Strollers Archives - Natural Baby Life

For being so small, babies sure seem to need a lot of stuff. And your little one’s supplies aren’t just limited to inside the house; between a car seat, diaper bag, and stroller, your car might start to feel a bit cramped. Before you purchase a stroller for your baby, you’ll want to make sure it will fit in your car’s trunk. Most strollers are specifically designed to fit inside the trunk of even the smallest cars. If your car has a particularly small trunk, there are some compact stroller options that might fit more easily. Luckily, most strollers fold down, so you should be able to find one that will fit in your car. Keep reading to learn more about the different types of strollers, how big they are, and if they’ll fit inside your specific model of car. Do strollers fit in car trunks? The modern idea of a baby stroller has its origins in the 1700’s, when landscape architect William Kent invented a miniature horse-drawn baby carriage for the third Duke of Devonshire. Since that time, the stroller has gone through many evolutions to make it safer, easier to use, and more convenient. As cars were invented and became popular, the design of baby strollers evolved to allow them to be easily stored and transported inside the trunk of a car. The first collapsible stroller was invented in the 1960s and became popular in the 1980s. Since that time, it’s been expected that a stroller should be stored relatively easily. Most strollers are specifically designed to fit into cars, so if you’re driving a van or an SUV, you should be good to go. Many strollers are also designed to collapse into a shape that’s small enough to fit inside the trunk of a sedan-style car. If your car has a particularly small trunk, you might find it difficult to fit a large stroller inside. Luckily, there are some compact strollers designed to fit in even the smallest of storage spaces. Do regular strollers fit in car trunks? Regular strollers are often built to fold in half or collapse to a flat, easier-to-store shape. They aren’t exactly compact, with their average folded size measuring around 44 x 26 x 20 inches. That means if you’re driving a MINI Cooper or another car with a small trunk, a regular stroller probably won’t fit. The stroller is just too long! If you’re driving a van or SUV, a regular stroller should fit just fine. If you have a sedan, some makes and models have wide/deep trunks that will store a regular stroller. Do compact strollers fit in car trunks? Compact strollers (also known as umbrella strollers) are lightweight and compact. These strollers fold up into a very small size, which makes them much more likely to fit in the trunk of a car. Most models can even fit in the cab of your car, which makes them extremely convenient. On average, compact strollers fold up to a size of 42 x 12 x 8 inches, which should fit into most car trunks. You may have to place the stroller at a diagonal to make it fit, but they’re usually skinny enough when folded that it should be possible. One downside to compact strollers is that they don’t usually work with an infant car seat. You won’t be able to use these types of strollers until your baby can sit up while supported (around six months old). Do car seat + stroller systems fit in car trunks? Many regular strollers are compatible with a baby car seat, which can be a convenient way to move your baby around when they’re little. Some stroller brands even sell special car seat and stroller systems that include an infant car seat, a stay-in-car base for the seat, and a stroller that the car seat can lock into. These car + stroller systems are incredibly convenient, and purchasing them bundled can save you some money. The car seat and base are meant to sit in a regular passenger seat in the cab of the car, so you won’t likely be storing those in the trunk. Usually, the stroller is either a regular stroller or a jogger (which we’ll cover in the next section). That means that the stroller should be around 44 x 26 x 20 inches when it’s collapsed, which is the same size as a regular stroller sold separately. If you have a car seat and stroller system, the stroller alone should fit in your car trunk if you drive a van, SUV, or a large-trunked sedan. If you’re trying to fit the entire car seat + stroller system in your trunk in order to store or transport it, you’ll probably have a hard time fitting all the included pieces in your trunk at the same time. Do jogging strollers fit in car trunks? Jogging strollers are often designed with 3 wheels and sometimes have inflated tires rather than plastic to make it easier to maneuver. Because they’re meant to be lightweight and easy to handle, many jogging strollers