9 Best Pushchairs For Babies and Toddlers

‘What is the best pushchair?‘ is probably the number one question we receive from new parents.

Owning a great buggy — that’s perfectly tailored to you and your baby’s needs — is an absolute must for enjoyable days out and seamless trips away. Alongside a cot and a car seat, a good pushchair is one of the most important purchases you’ll make and so it’s worthy of some research.

But don’t think that means you need to spend the earth and splurge on the latest gadget from insert-luxury-brand-name-here 🤪 There are plenty of reasonably priced strollers on the market that compete hard for the top spot and will serve you very well.

We’ve rounded up our pick of the best pushchairs, buggies and prams for your little one’s next adventure.

Of course, you need to make sure that the one you choose is right for you — just because a mummy pal loves a certain brand, or a particular stroller, doesn’t mean it’ll fit into your lifestyle.

Here are our current favourites:

02/17/2024 11:45 am GMT

Let’s get right into it…

9 of the Best Pushchairs For Babies & Toddlers

Bugaboo Fox 3

Age/Weight Suitability	Birth to 22kg (around 5 years)
Weight	9.9kg
Seat Facing Position	Parent and world
Fold	One piece or two piece options
Lie Flat Seat Capability?	Yes, with included carrycot
Car Seat Compatible?	Yes

Bugaboo is widely known for being a premium brand that makes some of the best pushchairs on the market and the Fox 3 is one of their most beloved strollers.

It improves on the Fox 2 in several ways, with the most noticeable upgrades being the choice of materials, the extra plush seat padding, and a much improved harness with softer shoulder pads for your little one. This is truly a super stylish pushchair.

The first thing you’ll notice with the Fox 3 is how easy it is to steer and get around with — this is thanks to the power steering and advanced suspension. Whether you’re in the city or on a muddy walk, you’ll have no problems pushing. This is the perfect travel system for a countryside break, or whenever you want to step off the beaten path on rough terrain.

Some of our bugbears is the fact that it’s pretty expensive and doesn’t fold down quite as compactly as we’d like.

Why We Chose It

• Power steering – you can even push one-handed!
• Advanced suspension for all terrains
• Feels very sturdy and even luxurious
• Can be folded in one piece for convenience on-the-go or into two pieces for space
• Easy seat recline in 3 positions
• Fabrics are machine washable
• When used as a pram, baby can be facing parents or the world
• Comes with a flat-lying carrycot so it’s suitable for a newborn baby or young baby
• Reasonably lightweight

Potential Cons to Consider

• The fold isn’t quite as compact as we’d like and takes some time getting used to
• Assembly instructions aren’t the best
• Expensive

Babyzen YOYO²

Age/Weight Suitability	6 months – 22kg or from birth with Newborn Pack (sold separately)
Weight	6.1 kg
Seat Facing Position	Newborn Pack and bassinet faces parents, normal seat faces world
Fold	One-handed, super compact
Lie Flat Seat Capability?	Yes with Newborn Pack or Bassinet (sold separately)
Car Seat Compatible?	Yes

The Babyzen YOYO² has a cult following thanks to its incredible lightweight design and super compact fold that can even be taken as hand luggage on a flight.

It can be folded and unfolded with just one hand (an essential with toddlers!), is easy to set up and is comfortable for your child. With the purchase of the newborn set or bassinet it can also be used as a pram from birth. One thing to bear in mind is that this is definitely an urban pushchair frame — the small wheels and light frame mean that it doesn’t do well on uneven terrain and in the countryside.

Why We Chose It

• Super lightweight and can be carried over one shoulder when folded
• Easy to handle
• Can be folded and unfolded with just one hand
• Can be taken as hand luggage with many airlines! ✈️
• Improved suspension (on previous iteration, YOYO+)
• Backrest has multiple recline positions
• Reasonably easy to assemble
• Excellent price considering quality and reputation

Potential Cons to Consider

• Doesn’t feel as sturdy as other, bigger pushchairs on this list
• Small wheels mean it doesn’t cope so well on rougher/uneven terrain – this is definitely best for city use and travelling
• Newborn Pack/Bassinet must be purchased separately if you want to use this from birth

Mountain Buggy Terrain

Age/Weight Suitability	Newborn to 25 kg (around 5 years)
Weight	12.9 kg
Seat Facing Position	Parent with carrycot (sold separately) and world with normal seat
Fold	One-handed option, wheels can be taken off also
Lie Flat Seat Capability?	Yes
Car Seat Compatible?	Yes

If you want something that is capable of taking on any terrain, the Mountain Buggy Terrain is the pushchair for you.

