Baby Jogger City Mini Review

Looking around my neighborhood, I kept seeing more and more of these stylish lightweight strollers. What are they? Luckily it's clearly marked on the side of the stroller, 'City Mini' and I knew I had to learn more about them, because these are clearly becoming a favorite.

I've even seen Baby Jogger City Mini strollers, both double and single, featured on online celebrity gossip websites. Famous people like Naomi Watts, Toby Maguire, Matthew McConaughey, Salma Hayek, Tori Spelling, Julia Roberts, Halle Berry and Laurence Fishburne all stride in style with their cute little ones in their City Minis.

Why should I choose a City Mini model?

For one thing, the City Mini is so well designed that hit has won several awards. Baby Jogger has been honored with a NAPPA Gold Award, Mother and Baby Award and iParenting Media Award for the City Mini model. If you're curious about these awards and what they mean, visit the Baby Jogger awards page. It basically means that you are getting a fabulous stroller!

Baby Jogger City Mini is all about smooth rides around the city. Urban parents will definitely like this stroller because it is meant to be maneuvered into tight corners and narrow shopping aisles, while keeping your child comfortable.

However, despite the name, the Baby Jogger City Mini is not a jogger stroller, and it is not meant to be used while jogging.

You will be pleased to learn that there have been some improvements to the current model Baby Jogger City Mini such as a frame redesign for easier access to the shopping basket, a huge complaint in previous years. Read on to find out what else has been improved for 2012.

Baby Jogger City Mini Features:

• Ideal for pavement and urban terrain
• 50-pound weight limit
• Rear parking brake
• Universal accessory mounting bracket
• Padded adjustable five-point safety harness with buckle cover

• Multi-position reclining seat with near-flat lying option and near-straight-up option
• Front wheel suspension system
• 8-inch puncture proof EVA wheels with sealed ball bearings
• Lockable front swivel wheel
• Sun canopy with clear view peek-a-boo windows
• Storage basket beneath seat
• Storage compartment on the seat back
• 16.8 pound stroller weight
• One-handed Quick Fold technology
• Comes in 6 fashionable color schemes

Upgrades for Baby Jogger City Mini 2012

Baby Jogger has made some minor enhancements for the current year City Mini, and while minor, these changes do make a difference in the quality of your experience with the stroller. Here's what to expect:

• Cross bar on the back of the frame is now curved, providing easy access to the basket. With previous years models, this was a huge complaint.
• Roomier seat - 1" deeper and the legrest is ½" longer to accommodate bigger kids comfortably. The bottom of the seat now has better support and the stitching has a simple, clean look this year.
• Basket now has stretchy mesh on the sides, making it easy for you to access your things either in the back or at the sides of the stroller.
• Once folded, an autolocking mechanism holds the frame together, so that puttin your stroller in the trunk is no longer an ordeal.

Most of these photos are for the 2011 model and will be updated as soon as possible.

Easy to maneuver and compact

I just love how this product is very easy to maneuver and it does offer a smooth ride, even on slightly uneven surface, such as the boardwalk or pavement. The City Mini has a swivel front wheel that ensures precise maneuverability, and the swivel front wheel can be locked into place for long distance strolling. The 8 inch, lightweight, quick release EVA wheels with sealed ball bearings help parents to maneuver the stroller even better.

It is also lightweight, making it great for frequent travelers, particularly via air. Nevertheless, it folds compact, and according to a happy mom's review, the City Mini single stroller fits in half of her Prius trunk, compared to a previous stroller which occupies the whole trunk.

What about that quick fold?

The Baby Jogger City Mini has a patented Quick-Fold Technology that allows parents to fold it in one easy step. This is an excellent feature for moms who need to run errands and look after their babies at the same time. Moms handle their babies with more confidence when the stroller is easy to fold and unfold. The City Mini also comes with a fold strap that keeps it folded for storage or transportation. This is probably the main selling feature for most Baby Jogger strollers; it's absolutely amazing!

Tell me about the seat

The Baby Jogger City Mini is comfortable and safe because it has an adjustable five-point safety harness that is perfect for your growing baby. The safety harness features a buckle cover and shoulder pads to ensure that your baby is comfortable while being strapped snugly into the seat.

The stroller has a padded seat that reclines fully. Moms love this feature because it allows their babies to nap comfortably in the seat. Another mom mentioned in her review that she loves the seat because there are no sudden jerks every time she lowers the seatback down for her baby to sleep.

Baby Jogger listened to their customers in previous years reviews and now the seat has some new enhancements for the current model year. The seatback is now firm to give better support and proper posture so your child doesn't slouch. Velcro tabs also pull the seat forward an additional two inches so that your child can sit more upright at snack time or to see outside. It's all around a much improved seat.