are a bit smaller than regular strollers, and fold down to be a bit smaller too. On average, jogging strollers measure about 34 x 24 x 17 inches when they’re folded up. Some models also have an easily removable front tire that gives you even more flexibility with storage. Because their fold-down length is nearly ten inches shorter than a regular stroller, jogging strollers are more likely to fit in your trunk. Vans, SUVs, and most sedans should fit this type of stroller easily. Even smaller vehicles should be able to manage a jogger stroller, especially one that comes with a removable front tire. Do double strollers fit in car trunks? Double strollers are designed to fit two kids, either side-by-side or one seat in front of the other. Because they’re meant to carry more, these strollers are just naturally bigger. Many styles still fold or collapse for storage, but their stored dimensions can still be bulky. Although each model can vary widely when it comes to size, double strollers are usually around 45 x 30 x 20 inches when folded. A tandem double stroller (two seats side-by-side) usually has a more square shape when folded, with approximate dimensions of 40 x 44 x 20 inches. Many double strollers are unlikely to fit in the trunk of smaller sedans or compact cars. If you are looking for a double stroller that collapses to a manageable size, styles that have one seat in front of the other tend to fold smaller and fit into a car more easily. Will a stroller fit in my car’s trunk? In order to determine if a stroller will fit in your car’s trunk, you’ll need to find both the dimensions of the stroller and the dimensions of your trunk. If you’re shopping for a stroller online, most websites should have a section that shows the item dimensions. Amazon will even let you compare several different items at once, with the dimensions of the strollers listed at the bottom of the comparison screen. The dimensions listed on the website are for the stroller completely set up. These numbers will give you a pretty good idea of the size of the stroller when it’s folded, but you may need to dig through the product description to find the final dimensions of the folded stroller. Dimension numbers are usually listed in the following order: length, width, and then height. Once you know how big the stroller is, you’ll need to measure the size of your trunk. You can look up the information online, or you can grab your tape measure and use it to physically measure the trunk space. You’ll need to measure the width of your trunk, how deep it is, and how tall it is. Now that you have the measurements of the stroller and your trunk, compare them side-by-side. If any of the measurements of the stroller are bigger than the measurements of your trunk, the stroller won’t fit (ex: if the length of the stroller is 45 inches, and your trunk only measures 40 inches across, the stroller will be too big for your trunk). Most car trunks are similarly wide, but smaller cars tend to have trunks that are narrow (not very deep). Because of this, the depth of your trunk is the measurement you should be most concerned with when it comes to fitting a stroller in your car. If you’re looking to skip the math, we’ve calculated the information for some specific car makes and models using the average stroller sizes mentioned previously in this article. Every stroller is different, though, so if you opt for a stroller that doesn’t fold down or is extra bulky, you may have a difficult time getting it to fit in the trunk. Chevrolet Spark Trunk Space 11.1 ft³ 27.2 ft³ (with back seats down) The Chevrolet Spark has a very narrow trunk, but it is a hatchback that gives you lots of good vertical space. You can also lower the back seats a bit, which can give you a little more space. Chevrolet Spark - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerYes Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Yes Car Seat + Stroller SystemYes Jogging StrollerYes Double StrollerMaybe It be a tight fit for this trunk, even with the seats down. Chevrolet Sonic Trunk Space 14.9 to 19 ft³ 14.9 to 47.7 ft³ (with back seats down) The Chevrolet Sonic has one of the largest trunk areas of any subcompact car on the market. The space in the back changes depending on whether you’ve purchased the hatchback or sedan style of car. Chevrolet Sonic - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerYes Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Yes Car Seat + Stroller SystemYes Jogging StrollerYes Double StrollerMaybe With the back seats down and the hatchback version of this car, you should be able to fit a double stroller; if you have the sedan, a double stroller probably won’t fit. Chevrolet Volt Trunk Space 