Baby Jogger City Sights stroller review

The real draw with this product is how you can fold it up neatly with one hand (Baby Jogger was the first brand to come up with this back in 2007), and once folded, it is slim and easy to store.

With an RRP of £899, it comes in 2 standard colours — Deep Teal and Rich Black — all teamed with black finishings, with there also being a third option, Commuter lilac, which will set you back £939. If you're past the newborn stage already, you can buy the standalone City Sights stroller for £599.

What were your first impressions of the Baby Jogger City Sights stroller?

On first impressions, everything was nice and compact in the box, which made me feel like the product was likely to be easy to store. This is essential in our two-kid household where toys and junk seem to multiply whenever you move into a new room. The chassis and main buggy seat are in a large separate box, while the carrycot and weathershields come in their own boxes. Everything is carefully bubble-wrapped and looks high quality.

How easy was the Baby Jogger City Sights stroller to build?

Putting the chassis together for the City Sights buggy is a breeze – all you have to do is slot in the wheels and then work out how to unfold, which is detailed in an easy-to-follow instruction manual. The seat for the buggy is also straightforward to unfold.

Assembling the carrycot was a little trickier – I struggled for about 10 minutes to slot both support bars in. Eventually, I managed to put the second bar in place by pulling it incrementally before clicking into place. A bit of a faff, but luckily we weren’t planning on collapsing the carrycot to store it after every trip out, so once it was up, it stayed up!

The instructions were easy to follow – there wasn’t much to it when it came to building the buggy – and later on, I found more detailed text instructions further in the manual.

What did you think about the Baby Jogger City Sights carrycot?

The carrycot measures H70cm x W40cm x L83cm, making it pretty long – which is great for my slim but tall 3-month-old baby Zach, who fills it with only a few inches above his head and toes. It should last most parents until their baby turns 6 months or 9kg, and is able to sit in the buggy seat. It’s also quite shallow compared to our other carrycot, which makes it feel more compact, but without compromising on comfort/functionality as far as I can see.

Zach seems happy in it – the mattress is firm and breathable but comfortable. Baby Jogger also states that the carrycot is designed to stay cool in the summer with an air vent in the large UV 50+ canopy to increase airflow.

The carrycot also sports a foot cover to help protect your baby from the elements, which attaches with magnets rather than zips. I found this very useful, especially when you need to take a wriggly, crying baby out at speed. The cover is also machine washable, which is essential for us with a reflux baby, but can not be put in the tumble dryer.

How easy is the carrycot to add on/take off the Baby Jogger City Sights chassis?

It’s very easy to attach the City Sights carrycot to the chassis – you just need to line up with the attachment, push gently and it clicks right in. Removing it is a little more laboured – there is a clip at the back of the hood you need to pull out before pulling the carrycot upwards to remove.

It took me a couple of goes as you need to make sure you pull upwards in a very straight motion and not wiggle it about to take it out. I’d say the carrycot is an average weight at 4.4kg, so if your baby is small it’s not too hard to attach/take off with the baby in, but it would definitely be a struggle for post-C-section mums.

Is the Baby Jogger City Sights carrycot suitable for overnight sleeping?

Yes. Another massive pro about the City Sights carrycot is that Baby Jogger states it is suitable for overnight sleeping, which is a huge plus point for families keen to stay away from home during those early weeks or months.

How easy is the Baby Jogger City Sights stroller to fold with one hand?

After watching this manufacturer’s video which shows you how to simply fold the City Sights stroller one-handed, I thought it was going to be a breeze but it took me around 6 or 7 trips out to master the manoeuvre.

There is a clip on a central bar just above the basket which has a sliding clip on the outside and a button on the inside. You slide the clip and then press the button with one hand and voila, it folds smoothly.

It took me a few tries to master this, and I did have to abandon the chassis in the hallway after a couple of attempts on more than one occasion. We’ve mainly tested out the carrycot, but the huge plus point with the City Sights model is that you can fold the buggy with the seat attached, which is a big space saver.

How compact is the Baby Jogger City Sights pushchair once folded?

The buggy does fold up pleasingly neatly (H31.7cm x W59cm x L80.6cm) and it feels slightly lighter than other high-end buggy systems, weighing in at 11.3kg. It’s also not as tall as other similar strollers, which means you don’t need a massive car boot to squeeze it into.

However, I did find that the front wheels don’t lock, which makes it difficult to store leaning against a wall – the first time I folded it to store it in our kitchen, I had to make a couple of attempts to stop it from falling over.

How good is the Baby Jogger City Sights stroller to push and steer?

The City Sights buggy comes complete with all-terrain wheels and front suspension, meaning that it should be more than comfortable tackling the uneven paths that come with living right next to one of London's largest parks. When pushing the stroller, it felt sturdy on pavements and off-roading on muddy and frozen ground.

I found going up and down kerbs relatively straightforward, although on some dropped kerbs I needed to give the buggy a bit more of a push than I’d expected, or it would get stuck. It’s easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces or if you need to turn around. And if your toddler is a speed freak like mine, you can make it go pretty fast for a round of buggy races at the park.

How did the Baby Jogger City Sights stroller fare on public transport?

The City Sights stroller is fine on public transport. I think the real test for a buggy’s brakes is when you’ve parked it on a bus, and the City Sights didn’t move an inch. The only slight issue I found was getting off the bus and train – even though the buggy is light, it felt a bit clunky/high up, and on one occasion I needed some help to get off the bus. I think this is because the rear wheel is quite large, and probably I just need a few bus trips to work out how to step off more carefully.

What’s the Baby Jogger City Sights chassis like?

