Are you in the market for the best lightweight stroller for your newborn? You’re in luck. I think I can confidently say I am an expert in the weights of strollers. This past summer, I helped a family that was very specific on finding the most lightweight stroller in the market so they can be able to get out of the house after the COVID movement restrictions were lifted in New York and I learned a ton about strollers’ weights.
For this post, I have compared all the design specs, materials used, and keenly analyzed other features to select a few lightweight strollers that weigh 13 or 14 pounds – super lightweight for any parent. Unfortunately, these are hard to come by since most strollers are designed for toddlers above 6 months. You can read my related guide on do you really need a stroller?
To stroll with a newborn, they should be in a bassinet or infant car seat that is attached to the stroller for safety and comfort. And usually, strollers that accept infant car seats and bassinet are full-sized strollers that are often heavy. This is why it’s such an uphill task to find lightweight strollers that are still sturdy enough to accept bassinet or infant car seats.
But don’t worry; you won’t have to spend hours searching as we have done the leg work for you to bring you the best lightweight strollers available that you can use from day one. We also guide you on how to choose the best one for your needs but if you think you may need a pram, you can also read these best prams I reviewed for newborns.
And without much say, let’s get to it!
Comparison of top Lightweight Strollers Brands in the market today
Reviews of 5 Top-rated Lightweight Strollers for Infants
1. Mountain Buggy Nano Stroller, 13 Pounds in weight
Age recommendation: from birth up to 4 years
Weight limit: 44 pounds
Stroller weight: 13 pounds
The Buggy Nano is an excellent option for families with a newborn because it is an infant car seat-ready and compatible with the brand’s Cocoon Carrycot (sold separately) without needing to buy additional adapters. The stroller is also expandable so that you can add a ride-on-kickboard for an older sibling to ride along.
Mountain Buggy has many convenient features that make it a great everyday stroller. Its narrow and lightweight design makes it easy to push and maneuver through tight spaces. Moreover, it folds up quite small so that you can just keep it behind your seat, trunk, and in overhead bins of large planes. Plus, it comes with a handy shoulder strap for easy hands-free transportation. This makes Mountain Buggy Nano a great choice if you travel a lot by car or plane.
It has a sun canopy with a flip-out sun visor for full coverage. There is also a mesh window with a fabric overlay to keep the chill out during winter. Underneath the stroller is a large basket to keep your diaper bag and other essentials.
Pros
- Accepts newborn cocoon carrycot
- Travel system ready and includes universal adapters
- Can add ride-n kickboard for older kids
- Easy to push and maneuver on one hand
- Extendable canopy with mesh window
- Compact fold that fits in overhead bins
- Includes a convenient storage travel bag
- Has a shoulder strap for hands-free carrying
Cons
- Requires both hands to fold
- Handlebar height is not adjustable, but it’s comfortable for average and tall dads and moms.
2. Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Stroller, 14 pounds
Age recommendations: From birth with bassinet or car seat
Weight limit: 45 pounds
Weight: 14 pounds
Baby Jogger makes high-quality strollers at reasonable pricing. In 2019 they redesigned the City Tour 2 to connect with the brand’s carrycot or infant car seat (both sold separately), allowing it to be used from birth. It also connects with all Baby Jogger infant car seats and Graco Click Connect infant car seats with adapters, which you buy separately.
The newly designed stroller has a deep, padded seat that is easily adjustable to allow napping and leg rest for kids to prop up their feet. Additionally, it has a simple folding mechanism that is doable in one hand into a compact self-locking package that is stored in the carry bag.
It also comes with a UV 50+ canopy with three extendable panels, a sun visor, and a peek-a-boo window. There is also a decent-sized basket underneath.
Pros
- Suitable from birth with bassinet or infant car seat
- Deep padded multi reclining seat with adjustable calf rests
- Quick one-handed fold
- Includes storage carry bag
- Smooth riding on flat surfaces and easy to maneuver through tight spaces
- Decent canopy and storage
Cons
- Does stand on its own when folded
- Some complain that the front wheel is loud, although it doesn’t affect performance
3. UPPAbaby MINU
Age recommendations: 3 months and above (from birth with bassinet or car seat)
Weight limit: 50 pounds
Weight: 14.5 pounds
UPPAbaby Minu is designed as the perfect lightweight stroller for urban dwellers for trips to the mall, the airport, the park, etc. It is a high-end stroller that features high quality and durable construction that will last many travels through the years.
