According to the American College of Gynecologists, there are plenty of important benefits to exercising after pregnancy, including preventing postpartum depression and promoting better sleep. Wondering how to make your workout work for you with a new baby in tow?
If walking, jogging, or running is your preferred method of self-care, you will need the right jogging stroller to take your little one along for the ride. Just be sure your baby is able to sit up and support their own head before you take them for a spin–this might happen as early as 6 months old, but by 9 months old, most babies will be able to sit up safely in the stroller.
TrulyMama is here to share our picks for the best jogging strollers that’ll take you exactly where you and your baby want to go. Fast. Or you know, at a leisurely pace while sipping coffee. Either way, it’s going to be a smooth ride.
What is a Jogging Stroller?
A jogging stroller is a stroller designed for ease of use while jogging or running. Joggers differ from other strollers in that they are designed specifically with maneuverability in mind. The wheels are usually made of rubber instead of plastic, to travel faster and withstand bumps in the road. Jogging strollers usually possess extra safety features, such as wheel locking and a safety strap that attaches to the runner, to keep baby close to the jogger and safe from rolling away.
What to Look for in a Jogging Stroller
A jogging stroller is an investment in your physical and mental health, so it’s important to choose a stroller that suits your unique lifestyle and exercise routine. Consider these factors as you browse a selection of jogging strollers:
- Suspension and terrain. Where will you be strolling? Considering whether you will be mostly indoors or outdoors can help you narrow your search for the right stroller. If you’re into trails or a more rugged terrain, you’ll want to look for an off-roading stroller with a suspension system to keep your baby from being bothered by bumps as you run over dirt and rocks with ease. If you’re a mall-walker, you might want to look for a stroller that has features that will support your diaper bag or accessories.
- Foldability and weight. If you’ll be loading a stroller in your trunk or carrying it down a flight of stairs to get it outside, you want to consider if the stroller folds and how heavy it is. Will you be able to lift it into a car or down to the ground floor? This is an important question for moms who have had a C-section as you don’t want to risk opening your incision (yikes!).
- Convertibility. Some strollers allow for infant car seats to “click in,” making it easy to take your baby from the car to the stroller without having to unbuckle or strap anything! Others require you to buy accessories to convert the stroller for use with smaller infants, and others don’t possess the car seat click-in feature at all. Your baby’s age and how long you think you will use the stroller are factors that will come into play when buying a jogging stroller.
- Built-in storage. Babies come with a lot of “stuff,” there’s just no way around it. But considering which stuff you’ll need on your walks or jogs is important—will you need a cup holder for your water bottle? A snack tray for your little one to munch while you walk? A basket to fit in a diaper bag? Strollers may require accessories for these features, so look out for which ones are included with your jogging stroller before making your decision.
- Seating. Yes, they make two-seater jogging strollers—if your toddler wants to join you and your baby on a run, you can consider the double-jogging stroller option. Just be ready to sweat as running with two kids is no walk in the park!
Do You Need a Jogging Stroller?
If you are a runner or jogger, or a lover of trails and fresh air, then a jogging stroller will be instrumental to your mental and physical health. A jogger will enable you to get out of the house and get fresh air with your baby. Plus, many jogging strollers can be used as everyday strollers and as travel systems too, so it can offer you the most value for your money.
If you don’t run frequently or don’t see yourself starting to run after your baby is born, then a number of regular strollers will suit you just fine and might offer a better lifestyle fit. The decision to purchase a jogging stroller really depends on your personal exercise goals and preferences.
Truly Mama’s Picks for the Best Jogging Strollers
Joovy Zoom 360 Ultralight Jogging Stroller
A lightweight stroller option, the Joovy Zoom 360 Ultralight offers a spacious ride for your little one. With its 75 lb. weight limit, this stroller is suitable even for bigger kids, although running might be a lot more intense! The pop of colors offered in this stroller ensures visibility while running near roads, and the stroller includes a running leash to keep the stroller attached to the runner. A parent organizer gives the runner a safe spot for their phone and beverages. Some reviews report difficulty folding unfolding the Joovy Zoom 360, and because of the spacious canopy and child seating, it’s not as compact as other strollers.
