The What? Pushchair guide
ARGH. WHICH F*@KING PUSHCHAIR? I hear you
Finding a pushchair (pram, stroller, buggy, even knowing what to call it is overwhelming) is one of the single hardest conundrums of the modern parent. There are too many options. Too many terrains, too many variables and considerations and aesthetic elements, but most importantly, practical decisions. What will you use your pushchair for?
Um. I will use it to push my child., obviously. We have too many other tabs open in our brains to consider all of the above to the mathematical degree that pushchair promises require, so please, let’s keep it simple. The following are honest, authentic recommendations from parents who push their children in these pushchairs. Including my own top three (yes, three).
Hope it helps. x
THE BIG 3
I have personally tried, lived with and loved three prams in M’s short life. Apparently I am a pushchair commitment-phobe, but I wasn’t happy till I was really happy, you know? Here are my top tips:
Hands down happiest place for M and me, I originally went in store to try the Nuna Mixx, but went for the Cruz V2 instead (see below). When the Next 2 came out I trusted my original instincts and gave it a go. So glad I did because it suits all of our requirements. Are you ready? Then I’ll begin.
First off it folds down very nicely. Yes it takes up a lot of boot space, but in my experience, so do all non-travel options. This one has wheels that fold in to make it more compact, and wheels like a suitcase to the car so you don’t have to heft it everywhere. It couldn’t be easier to put up or down (OK maybe it could - this isn’t a one hand fold situation, but that’s a non-issue for me at the moment), and I love the clean Scandi design vibe. The aesthetic is simple but beautiful, if that kind of thing is important to you (it is to me), so you feel roud to push it, and I love that the basket has a fold up section to separate it into two compartments, or the option of one big storage space. The back wheels are big, and I have to wiggle it through the door if I haven’t tidied up properly, but it fits very nicely and I appreciate the all-terrain option. Because the frame is one single piece it can feel quite ‘bouncy’ but Marlies seems to love it as much as I do. Very comfy 5 point harness, the sunshade feature is great with windows to ventilate and peek through, and a ventilated summer seat feature too. I appreciate the lay-flat option and it works especially well with the sun extended bonnet for some decent away-from-home spontaneous nap times. Finally, the handle extends to the perfect height for my 6 foot 2 husband.
That was a lot of love, but I do love it!
5/5
BEST FOR EVERYONE WHO WANTS A BRILLIANT PUSHCHAIR THAT TICKS ALL THE BOXES
£525
This was the first pram I went for and it was the best place to start in this overwhelming new world because it is arguably the pram brand of all pram brands. (I challenge you to think of ‘PUSHCHAIR’ and not think ‘BUGABOO’ in the next breath.
And I loved it. Very solid, very well thought out and drives like a dream - it’s the Rangerover of prams. But if you want an SUV you need the wide road to park it in - and we live in a victorian terrace with a hallway that just about manages to accommodate the wheel width. I was determined to make it work because it felt so safe and sturdy for my tiny newborn, and she slept really well in it when we went away too.
Once she started trying to sit up way before we went from bassinet into ‘seat mode’, I started thinking it might be time for something a little lighter and narrower.
All in all a fantastic all-rounder, good storage, decent weight, very easy to fold and unfold, but the best bit about bugaboo is the quality accessories. I’m yet to find a better fitting, easier to install in a hurry, quality rain cover. Or coffee holder!
4/5
BEST FOR ALL TERRAIN, SUBURBAN (more spacious) LIVING, BASSINET SLEEPS
£995
I took the small window of try-in-store opportunity as soon as lockdown 1 eased and went to test drive the narrower pushchairs with the biggest baskets. Uppababy Cruz V2 came out clear winner on both counts. The frame is sturdy and quite compact with decent sized wheels which mean I could go from bumpy pavements to muddy parks without any trouble. I put M in hers when she was about six months old and it served us very well but the very roomy storage in the bottom became a little bit of an issue for Mr. B and me. We both have longish legs and it seems we take quite big steps when we walk - stay with me, it’s relevant! - which meant I kept bumping the basket with my legs and even tripped over it once or twice. I didn’t realise I was such a wide-strider until we had this pram, and it’s likely not an issue at all if you value the excellent storage option over how fast you walk. I wish I could slow it down, but I’m not that kind of woman, so although I very highly rate this lovely buggy, it wasn’t quite right for these particular parents. I struggled a little with the 3 point harness too, I’d prefer a 5 point to pop her in and out of.