The three-wheel construction means that it’s a great choice for runners and it even comes with two different sets of wheels so you can choose what’s best for the terrain you’re tackling that day. It’s easy to handle, comes with a handlebar brake as well as a foot one, has a lockable front wheel and a large sun canopy. The one big negative is that it’s pretty heavy and, although it folds down easily, is quite bulky.

Why We Chose It

• Ability to go from fully lie-flat to upright
• Very easy to handle on a variety of terrains
• Lockable front wheel for stability when jogging
• Handlebar brakes as well as a foot brake
• Comes with two sets of wheels — 16″ and 12″
• Shock absorbing suspension
• Large sun canopy
• One handed, easy fold
• Lots of storage options
• Optional purchase of a carrycot if you want your baby to be parent-facing but the lie-flat capability of seat means this isn’t a necessity if you want to use from birth
• Good price

Potential Cons to Consider

• Reasonably heavy and bulky when folded down
• Shorter parents may feel the handlebars are a little high when the 16″ wheels are used

Nuna MIXX Stroller

Age/Weight Suitability	Birth to 20kg
Weight	12.5 kg
Seat-Facing Position	Parent and world
Fold	One-piece, reasonably compact
Lie Flat Seat Capability?	Yes
Car Seat Compatible?	Yes

Nuna are one of the latest names in premium pushchairs and the MIXX is fast becoming a popular option.

It’s similar in style and feel to the Bugaboo Fox 2 but without the high price tag. It’s very easy to handle with an impressive suspension that can take on most terrains, no problem. There’s lots of position adjustability available which is great for your toddler’s comfort and we love the all-season seat that keeps your child warm and dry whatever the weather. Again, it’s pretty heavy and the large wheels means it’s somewhat bulky even with the flat fold.

Why We Chose It

• Highly maneuverable and easy to handle
• Good suspension makes for a smooth ride on any terrain
• True flat sleeper recline seat
• Feels very sturdy and looks stylish
• 5 position recline
• Adjustable calf support with footrest
• Large, extendable canopy
• All-season seat that keeps child cool in summer and warm in winter
• Opens with one hand and easy fold
• Large storage basket
• One-touch rear wheel braking system

Potential Cons to Consider

• Large wheels make it a little bulky even with flat fold
• Quite heavy

iCandy Peach

Age/Weight Suitability	6 months to 25kg or from birth with carrycot
Weight	12.5 kg
Seat-Facing Position	Parent and world
Fold	One-handed
Lie Flat Seat Capability?	Yes, with included Carrycot
Car Seat Compatible?	Yes

The iCandy Peach is our choice for parents with a toddler and a baby as it can so easily be converted into a double buggy.

It also has a massive 44 litre storage basket, plenty of recline positions and adjustability and just feels very sturdy and capable. We also love that it comes with a 5 year warranty — durability is the name of the game here. There is a corresponding high price tag though, and it’s not the most compact or lightweight when folded up.

Why We Chose It

• Can be easily converted into a double buggy
• Comes with a 5 year warranty
• One-handed fold
• Carrycot can be used for overnight sleeping!
• Feels very sturdy
• Huge 44 litre storage basket
• 4 position recline
• Puncture proof tyres
• Adjustable calf rest
• Adjustable handlebars

Potential Cons to Consider

• Expensive
• Quite heavy and bulky when folded with wheels on

Cybex Gold Eezy S+ Compact Pushchair

Age/Weight Suitability	Birth to 22 kg (around 4 years)
Weight	7 kg
Seat-Facing Position	Parent and world
Fold	One-handed and compact
Lie Flat Seat Capability?	Yes
Car Seat Compatible?	Yes

If you’re looking for convenience and ease of use, the Cybex Gold Eezy S+ is right up there with the Babyzen YOYO² in our opinion.

It lacks the more advanced features of the S Twist models, including the 360° swivel that allows you to change position from parent to world-facing and back again, but it does have an excellent 4-wheel suspension, one-handed fold and a fully reclinable back rest. It is incredibly reasonably priced given its performance.

Our one bugbear is that it’s on the heavy side.