10.6 ft³ The Chevrolet Volt has below-average cargo space when compared to other compact cars. It does have a wider hatch, which makes it slightly easier to load a stroller into the trunk. Chevrolet Volt - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerMaybe Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Yes Car Seat + Stroller SystemMaybe Jogging StrollerMaybe Double StrollerNo Because this car’s trunk is so small, it can really only handle lightweight, compact strollers. Even a regular stroller will be a tight fit, and might not fit in the trunk at all depending on the brand you buy. Honda Fit Trunk Space 16.6 ft³ 52.7 ft³ (with back seats down) The Honda Fit has more trunk space than many other subcompact cars. The back seats fold down, which more than triples the storage capacity. Honda Fit - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerYes Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Yes Car Seat + Stroller SystemYes Jogging StrollerYes Double StrollerYes This car’s hatchback design should fit practically every type of stroller. Honda Insight Trunk Space 14.7 to 15.1 ft³ The Honda Insight has 15.1 cubic feet in its standard model, with slightly less space in the Touring models. Because this hybrid car’s battery pack sits under the back seats rather than the trunk, it has some excellent storage space in the back. Honda Insight - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerYes Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Yes Car Seat + Stroller SystemYes Jogging StrollerYes Double StrollerMaybe If your double stroller is extra wide when folded down, it might not fit into the trunk. Any other type of stroller should fit just fine. Honda Civic Trunk Space 14.7 to 25.7 ft³ 14.7 to 46.2 ft³ (with back seats down) The Honda Civic has a ton of trunk space in both the sedan and hatchback models. There’s also extra storage throughout the cabin, so if your stroller takes up the entire trunk, you’ll still have space for additional baby supplies up by your seat. Honda Civic - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerYes Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Yes Car Seat + Stroller SystemYes Jogging StrollerYes Double StrollerMaybe Some double strollers might struggle to fit into the trunk, but if you’ve got a hatchback, you’re probably good to go. Kia Rio Trunk Space 13.7 to 17.4 ft³ 13.7 to 32.8 ft³ (with back seats down) The Kia Rio has an average-sized trunk, but it also has a flat load floor and a wide trunk opening, which makes it a bit more useful. Kia Rio - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerMaybe Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Yes Car Seat + Stroller SystemMaybe Jogging StrollerMaybe Double StrollerNo Kia Rio’s aren’t very wide, which means some strollers just won’t be able to fit into their trunk space. Kia Forte Trunk Space 15.3 ft³ The Kia Forte actually has one of the largest trunks when compared to other contact cars. The back seats also fold down to help maximize storage space. Kia Forte - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerMaybe Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Yes Car Seat + Stroller SystemMaybe Jogging StrollerMaybe Double StrollerNo Even with the seats down, a double stroller will probably still be too wide to fit in the space. MINI Cooper Trunk Space 5.7 to 13.1 ft³ 7.6 to 40.7 ft³ (with back seats down) MINI Coopers have an absolutely tiny trunk. Different models can cut into your already-low storage space (ex: convertible-tops take up a lot of the trunk space). MINI Cooper - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerMaybe Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Maybe Car Seat + Stroller SystemMaybe Jogging StrollerMaybe Double StrollerNo You’ll want to really double-check the dimensions of your stroller if you drive a MINI Cooper. Very few strollers will be able to fit in the trunk; a compact stroller would be your best bet. MINI Cooper Clubman Trunk Space 17.5 ft³ 47.9 ft³ (with back seats down) The MINI Cooper Clubman actually has phenomenal storage space for a subcompact car. It also comes equipped with side-hinged trunk doors that make it easy to move stuff into (and out of) the trunk. MINI Cooper Clubman - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerYes Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Yes Car Seat + Stroller SystemYes Jogging StrollerYes Double StrollerMaybe Nissan Versa You’ll probably be able to fit a double stroller in the trunk if you put the seats down, but it might be a tight fit without that added space. Trunk Space 14.7 to 15 ft³ The Nissan Versa has a pretty good amount of trunk space, but the rear seats don’t fold down flat