3.5/5
BEST FOR NARROW STORAGE SPACE, LIGHTER WEIGHT, AND SERIOUS SHOPPING
£679.99
YOUR REAL LIFE RECOMMENDATIONS
BABYZEN YOYO2
recommended by @instagrandidge
It’s a great city pram, so light & easy to push around with great steering. It’s the only super-compact stroller I could find which folds up with the newborn attachment, meaning we could store it easily and chuck it in the car boot with no bulky bassinet to remove. Our little boy has always found it so comfortable and regularly naps in it. I love how much I can store in / hang on it & have done a couple of solo trips managing to push it and pull my small suitcase at the same time.
My only negatives are you have to buy a raincover with the yoyo2 (previous models supplied one I think) and a footmuff which is a necessity for colder months. Also mud can make the wheels clog up, and it doesn’t push well on gravel BUT it is so light that you could carry it if needed! It’s almost the perfect pram…
4/5
£399
Recommended by @burrows__j
After spending many a weekend pushing prams around in shops we finally settled on the Cybex Priam because I find it a great all rounder. It is a smooth ride on all surfaces with sturdy wheels. You can put it up and take it down with one hand which was a big selling point for me. It is customisable from the frame to the seat options and there is also ample space for your shopping.
The Cybex Priam pram is an easy, versatile and comfy pushchair and I would definitely recommend it.
5/5
£859.90
Recommended by @ashlea1802
Great pram; looks good and you can feel the very good quality. Is easily manoeuvrable with big wheels and baby always seems safe and comfortable. Easy to collapse and assemble - I’d say the only design flaw is the handle scrapes on the floor when collapsed. We went for the terracotta colour and absolutely love it. Would highly recommend.
5/5
£999
Recommended by @Katie_gibbons_1
The perfect city runaround. So easy to get in and out of tight spots, looks stylish and remained ‘new looking’ even after 18 months and a lot of use. I’m short, so some buggies have felt too high for me, but I love the handlebar heights.
Had to reluctantly had to give it up when we moved to the countryside, because it’s not great as soon as you hit a bumpy road, grass or gravel. Annoyingly you can only get to the basket from the front so have to walk around the buggy to pop your shopping in. It’s the perfect city buggy but had to score down 1 due to being a bit tricky if you hit a slight off road spot.
4/5
£579
Recommended by @littlebobyn
I would hands down recommend this pram to anyone! Firstly, (priorities) it has a fantastically deep shopping basket bit (undercarriage...?! 🤔), it lays totally flat for naps, the hood extends right over the feet which has made me feel better in busy places (Covid) but also is great for protecting from the elements/getting baby to sleep, and all terrain wheels which I can’t imagine not having in the city (why are pavements SO uneven?!), but has also been a godsend in lock down - because walks...SO many walks!
It has one handed fold which I still don’t quite manage first time, every time and it is a little on the heavy side (but after lock down, aren’t we all?!!)
it’s so close to perfect, I wouldn’t look for anything else if we have another baby, but the carry cot was quite bulky in the car and being petite I would prefer it to be slightly lighter, but it’s super robust so I can put up with it.
4.5/5
£419.95
Recommended by @sophiakgray
We chose it because I wanted a reliable brand which sounds really boring, but Silver Cross are amazing and the customer service is brilliant. Wayfarer is easy to use, robust & comfy! Wheels are good, basket is a good size although can be a little tricky to get anything large under-I always went for a hook for my T&M backpack! Good size, we used it until our little girl was almost three, very easy to pop down and throw in the boot. Scored down purely because of basket size.
4/5
£695
Recommended by @rhonagh
Besides looking great, the Joolz Geo delivers in lots of areas. It has a huge basket for lots of shopping and baby paraphernalia. Easily manoeuvrable in town and shops but has good suspension so suitable for bumpy paths too.
