Baby Jogger City Select Review

Imagine your beautifully well-made stroller with your first born. You love everything about it and your baby is comfy too. All too soon though, you must give up your dream stroller because baby #2 is on the way and a double stroller is the order of the day. It is true that some moms really do get upset about this!

Have you ever wished you could simply keep the stroller you already love and turn it into a double? Now you can with a Baby Jogger City Select,an elegantly designed buggy that not only takes two seats but is completely transformational.

The award-winning Baby Jogger City Select is a unique stroller that starts as a single but turns into a double by adding a second seat. Yes, you're thinking, but there are other stroller companies do that. What makes the City Select truly unique?

When using patented adaptors, you are free to customize your stroller by mixing and matching seats, car seat, and bassinet. Personalize this stroller exactly the way you want it, customized for your taste.

Why should I choose the City Select?

This amazing convertible stroller is the answer for parents who have a child now and are planning baby #2. You might also be a family with a newborn baby and a toddler sibling or parents who are expecting twins.

The Baby Jogger City Select offers an astonishing 16 different seating combinations to reflect what you prefer right now. In addition to this revolutionary way to customize your children's seating options, several improvements have been made to the current year model.

By the time you finish reading this you will have a complete understanding of this remarkable convertible stroller and why it's gotten 4-star reviews from happy moms just like you who ask a lot from their City Select. And they get it.

Let's find out what's new as we take a look in more detail at this sensational product.

Baby Jogger City Select Features:

• Ideal for pavement and urban terrain
• 90-pound weight limit (45 per seat)
• Hand controlled rear parking brake
• Universal accessory mounting bracket on each seat
• Padded adjustable five-point safety harness with buckle cover
• 4-position reclining seat
• Adjustable leg rest
• Front wheel suspension system

• Lockable 8-inch puncture proof swivel wheels with sealed ball bearings in front
• 12-inch puncture proof wheels in rear
• 3-panel adjustable sun canopy with clear view peek-a-boo window
• Storage basket beneath seat
• Storage compartment on the seat back
• 28-pound stroller weight (single seat)
• One-handed Quick Fold technology
• Comes in 4 fashionable color schemes

All about the seat

Let's start with the seat on this stroller. It is a molded seat, meaning that when it reclines, the seat back does not angle independently of the seat - the entire seat moves.

This seat, and the seat you get with the doubles kit, can take a 45-pound weight limit. It has an 18½-inch seat back, which is not that tall, but the sun canopy and harness adjust so your child can grow with this stroller.

Baby Jogger has made some improvements on the City Select. The seat on the 2011 model is one-inch deeper and has better back support, rather than the hammock-style seating of prior years. Additional padding is a little more comfortable, especially for older kids.

Seat recline limitations

The seat reclines in four positions and I absolutely love the one-handed push button recline feature. It's nice and smooth so you leave your child undisturbed when he or she is napping.

However, keep in mind that you are going to get different recline ranges depending on seat position. When you use only one seat, you will have a full recline in both forward and reverse positions.

When using two seats, forward facing, you have very limited recline range. If two seats face the parent or face one another you can fully recline each. I don't really mind these limitations, though.

A four-position footrest adds leg support and comfort for your child. In a positive review, a mom said that her daughter slept comfortably in the seat and woke up without being cranky. That right there is worth it, wouldn't you agree?

Tell me about all these changeable seating options!

Don't miss a word of this because it is really the highlight of the Baby Jogger City Select! When you are ready to turn your single City Select into a double, just move the original seat up one notch and install the seat adapters into the notches over the front wheels.

Baby Jogger makes it super easy and with a few clicks you can change the seats from forward facing to rear facing. Face the seats toward one another if your kids are feeling sociable or click the seats into opposite directions when they need separating. The video demo further down the page gives you a good idea of what you can do with the seats. It's amazing all the options the City Select has.

Switch one or both of the seats with a car seat and turn it into a travel system. I find that the stroller is easier to push if your heavier child is closer to you, but on the other hand your infant will probably need to be closer to Mommy.

Seating accessories

Did you know that you can buy a bassinet for the Baby Jogger City Select? Yes, you can and just look at how beautifully made it is. Get it in a matching color with your stroller or match the bassinet with the second seat kit you purchase. Some moms like to have a different color for their second seat/bassinet, just make sure you get the same color for the second seat and bassinet because the bassinet does not come with a canopy.

Simply remove the canopy from the second seat and use it on the bassinet. Can you see why they must be the same color? But oh, how beautiful it looks when it's all put together. Take a look at some of the arrangements you can customize with the photo collage above.

If you plan to use the Baby Jogger City Select as a double stroller right away, keep in mind that you need to purchase the Baby Jogger Second Seat Kit, which includes the mounting kit. You will need this kit even if you plan to purchase the bassinet. If you want to use the car seat as a travel system, you must purchase a Baby Jogger Car Seat Adapter, just be very careful about ordering the correct one - there have been some complaints about non-compatibility, especially with the Britax and Graco brands.

What is the sun canopy like?

The stroller comes with a fabulous canopy that gives lots of coverage to protect your child from the sun. It can be adjusted higher or lower on the frame to accommodate your growing child's head height, which is excellent news for your taller child. In the higher position, you will have 24 inches from seat to canopy. That's plenty of room! The lower position gives your shorter child 21 inches of space.

The sun canopy has a big peek-a-boo window on the top with a covering flap that has magnets on the corners to adhere it together when you want the window covered. That's a nice touch, isn't it? No more loud ripping Velcro sound when you want to peek at your sleeping passenger.

