Century

Century's first product, the TotToter.

Century is one of the US's oldest baby gear brands, tracing its history back to 1961 with the launch of a baby carrier/seat called the TotToter. This was followed in 1979 by the Kanga Rock & Roo, a seat that had the ability to rock.

The first travel system that combined a car seat and stroller—the Century 4-in-1 travel system debuted in 1993.

Both of these seats morphed into the infant car seat we know today when Century introduced the first car seat with a stay-in-the-car base in 1986: the Century 590. Century's next big innovation was the invention of the modern-day travel system, when they paired an infant car seat with a stroller.

This was a ground-breaking product—prior to the travel system, babies either were placed in a pram-like stroller with a bassinet or fully reclining seat . . . or carried in an infant car seat or carrier. The travel system enabled a parent to remove the car seat from a stay-in-the-car base and snap it into a stroller.

The success of the travel system led Century to launch additional strollers. By the late 90's, Century's sales had topped $115 million

In 1998, Century was acquired by Graco for $77.5 million, which itself was soon acquired by Rubbermaid (today known as Newell). Graco only purchased Century's stroller and car seat business. Century's Okla Homer Smith nursery furniture business was sold to Dorel in 1998.

Graco promptly mothballed the Century brand name and it soon disappeared from the market. Century's strollers were rebranded as Graco products.

In 2021, Graco resurrceted the brand, relaunching it with an eco spin.

"After some time away to rethink and reflect, Century relaunches, reimagined and reinvigorated," according to their website.

The new Century's focus is on sustainability—the Happy Planet collection is the first offering. The fabrics used in many Century products, including strollers, are made from recycled plastics. They also claim their packaging and production is low impact.

Century has a small stroller line made up of lightweight strollers (including a tandem double) and a modular stroller. The company divides the line into Stroll On and Swap On products.

Flagship Model: Century Stroll On

Century Stroll On 3-Wheel Lightweight Stroller

The Century Stroll On 3-Wheel Lightweight Stroller (15 lbs., see price on Amazon) is Century's most popular iteration of the Stroll-On group (see below for other versions). As the name implies, this stroller has one double wheel in front and two double wheels in back. The stroller is lightweight at 15 lbs. Additional features include:

• Multi-position reclining seat.
• Compact, self-standing fold.
• Child's tray plus parent tray with cup holders.
• Compatible with Century Carry On 35 Lightweight Infant Car Seat (sold separately or as a travel system).
• Adjustable canopy.
• Fabrics made of recycled materials.
• Large basket.
• Canopy.

Negatives for the Stroll On include "cheap wheels that don't work well or break" (say some parents). The seat doesn't recline flat so it isn't appropriate for infants (unless you buy the travel system version with the car seat) and the canopy could be bigger.

The Stroll On is also available as a four wheel stroller (called the Century Stroll On 4-Wheel Lightweight Stroller, 15 lbs. see price on Amazon) and as a tandem twin stroller (called the Century® Stroll On™ Duo Lightweight Double Stroller; 24 lbs., see price on Amazon).

Swap On Modular Stroller

Century Swap On Modular Stroller

Century has one other stroller offering, the Swap On Modular Stroller (17.8 lbs., see price on Amazon). The Swap On comes with a toddler seat that reverses, a compact self-standing fold, canopy with extendable visor, multi position seat back, parent cup holder, child's tray and large basket.

The Swap On is also sold as a travel system with the Century Carry On 35 infant car seat.

What makes the Swap On modular? You can remove the toddler seat and replace it with the Swap On Bassinet. The bassinet can also be placed on a Swap On Modular 2-in-1 Stand if baby falls asleep and you don't want to wake him up. Both the bassinet and stand are separate purchases.

Safety Recalls

There are no safety recalls (for the relaunched Century version) as of this writing,