This fancy $800 stroller is one of the best investments I've made as a new parent — it works for infants and children up to 50 pounds, and it converts to a duo stroller to hold a second child

• The Maxi-Cosi Lila Modular Stroller ($799) is a durable, all-weather stroller that folds up for easy storage.
• The stroller works for infants and children up to 50 pounds so it can last for years, and it converts to a duo stroller to hold a second child.
• The stroller includes a large, removable tote bag underneath the seat for optimal storage on the go.

Building a baby registry can be super overwhelming for soon-to-be-parents. I, for one, had a breakdown after two hours in Buy Buy Baby, but I'm blaming that on my 6-months-pregnant hormones.

A stroller is one of the biggest and most important things to buy for your new baby, and there are a ton of options. Google "baby stroller" and you'll get more than 631 million search results. After weighing a few options — and considering key factors like if the stroller would convert to a duo if we had a second child (this one does), the weight of the stroller itself in case I ever had to carry it (28 pounds), and if a car seat could fit into the base (it can) — my husband and I decided to go with the Maxi-Cosi Lila, and I'm glad we did.

We immediately used the stroller after bringing our baby home from the hospital. The stroller's lay-flat carriage has a newborn inlay that was comfortable and safe for our newborn. Fast forward a year later, and she's seeing the world clearly, sitting up in the stroller and facing out.

Since our daughter was born in March 2019, I've used this stroller almost every single day since then, and I can emphatically say I love it.

Design and specs

The Lila Stroller can be used for newborn babies to children up to 50 pounds, and can convert from carrying one child to two. The stroller comes in four colors — sand, gray, and two variations of black.

There is a removable tote basket underneath the seat, so you can easily grab your items or fold the stroller without removing the contents of the basket. It folds with one hand, which is great because I rarely have two hands free now that I'm a parent.

The seat itself converts to a lay-flat "bed," allowing baby to nap whenever or wherever you may be. There is also a 360-degree MaxShade that acts as a sun shield or a privacy shade and keeps bugs at bay. The seat easily pops out of the frame if you wish to snap in a car seat, and it's compatible with multiple Maxi-Cosi mico car seats as well as other brands' car seats using adapters.

What it's like to use

The Maxi-Cosi Lila stroller was shipped directly to my home and arrived in a few pieces, but it was easy to put together quickly. I love that it works from the day the baby is born until the baby weighs 50 pounds. My child is 15 months old and only 21 pounds right now, so it will last us for many more years. It's well made — I lovingly refer to it as my "tank" — but I can still easily maneuver it with or without the baby. I am only 5-foot-2-inches tall, but I don't feel like the stroller overpowers me.

The extra-large stroller was exactly what I was looking for. I have had no problems strolling down cobblestone streets, over giant New York City curbs, or along the grass in the park. Even though it has "off-roading" capabilities thanks to the extra-large wheels, the stroller also maneuvers easily in tiny city restaurants and my building's elevator.

It's expensive, but it comes with a lifetime warranty for defective parts (normal wear and tear are not covered). After more than a year of constant use, my stroller is in great shape. One thing I especially like about it is the removable tote bag basket underneath the seat. Most other strollers need to have empty baskets to be folded. If you're out, where are you going to put all of the stuff you've been toting around in the basket? The Lila's basket design makes it easy to keep everything in its place but still fold the stroller up for easy storage.

The stroller is also versatile enough to adapt to a baby's changing needs as they grow. When my baby was an infant, I loved the newborn inlay, which the website says was "pediatrician-designed to provide comfort, reduce reflux, and prevent flat-head syndrome." As a tired new parent, I was just happy that it was padded and cushioned with memory foam, so I knew my precious 8-pound cargo would be safe and secure.

I appreciated that the carriage folded down flat so my baby could rest in the position recommended for newborns. Many strollers don't have this feature so you have to buy an expensive bassinet attachment even though you will only use it for a few months.

Once my daughter outgrew the newborn insert, she started sitting up on the reversible seat cushion. One side is thicker and super soft, for colder temps, while the other side is more breathable. It also comes with a thick footmuff, which saved me from buying another very expensive accessory and kept my baby warm and protected.

You can face the baby toward you or away from you with a quick unclip and reverse of the seat. When I needed to take a car, I easily unclipped the carriage and clipped in my Maxi-Cosi Mico Max Plus car seat. The stroller fits most Mico series infant car seats. One gripe that I have with the stroller itself is that although it folds flat, it's still quite large when it's folded, so it can take up a lot of space in your car's trunk.

What makes it stand out

Maxi-Cosi has been making parent-designed products for more than 35 years and they are well rated in terms of safety regulations and everyday use. The company offers a 35-day risk-free trial, free shipping, and free returns for its products.

The stroller's giant wheels make me feel like I could glide easily over any terrain, city or country. I also use the removable tote bag underneath the seat often and it has saved me from having to empty the contents of the stroller onto the ground or floor when I'm out of the house with my baby.

The cons

The stroller's cup holder sticks out a bit on the side, and sometimes gets caught if I'm trying to go down a narrow aisle. Even when folded, the stroller is big, so it's not great for small spaces. You have to remove the tote bag to fold the stroller, so if you like to keep items in the tote all the time, you'll need an additional place to store the tote bag. I like to keep my diaper bag hanging from the handlebar, so I had to purchase stroller bag clips from Amazon.

The bottom line

I've been very happy with the Maxi-Cosi Lila Stroller and would recommend it to friends. It is well-made, and the company has good customer service. I love the removable tote bag, and the handlebar is comfortable and cushiony. The seat for my daughter can easily recline if she wants to take a nap, and can be switched to face towards me, or away from me if she wants to look at the scenery.

It's an investment, but since you can use it from day one until your baby is 50 pounds, the stroller could last for an average of five years. That makes the cost much more manageable. I also like that it comes with accessories that normally cost extra, like the footmuff, the cup holder, and the rain cover.

The stroller is nearly $800. If you're looking for a less expensive option, I like the brand-new Chicco Corso stroller (available in August 2020), which retails for $329.99. The 23.5-pound stroller is designed for children up to 50 pounds, and has a 3-panel canopy to provide shade and privacy. It has a multi-position reclining seat and large, treaded tires. Like the Lila, it folds with one hand, but the Corso fold is much more compact than the Lila. The Corso is compatible with the Chicco KeyFit 30 Zip Infant car seat and has a large basket underneath the stroller.

Pros: Lay-flat bed for infants, can be used for years for the same child, can expand to a duo stroller, easily switches to hold car seat, removable tote bag, well-made, sturdy, 360-degree bug/sun shade, included footmuff for colder temperatures

Cons: Still very large even when folded compactly, very expensive, the tote bag underneath the seat is not attached to anything, so if it's empty, it could blow away in strong winds, stroller is somewhat heavy