How difficult is it to put together?

Once you get your big box delivered, the Baby Jogger City Select convertible stroller is easy to assemble. A mom explained in her review that she managed to assemble the stroller in the parking lot in only 5 minutes, while her children were watching a DVD in their minivan.

Folding and storage

The City Select stroller has a secure fold latch that allows convenient and compact storage. This allows parents to easily transport it for trips or stow it away in the garage or closet. And here is one of my favorite features: this Baby Jogger has the famous patented Quick-Fold technology that allows parents to fold it in only one swift, simple motion. The photo on the right shows how it looks when the seats have been removed.

What sort of safety features does the City Select have?

For safety, the stroller comes with an adjustable 5-point safety harness that comes with buckle cover and shoulder pads. The pads keep your child as snug as a bug secured in the seat, while the buckle cover prevents your child from playing with the buckle and accidentally undoing it.

For extra safety and convenience, the Baby Jogger City Select is equipped with a hand-operated parking brake. Moms like this because shoes no longer get scuffed and using a foot brake can sometimes feel cumbersome.

What do we parents get?

The City Select does not neglect your comfort as parents. Thoughtful features include a telescoping handlebar with a wipe clean grip, perfect for very tall parents who don't have to hunch over to push. In a review, a six-foot-tall dad mentioned that he enjoys strolling with his kids because the handlebar is adjustable and has a comfortable grip.

Are you average height or petite? Don't worry, you'll be comfortable too. The height from ground to handle without the added telescoping is 41½" so you should feel just right.

Many happy parents mention in their reviews that they love the large storage basket beneath the seat. Owners describe it as huge and accessible from every direction. Parents enjoy the convenience of shopping with their children because the large basket stores many items apart from groceries. A large diaper bag, change of clothes, sippy cups, baby bottles and toys can be easily accommodated.

I really like the storage compartment on the back of the seat to place other necessities such as baby wipes, bandaids, snacks and extra toys. Optional accessories are available for purchase, such as the Baby Jogger Liquid Holster (cup holder), child snack tray, and universal parent console for more storage space.

What is the steering like?

Fact: despite being a rather heavy stroller, the Baby Jogger City Select still pushes very easily, even with a second seat installed. A happy mom mentioned in her review that the weight of the stroller assures her that it is sturdy enough to carry the weight of her two toddlers.

Another mom purchased the stroller, went straight to the grocery store, and wrote in her review that the City Select fits through checkout aisles, unlike many regular double or side-by-side strollers. Imagine not having to worry about your convertible stroller fitting in the store aisles you frequent most often.

The City Select has front swivel wheels that allow agile and quick maneuverability. The swivel wheels lock for better stability over long distance strolls, while the front wheel suspension and sealed ball bearings provide smooth rides for your children. The pneumatic front and rear wheels are 8 and 12 inches respectively, ensuring that your ride always glides, especially over uneven surfaces. Punctured tires or air leaks are a now a thing of the past! Who wants to change and repair stroller tires anyway?

How much should you pay for the City Select?

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 $500, even on the low-price site Amazon. Other online retailers such as Stroller Depot and Baby Earth sell the Baby Jogger City Select for the same price and include free shipping. Check each of these sites to comparison shop for your favorite color and best deals.

You will want to check Amazon for a deal where you can buy both the stroller and second seat kit together for a good price. You can also get the stunning red Ruby color or the Black Onyx stroller/rumble seat sets for phenomenal savings. I have not seen other retailers offer this bundle and you will save about $60 buy getting the second seat kit and the Baby Jogger City Select together.

Take a look at this informative video demo of the Baby Jogger City Select. How I love that red Ruby color!

What others are saying

Baby Jogger City Select reviews give this phenomenal convertible stroller a 4-star rating. Clearly the feature moms love most about this stroller is the seating versatility, not to mention the style and design of this modern looking piece of baby gear.
One mom says it's the coolest stroller she's seen and she just had to get it for her baby.
Another reviewer says that when you want this stroller to be a single is the most amazing feature of all. This made it possible for her family to purchase only one.

Many parents write in to say that for a double stroller, it is quite compact, especially since two seats essentially sit on a single stroller frame. You can go down shopping aisles and even between cars in a parking lot.
One mother wrote in to say that she found out the hard way that side-by-side strollers don't fit between parked cars, but her City Select did with room to spare.

Despite that it is compact, it is very sturdy and it is easy to fold. Quite a few reviews mention how well this stroller fits into their vehicles from minivans to Volvo and Prius. Reviewers mention that it is both set up and break down with each use.

Lots of reviews mention how well the Baby Jogger City Select maneuvers. Words like "smooth" are used often.

Lastly, parents write in their Baby Jogger City Select reviews that the storage basket is huge and they can pack everything they need into it.

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.

There are more complaints about the accessories you have to buy, such as the car seat adapters, than of the stroller itself. Some say that the Baby Jogger City Select is a bit heavy and is bulky once folded and of course, once you have two children in the seats, the stroller is going to be rather hefty. Remember to have the heaviest child nearest to you for easier steering.

The Diamond color can show dirt easier than the other colors offered, however it will be discontinued for 2012 and a darker sand color replaces it instead.

Where can you buy the Baby Jogger City Select?

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 prices may go down the year goes on and you'll likely find the best deals. You clearly will get the best value when you buy the stroller and second seat combo from Amazon as well.

Just imagine a few days from now pushing your own City Select beauty around the neighborhood. Can you feel all those eyes on your new dream stroller? (Maybe feeling a bit of, ahem, stroller envy?) :)