Top 10 Strollers and Where to Buy Them in Singapore

Strollers, prams, pushchairs, baby buggies … whatever you want to call them (and to purists, they do mean slightly different things), they are among the most considered, momentous purchases parents make when they’re expecting a baby (or expanding their family). For the past decade or so, celebrity stroller choices have become as hotly followed as whom they wear to the Oscars. They can also cost what seems like the price of a small car (anywhere outside Singapore, at least).

But while strollers have definitely become a stylish status symbol, what’s most important is their functionality, and at the heart of that, it’s important to consider your most pressing needs:

Will you be using your stroller a lot on public transport? Make sure you’ve got something that folds up easily on the bus. Will you frequently be carrying it up stairs? Better get something lightweight. Do you plan to take it out in the neighbourhood while running errands? Look for something with a large basket underneath.

Of course every parent will also have safety concerns – for this we highly recommend the thorough, independent testing website BabyGearLab.com – and then there are also considerations like colours, accessories, and feel. Some strollers are particularly comfortable for tall people, some are easy to modify for two or even three kids, some come with attachments like bug and sun protection visors included (while others don’t!).

The below list is far from comprehensive, but represents a wide range of excellent strollers available in Singapore at a variety of price points. Also bear in mind the best-value option of purchasing a used stroller (the upcoming Stork’s Nest Charity Family Sale is a great place to start!), or consider getting a loaner stroller from friends with older kids before you make your own purchasing decision.

Best All-Around: Baby Jogger City Mini GT
Best price we found in Singapore: $689 via Kulily.com

Look anywhere in Singapore – on the MRT, at the mall, in the grocery store aisle – and you’re apt to spot one of these slick babies. It’s very similar to the regular City Mini (retails for $529 at Kulily.com), but has nicer wheels, a hand brake (instead of a foot brake) and an adjustable handlebar. Biggest selling points: Super-easy one-touch folding mechanism; lightweight and slim profile (easy for storage or throwing in the trunk of a taxi); adjustable handlebar; compatible with lots of car seat brands; easy-handling and steering; sturdy all-terrain wheels. Potential cons: Smallish basket; seat isn’t reversible.

Top  Umbrella Stroller: Maclaren Techno XLR
Best price we found in Singapore: $599 via KiddySky

This classic lightweight “umbrella” stroller was named “Best lightweight stroller” in the 2015 Mothercare Awards, and is popular the world over for its convenience and maneuverability. Biggest selling points: Foldable and compact, making it ideal for travel; weighs just 7.9kg; with fully reclining seat it’s suitable from birth; accessories like a head hugger, reversible seat liner, and coordinating “boot” (perfect for traveling to cold weather) all included; extendable foot rest grows with your baby. Potential cons: Less sturdy, with smaller wheels than the other options.

Great for two kids: Joovy Caboose Stand-on Tandem Double Stroller
Best price we found in Singapore: $299 via Kulily.com

If you’ve got two munchkins a couple years apart, this is a great stroller at a fantastic price. Biggest selling points: Older child can sit or stand on the patented rear platform; lightweight and easily foldable; Big storage basket and extra pockets; Universal car seat adapter that works with most major brands; comes in fun colours; excellent price for a double stroller. Potential cons: Doesn’t work so well if your older child isn’t big enough to ride free in the back; weight distribution can make it hard to maneuver.

Best priced comfort: Capella Compact
Best price we found in Singapore: $239 via BabyMall.com.sg

Capella is a South Korean brand that’s super-popular in Singapore, and this cushy umbrella stroller ticks all the boxes while coming in at a decent price. Biggest selling points: Weighs just 5.9kg; available in a plethora of punchy colours; reversible seat and handle; comes with a nice big sun canopy. Potential cons: Only holds babies that weigh up to 18kg; Not quite as compact in its folding as other umbrella strollers; storage basket isn’t very big.