Why We Chose It

• Integrated leg rest
• 4-wheel suspension for smooth ride regardless of terrain
• XXL sun canopy
• Backrest can fully recline down to lie-flat position
• Comes with a useful rain cover for all weather protection
• Easy one-handed fold
• Excellent price given quality
• Compatible with carrycot
• Easy assembly

Potential Cons to Consider

• Only a small amount of storage
• Not as lightweight as it looks

Maxi-Cosi Laika

Age/Weight Suitability	Birth (with purchase of carrycot) or 6 months to 15 kg (around 3 years)
Weight	7.45 kg
Seat-Facing Positions	Parent when using car seat/carrycot (sold separately) and world
Fold	One handed
Lie Flat Seat Capability?	Only with carrycot (sold separately)
Car Seat Compatible?	Yes

If you’re looking for a slightly cheaper pushchair for your toddler, the Maxi-Cosi Laika is a really good option that still has a lot of features while not breaking the bank.

It handles well, folds down compactly and is easy to assemble. It’s also compatible with a wide range of the popular Maxi-Cosi car seats (although note that you’ll need to buy a separate carrycot for newborn babies as it doesn’t lie flat like a pram). There are some compromises that come with the low price — namely it doesn’t feel particularly sturdy and its quite heavy for a supposedly ‘lightweight’ pushchair.

Why We Chose It

• Compatible with wide range of Maxi-Cosi car seats
• Shoulder strap and compact fold makes for easy transportation
• Comfortable, padded seat
• Reasonable price
• Easy to maneuver in town/city environments
• Large sun canopy
• Easy assembly
• Easy fold once you’ve got the hang of it

Potential Cons to Consider

• Heavier and bulkier than its ‘lightweight’ competitors
• Need to buy carrycot in order to be suitable from birth
• Doesn’t feel hugely sturdy

Stokke Xplory

Age/Weight Suitability	Birth (with separate carrycot) or 6 months to 15 kg (around 3 years)
Weight	13.3 kg
Seat-Facing Positions	Parent and world
Fold	One-handed
Lie Flat Seat Capability?	Only with carrycot (sold separately)
Car Seat Compatible?	Yes

In terms of Nordic style, the Stokke Xplory pushchair has got it nailed. This is a wonderfully attractive travel system. We love how the chair is high and close to the person pushing for better interaction — why haven’t more pushchairs adopted this design?!

As you’d expect from Stokke, the material quality is very high. The wheels are puncture resistant, the canopy is ventilated, the fold is intuitive and one-handed and the amazing detachable shopping bag can carry up to 5kg inside it! It is expensive though and doesn’t handle particularly well on difficult terrain. It’s also heavy and bulky once it’s folded.

Why We Chose It

• Child is positioned high and close for better interaction
• Child can be brought right up to the table when out and about
• Height adjustable design – great for parents of differing heights!
• Detachable shopping bag can handle up to 5kg
• Puncture resistant wheels
• Extended canopy with ventilation
• Seat has step-by-step, removable, inlay cushioning so the seat can grow with them
• Easy, one-handed fold
• Leg support and foot rest

Potential Cons to Consider

• Expensive
• Carrycot must be purchased separately if you want to use as a pram from birth
• Not suited to uneven, country terrain
• Bulky and quite heavy when folded

Uppababy Vista V2

Age/Weight Suitability	Birth to 22 kg (around 4 years)
Weight	12.4 kg
Seat-Facing Position	Parent and world
Fold	One-step, with or without toddler seat attached
Lie Flat Seat Capability?	Yes
Car Seat Compatible?	Yes

Much like the iCandy Peach, the Uppababy Vista V2 is a great choice if you have multiples or children close in age to each other as it can be modified to handle up to three kids at once!

It is an expensive stroller, but you can expect a huge number of features and just general quality for the cost. The all-wheel suspension is impressively shock absorbing, a lie-flat carrycot is included as opposed to just being an expensive add-on, it has a one-handed, multi-position recline, and comes with plenty of weather protection accessories. It’s definitely heavy and bulky once folded, however, so proceed with caution if you’re low on boot space!

