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The best prams and pushchairs for newborns 2022
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A traditional-style pram will always be a favourite with parents, and is a comfortable and secure way to push your newborn baby from A to B.
Many modern prams now come with a removable carrycot, so can transform into a stroller as your baby grows and needs to sit up.
So for extra versatility choose a model with a carrycot that can be used for overnight sleeping and that can also be converted into a pushchair seat as your child's needs change.
It's important to think about how much space you have, as this type of pram can be quite bulky to store and transport, so if you have a small hallway, live in a flat, or have a teeny car boot, make sure you have enough room before you buy!
Here's our pick of some great prams and pushchairs that are suitable from birth through the toddler years:
1. Silver Cross Wayfarer, £529
*A complete pram and pushchair system that includes everything you need from birth to toddler
*Comes with a lie-flat carrycot for your newborn that's suitable for overnight sleeping
*Can also be made into a travel system by purchasing a separate compatible car seat
This compact pram is perfect for your new baby, and will last them until they weigh 25kg (around five years old). The newborn carrycot can be slept in overnight, and it has a natural bamboo mattress and cosy liner which helps to regulate your baby's temperature.
2. Bugaboo Donkey 2
*Most storage space of any Bugaboo stroller
*Converts into a double buggy for baby and toddler or a double pram for twins (with extension sets sold separately)
*Large foam-filled wheels are great for all terrains
This spacious pushchair is a great option for parents with multiple babies, or who just want more space for storing all their baby gear when on trips out.
It has the most storage space of any Bugaboo pushchair, and it can be easily extended to create even more space in the expandable side luggage compartment and under-seat basket.
3. Cosatto Giggle 2 Bundle, £690
*Three-wheeled pram with all-round suspension so it's nippy when out and about
*Comes with from-birth carrycot (which is suitable for occasional overnight sleeping) a car seat, plus tons of other accessories
*Includes colour co-ordinated footmuff and changing bag
This ultra-light, three-wheeled pram will keep your newborn snug in the lie-flat carrycot before growing into the super stylish, cosy toe-clad pushchair. The bright, pretty patterns inside the hood are designed to stimulate your baby's senses and keep them occupied. The handle is fully height-adjustable and the pram folds easily for compact storage.
4. Mamas & Papas Ocarro, from £879
* Suitable from birth to around 15kg
* All-terrain pushchair with dual suspension
* Can be folded using one hand for ease
A sturdy and stylish pushchair that can be used from birth with a compact and easy fold - even with the seat still attached. The seat can lie completely flat for newborn comfort and also have a car seat attached to form a travel system.
The large wheels and dual suspension make it a winner for going off-road too, plus it has a large extendable hood to protect against the elements.
It's thickly padded for added comfort and a range of car seats can be attached to the chassis to form a travel system.
5. Joie Chrome DLX Bundle, £490
*Five recline positions and suitable from birth
*Dual wheel suspension with a reversible seat
*Comes with several practical accessories including a car seat, raincover and footmuff
An amazingly well-priced model that comes with the carrycot as part of the package, with linked brakes and dual wheel suspension so it's easy to manoeuvre and push.
What to look for in a from-birth pram or pushchair
1. Baby should lie flat
Your baby will need to lie down flat in the pushchair as a newborn, which is why buggies without a full 180-degree tilt are labelled as only being suitable from three to six months.
Lying flat is important as it assists with breathing, promotes lung and spinal development, and strengthens muscle tone when your baby is small.
If the pushchair doesn’t fully recline, it should have an attachable carrycot that you can use during the newborn days.
2. The seat should have several positions
Having said all this, the buggy needs to have the option to change the seat position when your baby is older and able to sit up.
If your baby wants to nap, you can lie it down (preferably flat, but some way at least), while older babies will enjoy sitting upright and watching the world go by!
Make sure it’s quick and easy to change the seat position too, as this will make trips out much easier in the future.
3. The seat can forward or rear-face
You will want to keep your eyes on your newborn at all times, so it makes a lot of sense to choose a pushchair that allows them to face towards you as you push.
When they are older, however, they will enjoy looking at the world around them (you will know they are ready when they keep trying to lean around to see where they are going!), so it’s very useful to have a seat that can easily switch to facing forward.
4. It should be comfortable
As soon as you have your newborn in your arms, you will want to wrap them in cotton wool.
That isn’t going to happen of course, but you will want your little one's mode of transport to be as comfortable as possible!
Look for pushchairs with cushioned seats, optional liners and cosy toes for cold days, and padded straps.
For your comfort too, it has to feel comfortable to push, as you will be racking up the miles when baby arrives.
5. A spacious shopping basket
When baby arrives, you will quickly realise how much you need to take out with you whenever you leave the house.
A generous basket underneath the pushchair is a must, giving you plenty of room to store changes of clothes, nappies, blankets, a rain cover, and shopping that you pick up on your travels.
Look for pushchairs that have deep baskets with wide sides, so that your basket cargo isn’t lost when the pushchair goes over a bump!
6. You can attach a car seat
Being able to attach your baby’s carseat to the pushchair with adaptors is not a necessity, but certainly very useful.
If baby falls asleep in the car and you don’t want to wake them up from their the nap, you can simply lift the car seat, place it on the buggy, and walk out of the carpark with your newborn still snoozing!