Super safe bet: Britax B Agile 3 
Best price we found in Singapore: $399 via Baby Kingdom

Acclaimed for its safety features and named the #1 pick among all strollers by BabyGearLab.com, the B-Agile 3 combines sleek design with a compact profile and great price point. Biggest selling points: Compact and lightweight; easy click-in compatibility with the award-winning B-Safe car seat; simple one-handed quick-fold; low price compared to other high-end stroller brands; infinite recline positions. Potential cons: Rated less maneuverable than other full-size strollers; smallish basket; handlebar isn’t adjustable.

 

Ultra handy: Nuna Pepp Luxx
Best price we found in Singapore: $399 via BabyMall.com.sg

This zippy, slim little number is designed to fold super flat and is easy to maneuver with one hand. Biggest selling points: Easy, flat fold; opens with one hand; compatible with Nuna and Maxi Cosi car seats; high seat makes it great with newborns; adjustable handle heights; wide, accessible foot brake; extendable sun hood. Potential cons: Small basket; rain hood is not included and can be tough to attach.

Simply gorgeous: Bugaboo Bee + Van Gogh
Best price we found in Singapore: $1,499 via Motherswork

Perhaps the original “cool” stroller, the Bugaboo Bee3 features an efficient, sleek design and comes with both bassinet (ideal for newborns) and comfy toddler seat options. There are just 100 of the exclusive Van Gogh print canopies available in Southeast Asia! Biggest selling points: Lightweight, sleek and uber-stylish; nicely ventilated zip-up side window is great for hot Singapore; reversible seat can face in or out; nice big basket underneath; convenient one-handed fold that’s also very portable; includes both an extendable sun canopy and a rain cover. Potential cons: High price point (though the standard Bugaboo Bee3 starts at $1,199); bassinet must be purchased separately. Be sure to check out our comprehensive review of every Bugaboo stroller, mama!

For Royal Baby enthusiasts: Silver Cross Surf Aston Martin Edition
Best price we found in Singapore: available exclusively at Mothercare Paragon for $4,999

If James Bond had a stroller, this would be it. Priding themselves on being the choice of royals (most recently Prince George and now, one suspects, Princess Charlotte), posh brand Silver Cross has teamed up with 007’s preferred carmaker, Aston Martin, to create a luxe, complete pram system. Biggest selling points: Comes with both a bassinet and reversible pushchair unit; gorgeous, compact pearlescent white foldable chassis; embossed tan leather handlebar; includes cosy touches like a sheepskin seat liner and cashmere baby blanket (ideal for trips to England, anyway); handles like a sports car with air-ride suspension. Potential cons: Extremely high price point; light colour might not suit everyone; fancy leather handlebar is perhaps not the most prudent choice for rainy, humid Singapore.

All-around versatility: Quinny Zapp Xtra
Best price we found in Singapore: $579 via Kulily.com

A minimalist from-birth option that’s easily foldable and features fully reclinable and reversible seating. Biggest selling points: Reversible seat can face in or out; useable from birth all the way up to 50 pounds; extremely compact fold; includes a Maxi Cosi car seat adapter; four wheels make it easy to handle and maneuver. Potential cons: Very small basket; rain cover sold separately.

Best stroller to buy abroad: UppaBaby Vista

Now one of the most popular strollers in the United States due to all the accessories that come included in the standard price, the Vista isn’t available for sale in Singapore, although you can purchase it nearby in both Hong Kong (HKD$8870) and Australia (AUD$1599). If you can swing it, though, you’re best off purchasing it off Amazon or from the chain Buy Buy Baby in the U.S., where it retails for as little as US$820. Biggest selling points: Includes both a bassinet (approved for sleeping) and a reversible pushchair; the biggest basket on the market; can handle up to three kids with additional attachments; bug net and rain shield included in the purchase price; wide extendable sun shade; adjustable handlebar; comes in a wide range of fun colours. Potential cons: On the heavier side; trickier to fold than some of the other options.

Whew! The bottom line is that there’s probably no such thing as the best stroller; there’s just the stroller that’s best for you and your family. Here’s to many years of happy rolling, mama!