Specs & Features
- Supports up to 75 pounds
- Weight: 26 pounds
- Folded: 34" L x 25" W x 19" H
- Unfolded: 54" L x 25" x 46" H
- Compact fold
- Parent storage tray and cupholders
- Oversized canopy for sun protection
Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 Stroller in Jet
The Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 is a lightweight, portable option for moms who are looking for an easily foldable and loadable stroller. The stroller easily collapses by simply pulling a strap and at only 21 lbs., it's light enough for carrying out to your car or lifting into a trunk. Baby rests securely in either an adjustable 5-point harness or clicked-in via a car seat adapter, which is included if you have a Graco car seat (if you don’t, you can buy an adapter for a different brand of car seat). The City Mini GT2 also offers all-wheel suspension, a hand operated parking brake, and a variety of reclining positions to keep your baby’s ride smooth.
What You Get
- Adjustable handlebar
- Graco infant seat adapter included
- All-wheel suspension
- Forever air rubber tires
- Extra-large storage basket
- Lifetime manufacturer's warranty on frame
- Supports up to 65 pounds
- Unfolded: 41" L x 25.7" W x 42.8" H
- Folded: 13" L x 25.7" W x 32.5"
Graco Modes Jogger 2.0
Parents of wee babies will love how easy it is to transport their baby from the car to the stroller with the Graco Modes Jogger 2.0. We all know what a pain it is to have to unbuckle a comfortable baby from their car seat and rebuckle them up- and how much of a pain (and a price) it is to have to track down car seat adapters for strollers. With the Graco Modes 2.0, baby can stay in his car seat and click right into the stroller, undisturbed. The stroller itself is heavier than other brands, but it offers seat convertibility, allowing even your older toddlers to face you during your run.
Additional Features:
- Parent tray with storage
- All-wheel suspension
- Supports up to 50 pounds
- Weight: 33 pounds
- Dimensions (folded): 18.5" L x 25.5" W x 42.5" H
- Dimensions (unfolded): 39.5" L x 25.5" W x 41.5" H
Jeep Cross Country Sport Plus Jogging Stroller
For runners who don’t go off-road often and don’t need the extra features of a suspension system, the Jeep Cross Country Sport Plus is an affordable option for a jogging stroller. This stroller can accommodate infant car seats without having to purchase an additional adapter, which is a huge win for parents of newborns. This stroller also offers a tray for drinks and toys to keep older babies occupied during longer excursions.
More Features to Love
- Compatible with Certain brands of Infant Car seats: Graco® SnugRide® Click Connect™, Evenflo® Nurture™, Evenflo® Embrace™
- “Swing away” child tray
- Large 16” back metal air spoke wheels with ball bearings
- Adjustable handlebar
- Folded dimensions: 19" x 24" x 36"
- Unfolded dimensions: 45"L x 24"W x 41"H
Baby Trend Expedition Jogger Stroller
If you’re on a budget and are still looking for a tried-and-true baby jogging stroller, you just can’t go wrong with the Baby Trend brand. It comes in a variety of colors and styles and has all of the basic necessities you need in a baby jogger: lockable and removable front wheel, child snack tray with cup holders, 5-point harness, parent organizer and cup holders, positionable sun canopy, and it folds incredibly easy. While you won’t get the same superior suspension as the BOB, the Baby Trend jogger is a great pick for casual joggers or those who want an all-terrain stroller.
