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We’re a Mockingbird High Chair ($249) family. It’s easy to get our son strapped into, a breeze to clean and compact. We also love that the two-in-one high chair converts to a child chair so you get more bang for your buck. I’m a sucker for chic design, and the mint and natural beechwood colorway even matches our kitchen.
So when I found out that the Mockingbird Travel Stroller ($399) was launching this fall, I was thrilled — and hopeful that the company would bring that same level of practical design to the stroller-verse. Spoiler alert: Mockingbird did that in spades.
A Look at the Details
Let’s start with the unboxing moment. I don’t know about you, but when I open up a new stroller and I see that it comes with a car seat adapter, cup holder and sturdy carrying case included, I’m breathing a heavy sigh of relief. (Stroller manufacturers, take note: New parents don’t have time to shop for accessories and analyze if X cup holder fits with the width of Y stroller handle, y’all!) For a competitive price point of only $399, it’s also impressive that parents get all this extra value at no additional cost.
Assembly-wise, you can also breathe another sigh of relief that the stroller arrives ready to roll (literally) and all you have to do is open it up and engage the brake. The one-hand autofold is a cinch, but as someone who’s not particularly handy, I also appreciated that you can scan the QR code on the removable sticker on the handlebar to watch a video tutorial that breaks down the process from start to finish.
Plus, I can confirm that the one-second folding mechanism is accurate, which makes stressful moments like trunk loading, TSA security lines and airplane boarding a non-issue. Speaking of boarding a plane, the Mockingbird Travel Stroller is IATA carry-on compliant and fits in most standard overhead compartments; hallelujah. (For an extra slim fold, be sure to rotate the leg rest to its lowest setting.) To sweeten the deal, a shoulder strap makes it so you can free up your hands while navigating an airport, train station or bus terminal. As if Mockingbird didn’t think of everything, the carry bag also features an adjustable stroller strap as well as an accessories pocket.
Newborn Readiness
Straight out of the packaging, parents of newborns will be thrilled to see the included FlexConnect adapter, which is compatible with more than 50 infant car seats, so you can use the stroller straight from the hospital. (Pro tip: Place the adapter in the stroller’s designated “parent pocket” for safe-keeping.) For new parents, worries about having the right gear can be enough to put travel on hold, so having this kind of versatility built in can definitely empower you to book that first trip with your baby. I so wish this was around when my son was a wee newborn.
But wait, there’s more. Along with FlexConnect, the Mockingbird Travel Stroller has an integrated infant “Nest Mode.” Translation: the stroller’s genius design allows for lie-flat recline with full coverage from the UPF 50+ carriage-style foot enclosure so you don’t need to panic buy a separate bassinet stroller at the eleventh hour or worry about keeping your precious one cooped up in a car seat for hours on end. P.S. If you’ve missed the boat for the newborn use window, stashing away the FlexConnect if you plan on hand-me-downing the stroller to a friend is an excellent idea, or if you’re hoping to have another child of your own, it’s great to keep on hand for future use.
Using Mockingbird’s Travel Stroller
Now, onto actually what it’s like using the stroller when you’re out and about with your little one. In my experience with travel strollers, I’ve often felt other brands prioritize the parents' comfort and not the kiddo’s — sure, an easy folding mechanism is great and all, but not if it means your child’s seated position looks astronaut-status uncomfortable.
First and foremost, I was thrilled to see how comfy and genuinely joyful my 15-month-old son looked in the Mockingbird Travel Stroller. Unlike competitors, it was clear comfort for your precious cargo was top of mind in the design process. The seat is totally adjustable from upright to a lie-flat recline, and the padded leg rest made it even more of an enjoyable ride for my son.
Since I use a travel stroller on my twice or thrice weekly Trader Joe’s runs, I loved that I could recline the seat if my son was ready for a nap and that the extra large canopy gave my son great coverage, whether from the blaring lights of a grocery store or on a sunny day. As a bonus, the canopy has a zippered extension that you can use for increased shade for your little one or zip away when you don’t need it without adding much bulk.
If you’re using your travel stroller for a park or playground hang, the recline mode is also great for diaper changes. Additionally, the leg rest can be positioned in three ways to best suit your child. All of these adjustments can be made with just one hand, another win in the “ease of use” department if you ask me.
Let’s Talk Storage
Along with my son having an enjoyable ride, storage space matters when grocery shopping (or traveling, or running errands…you name it), and the Mockingbird Travel Stroller delivers on that front big time, too. Beneath the seat, there’s a basket that holds groceries, bags, toys, diaper bags and what-have-you thanks to a high, flexible back to carve out extra storage space. The basket holds up to 20 pounds, and you can access it from the front or back of the stroller, which made playing unloading tetris with my 15-pound grocery haul the other day much easier. To put it into context, that fits one grocery haul for my three-person family, a pack of Hello Bello wipes (the best), my umbrella and a small diaper bag. There’s also a separate zippered pocket for parents and caregivers to stash their phone, keys, sunglasses and more and a hidden AirTag pocket so you can locate your stroller if you’ve had a vacation brain moment and realize you left your stroller at the VRBO, again, sigh.
Additional Extra-Thoughtful Details
Even if you’re not traveling to that warm-weather vacation rental and just enduring another heat wave at home, the Mockingbird Travel Stroller has another thoughtful feature to complement the UPF 50+ canopy: a reversible seat liner. When navigating 85°F days in our hometown, the mesh side helped my son with quite the furnace for a head stay cooler to the touch, especially when combined with the adjustable rear ventilation panel. As my nanny pointed out, you can also easily remove the seat liner and throw it in the washing machine to keep it looking good as new. (The standard side of the liner is ideal for everyday use, but if your child runs hot like mine, you may want to consider making the mesh your go-to.)
But wait, there’s still more. This stroller ticks off a few more boxes parents will adore. For one thing, the brake is in the perfect spot. It’s easy to access, works reliably and you won’t constantly have your foot graze it or feel like you’re going to trip on it as I’ve experienced with other less smartly designed travel strollers. Last but not least, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how much the fact that this travel stroller comes in five colors makes me swoon. Available in black, slate blue, mulberry, moss and cloud, it’s nice when a company realizes black isn’t for everyone. Plus, it’s so much easier to spot your stroller at the library pickup lineup when it’s in a different hue.
