high-performance strollers for race car drivers but has since grown to become one of the most popular and respected baby stroller companies in the world.
The company is headquartered in Greater London, UK but also have US offices in New Jersey. In Europe and other international markets, it retails its products under the name Maclaren International while products sold in the US market are branded as Maclaren USA.
Maclaren is known for its durable, functional and lightweight strollers. It was one of the first companies to introduce the umbrella stroller in 1965 and has since then released several new models and designs. The company offers different types of strollers for different needs which include but are not limited to the following:
- Single strollers
- Double strollers
- Triple strollers
- Twin strollers
- Jogging strollers
- Lightweight & travel strollers
Maclaren also offers a wide variety of other baby products like highchairs, car seats and playards.
The company’s products have been tested and approved by several independent consumer testing organizations like Which? and Consumer Reports. In fact, the Maclaren Quest Sport Stroller was rated “Best Buy” by Consumer Reports in 2010.
What sets Maclaren apart from its competitors is its strong commitment to safety. All of its products go through rigorous safety testing before they are released into the market. The company is also a member of JPMA ( Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) and adheres to all ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards.
Maclaren products are available for purchase on Amazon or on its website here. You can check out the company’s product catalog here.
Britax:
Britax is a leading manufacturer of car seats, strollers and other baby products. The company was founded in England in 1938 and today, its products are available in more than 50 countries around the world.
Britax is known for its innovative and safe products. The company was the first to introduce the 5-point harness system for car seats and has since then released several other groundbreaking products like the click-tight installation system and safe cell impact protection.
Britax is a member of JPMA and adheres to all ASTM safety standards. In addition, all of its products are rigorously tested by independent third-party organizations like Consumer Reports, Underwriters Laboratories and NASA.
Britax offers a wide variety of strollers for different needs which include but are not limited to the following:
- Britax B-Free
- Britax B-Lively
- Britax B-Clever
- Britax B-Lively Double
- Britax B-Premium
As of this writing, only Britax B-Free & B-Safe Gen2 Flexfit Travel System is on Amazon’s best-seller list for travel system strollers. This model is the perfect combination of safety and mobility but does not come cheap as it retails at over $500.
See the entire catalog with Britax strollers here.
Luxury baby stroller companies:
Bugaboo:
Bugaboo is a Dutch company that was founded in 1999. It is one of the leading manufacturers of luxury strollers and has a wide celebrity following. Its strollers are known for their quality, style and functionality.
The company offers different types of strollers for different needs which include but are not limited to the following:
- Strollers
- Car seats
- Play yards
- High chairs
Its latest brand of strollers, the Bugaboo Fox 3 is available for purchase on Amazon or on its website here. Fox 3 costs over $1,200 and is one of the most expensive travel system strollers available today.
UPPAbaby:
UPPAbaby is an American company that was founded in 2006. It is a leading manufacturer of luxury strollers and other baby products. Its products are known for their quality, style and functionality.
The company offers different types of strollers for different needs which include but are not limited to the following:
- Strollers
- Car seats
- High chairs
The Fox 3 is about $100 cheaper than UPPAbaby’s top luxury brand, the Vista V2 Stroller which goes for about $1100 on Amazon here. Surprisingly, this brand is the 4th best-selling standard strollers on Amazon as of October 2022.
UPPAbaby’s top lightweight brand of strollers, the G-Luxe Stroller is the best performing. While it may not last, it is currently selling for less than $200 and also features as a top seller on Amazon.
See UPPAbaby’s entire catalog of strollers here.
Silver Cross:
Silver Cross is a British company that was founded in 1877. It is one of the leading manufacturers of luxury strollers and has a wide celebrity following. Its strollers are known for their quality, style and functionality. Read more about Silver cross here.
Silver Cross’s most popular brand of stroller is the Wave which starts at about $950. The Wave is available for purchase on Amazon or on its website here.
See its entire catalog on Amazon.
Nuna:
The baby brand Nuna was founded in 2007 with the goal of providing parents with safer, smarter and more sustainable products. The company is headquartered in Amsterdam but also has offices in the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
Nuna takes a different approach to baby products as it designs its products to fit into the lives of parents rather than the Baby Strollers.
FAQs
What is the best baby stroller company?
