Mockingbird - Travel Stroller Series

Like someone else said, if you want something that lasts until toddler age, it will be a convertible seat not an infant seat. I’m not a fan of infant seats so we’re going straight to a convertible and getting a stroller with a bassinet mode. Nuna is great, just pricy. I am a big fan but do agree with the other commenter that I need two hands to collapse. The mockingbird is also pretty nice - plenty configurations and compatible with a lot of car seats. I can fold it with one hand and i think it pushes well. If you’re planning on having more kids it’s nice with the ability to add a second seat or have one bassinet and one toddler seat at once.

Mockingbird here as well. Kind of surprised to not see it mentioned as much here? It's reasonably priced and modular.

Yup I wish I had thought ahead. We ended up switching out our graco for a mockingbird.

We got a Mockingbird stroller second hand for $150 on FB marketplace which was an amazing deal. Has second seat capability, functionality, and even a ride on board attachment in case 3 are in your future. Can get a bassinet attachment too.

We love the Mockingbird with the Chicco KeyFit 35 car seat. The Mockingbird looks and feels so much more expensive (although it isn’t that cheap). I did so much research and am so glad I went with it. I use it multiple times a day with the car seat attachment or bassinet. Love it!

Chiming in to say I have 8 week old twins and I HATE the mockingbird. It does not go over bumps well and it’s a hassle to take anywhere. I want to get rid of it asap

When you say third floor, I'm assuming walk-up? Then as others have said, City Baby Jogger. Again, I agree. FB Marketplace used. They're all over there. I bought one from 2011 for $25, still works perfectly. You can take the whole seat off an wash it in the machine. That being said, we had a full stroller and my baby disliked the City Baby Jogger until over a year old in comparison. The basket is also really small, and you can't hang anything on the handles because of the design of it, it'll tip over. If it's not a walk-up and you walk a lot, I love our Mockingbird. Would be terrible to load into a cab or lug upstairs, though, but it's fantastic if you have an elevator and can do walks. I also think that strollers are one of the most stressful things, and I've never met anyone who didn't like the one they got. So, really, I'd say pick they style you want the most, identify 1-2 must have features, and just go for it.

It's harder to have a newborn safely in a lot of travel strollers. They also hold significantly less (almost nothing comparatively) in the under basket. That being said, we flew once with our Mockingbird and moved to a jogging stroller, as it's a lot to travel with a bigger stroller. As food for thought, though, in the future, you'll have to have a dolly or something to bring your big car seat if you go to travel. To us that was worth it. Also, there's a lot of jogger or travel strollers used on FB marketplace if you're in the US. It's nice to not have to get your new stroller beat up and just have a used one.

We took our Mockingbird (love our Mockingbird). Put it in a loose travel bag off Amazon it was fine. That being said, t's NOT doable alone while carrying baby. You're supposed to take the wheels off and other things. You'd have to collapse the bassinet. It's big and clunky and hard to do let alone on the jet bridge. I'd personally get a jogger stroller and a newborn insert. These would be checked at the jet bridge, one hand collapse. Make sure the newborn insert isn't too big, you'll likely have to carry it on with you. (As a note, most joggers can lay basically flat, the insert is for your peace of mind as you maneuver with a carry on through the airport.) You're likely also going to need: \- An under seat/under jogger stroller sized backpack \- Baby wearing option of your choice \- A rolling suitcase This is because you're going to have to have a lot of stuff, but also be able to get through the airport and on the plan with it. Those things will let you: \- Through the airport, push stroller and roll suitcase. \- To get on the plane, put baby in the baby carrier, put the backup in the stroller seat. Push the stroller down the jet bridge and roll the suitcase with the other hand. When you get to end, put the backpack on and collapse the stroller. This limits the weight you're carrying for as long as possible. ALSO, you're going to want to put the backpack on last, so you can take it off first once on the plane. \- Board early. While flight attendants aren't required to help you put your luggage up, I'd be SHOCKED if they didn't in this specific scenario (the help all the time just to be nice). Other tips: \- Change baby right before you board. (I literally just did it outside the gate. I do not care.) \- Have a little pack ready with the following: your changing mat, diapers, wipes, creams, and AN EXTRA OUTFIT. Put it in your under seat bag and make it easy to grab. \- Nurse or bottle feed right after you literally take off if possible. \- Do not be afraid to ask someone to hold baby if it comes to that. (You do not have to do this, but if there is a scenario where you need it, just ask.) \- People have only ever been SO nice to us when traveling with a baby.

We have the mockingbird w/bassinet too and ended up putting it in storage for the chicco corso when it went on sale. Mockingbird is nice but super heavy! We’ll pull it back out when we have 2 but it felt really clunky for just one baby. The corso doesn’t have a bassinet but does come with an infant insert for the seat and reclines near-flat so it has a bassinet-ish feel.

Mockingbird with tandem setup and the scooter add on for our toddler. 

This will sound silly, but for me, color was the most important thing. Unless there’s no other option, I only buy pink things (pink furniture, clothes, toiletries, etc.). I picked out car seats and strollers that came in pink, and then narrowed it down from there based on features. Ended up with the Uppababy Mesa V2 car seat and the Mockingbird stroller!