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Baby guide

How to Choose a Pushchair: A Practical Guide for New Parents

9 July 2026 · Baby

A pushchair is one of the biggest baby buys, and one you’ll use every single day, so it pays to choose with your actual routine in mind rather than the shiniest model in the shop. Get the practical stuff right and you’ll barely think about it again. Here’s how to narrow it down.

The short version

Start with whether you need it from birth (lie-flat or car seat combo). Then match the fold and weight to your car, home and lifestyle. Easy one-handed folding and a smooth push matter more than gadgets.

Start with your baby’s age

Newborns can’t sit up, so they need to lie flat. That means a pram, a carrycot, or a car seat that clips onto the frame. If you’re buying for a newborn, check the pushchair is suitable from birth or that you can add a carrycot. Once your baby can sit up, your options open right up.

Travel system or lightweight buggy?

This is the big fork in the road.

  • Travel systems combine a chassis with a car seat and often a carrycot, so they carry a baby from newborn upwards and click straight into the car. Great if you drive a lot.
  • Lightweight buggies fold small and are easy to carry, which suits public transport, travel and older babies. Less ideal from birth unless stated.

Plenty of parents start with a travel system and add a compact buggy later. There’s no single right answer.

The things that actually matter day to day

Ignore the spec sheet for a moment and think about your life:

  • Does it fold small enough for your boot, or your hallway?
  • Can you fold and unfold it one-handed while holding a baby?
  • Does it push smoothly and steer with one hand?
  • Will it get through your front door?

These unglamorous details are what make or break a pushchair in real use.

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Don’t overpay for extras

Cup holders, fancy fabrics and endless accessories are nice, but they’re not what you’ll judge it on in six months. Spend on a smooth, sturdy, easy-to-fold frame and add the extras that genuinely help you.

Ready to choose?

Browse current top-rated pushchairs and prams, ranked by real parent reviews, then check today’s price on Amazon.

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Frequently asked questions

Can a newborn use any pushchair?

No. Newborns need a lie-flat option such as a pram, carrycot or a compatible car seat. Always check a pushchair is suitable from birth, or add a carrycot, before using it for a newborn.

Is a travel system or a lightweight buggy better?

Travel systems suit newborns and combine with a car seat and carrycot, while lightweight buggies are easier to fold and carry for older babies and travel. Many families end up owning both over time.

What's the most important thing to check?

How it fits your real life: whether it folds small enough for your boot or hallway, pushes easily one-handed, and suits your baby's age. Those beat any long feature list.