This Under-$400 4-in-1 Travel System Does Luxury for Less

The strollers that pack the most functionality and style often come with the heftiest price tags—and then you typically still have to buy accessories or adapters separately. But the Ginger and Rue Travel System from European baby brand Joie comes with everything you need in one box—a stroller (with a seat that doubles as a pramette you can use from birth), an infant car seat (with adapters), and a car seat base—for less than $400. Watch the video above to see Mallorie, a mom of three, test out this new travel system, and find out what bonus safety features you can expect and what you’ll want to know before adding to your cart or registry.

Why you may want a travel system

Any stroller can help you transport your baby from Point A to Point B. But a travel system—aka when your baby’s car seat attaches to their stroller—makes getting around during the first year a whole lot easier (since you don’t have to remove your baby from their car seat every time you want to run an errand, or several). That’s why it’s a top registry item for many first-time parents who rely on their car or rideshares as their primary mode of transportation.

Travel systems can vary in price from just under $200 to well over $1,200, but more affordable gear typically doesn’t come with convenience features like a stroller seat that you can use from birth or safety upgrades like a car seat base with a built-in anti-rebound bar. This travel system does—with the look and feel of a luxe stroller.

Joie Ginger and Rue Travel System - Twilight

$389.99

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What makes the Ginger Stroller different

Fun fact: babies can’t always use their stroller from birth because the included seat may not recline enough. With many strollers, the only way to use them from birth (besides with a car seat) is to purchase a separate bassinet or carrycot with a flat surface to use for those first few months. But one of the biggest perks of the Ginger stroller is that the seat turns into a pramette that lays flat (like a bassinet, but for strolling instead of sleeping). It can be used from birth until your child is 15 pounds or can sit up independently, which is usually around six months old. (You can see the Ginger in pramette mode at the 1:27 mark in the video)

Not only does this mean one less piece of gear you need to spend money on and find a home for when you’re not using it, but since babies shouldn’t be in their car seats for more than two hours at a time, the pramette gives you another ergonomic option for neighborhood walks and family outings in those first few months. Here’s what else makes this stroller stand out:

• Easy pramette-to-seat conversion: No need to keep extra adapters or parts on hand to switch from pramette to stroller seat—it can go from one to the other with the push of a button and close of a buckle. And it’s reversible so that baby can face you or face the world. (1:27)

• Height-adjustable seat: The stroller seat adjusts to three different heights to bring your little one closer to your eye level, which is nice when you’re out and about and want to take a break to sit on a park bench or blanket or if you want to bring the baby to a restaurant table (1:48).

• Conveniences for extra comfort: Like many full-size strollers, this seat holds kids up to 50 pounds (around five years old). It also has an adjustable leg rest with cushy calf support to let tired legs kick back and a full-covered UPF50+ water-repellant canopy to protect them in all kinds of weather (2:26).

• Wheels that can handle different terrains: Large tires and all-wheel suspension make bumpy sidewalks and gravel paths feel smooth. When you press a button, the front swivel wheels lock, which helps the stroller glide more easily over bumpy ground (2:39 mark).

• Included accessories: The travel system comes with a cup holder for your water bottle, a removable leatherette arm bar that pivots out of the way for easier ins and outs and adapters to connect the stroller frame with the car seat (more on that below).

Even with this added functionality, the Ginger stroller doesn’t sacrifice convenience. At 22 pounds, it’s a few pounds lighter than many other full-size strollers but still has a roomy storage basket with plenty of space for diapers, wipes and snacks, plus a hidden compartment for safekeeping things like your phone or wallet.

Joie Ginger Pramette Stroller - Mocha

$269.99

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What sets the Rue Infant Car Seat and Base apart from other seats

The most significant difference between the Rue infant car seat and others you might find at this price point is that it’s light—like really light (others in the ultra-lightweight category are typically over $300 for the infant car seat alone). It’s only 7.8 pounds, which is less than a gallon of milk and 2–3 pounds lighter than many other infant car seats. This might not seem like a big difference—until you add a growing baby to the mix (up to 30 pounds)! Here’s what else we like about it:

• Multiple install options: This car seat can be used with the base using built-in LATCH connectors or your car’s seat belt (or without the base for taxis and rideshares using just a seat belt). It’s also FAA-compliant, which means you can use it on airplanes with the seat’s lap belt.
• Adapters are included: Beyond the included accessories, this travel system and individual stroller comes with connectors to attach the Rue to the Ginger stroller so that you can use it straight out of the box, without buying extra parts.
• Advanced safety measures: All car seats must meet the same safety standards, but Rue has some bonus features typically only found on pricier seats. There’s an anti-rebound bar built into the base to reduce movement in the event of a crash, a belt lock-off on the base to help you get a correct install more easily, and it meets the newest safety standards with side and frontal impact protection.

Joie Rue Infant Car Seat w/ Base - Mocha

$134.99

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Who do we recommend the Ginger and Rue Travel System for?

If you’ve been eyeballing the $1,200+ travel systems (especially the ones with ultra-lightweight car seats) but are looking for gear on a more triple-digit budget, the Ginger and Rue Travel System has everything you need for going out with your child—from newborn to toddlerhood—in one package, and comes out to $15 cheaper than if you were to buy the Ginger Stroller and Rue Infant Car Seat and Base individually. Watch the video above to see this travel system in action.

This article is sponsored by Joie. Babylist’s free site, apps and emails are made possible by our sponsors. We limit our sponsored content to relevant partners that offer products and services we believe in and use ourselves.