Things to Consider when Choosing Your First Stroller or Pushchair
Congratulations – becoming a parent for the first time is so exciting! There are so many strollers on the market, it can be hard to know where to begin. From travel systems and lightweight pushchairs to prams and buggies, finding the right fit for your lifestyle and budget can feel overwhelming. If you’re wondering how to choose a stroller, that will work for your growing family, this guide walks you through the most important things to consider. It’s a really big decision as it’s an expensive purchase and something you want to get right. I decided to write this post as I wish I’d read something like this when we were picking out our first pushchair.
Note: Pushchair or buggy are the English words for the American Stroller.
Mamas & Papas Flip XT3 | Joolz Aer+ | UppaBaby Viata
My Personal Experience of Choosing a Stroller or Pushchair
As a stay-at-home city mum of two little boys, my pushchair (stroller to my American friends) is probably my most used item, and I’ve been through my fair share of them. This guide will tell you everything you need to consider, and I’ll also share my recommendations.
When I was pregnant with my first, we lived in the suburbs of England. Everyone seemed to go to Mamas and Papa’s and buy one of their options, which is exactly what I did. I bought the Mamas and Papas Flip XT3 and got it at a great sale price. For the price, it was great, but it didnt really fit all of my needs. It didn’t end up being a suitable long-term solution, which I will talk more about below. I really wish I’d done more research and read up on how to choose your first stroller before I made a decision!
We then moved to New York City, where I had a secondhand Bugaboo Cameleon (which was absolutely terrible). As well as a few budget options from Amazon before getting my current pushchair, the UppaBaby Vista. We also have a Joolz Aer+, and I’ll go into more detail on these later. We’re now living in London, so I’ve tested many pushchairs in many locations!
You can avoid making the same mistakes as I by doing research (and reading this post)! So please grab a cup of decaf and let’s dive in.
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How to Choose a Stroller or Pushchair That is Right for You
Below are some of the most important things to consider when you’re thinking about how to choose a stroller or pushchair. I know I didnt take into account some of them and then regretted it later.
Things To Consider Before Bying a Stroller:
How Many Children do you Want?
This was my biggest mistake. I knew I wanted more than one child, but the Mamas and Papas Flip XT3 I originally chose is only suitable for one. You can get a universal ride on board, but they’re terrible and feel so unstable, so I wouldn’t recommend that.
Of course, you might not have decided how many children you want yet, but this is definitely something to consider when buyig a stroller. You may be able to have one seat and a ride on board, but if you have two close together, you will want two seats. There are a few pushchair options that can have two seats, my Uppa Baby Vista included.
The Bugaboo Donkey is another popular option that converts to two seats. I discounted this as, on measuring it, it wouldn’t fit through the door of our NYC apartment. So make sure to measure before you buy!
How Often and Where Will You Use It?
Living in the city, we don’t have a car, so I use my pushchair daily, usually multiple times a day. Our UppaBaby Vista lives in our hallway and rarely gets folded. Although it folds easily, it’s not a one-handed fold like our Joolz Aer+.
In full disclosure, the UppaBaby Vista is a big pushchair. My sister-in-law has it, and she has to remove the wheels to get it in her small car, so again, be sure to measure before you buy.
If you’re living in the suburbs and are in and out of the car all the time, you’ll likely want something that is lightweight and you can fold up easily. The Joolz Aer+ is a great option.
READ MY FULL JOOLZ AER+ REVIEW HERE
If you’re in the countryside, I hear the Baby Jogger is a great option for all terrains. However, I haven’t tried it personally.
How Musch Storage Does it Have?
A newborn needs a lot of things, spare clothes, nappies/diapers, maybe bottles and other feeding equipment. Your baby will quickly become a toddler. If they’re like mine, they will still need spare clothes, many many snacks and also a whole pile of sand toys and ‘truck friends.’
I find it ideal to store all of this under the pushchair rather than in a backpack. My Mamas and Papas Flip XT3 had a good-sized basket, but it was quite hard to get things in and out. The Bugaboo Cameleon had a tiny basket and was so difficult to find things in. The UppaBaby Vista has the biggest basket, which is so handy. I use it to do grocery shopping, and my 4-year-old sometimes sits in there when he needs a rest!
Top Tip: Buy the upper adaptors for the seat at the start. They give you even more storage room, and your little one will get a much better view by being raised up. If you plan on having more than one child, you will need to get these eventually anyway.
Again, if you mainly travel by car, you may not need so much storage space but find it incredibuly useful.
Joolz Aer+ | Chaep Amazon Option | UppaBaby Vista
What is Your Budget?
A pushchair is one of the biggest expenses when you’re preparing for a new baby. Of course, something you start to choose a stroller.
From my experience, if you plan to use your pushchair a lot, it’s better to buy a pushchair that is high quality and will stand the test of time rather than going through multiple cheaper ones.
My Reccomendations for Buying a Stroller
I hope the above section has given you some ideas on how to choose your first pushchair. Below, I’m going to give my recommendations; however, please think about the above and do your own research as well! Go to a store, test them out and think about the key features you’re looking for!
The Best Overall Stroler
I highly recommend the UppaBaby Vista. It is big, but this means it can accommodate 2-3 children easily, and it’s such good quality, it will stand the test of time. Plus, the amount of storage space is like no other pushchair. Just make sure to measure it will fit in your car before you buy.
It’s not the cheapest option, but for us, it has been well worth the investment. If you plan to walk a lot with your baby/ toddler, then this is a great option to consider when chosing your stroller.
The Best Travel Stroller
If you’re looking for something small, lightweight, and compact, the Joolz Aer+ is amazing. It has a 10-year guarantee. We got it when our youngest was 4 months, and he has always loved it. There is also the option to add a bassinet if you want it to be suitable from birth. My almost 5-year-old can still comfortably sit in it, although I do try to make him walk!
READ MY FULL JOOLZ AER+ REVIEW HERE
A Budget Friendly Travel System
The Mamas and Papas Flip xT3 was a good budget-friendly option. It’s still not cheap, but it is less than the UppaBaby Vista and comes as a bundle with the car seat and changing bag. If you don’t plan on using it so often. This could be a great option for you. Also note, that it’s only really suitable for one child or two if you have a bigger age gap and the first one is walking everywhere.
Wait and buy it when it’s on sale/promotion. I got it at half price!
Thank you so much for reading our guide on how to choose a perfect stroller or pushchair. I hope it’s given you some helpful things to think about!
