Pushchairs: How to buy the best pushchair Top pushchair buying tips

Pushchairs can come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes - from straightforward strollers to multi-functional travel systems or even all-terrain buggies - so how do you know which one is right for you and your child? Here are some pointers to help you decide.

Buying a pushchair: top five factors

We asked more than 900 pushchair owners to tell us what they believed to be the most important consideration when buying a pushchair:

  
1.Ease of folding and unfolding
2.How easy it is to manoeuvre
3.Safety
4.Price
5.Weight

 

(Which? baby products survey, January 2011)

We've tested and reviewed over 150 pushchairs, all based on what it's important to parents. Both our lab experts and parent panel look at all aspects of each pushchair, so only the very best become Best Buy pushchairs.

If you're not a member you can see all our reviews, from child car seats to baby monitors, all for a £1 trial subscription to Which?

Which? video guide to buying a pushchair

Our video gives you the top five tips to help you buy the best pushchair for you and your baby.

 

Please enable JavaScript to access this content.

Practical tips to help you find the best pushchair

  • We'd suggest you try out a pushchair before buying it, so you can get a proper feel for how it handles and folds, and for the amount of storage space it offers.
  • How heavy is it? If you think you'll need to pick up your pushchair regularly - getting on and off buses or up a flight of steps, for example - a lightweight buggy can make life easier.
  • Think about how you're going to be transporting your pushchair. If it's going in a car, make sure you've got enough space for it to fit comfortably into your boot. Our pushchair reviews will tell you whether a model will be too big for the average boot.
  • Don't leave it too late! Trying out pushchairs with a large bump can be tricky.
  • Pushchairs are subject to fashion, and manufacturers regularly change patterns, designs and materials, so last season's designs are often available at sale prices.
  • Check which accessories are included with your pushchair. For instance, a rain cover is optional on some models. You can only make meaningful price comparisons when you know what's all-in with each deal.
  • If you want to buy a pushchair from a local baby shop, try Babydirectory.com, a site that lets you search by the type of product you're interested in for relevant local shops.
  • Some baby shops and websites, such as Mamas & Papas, operate a baby shower gift list service along the same lines as a wedding list, so presents aren’t duplicated.

Pushchair advice from parents

Watch our video for more top tips from parents using pushchairs day in, day out - before heading over to our pushchair reviews to find the model to suit your lifestyle.

 

Please enable JavaScript to access this content.

More for your baby...

Which? works for you