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Once your baby can sit up unassisted, you can hit the road in a jogging stroller -- a three-wheeler with a hand brake, a non-swivel or lockable front wheel, and air-filled tires. Here are the latest ratings and expert shopping advice from the editors of Consumer Reports Best Baby Products.

Is it really a jogging stroller?
A jogging and an all-terrain stroller can be tough to distinguish because they often look alike. Look for these telltale features to find a stroller that's truly made for running:

• A hand brake for the front wheel, important to help you slow down when you're cruising at a fast clip.
• A front wheel that's either fixed (it won't swivel) or can be locked into a fixed position.
• A long, high handlebar that's designed to give your legs ample space to stride.
• A wrist strap to keep the stroller from getting away from you if you fall.

Perks
Despite their name, jogging strollers can be used for more than your morning run: They're great for off-road walks and, because some have higher weight limits, can be used as a big-kid transporter when your tot outgrows a conventional stroller. What's more, some companies, like Kelty, BOB, and Baby Jogger, offer double strollers with total weight limits of 100 pounds.

Downsides
These Cadillacs can be heavy and a tight squeeze in an elevator or a car -- you may even need to remove the wheel(s) to fit it into your trunk. If the front wheel is fixed (non-swiveling) rather than lockable, it can make maneuvering difficult when it's being used as a traditional stroller.

Copyright © 2002-2008 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

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