Mama’s Monday Favorite: Baby Jogger City Select 2011

When I found out I was going to review a 2011 City Select from Baby Jogger, I was thrilled! I have read many promising reviews online and approached mothers with strollers and the ones using Baby Joggers raved about the latest cool thing; the 2011 City Select.

With the idea that soon enough I might consider having a second child I needed to see this stroller’s practicality and efficiency so that I could justify its pricy tag of nearly $500.

So here we are:

** Assembly:

The assembly instructions were not as detailed as I would have liked. For example, when attaching the canopy to the stroller frame, the instructions tell you which parts go on the left and right portion of the stroller, but do not tell you if you should be facing the open seat of the stroller or facing the handlebar portion of the stroller.

A first time parent who has never touched a stroller may have a little difficulty understanding the instructions but an experienced parent who has seen a stroller or two should have little to no difficulty assembling the stroller.

Overall between arghs, and yays, it took me 40 minutes to get this stroller strolling! (Keep in mind that once its put together that’s it! No more assembly)

** Functionality:

The functionality of the stroller is amazing.

• Goes anywhere! The stroller’s width is 26” which is a huge advantage when using it as a double or even a single and navigating through crowded places.
• The seat is 9 inches deep and the 2011 model provides a seat board and a padded support for the baby’s back which will help soothe irritated, tired babies. Using one hand you can smoothly recline the seat to four positions including a nearly flat one which is absolutely ideal for a sleeping baby.
• The steering of the front swivel wheels are smooth and quick, providing easy maneuverability. A good thing to point out: The front wheels lock if you don’t want them to swivel.
• The handlebars are easily adjustable (from 39” to 42”) which makes it a definitely plus for parents with height differences of more than 3 inches.
• The canopy is a big size, will provide enough sun protection for your baby’s face and the peek-a-boo window provides visual access to your baby. The canopy closes easily with magnets not Velcro (Velcro wears off easily)
• The foot rest can be extended to two sizes, a well thought-out feature as your baby grows.
• This stroller comes with a fairly large under the seat storage that has the capability of stretching to a larger size. The original size provides good space to place small to medium size items. The space is the largest in the market.
• One feature I appreciate is the large mesh pocket on the back of the seat, you can place light items (a diaper, wipes and a changing pad fits perfectly in the mesh pocket) giving you the extra space with fast access.
• The compact fold of this stroller is incredibly easy and one of its best features! All you have to do is pull two side handles and the stroller folds in half in less than a second. The stroller weights 28 pounds which can make it a bit heavy if you are getting it in and out of the car constantly but it’s due to its sturdy frame (definitely not a deal breaker). However, I do wish it would stand on its own when folded.
• The stroller fits best in cars with standard sized trunks or SUVs with rear cargo space, but with a little patience, the stroller can fit in the trunk of a small car like the VW beetle.
• For growing families or a set of twins this stroller is a must! The ease of adding a second seat will save you money and space. There are 16 ways to configure the two seats! This alone makes the City Select stroller fascinating and you will not find another one like it in the market. Obviously the more accessories you add the more the stroller will weigh going up and down curbs. But you will experience this with any stroller.
• You can accessorize this stroller with a rain cover, child tray, parent cup holder etc…

**Things I deeply appreciate: (worth of mentioning it separately)

The fabric is washable! Yes!! Knowing how messy babies (and parents) can be, it is comforting to know that I can easily remove the fabric from the frame, machine wash it (delicate cycle) in cold water, and attach it back onto the stroller to dry. The fabric is light enough that will not take long to dry.

No pumping air! The tires are fully made out of rubber with foam inserts so you can say farewell to flat tires. The ride is so smooth and can virtually go over any terrain.

The stroller breaking system! I love having the breaking system at hand instead of down by your feet. Once the breaks are on, this stroller does not move an inch.

The stroller is covered by a warranty! The fabric, wheels, tires and other components carry a one-year warranty, while the frame is backed by a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects.

Car seat adaptors compatibility! For an additional price you can purchase an infant car seat adaptor that will fit most of the major car seat brands. If you want to avoid shooting pains on your shoulder this little addition is a must! After all car seats should not be carried as purses and why would you choose to do that when you have something to place it on and push around?

Baby Jogger’s standard car seat adaptor is compatible with the following car seats:

• Baby Trend Expedition
• Baby Trend Flex Loc
• Baby Trend Gabriella*
• Baby Trend Stride Sport*
• Baby Trend StrideZ
• Britax Companion*
• Britax Chaperone* (for single stroller only) (Manufactured BEFORE June 2010)
• Cosco Sprint
• Chicco KeyFit*/**
• Chicco KeyFit 30*/**
• Cybex Aton
• Eddie Bauer Adventurer
• Evenflo Aura Elite
• Evenflo Embrace 5
• Evenflo Embrace LX
• Evenflo Journey Premier
• Evenflo Nestino Odyssey
• Graco Infant SafeSeat Step 1
• Graco SnugRide
• Graco SnugRide 2
• Graco SnugRide 30
• Graco SnugRide 32
• Graco SnugRide 35
• Maxi-Cosi Cabrio
• Maxi-Cosi Mico*
• Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP*
• Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30*
• Safety 1st Designer 22

*Is not compatible with the Performance Series single car seat adaptor.
**The Chicco car seat adaptor is separate from our multi model adaptor. Make sure you use the correct car seat adaptor for your car seat model   (source: BabyJogger.com)

Overall, the Baby Jogger City Select is definitely one of the best strollers among the same price range market. I will definitely recommend this to all of my new parent friends, well-worth its price in style, functionality, efficiency, and versatility.