The City Mini can accommodate an infant car seat when you purchase a car seat adapter. It can hold brands such as Peg Perego, Britax, Maxi Cosi and most Graco and Evenflo seats. Just click it in the universal accessory mounting bracket and you're good to go!

Does it have any sort of weather protection?

This product has a seat top that is vented, and a retractable weather cover. For strolling in sunny or cold weather, the weather cover would be perfect. Not only that, the Baby Jogger City Mini comes with a large, multi-positionable sun canopy with two clear peek-a-boo windows. I find that it is perfect for keeping your baby protected from harsh sunlight while allowing you to look at your baby through the peek-a-boo windows. Even the baby enjoys looking at his parent through the clear windows.

Brakes and handle bar

For extra safety, the Baby Jogger City Mini stroller has a rear parking brake. Parents will also enjoy pushing the stroller comfortably using its rounded handlebar. It makes maneuvering through crowds and busy streets a whole lot easier.

Storage space and accessories

The Baby Jogger City Mini has a storage basket under the seat, and another storage compartment on the back of the seat. The under seat storage basket can fit a diaper bag and smaller items, but most parents prefer the back storage compartment as it is easier to access. It is perfect for storing car keys, house keys, a water bottle, a small towel, a mobile phone, and more.

This product has a patented universal accessory mounting bracket, which allows parents to add the stroller accessories that they like. The Baby Jogger City Mini does not come with a child or parent tray, but most parents do not mind. Most parents mentioned in their reviews that they loved it that the Baby Jogger City Mini is versatile and flexible, that even accessories from other brands can be affixed onto the stroller.

Since the stroller allows mix and match, parents would actually enjoy choosing their preferred accessories. Various available accessories can be purchase separately, including belly bar, belly bar console, child tray, glider board for a toddler to ride along at the back, compact or bassinet prams, rain or wind canopy, bug canopy, and also a car seat adaptor.

At what age can my baby ride?

The Baby Jogger City Mini is highly recommended for babies of 6 months and above. The stroller is great for older babies, but it is not recommended for newborn babies, unless the parents purchase a separate bassinet pram. Available in many attractive colors, the Baby Jogger City Mini stroller is definitely an excellent choice for urban parents.

How much should you pay for the City Mini?

Right now the current model year is selling for about the same price across many different web retailers. I've seen it going for about $239.99, even on the low-price site Amazon Other online retailers such as Stroller Depot and Baby Earth sell the Baby Jogger City Mini for the same price and include free shipping. Check each of these sites to comparison shop for your favorite color and best deals.

This video compares the Baby Jogger City Mini 2012 with the 2011 model - it is quite helpful:

What others are saying

Baby Jogger City Mini reviews give this stroller between 4 and 4½ stars. The light weight and Quick Fold are the two highlights, not to mention the style and design of this modern looking piece of baby gear.

Consumer Reports also had something to say about this stroller. They gave it an overall 76% rating with very good marks for ease of use and maneuverability and a an excellent mark for safety.

One mother recently said in her review that the City Mini is recommended for parents who want a product that is larger than an umbrella stroller but still doesn't take up a lot of space. She is very happy with her investment and gave her new stroller a 5-star rating.

You cannot ignore that sun canopy! Moms and dads everywhere write in to say how much they love the coverage it provides.

The large canopy is a favorite feature for Shannon from Massachusetts. She says she doesn't really need the wind cover because the canopy nearly covers her baby completely. She likes the two peek-a-boo windows as well.

Reviews often mention the superb maneuverability, with satisfied customers often writing they can use one hand to steer.
Neighborhood walks are ideal for this stroller, according to mom named Jennifer. She writes that she goes in and out of shops easily and pushes her City Mini one handed.

The City Mini's main competitor is the Britax B-Agile. It looks nearly the same and is priced similarly as well. Until the 2012 City Mini model comes out, the B-Agile is actually the preferred model with consumers. Find out why.

Disadvantages

Complaints are mostly due to the fact that any accessories you want, like the cup holder, car seat adapter, child's snack tray or belly bar, are sold separately.

Some Mini City owners also feel that the storage basket beneath the seat could be more spacious and easier to get to.

A couple of customers recommend that you wait to get this stroller until your baby is six month or older because using the car seat in the Baby Jogger City Mini did not feel stable enough.

Where can you buy the City Mini?

My favorite place to buy strollers is on Amazon. While the current year's models are priced the same across most all web retailers, you will find that the price will start to fall as the year goes on and you'll likely find the best deal there.