Pushchairs: Fashion vs function
Buying the latest must-have pushchair can be a mistake. There are several types of pushchair and each style is designed for a particular lifestyle.
The appearance of the thin blue line is the signal to spend, spend, spend
Lightweight buggies are handy for short strolls through busy places, while strollers are more sturdy and comfortable for parent and baby.
Bulky travel systems with their matching car seats try to address all a baby’s needs. And massive all-terrain 3-wheelers are better suited to the open road than the urban bus.
Changing needs
It’s almost impossible to buy a pushchair that will suit all eventualities – babies’ needs change as they grow. Many new parents try to buy the pushchair that looks like it will suit their child right from baby to toddler, hence the popularity of travel systems.
But most parents also end up buying a lighter stroller for shopping and holidays as their child grows.
Celebrity strollers
Buying 2 pushchairs could dent your pocket seriously, especially if you follow your favourite celeb’s example and opt for the trendiest pushchair money can buy. Fashion has a huge influence in what new parents rush out to buy – it's even possible to categorise expectant parents into groups based on the brands they're interested in:
'Gorgeous darling'
For this mummy, the product must be dripping with labels, bang on trend and never mind the price tag. Examples include Bill Amberg’s papoose, MacLaren's collaborations with Philippe Starck and Lulu Guinness, Bugaboo and Mamas & Papas bespoke fabric service.
Vorsprung durch Technik
This mother (or more likely father) wants the latest design innovations, great functionality and sleek streamlined looks. Favourite brands include Phil and Ted’s, Quinny, Stokke and Mutsy.
Modern classic
This parent is looking for top quality, proven in the marketplace brands, and may have a slight fear of the brand-new. For them a traditional Silver Cross pram would be lovely, with a MacLaren buggy to stash in the boot, and a Britax car seat fitted in the back.
Recent pushchair fashions
As long as their pushchair is comfy your baby won't care how fashionable it is
At the turn of the millennium, bulky 3-wheelers were all the rage, followed by the rise of Bugaboo's expensive offerings.
Unfortunately our tests show following the fashions is a poor way of getting the best pushchair.
Our testers weren't impressed with the Bugaboo Frog, favoured by celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow. They found it a bit small, tricky to fold and manoeuvre, and weren't keen on the shopping basket. Which? Best Buy pushchairs achieved test scores 20 and 30 points higher than the Frog.
The Bugaboo Gecko similarly failed to impress our testers for the same reasons as the Frog – its test score was again 20-30 points lower than our Best Buys.
Strollers are increasingly coming in for some serious attention from the fashionistas. We've pitted the Maclaren by Starck, designed by furniture designer Philippe Starck, the Jeep Candy and interior designer Anna Ryder-Richardson’s Wow Oui against some less starry competitors.
Though by no means disasters, these new kids on the block had something to learn about practicality before we’d recommend them. Only the Lulu Guinness buggy by MacLaren has lived up to our standards, maybe because MacLaren sensibly stuck with one of their winning designs and let her do the fabric.
Luckily we can offer you a range of Best Buy pushchairs that are attractive, practical and good value for money – see the 'Best Buys' section for details.