On its own, UPPAbaby Minu comes with a toddler seat that is safe to use from 3 months of age, but they do sell an optional “From Birth Kit”, which is basically a bassinet with a nice mattress that allows your newborn to lie completely flat during rides. The kit attaches directly to the frame, not the main seat. Or you can attach an infant car seat to use right from day one. It works with UPPAbaby Mesa and Maxi-Cosi, Nuna and Cybex car seats.
Once your baby reaches 3 months, you will be able to switch them to the main seat, which is pretty deep and well padded for comfort. Additionally, the seat has a near-flat recline that will enable your child to nap comfortably during rides. We also love that it accommodates your child a bit longer than others, up to 50 pounds.
This stroller has all-wheel suspension and rubber tires that roll smoothly on flat pavements, sidewalks with cracks and gravel paths pretty smoothly. It also includes plenty of storage for your essentials and an extendable canopy with a UV sun visor for maximum coverage. You can also unzip one panel to let in air cooler air through the mesh window to keep your baby comfortable during summer.
Once you are done with your stroll, the Minu folds quickly in just one hand for storage. Plus, you don’t even have to remove the from birth kit/bassinet, which is very convenient. It also has a shoulder strap for effortless carrying to your car or down the stairs.
Pros
- Accepts bassinet and infant car seat
- Rubber wheels with suspensions for a bump-free ride on uneven surfaces
- Durable quality
- Generously sized canopy with sun visor and mesh window
- One-hand compact fold and self-standing
- Large storage basket, which is not typical for lightweight strollers
- Portable with shoulder strap for carrying
Cons
- Handlebar height is not adjustable, maybe too tall for short people
- Wheels are not suitable for off-road adventures
4. Baby Zen YOYO2 Stroller
Age recommendations: 6 months and above (from birth with bassinet or car seat)
Weight limit: 40 pounds
Weight: 13.6 pounds
Baby Zen YOYO2 is the go-to choice of frequent travelers who want to avoid the hassle and damage risks of checking or gate checking their strollers. In addition, most airlines qualify it as carry-on luggage because it folds incredibly small, and it easily pops in the overhead bin in most airplanes.
But beyond being an excellent travel stroller, Baby Zen YOYO2 provides you with all the features of a full-size stroller and can be used from birth up to toddlerhood. It has two versions: newborn pack and 6 month+ for toddlers. You can buy seat fabrics for either newborn or toddler and the Baby Zen YOYO frame separately, which is great if you plan on using only the frame with a car seat or want to change colors for a new baby! You can also add the YOYO board for the big brother or sister to sit or stand during rides.
The newborn version provides a very cozy bassinet with head support and foot cover that your baby can use from day one up to 6 months of age and is always parent-facing. You can then convert the stroller into the 6 month+ front-facing strollers when your child is older by changing from newborn fabrics to 6 months+ fabrics.
Baby Zen YOYO2 is compatible with Cybex, Maxi Cosi, and Nuna car seats, making it a highly versatile travel system. Plus, it steers like a dream, on one hand, thanks to the suspension on all four wheels, and is also easy to maneuver even with a big kid on board.
Pros
- Lightweight yet strong and durable
- Compatible with infant car seats
- Wheels can handle bumpy terrain
- Easy to open and fold on one hand
- Multi reclining seat
- Ultra-compact fold
- Easy to carry with shoulder strap
- Extendable UPF 50+ canopy
- Easy to remove fabric and canopy for washing
- Cute and fashionable design
Cons
- Pricey
- Canopy doesn’t have a vented mesh peek a boo window; it’s plastic
- The handlebar doesn’t extend
5. Joovy Zoom 360 Ultralight – Product recalled on Oct 2021
Age recommendations: from 3 months (from birth with car seat)
Weight limit: 75 pounds
Weight: 26.2 pounds
This lightweight jogger stroller is designed to handle rough and bumpy terrains and provide a comfortable ride for your child. With its large wheels and shock-absorbing suspension, you can enjoy off-road jogging adventures with your baby.
Joovy Zoom 360 comes with a deep seat that babies can use from 3 months of age up to 75 pounds, which is really generous! But the seat cannot recline to a flat position, so it would not be suitable for newborns.
However, you can use this stroller with a newborn by turning it into a travel system. And luckily, Joovy Zoom is compatible with many infant car seat brands, including Chicco, Britax, Graco, Maxi-Cosi, UPPAbaby, and PegPerego. The only thing to remember is that you shouldn’t run or jog with a baby in an infant car seat as it could have very bad effects on their delicate neck and spine. Only jog with a child who has good control of their head and neck.