More to Love About Baby Trend
- Comes in a variety of colors
- Compatible as a travel system with Baby Trend car seats
- Front swivel wheel
- Rear wheel suspension system
- Weight: 24.9 pounds
- Supports up to 50 pounds
- Folded dimensions: 36" L x 24" W x 18" H
- Unfolded: 48" L x 24" W x 41" H
Mountain Buggy Terrain Premium Jogging Stroller
If you’re taking your jogging stroller from indoor to outdoor terrain, the Mountain Buggy Terrain offers versatility with two sets of wheels included. Many reviews love the full recline offered by the Mountain Buggy Terrain--it gives even the smallest babies a turn riding in the stroller without a car seat adapter. The shock-absorbing suspension and weather-proof extended sun canopy ensures that the baby is comfortable in all weather and on all types of terrains. It is definitely more of a financial investment than other jogging strollers on this list, but serious runners and hikers give the Mountain Buggy Terrain rave reviews for helping them be able to continue their exercise routine with a baby in tow.
- Water-resistant material
- Newborn accessory sold separately
- Two sets of wheels included: 12” and 16”
- Lie-flat recline
- Shock-absorbing suspension system
- Supports up to 55 pounds
- Stroller weight: 28.5 pounds
- Folded dimensions: 36.5" H x 25" W x 15" D
BOB Gear Alterrain Pro Jogging Stroller
For serious runners, the BOB brand has offered a superior jogging stroller that makes runs smooth and easy. Baby gets a smooth ride thanks to BOB’s Smoothshox™ suspension suitable for any terrain. There is a handbrake on the handlebar and a wrist strap attached, enabling the runner to keep the stroller close and slow down when they’re headed on a downhill slope. The one-step folding makes this stroller easy to put away, although it is heavier compared to other models. Parents report that there isn’t yet a compatible infant car seat adapter for this model, so if you have a very small baby you will want to keep an eye out for that accessory, which will be sold separately. The real snag with the BOB Alterrain Pro is the steep price tag, but serious runners will say that it’s worth it to get their runs in without a fuss.
BOB Alterrain Pro Details
- Air-filled tires
- Sleek design
- Designed for all terrains
- Supports up to 75 pounds
- All-terrain Smoothshox™ suspension
- Wrist strap and hand brake for safe tethering while running
- Weight: 32.3 pounds
- Adjustable handlebar
- Handbrake
- Waterproof and reflective canopy
- Folded specs: 46" L x 25.5" W x 45.5" H
- Unfolded: 39.25" L x 25.5" W x 16" H
BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3.0 Duallie Double Jogging Stroller
We all know toddlers don’t like to be left behind. With the BOB revolution flex 3.0 Double Stroller, they can come along for the ride! With two seats and all of the top-notch features of the single-seater BOBs, such as the suspension system and front swivel wheel, this double jogger provides a roomy ride for your baby and a buddy. This two-seater jogger is reliable, but be aware that you will have to purchase any car seat adapters or child trays separately.
Some More Duallie Deets
- Double seated stroller
- Adjustable handlebar
- 10 storage pockets
- Extra large cargo basket
- Suspension system
- Weight: 33.1 pounds
- Folded dimensions: 40" L x 30.5" W x 17.5" H
- Unfolded dimensions: 48" L x 30.5" W x 45" H
How to Build a Running Routine with Your Baby
Since there are so many benefits to postpartum exercise, forming a regular exercise routine can be a great addition to your self-care routine. To build a manageable running routine with your baby along for the ride, consider these tips:- Start small: Unless you’ve been running through pregnancy (which is amazing, if that’s you!), you will need to start out with small, 10 minute sessions of walking and running after you give birth. Clear your first exercise session with your doctor first!
- Set a non-scale goal: Everyone wants to look and feel their best after pregnancy, but since every woman has a different set of postpartum hormones and circumstances, setting an exercise goal that has nothing to do with how you look can help you feel accomplished and powerful without comparing yourself to unrealistic beauty standards. Maybe your goal will be to run twice a week, or to run for a specific amount of time.
- Run through nap time: Some babies love to snooze in the stroller, making nap time the perfect time to head out and log some miles to clear your head. Knowing when the baby will be most calm in the stroller is key to being able to log a full workout.
- Pack supplies: Don’t forget to bring your water bottle, your stroller hook, your Bluetooth speaker or some toys to keep your baby occupied on your run! And as soon as your baby is old enough, snacks are life. I mean, that's true of any age, right?
Frequently Asked Questions
