Some kids love to use strollers even when they are old enough to walk. Others have outgrown their peers (and their strollers). No matter what is the case, you are now in the market for the best stroller for older child.
There are many reasons why older kids might need a stroller. Many families live far away from school, and the distance is too big for a kid to go the whole distance on foot. Unfortunately, some children are recovering from some injury or surgery, while others have specific conditions that require them to use a stroller.
Whatever the case is, picking the right stroller can be challenging – but it isn’t impossible. We’ve compiled a list of the top 5 products to help you pick the best stroller for older child for your needs.
Let’s get started!
Contents
Best Stroller for Older Child – Top 5 Products Reviewed
1. Premium Pick: BOB Revolution Flex 3.0
As you can guess from its name, this is the newest version of the famous BOB Revolution stroller for active people. This is a great stroller for parents who love to go on long hikes – but it’s also fairly large and adjustable, making it an excellent choice for best stroller for older child for many people.
If you owned the previous BOB Revolution Flex, you should know that the biggest improvement is the ease of use. There is nothing complicated about this premium product! It has an adjustable tracking option, making it a useful stroller if you like jogging.
The canopy is rather large, which is once again suitable for large or older kids. It’s made of strong, high-quality materials, so it can withstand the additional weight. It will remain comfortable, no matter the child’s size.
The simple design means you can fold it in just four steps. Unfortunately, it doesn’t self-stand, so you’ll have to lean it on something. It also doesn’t have a carry handle. Still, for such a large stroller, you can fold it at a compact size, which is still a good thing.
Overall, if you’re looking for the best stroller for big kids, this is certainly one of the products you need to look at.
| PROS |
|---|
| + Durable |
| + Robust and good on all terrains |
| + Wide canopy |
| + Adjustable design |
| CONS |
|---|
| – Doesn’t self-stand |
| – Heavy |
| – No car seat adapter |
2. Best Value for Money: Joovy Caboose Ultralight
This is an amazing large stroller for older child. In fact, this is one of the best inline strollers out there that also have sit and stand capabilities. If you’d like, you can purchase a rare seat to go with it, as well.
Despite its tall design, it is rather delicate and lightweight, so you can carry it around easily. You can fold it in three steps, and the folding process is of fairly average difficulty. Unfortunately, it cannot self-stand. However, the manual lock is an excellent addition. You won’t have to worry whether or not you remembered to lock everything in place.
The storage is easy to access thanks to the sliding bench seat, despite the average carrying capacity of 5 lbs. It also has two cup holder pockets and a few zipper pockets that allow you to pack some smaller but still necessary items.
What will truly awe you is the sunshade. This is likely the best sunshade for this type of stroller we’ve seen. It’s large and will cover almost the entire body of a larger child. It doesn’t have a peek-a-boo window, but it’s of just the right size so you don’t really need one.
When choosing which stroller to buy, you always want to get the best value for the money you’re paying. While all of the strollers we’ve reviewed are amazing, this one offers the best quality for the money you’ll be spending.
| PROS |
|---|
| + Lightweight |
| + Great sunshade |
| + Sit and stand capabilities |
| + Manual lock |
| CONS |
|---|
| – Small storage capacity |
3. Maneuverability Pick: Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 All-Terrain Stroller
Despite having the ‘mini’ in its title, this is a full-size stroller that is the largest of all the Baby Jogger City Mini models. It comes with more quality wheels that are larger, thus allowing comfortable strolling over various terrains. Also, they are better for maneuvering, so you can quickly move around in tight spaces.
This is designed to be a jogging stroller, but it can be used for any type of strolling. It is easy to use and fold. All you need to do is unlock the frame and pull one handle for the stroller to auto-lock and self-stand. The carry handle is a great feature if you plan on taking your stroller on a trip.
The stroller is large enough to fit an older child or a tall toddler while remaining somewhat lightweight to enable portability. The storage bin is large, and despite the average weight limit, you can fit many things inside of it.
The sunshade is large enough to cover the entirety of your child’s body. It comes with dual peek-a-boo windows and sports magnetic covers. Overall, this is an excellent choice for people looking for the best stroller for tall toddler.
| PROS |
|---|
| + UV 50 Sunshade |
| + Easy to fold |
| + Great for travel |
| + Suitable for all terrains |
| CONS |
|---|
| – Not the largest storage basket |
4. Travel Pick: gb Pockit+ All-Terrain
This stroller is a great choice for kids of up to 4 years, likely making it the best stroller for older child out there. It has a compact and collapsible design, so you can fold it with ease and in just two steps and carry it everywhere. You can even fit it in overhead compartments on trains and plains!
This is a lightweight product that you can push with one hand even when the child is sitting in it. It isn’t too heavy for you to carry it around in one hand, and the handle helps you with just that.