The aluminium chassis is strong but lightweight. It has a matte black finish which I think looks sleek and stylish, but is also forgiving after a particularly muddy walk. Baby Jogger also offers a limited lifetime manufacturer’s warranty on the frame if it were to get damaged while out and about.

How do you rate the Baby Jogger City Sights handle?

The City Sights buggy handlebar is made from vegan leather, giving it a soft feel and plush finish, while also making it easy to hold. It is also adjustable, the lowest height setting is just right for me at 5ft 6in and my husband, who is 6ft 2in, was comfortable at the higher – but not the highest – setting. Overall, we were both comfortable pushing the stroller, and it is good to know the handlebar caters for different parent heights if needed.

What do you think of the Baby Jogger City Sights stroller seat unit?

The City Sights buggy seat is designed to last your child up to 22kg, or 4 years old and has plenty of room for wriggly babies and toddlers – my tall 3-year-old was very comfortable. It has an adjustable seat recline with 3 settings and is easy to lay back by just adjusting the clasp at the top of the seat.

While it doesn’t lie completely flat, it’s still ideal for napping on the go. The seat can also be parent- or world-facing and has a 5-point harness to give you that peace of mind that your child is safe. For extra comfort, there is an adjustable calf support for older children. It also comes complete with a vegan leather belly bar, which matches the buggy handle, giving it a luxe look but also keeping your child extra secure.

What is the Baby Jogger City Sights stroller seat unit hood like?

Much like its carrycot, the City Sights stroller hood is made of UV50+ material so it offers good protection from the summer sun, while it is also quite large to give cover on those rainy days. It also has a mesh window, meaning you can keep an eye on your toddler once the hood is fully open. The hood also feels nice and sturdy and was easy to attach to the buggy, staying neatly in place.

What are the wheels like?

The City Sights all-terrain wheels feel sturdy and are made from solid material. I was confident from the get-go that we’d be able to mount kerbs and head off-road in the park, as well as doing the usual trip to the shops and nursery.

There are four wheels, two larger ones at the back and two smaller ones at the front and the buggy only has front wheel suspension. You can choose to have the front wheels in swivel mode if you want. The wheels are also removable if you need to take them off for any reason such as storage etc.

How do you rate the Baby Jogger City Sights stroller brakes?

The main rear wheel brake – a small grey block clip on the bottom right-hand side of the chassis - is relatively easy to secure on or off. It holds very well and is quite stiff, meaning you need to wear shoes to give your foot some extra heft to apply it. This isn’t ideal when putting it together in the house in your slippers or when wearing flip-flops in the summer, as you may find it difficult to use in open-toed shoes or sandals.

What did you think about the Baby Jogger City Sights basket?

The City Sights storage basket is fab with lots of room for changing bags, mountains of shopping and more. It has an open-access design and, thanks to the fact that the carrycot or toddler seat sits high up on the chassis, you can easily place things in or out of the basket, which isn’t the case with some other high-end buggy brand’s systems.

The only slight hitch is that it does have a support bar in the middle of the basket, where the button to fold the buggy is, so if you might struggle to fit a really large, deep item. Overall, it has a great capacity for day-to-day items that you may need.

What’s in the box?

There are 3 separate boxes which contain:

• Baby Jogger City Sights chassis
• Toddler Seat
• Seat hood
• 4 x Wheels
• Safety bar
• Carrycot with mattress
• Weathershield

What are the additional accessories that you can buy?

• Glider board, £86
• Car seat adaptors suitable for Maxi Cosi, Cybex and BeSafe models £18.50

Can the Baby Jogger City Sights pushchair be used with a car seat to create a travel system?

Yes, the City Sights pushchair offers 8 possible modes as a travel system and you can purchase car seat adaptors separately to attach your chosen car seat, from the likes of Maxi Cosi, Cybex and BeSafe, to the chassis.

Now you’ve tested it, what would you have wanted to know before purchasing the Baby Jogger City Sights pushchair?

The City Sights buggy has everything that you’d expect from a full travel system but perhaps it would be worth noting that you’d need to purchase the car seat adaptors separately in order to accommodate your own car seat.

Who would the Baby Jogger City Sights stroller be most useful for?

As the name suggests, this buggy is perfect for city living, with the City Sights pushchair great for busy families on the go who need one reliable buggy that’s built to last. It will take them from the buzz of the city (up and down kerbs, on buses and trains) to quieter, more rural scenery (muddy parks and hills), tackling both terrains effectively. Crucially, because it’s compact when folded, it’s great for families that are also tight on storage space both at home or in the boot of their car.

Is Baby Jogger City Sights pushchair worth the money?

Yes, I would say it is. With an RRP of £899, the City Sights buggy will take you from your baby’s first moments right up until the day that they feel too grown-up to be pushed around. It is a stroller that feels built to last thanks to its sturdy frame and also offers 8 modes as a travel system, making it well worth its price tag.

Where can I buy the Baby Jogger City Sights stroller?

It is available from Baby Jogger, John Lewis and Kiddies Kingdom.

MadeForMums verdict

We were all impressed with the Baby Jogger City Sights buggy – it was comfortable for both of my children and easy to use for me. This pushchair is ideal for busy families like us who are always on the go, as it can handle any sort of terrain, whether it be a quick supermarket shop or a muddy park walk. The fact that it folds up so small is ideal and will benefit those who are lacking in storage, living up to its title as the perfect pushchair for city living.

The only real negative I can offer is that it slightly lacks the flair, in terms of design and premium feel, but that’s why it’s priced slightly lower compared to some of the big-name luxury brand models. However, taking into account its added extras such as its plush carrycot, easy-to-handle chassis and generous storage basket, I would recommend the City Sights stroller as it’s great value for money and does exactly what it says on the tin.