As baby gets older and settles into a routine, this will be invaluable.
7. It comes with a rain cover
It might not seem important – until you're caught in a rainstorm with your newborn!
A raincover for your pushchair is an essential for mothers in the UK.
Check that it's easy to attach and that you have room under the buggy to store it (and still have room for your belongings too).
This is one accessory that you’ll probably want within easy reach whenever you head outside.
8. It collapses easily and isn’t too heavy to lift
If you have a car or use public transport regularly, you'll need the pushchair frame to be easily collapsible.
Strollers vary in their mechanisms, with some collapsible with just one hand and others taking a lot more time and effort to close.
Make sure that it will fit in your car boot if you have a compact car (a common mistake among parents-to-be, who discover the boot doesn’t shut) and that it's light enough for you to easily lift inside.
9. You can manoeuvre it easily
Try, try, and try again!
The best way to find out whether a pushchair is easily manoeuvrable is to take it on a test run and make sure the weight is right for you.
Most stores will allow you to try out various strollers before you buy, so take a few of your favourite models for a ride to see which ones you like the best.
Make sure you try corners, and have a go at collapsing and putting it back up again.
Pushchair choices are quite personal, as what feels easy for one person might not always feel easy for another.
10. It can convert into a double
Finally, it is worth considering whether you wish to expand your family fairly quickly – if so, the ability to convert your pushchair into a double is going to save you a lot of precious pennies.
There are several pushchair models that make brilliant single pushchairs, but will allow you to add a second seat when number two arrives.
What type of pram or pushchair is best for a newborn?
The most important thing is that a newborn needs to lie completely flat, which is the best position for healthy spine development and breathing, so a pram or pushchair with a carrycot or newborn 'pod' is ideal.
The carrycot or seat should be parent facing for the first few months for that all important eye contact.
What type of pram or pushchair you choose (travel system/ three-wheeler/all-terrain) depends on your lifestyle, some have bigger wheels for going off road or more a compact fold for city dwellers.
Look for a removable carrycot or bassinet that's suitable for overnight sleeping, a large, roomy shopping basket and good suspension that can handle bumpy terrain.
A raincover and a hood that can protect little ones from the sun is also useful.
If you have a smaller house or live in a flat, a stroller that can be folded up compactly for ease of storage is another plus.
Where can you buy prams or pushchairs for newborns?
Retailers such as Amazon, Argos, John Lewis and Boots all sell prams and pushchairs. You can also visit specialist nursery gear retailers such as Uber Kids, Samuel Johnston and Kiddies Kingdom
How much does a pram or pushchair cost?
You can spend anything from £100 to over £1000, depending on what make and model you choose.
Basic prams and pushchairs can be snapped up for well under £200, often with a car seat thrown in as an extra, or if you fancy something more luxe, choose one of the designer models with hefty price tickets such as Nuna, Bugaboo, iCandy and Joolz.
They all have similar features, but the quality and materials used is often far superior the more money you have to spend.
There are however a good range of mid-priced baby pushchair brands that offer quality and good value such as Joie, Britax and some Cybex models.
What type of pram or pushchair is best for a newborn?
Look for these features when choosing a pram or pushchair for a newborn:
Carrycot
Newborns need to lie flat and also keep warm and cosy, so buying a travel system with a compatible carrycot can be a great idea. Some carrycots can even be used for overnight sleeping. They can be bulky and hard to store however, so parents should consider this before they buy. Another option is to buy a system that has a newborn pod, or a pushchair seat that can recline flat. This gives a baby the flat position without having to buy a separate carrycot. Many more compact and lightweight travel systems, designed for urban life, have seats with this capability.
Fold
Always check to see how easy it is to fold a pram or pushchair and also how small it folds. Remember it needs to be light enough to carry and also fit easily into your car boot!
Travel system prams and pushchairs come in all shapes and sizes – some are lightweight with a compact fold, others are much more bulky and designed for going off road and rural life.
Seat
Look for well-padded seat that can be either forward or parent facing.
Younger babies will prefer a forward facing seat so they can still make eye contact with their parents – older babies might like to see more of the world!
The pushchair seat should be adjustable and have at least two or three recline positions so that children can nap on the go.
For newborns a carrycot or a seat that can be reclined to a fully flat position is a must. Sometimes a carrycot come as part of the travel system package or you have to buy one separately.
Suspension
Good all-round suspension is essential for making your baby as comfortable as possible and cushioning them from bumps in the pavements. Always test-drive a pushchair to see how it handles and how well it tackles uneven terrain. This is especially important if you live in the country or plan to go on long walks. Look for large wheels which give your baby a smoother ride over bumps (air-filled are a plus but they do puncture, so always carry a repair kit) are essential.
Wheels
Removable wheels can be a bonus, especially for limiting mess in your car and hallway when your stroller gets muddy and giving it a more compact fold.
You'll also be able to choose between solid or air filled tyres. Solid tyres are puncture-proof, but wheels filled with air do create a more bump-free and smoother ride.
Some strollers have three wheels, with one larger wheel at the front. This can be useful for navigating the pushchair up and down kerbs and make the pushchair much more easy to push over bumpy terrain.
Read on:
• The best lightweight travel systems
• The best travel systems for your baby
• The best travel systems under £500
