Choosing a Baby Travel System

Finding the perfect travel gear is an important part of every parenting journey. From the first ride home from the hospital to weekday errands and family trips, you’ll need gear designed to help keep your little one safe and comfortable while providing the convenience you need as a parent. To help simplify travel and everyday outings during that first stage of the journey, many parents and caregivers opt for a baby travel system.

The Advantages of a Travel System

• Effortless Transitions: The key advantage of a travel system is convenience. The ability to move the infant car seat from your vehicle to the stroller quickly and easily helps ensure your baby remains cozy and content throughout your travels.
• Consolidated Purchases: Opting for a travel system can help simplify your shopping list, ticking off two essential items in one go. It's a strategic move that can ease the decision-making process during what can be an overwhelming time. Plus, you may be able to save a few dollars by purchasing a car seat and stroller combo rather than buying the two products separately.
• Stroll From Day One: With many strollers, you must wait until your little one has developed sufficient head and neck control before you can take them on walks in the included toddler seat. These strollers require you to purchase a compatible infant car seat or bassinet in order to stroll with an infant. By choosing a travel system, you’ll have the option to stroll from day one with the infant car seat connected to the stroller.
• Unified Style: In addition to functionality and convenience, travel systems are also designed with aesthetics in mind. The stroller and car seat are created to complement each other, adding a touch of elegance to your family outings.

Points to Ponder

While travel systems offer several important advantages, it's essential to consider your family’s specific needs when purchasing travel gear. As you look at your options, take some time to think about:

• Space and Storage: Consider the size of the travel system stroller and whether it fits comfortably in your vehicle's trunk and your home storage space.
• Ease of Maneuverability: Travel system strollers tend to be heavier due to their dual functionality. We recommend a hands-on test drive to ensure that the stroller meets your expectations for ease of use and maneuverability.
• Car Seat Longevity: It's worth noting that infant car seats are generally designed for the first 1-2 years, depending on the child's growth. The Britax® Willow™ (only available in travel system), Willow S, and Willow SC seats, for example, are designed for infants up to 30 pounds and 32 inches tall. Once your child reaches the infant seat’s height or weight limit, you’ll need to purchase a convertible or all-in-one seat. Travel system strollers, on the other hand, offer more longevity. The Britax Brook™ (only available in travel system), Brook+, and Grove™ strollers are all suitable for children up to 50 pounds, allowing you to use the stroller well into the toddler years.

Selecting the Perfect Travel System

Prioritize Car Seat Safety: When researching baby travel systems, start by looking at the infant car seat. Consider factors like safety features, ease of installation, and daily usability. The right car seat should fit your child properly and comfortably while also fitting your vehicle. Make sure you also choose a car seat that you can install confidently and correctly every time.

Finding the Ideal Stroller: Travel system strollers can vary widely to match diverse lifestyles. You can find strollers that are specifically designed for:

• Jogging Enthusiasts: A jogging stroller from our friends at BOB Gear might be the perfect match for active parents.
• Urban Dwellers: Compact strollers are ideal for city living, public transit users, or frequent travelers.
• Growing Families: Double strollers cater to twins or siblings who are close in age, ensuring no one is left behind.

Creating Your Custom Solution: If you're struggling to find a pre-packaged travel system that checks off all your boxes, consider curating your combo with separate car seats and strollers. Many brands, including Britax, offer compatibility across products to make customization a breeze. Just note that you may need to purchase adapters to connect certain car seats and strollers, especially if you’re mixing and matching across brands. You can take a look at Britax’s compatibility charts to find out which car seats, strollers, and accessories work together.

The Britax Lineup

Willow Brook: This convenient and versatile travel system includes the Willow infant car seat, the Brook stroller, and the Aspen™ base, plus a child snack tray and a parent cup holder for the stroller. The Willow features ClickTight® installation technology to help you install with confidence, every time. The RightSize™ system on the infant car seat provides adjustment points at the hips, shoulders, and between the legs, helping you create the perfect fit from the start. The infant car seat and the toddler seat can be positioned forward-facing or parent-facing on the stroller, giving you four unique ways to stroll.

Willow Brook S+: This combo includes the Willow S infant car seat, Brook+ stroller, and Alpine™ base. In addition to the ClickTight and RightSize systems, the Willow S also features a flip-down sun visor on the canopy for extra shade. The Alpine infant car seat base includes a ReboundReduce™ stability bar to help minimize movement in the event of a crash. Featuring four ways to stroll, the Brook+ stroller also comes with a handy parent tray that includes a phone holder and two cup holders. Plus, the included SafeWash® seat insert helps make cleanup easy between strolls.

Willow Grove SC: Our most premium travel system includes the Willow SC infant car seat, the Grove stroller, and the Alpine base, along with a bumper bar and a CozyFit™ stroller insert. The Willow SC offers all the safety and convenience features of the Willow and Willow S plus a carry handle that adjusts easily with one hand and a peek-a-boo window on the canopy. The Grove stroller also features an easy one-hand fold and an extra-large cargo basket. The Willow Grove SC offers six ways to stroll thanks to the CozyFit insert, which allows baby to ride in the stroller seat starting at 10 lbs.

Mixing and Matching: The Willow*, Willow S, Willow SC, and Cypress infant car seats are all compatible with both the Aspen and the Alpine base, giving you the option to purchase an extra base for your travel system (which can be a game-changer for families with multiple cars). Each of these four infant seats are also compatible with the Brook*, Brook+, and Grove strollers.

At Britax, we believe in providing solutions that prioritize your child's safety and comfort while reflecting your personal style. Whether a baby travel system is the perfect fit for your family or you opt to mix and match, we’re here to help you find convenient travel gear that helps give you confidence for the road ahead.

*Note: The Willow infant car seat and Brook stroller are only available as part of the Willow Brook travel system.