There is nothing like the excitement when you find out you are expecting a little bundle of joy! It can get pretty overwhelming thinking of all the things you need to buy, though. Two of the most important things you will need are a car seat and a stroller. Instead of trying to find each of these separately and figure out if they work together, check out a travel system. It comes with both a car seat and a stroller that can be used together and separately.
While a travel system provides some flexibility you’ll likely still want a good umbrella stroller or perhaps a double stroller for two at some point. In addition, a convertible car seat will be ideal once carrying your baby is no longer an option. So knowing it’s something you’ll replace down the road, what travel system should you get? Here’s what I recommend.
What to Look for in A Budget Travel Stroller Car Seat Combo
- Safety and Reliability. Every parent’s first priority is their child’s safety. Especially with something that can save your baby’s life (car seat), you want to be sure you are getting a safe product that will perform well.
- Functionality and Ease of Use. A travel system should be user-friendly and work well. Otherwise, you are better off carrying your baby everywhere.
- Value. Let’s be honest–travel systems aren’t cheap. You want to get the best bang for your buck to get a great system at a reasonable price.
- Appearance. I think most people would agree that “appearance” should be the last priority on this list. However, you want a car seat stroller combo that looks good when you are pushing it.
2 Good Travel Stroller Car Seat Combos from $300 to $400
Britax B-Agile/B-Safe Travel System:
Ok moms, my sister has this travel system and secretly I am jealous. I kinda want to go over in the middle of the night and take my baby over and steal it from her and use it. The car seat rates extremely well in safety and function. It clicks easily into the stroller and into the car attachment.
The stroller is really easy to maneuver whether walking or jogging on most terrains. And when it’s time to fold up the stroller, get out of town, it is so easy. One hand, and wham bam, it folds up nice and tight and fits in any vehicle.
The car seat itself is lightweight and not terribly cumbersome to carry around. It comes with an extra headrest piece for newborns that is removable as baby grows. The car seat base is easy to get in and out of the car. This is a great choice that will last.
Chicco Bravo Trio Travel System:
This travel system is different than most in the fact that it has three different settings.
The first mode is just for infants. You can actually take out the fabric stroller part and just use the frame of the stroller and hook your car seat in. There may be time when you don’t actually need the seat of the actual stroller, so this is nice for when they are newborns and will be in their car seat the whole time.
The second way you can use this system is like the standard travel systems you see. You hook the car seat onto the stroller, for those times when you may need the car seat and you may need the actual stroller seat.
The third way to use this system is just the plain old stroller. There is a tray on the stroller to hold all your mommy “goods” like keys, cell phone, water bottles, etc. There is an easy fold system that makes taking down the system really easy. The handle bar moves up and down, which is a nice feature if you are tall or short. The car seat is rated high in safety and is easy to clip in and out of the stroller and the car adapter.
 |  |
 | |
Budget Travel System Under $150
Cosco Simple Fold Travel System
This is a great budget-friendly travel system. It is lightweight and easy to carry around when it is folded up, and it is easy to fold. The basket underneath is large and can fit all your essentials that you might need on a stroll. The car seat clicks into the stroller easily, so you don’t have to worry about your baby waking up.
Both the stroller and car seat have 5-point harnesses to keep your baby safe. However, the buckles are a little hard to undo. The cup holders are large and the tray at the top is perfect for holding keys and wallets.
Overall, customers are happy with it and it is very budget friendly.
A Good Budget Jogger Travel System Under $200
Baby Trend Expedition LX Travel System, Millennium:
This travel system is a jogging system. Simply put, it is meant to be able to go jogging with. You can lock the front wheel or unlock to allow for a swivel.
There is a jogging strap for when you are jogging downhill.
There is a tray to hold your mom stuff and the shade canopy gives good coverage. When you are using just the stroller there is a tray for the toddler to hold snacks and bottles. This stroller is easy to fold, but it tends to be more bulky and harder to put in smaller cars due to the larger front wheel.
There is an extra large basket. The one struggle with joggers is that the front tire can easily pop and has to be repaired, which can be annoying. The car seat itself is great, but some moms aren’t loving the way it is fitting into the car adapting base or the stroller. But if you are looking for a jogging travel system on a budget, this is a great option.
 | |
 | |
Travel System Under $275
Graco Aire XT Performance Travel System
This is a great mid price ranged option that is sure to last. The car seat rates really well and is easy to use. It snaps into the stroller quickly and easily as well as the car adapter base. It is easy to fold down and maneuver.
The storage basket on this stroller is quite a bit smaller than most of the others on this list. Also, this stroller is a bit heavier than most others, which can be a pain when you are loading it or unloading it from your car.
Hopefully as you have looked through these travel systems you have found one that works with your needs and your budget. And now you can mark two different items off that baby list you have been creating. What a great feeling. Congratulations on your little bundle of joy!
Safety Tips on Choosing a Stroller
Choosing a stroller can be a very important child safety choice. The Mayo clinic has recommendations and safety tips on choosing a stroller.