Joovy Zoom stroller has a parent console with enough room for your essentials for the trip and a special place to keep the tire pump in case you have a flat tire. It also comes with a huge canopy and a plastic peek-a-boo window which won’t provide extra airflow, but at least it provides adequate shade you will be able to check on your child during strolls.
One thing to note is that this stroller is big, and so even when it is folded, it takes quite a bit of space in your car trunk. Its large size also makes it unsuitable for narrow sidewalks and other tight spaces. To make it more compact when folded, you can remove the wheels, which is easy to do and takes a few seconds, but most parents find this annoying and inconvenient. The folding process is not a one-step or one-hand affair either, but it is relatively easy, and the stroller auto locks and stands on its own.
Pros
- Feels very light compared to other jogging strollers
- Suspension and air tires bump-free ride on rough terrains
- One-hand smooth steering
- Accepts infant car seats
- Near flat recline for comfy naptime
- The large canopy provides adequate shade
- Comes with a tire pump
- Great pricing
Cons
- The handlebar is too high for short parents
- The fold is not compact
- Large, not easy to maneuver tight spaces
How to pick the best lightweight strollers for Newborns
Lightweight strollers come with many great features for maximum convenience, but you may not need all of them. Our advice is that you choose the stroller that has the most helpful features for your needs. Here are some features to consider when choosing the best lightweight strollers.
Stroller size: generally, lightweight strollers are smaller and take up smaller space than other full-size strollers. However, some fold down more compactly than others so that some can even fit in overhead bins in airplanes.
Stroller weight limit: every stroller has the weight limits specified. You may want a stroller that grows with your baby into toddlerhood to get the best value for your money. Some strollers even have add-on accessories like aboard for an older sibling to ride along.
Adjustable seat: a good stroller should have a seat that reclines in multiple positions for comfort during a ride or napping. For a newborn, you want a stroller that can recline flat or accept a bassinet attachment.
Folding capabilities: some strollers have a one-hand folding mechanism that comes in very handy when carrying your baby in one arm.
Canopy size: A canopy or shade is important for walks in the sun or rain and some strollers have an adjustable canopy that offers full coverage, and others have UPF (Ultraviolet protection factor) to protect your baby against the sun’s harmful UV rays. Additionally, some have mesh panels for airflow and visibility.
Storage: Lightweight strollers do not normally have very large storage, but still, you may like a few pockets for valuables like keys, phone, and wallet, and a place for the diaper bag at least to make your life on the move easier.
Portability: some strollers come with a storage carrying case with a strap, and others have a built-in strap to carry over your shoulder easily when you need to transport.
- About the Author
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Naomi Lambert is a mother of two and an elementary school teacher leading our product quality review here at Motherhood HQ. Naomi has a degree in Elementary Teaching from the University of Utah. She has also worked as a product tester for Consumer Reports. Naomi enjoys reading and getting immersed in new research, especially on topics related to parenting and pets. When she’s not reading or testing baby gear, Naomi enjoys hiking in the midwest and hanging out with her two dog pets. Naomi is originally from Salt Lake City, Utah.
Naomi work leading baby gear/product testing:
To test new gear before we review here at Motherhood HQ, Naomi goes through a multi-step process that includes reading up on the latest research, conducting her own hands-on testing, and evaluating the results. She also consults with experts in the field, such as pediatricians, to get their input. This comprehensive approach ensures that our reviews are accurate and helpful for our readers.
Testing involves using the gear with her own children, as well as observing other parents using the products. Ms. Lambert looks for safety concerns, ease of use, and whether the product actually lives up to its claims. She also takes into account the price of the product and whether it is a good value for what you get.
After testing a product, Naomi writes up her findings in a review. She includes both the positive and negative aspects of the product, as well as her own personal recommendations. Her reviews are honest and unbiased, and they can help you make informed decisions about which products are right for your family.
Aggregating Other real-user reviews from other moms:
A critical process in our reviews is incorporating feedback from other moms who have used the products we are testing. To get this information, we talk to parents in our networks and consult with product-specific experts.These experts must have published work in the field of early childhood development, have worked extensively with the product in question, or have significant experience in the manufacturing or design of the product.
We also read online reviews from other parents, but we take these with a grain of salt. We recognize that many online reviewers are not objective and that some may be biased because they were given the product for free or paid to write a review. For this reason, we only consider online reviews after they have been vetted by our team of experts.
If you are a parent who has used a product that we are interested in reviewing, we would love to hear from you! You can contact us at naomi.lam@motherhood