In my opinion, Graco and Britax tops as the best stroller companies in the US and in Europe respectively – for traditional strollers. For luxury strollers, I think UPPAbaby takes the crown as its strollers offer the best value for money. On the other hand, both Graco and Britax have excellent crash test ratings and their stroller brands are regarded as the most secure in the market today.
What is the difference between Graco and Britax stroller companies?
The main difference between Graco and Britax is that Graco is an American company while Britax is a European company. Another key difference is in the design of their strollers. Graco strollers tend to be more bulky and less stylish while Britax strollers are known for their sleek designs. However, both companies offer high-quality strollers that are safe and functional.
What is the most expensive baby stroller?
The most expensive baby stroller is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which retails at over $1,200. This stroller is part of the luxury line of strollers from Bugaboo. Other luxury strollers such as the UPPAbaby Vista V2 and the Silver Cross Wave also retail for over $1,000.
Which stroller companies manufacture their strollers in the US?
Chicco, Baby Jogger, Graco, Evenflo and Bob Gear are the major stroller manufacturers that make their strollers here in the US. Some other brands do not disclose their manufacturing locations while others explicitly state that they’re made from China or Mexico.
While cost of labor here in the US is higher, you would expect these US-made strollers to be significantly expensive but that’s not the case. Baby Jogger is an example. Baby Jogger retails its brand in the $200 to $300 range which is quite affordable.
How do I choose the best company to get my stroller from?
The best company to get a stroller from depends on your needs and budget. If you are looking for a high-quality stroller that is stylish and functional, then you may want to consider companies such as UPPAbaby, Bugaboo or Silver Cross. These companies offer some of the best strollers in the market but they also come with a higher price tag.
If you are on a budget, then there are other companies such as Baby Trend, Graco or Evenflo that offer good quality strollers at more affordable prices. It is important to do your research and read reviews before purchasing a stroller to make sure that you are getting a good quality product.
What is the warranty on strollers?
The warranty on strollers varies by company but most offer at least a one-year warranty. Some companies such as Baby Trend and Graco offer longer warranties of up to five years while others offer lifetime warranties. It is important to read the warranty before purchasing a stroller to make sure that you are covered in case of any defects.
What is the best way to clean a stroller?
The best way to clean a stroller depends on the type of material it is made from. If the stroller is made from fabric, then you can spot-clean it with mild detergent and water. If the stroller is made from plastic or aluminum, then you can clean it with a mild soap and water solution. It is important to avoid using harsh chemicals or cleaners on your stroller as this can damage the material.
If you have a removable seat cover, then you can take it off and wash it in the washing machine. Most stroller seats can be machine washed on a delicate cycle. It is important to let the seat cover air dry completely before putting it back on the stroller.
What are the different types of strollers?
There are many different types of strollers available on the market. The most common type is the traditional stroller which is designed for everyday use. These strollers are typically lightweight and easy to maneuver.
Jogging strollers are designed for active parents who want to take their child on a run or walk. These strollers have larger wheels and a more sturdy frame to provide a smooth ride.
Travel system strollers come with a car seat that can be attached to the stroller frame. These strollers are convenient for parents who want to be able to move their child from the car to the stroller without having to take them out of the car seat.
What are the different features of strollers?
Strollers come with a variety of features that can make them more comfortable and convenient to use. Some strollers have a reclining seat which allows the child to take a nap. Other strollers have a canopy to protect the child from the sun or rain.
Some strollers come with storage baskets that can be used to store diapers, toys or other items. Some strollers also have a cup holder for the parent or child.
What is the weight limit for strollers?
The weight limit for strollers varies by company but most accommodate children up to 50 pounds. Some companies such as Baby Trend and Graco offer strollers that can accommodate children up to 60 pounds.
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Sandra W. Bullock is a grand-mom to two boys and is part of the review board here at Motherhoodhq.com. She is responsible for the quality control of content and is among our most experienced moms. She has over 20 years of writing parenting content online focussing on baby safety indoors and outdoors. She has written widely on babyproofing nurseries and homes for infants and toddlers and published work on privacy and the safety of baby monitors. She is a renowned advocate for non-wifi baby monitors that cannot be hacked and spends a lot of time educating parents on how to secure their homes – including ways to secure the baby from harm in and around homes. Sandra is a native of Atlanta where she also works. She can be reached using her email, Sandra.w(at)motherhoodhq.com
