When Can Baby Sit in Stroller Without Car Seat?

When preparing for a baby, you’ll find hundreds of pieces of baby gear. Depending on your lifestyle and situation, you may or may not need a lot of it. However, there are a few essentials like a crib, a car seat, and . . . a stroller! No matter who you are, you’re going to be walking with that baby somewhere! 

Just like with car seats, the vast selection of available strollers is definitely overwhelming. And when can your baby ride in a stroller without attaching their car seat to it? That’s kind of important information when picking a stroller! Today, we’re going to answer when it’s safe to have a baby in a stroller without an infant car seat. This way, you know when and how you’ll get the best use of your seat, and you’ll have peace of mind that your little one is safe on every ride, whether in a car or in a stroller! 

When Can Baby Sit in Stroller Without Car Seat?

Infants who can sit up independently and demonstrate good head control are generally safe to sit in a stroller without a car seat. This is usually between 6-8 months, but don’t go by age! Ensure that they can really hold their head up safely to confirm there’s little risk of positional asphyxia. You should also check your stroller instruction manual for minimum weight and height requirements on their stroller seats. It may have additional prerequisites beyond head and neck control. 

There is a sort of exception to this rule. If your stroller or travel system has an add-on bassinet or the seat converts into a lay-flat bassinet, you can put your baby in your stroller without their car seat from birth. In fact, if a bassinet is an option you should always opt for that first! It’s preferable for your infant to be on a flat surface rather than in a reclined position in their infant car seat. It’s a better way to keep your baby’s head in a safe position while you walk. Of course, just keep an eye on height and weight maximums for the bassinet mode so you know when it’s time to move up! 

What to Consider When Picking A stroller

Shape and Style

To choose a stroller, you need to know the different types! There are full-sized strollers, umbrella strollers, double strollers, jogging strollers, and travel systems.

Longevity

Ask yourself how long you want to use your stroller. If you want to use your strollers for an extended period starting at birth, you’ll need something that has different modes for various developmental stages. 

Portability 

What kind of vehicle do you have? Do you often travel by air? What do your indoor travel options look like? These are all great questions to ask yourself when picking a seat! Portability is going to be huge for some of you! 

Capacity 

How many kids do you need to hold? Sure, there are the obvious double strollers for twins (and triple for triplets!) but that’s not all multi-child seats are used for. There are many strollers that allow you to push kids of different ages! Maybe your baby sits in their infant seat while your toddler is in the regular stroller seat, and your elementary-aged kiddo is on the stroller board! You have options to push multiple kids with one handy piece of gear! 

Infant Seat Compatibility 

If you’re looking to walk with your infant early on, you’ll need a travel system that is compatible with their infant car seat. Or, if you want a stroller without car seat compatibility, you can find a stroller with a bassinet! 

Adjustable Features

Really tall? Really short? Being able to adjust things like the handlebar height can be really important for some users! Look for advanced adjustment features if your lifestyle demands it! 

Convenience Features 

Cargo baskets. Cup holders. Snack trays. Sun shades. Parent console. The list goes on!

Cargo Space

Ask yourself how much you’ll need your stroller to carry on your trips. Ensure you have enough cargo space with the right weight-carrying capabilities for your necessities.  

Wheel Type 

All-terrain? Standard city wheels? Plastic wheels? Rubber wheels? Wheel type can be important for the functionality of your seat, so make sure to look into it!

Price Range 

At the end of the day, budget is one of the biggest factors. There are strollers in all price ranges, so you don’t need the priciest one on the market. Here are our recommendations for the best baby strollers for all budgets and lifestyles!

Shop Our Fav Strollers Here

5 Stroller Safety Tips

1. Don’t put a blanket or cover over your car seat to keep your baby cool. 

It is a dangerous misconception that you should cover your child’s car seat in the hot months to keep them “shaded” and cool. It’s simply not how heat works! The greenhouse effect immediately sets in, and the temperature beneath the blanket rapidly increases, putting your child at risk of heat stroke or heat exhaustion. 

Instead, use the shades that came with your child’s stroller, put sunscreen on your kiddo (if they’re old enough), and use one of these tips for keeping cool in the hot months. And, if you’re still skeptical on this one, check out our experiment when we prove this fact! 

2. Double-check that everything is properly latched before moving. 

Before pushing your stroller, ensure everything is latched! Listen for all those clicks when you unfold your stroller and attach the infant seat (if applicable.) You don’t want the stroller to fold up or the seat to fall off while pushing on! 

3. Always keep baby correctly strapped in. 

When parents take their baby’s infant car seat out of the car, often they’ll loosen or unbuckle the straps and let the baby rest unharnessed. This is NOT safe. Of course, your child is no longer at the same risk of experiencing a vehicle crash, however the straps keep your baby safe in other ways like keeping their head in the proper position to allow good airflow. If the straps aren’t fastened, the infant’s head could slump forward and cause serious injury or death. 

If your child is older and out of the positional asphyxia risk ages, still keep them strapped! You’ll be behind the stroller, so you may not see them start to struggle or fall, which could also lead to serious injury! Keep them safely and securely strapped any time they’re in their seat. 

4. Know your stroller’s height and weight limits (including the cargo space).

Like with your car seat, regularly check your stroller’s height and weight limits. You want to confirm your child is in the safe and proper stage for each phase of their life. Don’t only look at the weight maximums of the child seat, but the cargo space too! Putting too much weight on any part of the seat could compromise the stability and cause it to tip. 

5. Never leave your child unattended in their stroller.

Never leave your child’s stroller unattended at any age! Even if you’ve locked the wheels and buckled your child properly, you never know what other factors could knock the stroller over or cause your toddler’s escape! (Some love unbuckling those clips.) Stay close and stay safe! 

Once your baby can hold their head up and sit up unassisted, they’re likely ready for the stroller seat! 

Transitioning your baby from their bassinet or infant car seat to the stroller seat can be a little stressful, but we hope this guide helped! If you ever have any questions on car seats, strollers, or vehicle safety, look no further than Safe in the Seat!

We’re totally dedicated to delivering trusted information on car safety to parents like you. Check out the blog or book a consult to find answers to all your questions! We’re here for you!

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