Back when I was pregnant and knew little about babies and even less about childrearing, there was one thing I knew for sure: I am a practical person. I didn’t want to spend extravagant amounts of money on over-the-top baby equipment that I’d hardly use. So when I started researching strollers, the Graco Metrolite seemed like the perfect choice for me. It was very lightweight, offered some neat features, and it could be used with the Graco SnugRide infant seat. I couldn’t imagine who in my family would shell out the huge amount for the Metrolite travel system (car seat, base, and stroller are included), so I thought adding the individual car seat and stroller to my baby registry would give two people the opportunity to buy some very nice, very practical gifts.

THE BASICS
Weighing in at under 20 lbs., the aluminum-framed Graco Metrolite is one of the lightest standard-size strollers available. It runs on solid rubber tires that can go over most normal road conditions without much trouble. It has several convenient features that make it rival the more luxurious full-size models and yet it easily folds and is light enough for moms to pull out of a minivan while holding a baby (see more below). It has a deep storage basket, a parent tray with two cup holders, a child tray with a cup holder and a snack holder, a bungee-cord-type mechanism for reclining, and a canopy. It is compatible with the Graco SnugRide infant car seat and can be used for infants and children up to 4 years and less than 40 lbs. At time of writing, the Graco site lists eight styles of their Metrolite stroller, including a pink Lindsey pattern, a striped Shelton, and a Metropolitan pattern.

SETUP
For several months, this stroller sat in its box. My daughter was born in November so we didn’t have plans on taking her out during the brutal winter months and I was sure the stroller’s setup would require more than just my clumsy hand. But as spring approached and my husband kept putting off helping me, I decided to do it myself. Turns out it was fairly simple and didn’t take long at all. Other than the wheels, cup-holder trays, and basket, all of which snap on, the stroller comes in one piece. The whole assembly took me about 20 minutes. The carrier portion of the SnugRide infant car seat clicks into place on top of the stroller with baby facing backward (toward the person steering). There are two hooks on either side of the stroller that swivel into place for added hold.

HANDLING
I’ve used this stroller over rocks and dirt, on sidewalks and in the street, and in stores. Although it is harder to maneuver over rocks, it’s not impossible. This is not a jogger so you can’t expect it to easily go over rugged terrain but it holds its own. For the occasional obstacle-filled path, it serves well. The front swivel wheels can even lock into place for navigating over uneven surfaces.

Generally, though, we use this stroller on smooth-surfaced floors in stores and it glides beautifully. It will occasionally pull to one side, but it’s light enough that I don’t have any problem realigning it even when holding shopping bags.

CLEAN UP
The seat pad on the Metrolite is machine washable in cold water on the delicate cycle. It must be drip dried. It is a bit of a nuisance to remove, but not impossible. I usually avoid submerging it and just wipe it with a damp sponge and/or vacuum it with our hand vac. The frame can be cleaned with a household soap and warm water.

BABY’S VERDICT
My daughter loves looking at everything. Babies are like sponges that way. So stroller rides are definitely something she has looked forward to in the past 16 months, though lately she finds the belt constricting. There’s nothing to play with on our stroller (I did see an additional toy attachment on the Graco site that works with this stroller) but there is a nice sized tray. I bought a couple of suction toys that I stuck on there. There’s a cup holder (though not a very deep or wide one) and a shallow rounded indent presumably for snacks. Some of her wide-based sippy cups, like her Gerber Easy Grip 2-Handled Soft Straw Cup, don't fit in the cup holder.

In the beginning, when I was still attaching the car seat carrier to the stroller, my daughter had some issues. First off, she couldn’t see much. Since she was facing me and she was strapped in with a 5-point harness that didn’t allow her to see over the high sides of the carrier, all she usually saw was the back of the stroller canopy. The canopy also didn’t cover her at all in that position. It would’ve been nice if there was a way to swivel it or reattach it to the carrier or the front of the stroller. Even once she started sitting upright in the stroller with its 3-point harness, the canopy didn’t offer much shade or protection.

The stroller does recline to several positions so my daughter has been able to fall asleep in it and even take full-length naps on a couple of occasions.

MOMMY’S VERDICT
This stroller has served us well. It handles well, it rides well, and the cloth seat seems comfortable. The Metrolite is attractive without being bulky or looking as plastic as some of the Evenflo ones I’ve seen. Its slender width makes it compact enough to maneuver tight spaces and aisles, yet its sturdy construction and rubber tires give it the ability to handle most common terrain. But it’s not perfect. I do have some issues with this stroller.

The basket beneath the stroller is great for storage. It’s wide and deep and I’ve even been able to use it for light grocery shopping (three bags including one gallon of milk, with room to spare). Unfortunately, when baby is in a reclined position, it’s very difficult to get to. I usually end up unsnapping part of it so there’s a larger opening around the metal bar holding it to the bottom of the stroller. Now that my daughter sits up and we hardly ever recline the seat, accessing the basket isn’t much of a problem. It still can be a bit difficult to pull out things you already have stashed in there.

Transitioning from the very secure 5-point harnessed car seat attachment to just using the stroller in a semi-reclined position with its 3-point belt was very unnerving for me. Although I’m sure I could’ve started using the bare stroller sooner, I put it off for quite some time. I think I finally got the nerve to continuously use it on its own when my daughter reached about 9 or 10 months old. Before that, she looked like she could just slip out of the stroller (though she never has). FYI, some Metrolite styles do have a 5-point harness.

Closing my Metrolite stroller is fairly easy. There’s a red button on the handle that slides. The only trick is that you need to either have your second hand free to pull the bottom of the stroller closed or use your knee. I’m generally holding my daughter in my “free” hand so I almost always use my leg to push the bottom and top together. Once it is, there’s a red hook on the handle that flips and attaches to the seat to hold it closed. While holding my nearly 25 lb. daughter, I have no trouble lifting the closed stroller and sliding it into the back of my minivan. (FYI, I don’t work out and I’m 5ֹ” and 127 lbs.)

OVERALL
For my purposes, this stroller has been ideal. It could use a few minor tweaks but it’s lightweight, compact, has plenty of storage space (even if it is a bit hard to get to sometimes), and handles well. Since we live in suburbia, I knew I’d generally be using this stroller indoors but it does do a decent job on broken sidewalks, rock-filled yards, grass and our occasional trips to the dirt-and-gravel paved local farm. We received this stroller as a gift, but I believe it retails for a little over $100.

FROM THE MANUFACTURER.
The aluminum-framed MetroLite provides the sturdiness of a standard sized stroller with the comfort and convenience of a lightweight stroller. The never-flat rubber tires promise a smooth ride and because they are made of solid rubber they are puncture proof - no flats! The comfy seat reclines to multiple positions, including nearly flat for infants. An adjustable handle allows mom and dad to each adjust the stroller to their height needs and both mom and dad are sure to enjoy the one-hand fold mechanism which makes storing the stroller a breeze. Plus the MetroLite stroller is outfitted with an extra-large lower & load storage basket, making it easy to access even when your child is asleep! The MetroLite stroller also features a large canopy, and a parent organizer and child snack tray - both outfitted with a cup holder. Best of all this stroller is compatible with our SnugRideŽ infant car seat!

www.gracobaby.com

Here are some other baby equipment reviews I've written. I hope they're helpful.
Evenflo Snugli
Safety 1st Odorless Diaper Pail
Tiny Love Gymini 3-D Activity Gym
The First Years Deluxe Tub
Safety 1st On-the-Go Booster




Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): gift
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months