The bassinet and buggy seat are higher up than many other prams and the adjustable handle has a great height range. It has a great range of add-ons including sibling packs to make it a double buggy.
After two kids and many miles it still looked great when I sold it on. Plus Joolz seem to be an environmentally responsible company. I recommend this pram to every pregnant person I know!
5/5
£746.10
Recommended by @sophiejordan2310
The Mamas and Papas Ocarro all in one travel system is sleek, easy to use and hardwearing. It glides along smoothly, even with lots of shopping onboard. The wheels are robust and chunky enough to cope with lots of buggy nap walks. It folds and unfolds quickly and simply. The travel system comes with bassinet from birth and the pushchair attachment reclines and is both rear and forward facing - so changes as baby grows. The leather and rose gold features also give it a high-end look.
4/5
£899
Recommended by @Rachelpob
The Stokke Xplory is a head turning pram. For a new born there is a carry cot option and the seat they advance to is roomy and spacious, My 3 year old can still comfortably fit in. The foot muff for winter is the baby Pram sleeping bag of dreams! The biggest pro for me was that my daughters were higher up then the average pram, lots of interaction, when shopping they are elevated above peoples legs and shopping bags. The newest version is even better in that it folds with the seat attached. The handle bar is adjustable to suit both me at 5ft, and my 6ft husband. It’s pricey but worth it!
The negatives are it is large in the boot, cannot hang things from the handle, and not made for off road bumpy walks.
4/5
£864
Recommended by @rachelcareyclothing
Really easy to push and manoeuvre, even easier to fold. I can collapse it and get it into the boot of my car with one hand, in one move, whilst holding my daughter in the other. The bassinet is compact but with just enough room for a big baby up to about 10 weeks. I got the adaptors to put my Maxi Cosi car seat in, which worked really well. The only down side is that my daughter grew out of the car seat before she was big enough to use the forward facing seat. I had to use towels/blankets to bolster her. Now she’s 1, its fantastic again. Very easy to lie her flat for naps! The only thing is that I wished the seat was a little higher so that she can see more.
4/5
£429
Recommended by @alicemacmo
Quality design and great performance from this British brand. Pushchair lies flat so can be used from birth, but we bought the additional carrycot to use for the first few months, as well as the cosy footmuff for the winter. Manoeuvrability and design is comparable to more expensive brands, and the quality of the fabrics has been much admired on outings in the park. One minor inconvenience is the lack of window in the rain cover but overall I absolutely love this pram.
4/5
£879
Recommended by @gracelizabeth_91
As a mother of two under two space is an issue. The Lila duo comes as a single pram but allows you to add another seat when needed. The jade car seat is a lie flat which my newborn loves, due to its design it can be used as the bassinet with the pram, meaning it isn’t taking up space in my boot and unlike most car seats your baby can stay in it for long periods without worrying about their safety. I’d recommend both products even if you don’t have two young ones, the Lila is very adaptable but also comfortable
5/5
£549 (+ £175 for duo kit additional seat)
Recommended by @mrsJpage
More than anything I just love how nice it is to push. The out n about nipper doesn’t really get advertised and I’d not heard of it before having my son. I’d just seen them pushed around at country shows. They’re definitely one of the best kept secrets.
Absolutely brilliant for rural life, taking to the beach, easy to push across sand and pebbles because it’s so light and easy to manoeuvre. The air filled tyres make it super easy to push, with a small basket (and option to buy a larger basket too) which I didn’t do as have found the smaller basket fine, especially as it’s often being pushed on farm tracks!
Plus It folds down very small. and in one piece making it so easy to transport
It’s basically a must for parents in the countryside!
5/5
£299
Recommended by @rachcarfrae86
Super comfy (my 3.5 year old still asks for it), basket is surprisingly decent, folds down ridiculously quick and tiny for public transport. I’m expecting again and bought the bassinet as I know I’ll use this more than my main one. It folds down so easily and it’s so light and easy to carry. The basket isn’t enormous but bigger than Babyzen and I always think my son looks comfy in it. Compact buggies never have as big a basket or hood as others might but honestly I just love it - once we bought this we hardly used anything else. Find somewhere to go try it out if you can - really worth it.
5/5
£299