Why We Chose It

• Can be modified to transport up to 3 kids!
• Shock absorbing wheels with all-wheel suspension
• Included lie-flat carrycot that can be used for overnight sleeping
• One-handed, multi position recline
• Extendable and height adjustable sun canopy
• Comes with various weather protection accessories
• Adjustable handlebar
• Large shopping basket with 13.6 kg weight limit

Potential Cons to Consider

• Quite heavy and bulky when folded (wheels and toddler seat can be taken off)
• A little expensive (although great that so many add-ons are included in the package)

How We Chose The Top Rated Buggies & Pushchairs

If you’re interested in the nitty gritty of what makes a great pushchair and why we focused on the criteria we did, read through for a more in-depth explanation. Our aim here is to help you make the right purchasing decision when investing in a travel system for your growing family.

There are a huge number of different buggies on the market and it’s understandable that it might be overwhelming trying to decide between them.

We think there are a few criteria worth focusing on:

• Age / weight suitability
• Weight and size
• Seat-facing positions available
• How easy is it to fold?
• Can baby lie flat in it?
• Is it compatible with a car seat or travel system?
• Price

Let’s look at each one in a little more detail.

Age and Weight Suitability

When we talk about the age or weight suitability for a buggy, we’re essentially saying how long your child can use it for.

Most of the ones we’ve chosen can be used until your toddler is at least 15 kg, which is generally around 3 years old. Some of them are able to be used beyond that — up to 22kg (around 4) is common — but the truth is, you’re going to be using it less and less after your toddler is about 2.5 so it’s not worth simply going for the pushchair that can give you the longest life.

However, if your toddler weighs significantly more than average, it may be worth prioritising a higher weight bracket for your buggy.

Weight and Size

How important the weight and the size of the pushchair is will depend on your location and lifestyle.

If you plan on doing lots of country walks and have a good size boot space, you’ll likely want to go for a bigger buggy. Larger, heavier buggies generally have bigger wheels with suspension that are better able to tackle uneven terrain and won’t get stuck in the mud.

The compromise on this better functionality is that they’re bigger — some of the best models will have detachable wheels and still fold down reasonably small, but they’re a long way from compact and lightweight.

On the other hand, if you live in a smaller space and are likely to mostly be using the buggy in a town or city environment, a lightweight model with a small folded footprint will be much more appropriate.

The Babyzen YOYO², for instance, is so small and lightweight when folded that it can even be taken as hand luggage with many airlines.

Of course, the flip side of this is that lightweight buggies have smaller wheels and lighter chassis, meaning they’re ill equipped for typical country terrain and might even struggle on soft grass.

Seat Facing Positions

Which way would you like your baby or toddler to face while they’re in the pushchair — towards you, the parent, or out towards the world? Or perhaps you’d like the option to do both!

Traditionally, the expectation is that babies up to 6 months face the parent in a lie-flat position, and are spun around out to face the world in the toddler seat once they’re older than this. That might work fine for you.

But some parents want to keep that face to face engagement for a bit longer, so you might want to look at buggies that give you the option to position your child either way.

One of the best examples of this is the Cybex Eezy S Twist+2, which actually has an integrated 360° swivel to take your toddler from parent to world facing and back again with absolutely no faff.

Is The Buggy Easily Foldable?

If you’re planning to travel a lot with your pushchair — whether that’s simply in the car or further afield — it’s definitely worth focusing on the fold.

Ideally, you want a buggy that can be easily folded with just one hand into a compact single piece.

When you’ve also got a baby or a toddler to manhandle (!), convenience is key when it comes to putting away the buggy.

We’ve already spoken a little about how large and heavy the buggy is will affect the fold, and certainly how compact it gets. This will be of particular importance to anyone who’s short on space — whether that’s at home, in the car boot — or even in the aeroplane cabin!

However, even some of the bulkier buggies in our list can still be easily folded to a reasonably compact size. This folding technology has advanced hugely in the past few years and will continue to improve. The Bugaboo Fox 2, for instance, can be easily folded into one or two pieces (separate wheels) which gives you more options when it comes to storage.

Does The Pushchair Have Lie-Flat Capability?

If you’re planning to use your buggy from birth, you’ll need to make sure that it has lie-flat capability.

This is an essential safety feature for newborns and means they’ll be allowed to spend extended periods of time in the buggy (great for naps!). It’s one of the key differences between a pram (for newborns) and a pushchair (for tired toddlers!).

All of the buggies on our list have lie-flat capability, whether that’s an inbuilt fully flat recline option, or whether you need to buy a separate bassinet or carrycot to make this happen.

