Choosing Strollers Pushchairs

A lightweight and comfortable pushchair is essential for those who regularly take public transportation or take a flight and hop off and on. Choose a model which can be folded flat and compactly and is machine washable to get rid of stains from spilt beverages or leaky nappies.

We love strollers that glide effortlessly across pavements and mount kerbs easily. Look for car seat attachments that are self-installing, and a handlebar which can be adjusted to fit parents of any height.

Ease of Use

There are many different types of strollers pushchairs to suit every budget and lifestyle. Some are light and compact which makes them easy to fold and carry while others have a more substantial frame that's more robust for long walks or use on rough terrain. A lot of them come with a basket to carry your shopping, or bags for changing clothes so you can have everything you need. Some are made to be used in urban areas, while others are made for country life or travelling to other countries.

Strollers can be used as early as the time of birth. They allow babies to lie flat, which is good for spinal and lung development. Many strollers can be paired with an infant seat or carrycot to make them travel systems. They are suitable for infants to toddlers. Some models have extra design features, like a height-adjustable handbar for parents with various heights, or a large basket or rain cover that will help keep your baby dry.

Three-wheeled pushchairs tend to be better suited for urban dwellers because they are lightweight and agile, making them easy to move. Four-wheeled pushchairs are more durable and suitable for families who live in rural areas, or who plan to spend much of their time in the outdoors. Check out reviews from other parents who comment on how simple the pushchair buggy is to use, like how heavy it is or how easy it could be to navigate. It's also worth considering how big the base is and if it's sturdy enough for your child to use, particularly if you intend to take the pushchair off-road or on difficult terrain.

Safety

Strollers and pushchairs should be safe for infants and toddlers to avoid entrapment or other injuries. Look for a wide base that isn't likely to tip and be sure to test the safety harness by putting weight on it or hanging bags from it to see how stable it is. Make sure that the leg openings on the stroller aren't enough to ensure that a child's legs won't slip through. Also, ensure the handlebars sit at waist level or slightly below to allow for a more ergonomic use. A brake that is easy to operate and secures the back wheels is an important feature. You should look for a brake that is integrated into the wheels, instead of on the frame. This will help to avoid pinch points and choking dangers.

Many strollers come with a seat that reclines into an upright position, which makes them suitable for babies. To control breathing and head movement, it is recommended that babies lay flat for the first few months. Some pushchairs can be described as having a reclined seating position, but they don't. Make sure you check.

Make sure that the stroller is fitted with a five-point harness that can be adjusted (two straps for the shoulders, two for the thighs and one around the crotch), much like those in car seats. This is crucial to prevent the child from falling out of the pushchair and prevents them from being pushed over or pushed out by cars or other pedestrians.

Check that the stroller has a convenient parking brake that is easy to use and locks the front wheels. This will stop the stroller and pushchair from slipping away when you are loading or unloading children or stopping to rest.

Comfort

Whether you're pushing your toddler around, or carrying a shopping bag packed with nappies and a takeaway coffee, you need to feel secure when you're out and out and about. This can be achieved by choosing a stroller that has large, tough, puncture-proof tires that are able to glide over rough terrain. It should also have a super-smooth and smooth suspension.

A pushchair that folds up easily and compactly can also aid. It can be a real pain trying to jam the bulky stroller in and out of the car's boot, or climb up a flight of stairs - especially with a growing toddler in the rear. It's also worth considering what you'll be using it for and what the weather forecast will be like. Hence, opting for a stroller with a hood that protects your child from rain, wind and sunbeams is a good idea.

The final comfort factor is how easy it is to steer and control the pushchair. Look out for our reviewers' feedback on maneuverability, which takes into account factors like the ease with which strollers pirouette across different surfaces and how it is easy to push up hills.

Many pushchairs come with handy accessories to help keep your baby warm or cool from fans to footmuffs. Certain brands come with their own nappy bags that aid in travel with baby.

For added flexibility, opt for a travel system that includes the frame of a stroller (called the chassis) with the seat unit which can be front-facing or parent-facing as well as a bassinet or carrycot. You can take the car seat out and put it on the chassis when necessary without waking your baby. The ideal solution for parents who are constantly on the move and often need to alter your plan of travel.

Style

Although the jargon surrounding strollers pushchairs, prams and buggies can be confusing, there are certain things that they all have in common. Remember that they are designed to take your baby from point A to point B. Think about how you'll use it and search for features that will suit your lifestyle.

For instance, if you're likely to spend a lot of time on uneven surfaces, such as sandy fields or muddy fields, you might consider an all-terrain pushchair with big tough puncture proof wheels and a suspension to ensure it is more comfortable for your baby. If your baby is hot on long walks you might want a parasol to protect them from the sun or a baby fan to keep them cool.

Some pushchairs allow you to choose whether you want your baby to face you to provide reassurance or to look outwards to explore the world. Some carrycots have a seat unit that can flip to face you or away from you and some come with the full lie-flat recline, which is ideal for infants. Some also come with a car seat adapter, are Isofix compatible or are three-in-one systems so you can use them from the time of birth.

Another option is a twin pushchair, which lets you transport two children at the same at the same time. There are models that have one or two independent seat units, are lightweight and compact with plenty of storage space, bigger canopies and more movable wheels. Many of our test subjects liked the idea of a double pushchair but discovered that some handlebar adjustment systems were difficult to operate with one hand. Some adjust by rotating around a pivot point and this caused many to push their hands close to the frame. Other systems that telescopically move into and out of the frame sides were easier to use even for parents with larger hands.

Stores

The amount of storage space in a stroller will affect your decision to buy it. Take a look at the space under the seat, in the footwell and in the large basket to see how much you can fit in. If you are planning to purchase any additional accessories for your Small Pushchair, like a parent's tray or a travel changing pouch it will be an important factor.

A parent tray can increase ease of use by providing additional storage space for snacks and other essentials. It can also make the stroller heavier and difficult to fold. It is important to keep in mind that many of the trays for parents have shallow cup holders. This could cause items to fall from the tray while traveling or strolling.

If you plan to carry your baby until birth, consider purchasing a stroller that is large enough to accommodate bassinets. These models come with larger storage baskets, full-coverage canopies and reclined seats. However, they usually come with the price of a stroller that is much more expensive than a lightweight or compact stroller.

The ability to maneuver is an essential feature of a stroller. It determines the ease of steering when empty, and how easily the stroller glides over various surfaces such as pavements or grass. This quality will decrease over time as you and your child grow and the weight of the pushchair increases.

Some pushchairs are designed to work as an entire travel system, that is, they can be used in conjunction with an infant car seat, and transformed into an adult pushchair by using adapters. This makes the transition from stroller to pram easier as your child grows.