Strollers and buggies are ideal if you’re starting to feel weighed down by an unwieldy travel system, need a set of wheels that will fold away neatly into the boot of your car or even to take away with you on holiday. Designed as the next step on from a traditional travel system, a stroller (also termed a buggy or pushchair) is designed for slightly older babies – usually six months plus – and is lighter, more upright, and folds down into one piece so it’s ideal for travel, storing at the nursery buggy park or packing away quickly in an overstuffed café. However, if you are shopping for a baby under six months, do check the stroller is suitable as they’ll need to be able to lie flat for safety reasons.
Strollers will fold down in either one of two ways – flat fold or an umbrella fold – both have pros and cons and depending on what you plan to use it for. Umbrella fold pushchairs slip in easily behind doors or in cupboards and the fabric usually stays off the floor, which is useful when parking outside or in public areas.
Flat fold pushchairs typically fold up smaller and take up less space in your boot. Some of the really compact ones can even fit in the overhead compartments on planes, however if you are looking specifically for a flight, do check with your airline first as regulations vary. Plus, don’t forget to check for ventilation and sun protection on your stroller (a UPF50+ hood is ideal) to keep little ones shaded and out of the way of harmful rays too.
Designed for city living, this funky-looking stroller is built to last with durable materials that are also lightweight. Coming in at just 8.9kg, the Bee5 is very portable and it also boasts a one-handed, one piece fold that breaks down into a free-standing bundle – ideal for storing behind a door or on a luggage rack on busy transport. This stroller may be one of the pricier buggies on offer, but it does come with lots of lovely details, including extendable back and foot rests, a plush seat, an adjustable leatherette handle and the seat can also be reversed so your baby can be world or parent-facing. The Bee5 is compatible with plenty of car seats and there is also a separate carrycot available (sold separately) so it has the option to be used from birth.
If you’re looking for the ultimate ultra-compact, lightweight buggy to take away on holiday, than you should definitely consider the Pockit+. Designed with travel in mind, this clever little buggy weighs a teeny 5.6kg and folds down to a cabin-luggage-complaint 34 x 20 x 42 cm bundle. It also has lockable double wheels so it should be able to cope with a variety of terrains (hello, beach) and unlike previous incarnations, it now comes with a raincover too, so you can handle tropical storms. You can also purchase an adapter which allows the Pockit+ to be used with a range of car seats including all Cybex models – ideal if you know you’ll be going a bit of a road trip.
Famed for their oh-so comfy Omni 360 baby carrier, it’s no surprise that this stroller also comes with a "Back Healthy" stamp for both baby and parent by the AGR of Germany. Not only that, but the Metro is very compact with a folded size of just 52 cm x 44 cm x 23 cm, which would make it an ideal stroller for those who use public transport daily and it is small enough for most airplane lockers too. At just 6.3kg it is also light enough to carry in one hand (there’s a useful carry handle in the seat for use when it’s folded) and it has a one-handed fold so you can keep your little one close when you’re collapsing your pushchair. It also has larger back wheels and suspension to create a smooth ride.
Baby Jogger create prams with active parents in mind, and the City Mini GT2 is designed for supreme maneuverability. With three ‘forever-air’ rubber tires and all-wheel suspension, this buggy is designed to be driven on all different types of terrain, while your child experiences a smooth ride. The stroller also has lots of unique benefits including an adjustable handlebar, a hand-operated parking brake and a full-coverage UPF50+ canopy with magnetic peekaboo window, so you can keep your little one shaded and still check in on them easily. The buggy itself is fairly light (9.7kg) and it has a one-handed fold. This stroller also comes as a double version if you have more than one little darling to transport around.
This umbrella fold pram from celebrated British brand Silver Cross is a roomy stroller with a tall back, wide seat, adjustable calf rest and it is also suitable up to 25kg (approx. four years old), so it has plenty of longevity. The fully extendable UPF50+ hood has a ventilated section to keep children comfy, even on hot days and it has a simple click mechanism to recline the seat for sleepy tots. The Pop boasts soft touch handles, luxe Oxford woven textured fabrics and a stylish matt chassis. The wheels are also lockable, which means this pushchair should cope well with all different types of terrain and the shopping basket is also pretty generous for a stroller.