Some of them — the iCandy Peach, for example — are so advanced in this regard that your baby would even be able to sleep overnight in the included carrycot.

If you need a buggy for a baby or toddler older than 6 months, then there’s no need to buy one with a lie-flat capability.

Car Seat / Travel System Compatibility

Car seat or travel system compatibility is another feature that will either be important to you or it won’t.

Some parents absolutely swear by this — if your baby’s sleeping in the car, there’s nothing easier than to simply click the car seat onto the buggy frame and be on your merry way without having to wake them up. This might be a particularly attractive option if you’ve got a light sleeper!

But there are drawbacks to this, most notably the fact that babies should not be kept in a car seat for more than 2 hours in a 24 hour period — this could cut short a long walk once you add in the car travelling time.

Speaking from personal experience, we placed a lot of emphasis on buying a buggy that was travel system compatible but ended up barely using this functionality as our little one much preferred sleeping in the lovely lie-flat bassinet rather than the car seat.

Pushchair Price

How much should I spend on a pushchair?

Price is the final big kahuna when it comes to the big things you should be considering before buying a pushchair

First things first, there’s absolutely no point in over-extending yourself financially. Make sure you have a budget in mind before you start comparing models and ensure you don’t exceed it.

While there’s some truth to the idea that ‘you get what you pay for’ when it comes to buggies, there are a lot of good models in every price bracket — and you simply don’t have to have all the bells and whistles to make a good purchase. Not every feature will be relevant to your needs. You might not need a full blown ‘travel system’.

Having said that, it is worth prioritising a buggy when you’re working out exactly what you need for baby.

We think that there are three main purchases that are worth your investment — both time for research and money spent — the buggy, the car seat, and the cot. Absolutely scrimp elsewhere but make sure you divert enough funds to these purchases to get the best you can get.

While the car seat and cot are essential safety purchases, the buggy is something you’re likely to use pretty much every day. It’s worth making sure you get the best one for your purposes.

Other Features to Consider In Your Pushchair

The seven features we’ve outlined above are usually the most important when it comes to buying a pushchair, but there are often other cool features available that add to their value as part of a travel system for toddlers or babies.

Here are a few that you might want to look out for:

• Can it be converted to a double pushchair if you have 2 kids close in age?
• Can it be converted to a pram for a newborn?
• Can you run with it?
• How much storage space does it have?
• How comfortable are the straps and padding?
• Does it come with different size wheels? Swivel wheels?
• How effective is the sun canopy?
• Does the seat recline?

What Kind of Stroller Can I Take On A Plane?

Here at Toddler Trips, we’re all about travel.

If you want to travel by plane, it’s super convenient to have a buggy that can fold down nicely to fit inside the cabin.

The Babylon YOYO is a great option for those looking for a compact, lightweight stroller that can be easily taken on the plane. Another popular option is the Pockit All-Terrain.

If you plan to take your buggy on the plane, you will need to check the compliant hand luggage size of your chosen airline. To do this, compare the adult hand baggage allowance with the size of your chosen buggy when it is folded up.

What Is The Difference Between A Buggy, Stroller or Pram?

One final clarification… because we get this question a lot!

At its most basic, a buggy is simply any type of baby stroller that you can use to transport your child. However, in modern usage, the term “buggy” has come to be used more frequently to refer to less expensive or lower-quality strollers, while the terms “stroller” and “pram” are generally used to describe higher-quality options.

There are a number of different factors that separate buggies, strollers, and prams from each other. Some key considerations include the size and weight of the pushchair, whether it features any additional features such as storage space or reclining seats, the quality and comfort of the materials used in construction, and how well it fares on different terrain.

One key difference between a pushchair and a pram is that a pram will always be suitable for a newborn baby. A pram typically features a lounger that can be fully reclined, and is also generally more lightweight than a stroller.

Ultimately, the choice of buggy, stroller, or pram will depend on your individual needs and preferences as a parent. Some parents might place more emphasis on portability and compactness, while others may prioritize comfort and durability for their child. So it’s important to carefully assess all of the different options out there to find the best option for you!

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What’s your recommendation for the best buggy?

Head over to our advice section for more tips on travelling with a baby or toddler!

Looking for a ‘hand free’ solution, too? You may also want to check our guide to the best toddler backpack carriers!