Everything is made from flexible materials, enhancing durability. This is extremely important when looking for a stroller that can carry a large amount of weight. The sun canopy covers most of your child’s body, especially if you recline the seat back. This can help your kid sleep soundly during the walk.
Also, the front wheels are great for maneuvering narrow and busy streets. The wheel lock helps with the uneven terrain. No matter if you want to travel to the mountainside or some large city, this is an excellent stroller for you.
| PROS |
|---|
| + Lightweight |
| + Easy to fold and compact |
| + Recline option |
| + Good for all terrains |
| + Good age range |
| CONS |
|---|
| – Weak joints |
| – Challenging to unfold |
| – No extra features |
5. Budget Pick: Summer 3Dlite+ Convenience Stroller
Some people, especially parents of children with certain disabilities, don’t have enough money to invest in the best of the best strollers. They are looking for a budget-friendly choice that will provide a decent quality. This is why this might be the best stroller for older child with autism or any other problem that might disrupt your kid’s ability to walk around with you.
While this isn’t the premium stroller, it has all the features you’d want in the best stroller for a large child. It is suitable for a taller kid, but it remains fairly average in weight, so you won’t have problems pushing it around. You can fold it with ease using only your foot. While it doesn’t have a self-stand option, it does have an auto-lock when folded.
The storage has a medium limit and it can hold up to 10 lbs. It’s easy to access and it also has an additional Velcro pocket that is great for your cellphone or wallet. It also comes with a cup holder.
The sunshine is removable and doesn’t have a window – but due to its average size, you won’t really need it. However, it does come with a reflective pop-out visor that can help provide additional sun protection.
| PROS |
|---|
| + Lightweight |
| + Easy to fold |
| + Good storage |
| + Reclining seat |
| + Auto-lock |
| CONS |
|---|
| – Doesn’t self-stand |
| – Bad strap covers |
| – Low quality canopy |
When Is a Kid Too Old for a Stroller?
After reading the title of the article, you are probably wondering … when is your child too old for a regular stroller?
To tell the truth, strollers don’t really have an age limit. While many pieces of research show that you shouldn’t use strollers regularly on kids that are old enough to walk, sometimes strollers are just necessary. Overall, most people claim that once your kid turns 4 there is no reason you should use a stroller anymore. However, there are some situations when finding the best stroller for older child is necessary.
What Situations Require Best Stroller for Older Child?
While studies have shown that transportation is the main reason for using a stroller, some parents have also claimed to use a stroller because of leisure, storage, but also child supervision.
Here are some of the situations in which you might want to stick to a stroller instead of letting your child walk alone:
- If you go on a long walking trip, your child might not be able to keep up.
- When a kid is recovering from surgery, they likely shouldn’t walk for a while.
- Many children with special needs require a single or a double stroller for older child.
With that in mind, there isn’t a single age when someone can tell that your child is too old. For most healthy kids, there is truly no reason why they should be in strollers once they are 8 years or older. Even so, you should never use a regular stroller for a child that is above the product’s height and weight limit. Not only are you risking damaging the stroller, you’re risking injuring your child or hindering their development.
What to Look for in a Stroller for Older Children?
No matter what type of products for children you’re talking about, you shouldn’t purchase them without doing the necessary research. You need to find a product that is the best choice for the specific needs of your child. Before you make a purchase, answer some of these questions:
- Does the stroller meet the size requirements of your child?
- Is this the right style of stroller for you?
- Does the stroller meet your child’s needs?
- Will the stroller meet your needs, as well?
- Can you afford the stroller in question?
Of course, the first thing you need to think about is the size of the stroller, especially if you have an older child or a child that has overgrown their peers. Kids come in various sizes, whether you’re thinking about height or weight. The best stroller for older child has to meet these requirements. Make sure you check out our Ultimate Stroller Buying Guide for more hot tips.
Next, most of the strollers for toddlers aren’t suitable for the needs of an older child. For example, you might no longer need to carry diapers around, so large storage isn’t as important as leg space. However, if a stroller is too large or too heavy, you might not be able to push it around with ease.
Some strollers are designed for different lifestyles. Maybe you travel a lot or you live in a busy city where moving a large stroller can be a challenge. There are umbrella strollers, jogging strollers, double strollers, and so on. You need to see whether the specific stroller is fit for your needs.
Finally, you have to be able to afford the stroller in question. While the average price of a stroller in the US is $50-$300 for a traditional stroller, some high-end strollers with specific purposes can cost over $700. Your budget is something you have to know in advance.
The Final Word
Finding the best stroller for older child is more important than you might think at first glance. You cannot simply use the same type of stroller for a baby, a toddler, and a child older than 4 or 5 years. We’re not talking about weight capacity only. There are many other factors that can influence your decision.
You cannot go wrong with either of the five products from our list. It all comes down to your individual desires and requirements. We hope we’ve helped you find the best product for you and your little bundle of joy.