in every model, making it a tighter fit in the back. Nissan Versa - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerMaybe Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Yes Car Seat + Stroller SystemMaybe Jogging StrollerMaybe Double StrollerMaybe The newer Nissan Versa models have much smaller trunks than their earlier counterparts. If you’ve got an earlier model, you’ll find it easier to fit a stroller in the trunk. The 2020 trunk is particularly small and might be a difficult fit for even a regular stroller. Nissan Sentra Trunk Space 14.3 ft³ The 2020 Nissan Sentra has less trunk space than its predecessors, and doesn’t include lie-flat rear seats to maximize space. Nissan Sentra - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerMaybe Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Yes Car Seat + Stroller SystemMaybe Jogging StrollerMaybe Double StrollerNo Even though the trunk does have some usable space, the wheel wells of the car jut into the trunk and make it hard for larger strollers to fit inside. Toyota Yaris Trunk Space 13.5 to 15.8 ft³ The Toyota Yaris has a pretty small trunk, although the hatchback version nets you a few extra cubic feet. The rear seats can also fold down to increase trunk space. Toyota Yaris - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerYes Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Yes Car Seat + Stroller SystemYes Jogging StrollerYes Double StrollerMaybe Toyota Prius Even though this trunk is small, the trunk shape is optimized for fitting a stroller. The hatchback especially should have no problem with regular strollers, although a double might still be a bit of a stretch. Trunk Space 24.6 to 27.4 ft³ 50.7 ft³ (with back seats down) The Toyota Prius has incredible space in its trunk and also boasts folding seats if you want even more space. Toyota Prius - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerYes Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Yes Car Seat + Stroller SystemYes Jogging StrollerYes Double StrollerYes Because the Prius is a hatchback, even a double stroller should be able to fit quite nicely in the trunk. Toyota Corolla Trunk Space 13.1 ft³ The Toyota Corolla doesn’t do phenomenally in the trunk space category: it’s got less space than similar cars, and the rear seats don’t fold completely flat which makes it tricky to store larger items. Toyota Corolla - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerMaybe Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Yes Car Seat + Stroller SystemMaybe Jogging StrollerMaybe Double StrollerMaybe Although most stroller types should fit in a Corolla, it’s likely to be a tight fit. If you have a hatchback version, you’ll have an easier time fitting a larger stroller into the trunk. Volkswagen Golf Trunk Space 17.4 to 22.8 ft³ 53.7 ft³ (with back seats down) The Volkswagen Golf was designed to include a massive trunk. The cargo opening is nicely square, and you can remove the cargo shelf and fold down the rear seats for additional storage space. Volkswagen Golf - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerYes Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Yes Car Seat + Stroller SystemYes Jogging StrollerYes Double StrollerMaybe Some older Volkswagen Golf models have smaller trunks with less storage space. If you have an older model, you might have a harder time fitting a larger stroller in the trunk. Volkswagen Beetle Trunk Space 7.1 to 15.4 ft³ 7.1 to 29.9 ft³ (with back seats down) The Volkswagen Beetle can have a wide variety of trunk space depending on the model you have. Convertible Beetles have practically zero trunk space, while a hatchback version can net you some extra storage. Volkswagen Beetle - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerMaybe Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Yes Car Seat + Stroller SystemMaybe Jogging StrollerMaybe Double StrollerNo If you have a convertible top on your Beetle, you won’t be able to fit any type of stroller in the trunk, except for a small compact stroller. If you have a coupe model, you might be able to fit a smaller regular or jogging stroller (and nothing else). Volkswagen Jetta Trunk Space 14.1 ft³ The Volkswagen Jetta has a pretty average-sized trunk for a compact car, although the folded rear seat backs aren’t level with the trunk floor which makes it tricky to store large items. Volkswagen Jetta - Will my stroller fit? Stroller TypeWill It Fit? Regular StrollerYes Compact (Umbrella Stroller)Yes Car Seat + Stroller SystemYes Jogging StrollerYes Double StrollerMaybe A Jetta should do a good job fitting a regular, folded stroller. The trunk isn’t massive, but it is wide, which lets you maximize the space.