When you’re buying a stroller, everyone says the same thing: “Get one that grows with your family.” Which sounds obvious, but once you start looking, you realize there are a million “modular” strollers and not all of them truly work for life with two kids.
Here’s how we landed on the Silver Cross Wave 3 and the other strollers that were contenders before we made our final choice.
Why We Chose the Silver Cross Wave 3
The Silver Cross Wave 3 wasn’t my original top pick. I had my eye on the UPPAbaby Vista because it’s everywhere, reliable, and has that “default” reputation when people talk about grow-with-your-family strollers.
But when we saw the Wave 3 in person at Nordstrom, my husband instantly fell in love. And honestly, once I looked at it more closely, I understood why. The Wave comes with everything you need (bassinet, seat, adapters) right in the box, where a lot of strollers make you buy extras piece by piece. It also felt higher quality than the Vista, it has a sturdier frame, luxe fabrics, smoother push. Most importantly, the two-child configurations made more sense for us.
We also knew we were going straight to a convertible car seat and skipping the infant seat stage, so we didn’t need a stroller that doubled as a car seat travel system. That took options like Vista and Joie off the table for us, and made Silver Cross the smarter fit.
The Pros:
- Comes with all the parts you need (no add-on shopping spree)
- High quality fabrics and frame; smooth to push
- Configurations that actually work for two kids without feeling cramped
- Can hold heavier babies and children compare to other brands and larger bassinet size
- Strong resale value
The Cons:
- Heavy
- Bulky fold, takes up a lot of space
- Not designed for travel – better for neighborhood walks, errands, farmers markets
For us, it’s the everyday stroller that will last through multiple kids.
The Other Contenders
UPPAbaby Vista
UPPAbaby Vista V3 Stroller
- Single-to-double configuration
- Multiple accessories available
- Strong resale value
The classic 'it' stroller that grows with your family. Lots of accessories (but need to buy separately), however it has a strong resale value. But the two-kid setup felt awkward… the bassinet on the bottom away from the parent is super odd and the toddler seats are super tight next to each other.
Mockingbird Single-to-Double
Mockingbird Single-to-Double Stroller 2.0
- Budget-friendly alternative
- Similar to Vista
- Flexible configurations
Budget-friendly alternative with a similar look and feel to Vista. Lots of seat configurations and flexibility. Great if you want to grow without luxury prices, but you'll still need to buy extras for full setups.
Joie Ginger & Rue Travel System
Joie Ginger and Rue Travel System
- Includes infant car seat
- One purchase solution
- Budget-friendly
A true travel system designed to work seamlessly with its infant car seat. Good if you want one purchase that covers stroller + infant seat from day one. Budget-friendly alternative with similar configurations as Mockingbird and UPPAbaby Vista.
Final Thoughts
If you’re shopping for a stroller that grows with your family, think about more than just the newborn stage. The seat configurations, how the stroller handles with two kids, and what pieces are included (or not included) matter more than the marketing.
For us, the Silver Cross Wave 3 hit the sweet spot: everything in the box, high quality, and a realistic two-child setup. Yes, it’s heavy and not ideal for travel, but as an everyday stroller that’s built to last, it’s worth the investment.
Decide upfront if you’re starting with a travel system (infant car seat + stroller combo) or if you’re going straight to a convertible car seat. That choice alone can narrow your stroller search by half.