Buying a Travel Pushchair

When buying a travel pushchair look at things such as the fold, recline, storage space, and canopy. You can also look for accessories such as coffee cup or footmuff holder, as well as rain covers.

If you frequently travel you should consider a model that has a a compact fold and that is approved by the cabin. Our parent tester says the Joie Tourist is a great choice for this. Its single-handed folding pram mechanism makes it easy to use while playing with your toddler.

Lightweight

A travel pushchair folds quickly and compactly to fit into luggage or the boot of a car. These strollers are designed to be used with infants from birth. They usually can be fitted with an infant car seat, however adapters are required. Some are also suitable for toddlers and make them a great choice for holidays and day excursions.

There are a myriad of types of travel pushchairs on the market, so it's important to decide which one will be right for your family. For instance, if you have an infant, you may prefer a pushchair with a removable leg rest to ensure that your child's feet aren't hanging. It is also important to consider the amount of storage space you will need, as this can be a major aspect when selecting a pushchair.

If you are a frequent jetsetter and need an ultra-compact buggy that can fit in your allowance for cabin baggage, choose a model which folds down to a dimension of 48cm, 43cm, and 21.5cm. This is smaller than most hand luggage. A model that features an intelligent dynamic fold will be even more convenient to store away, since it will be able to snap into itself as an ordinary book.

A vehicle seat bundle is a different alternative. This can save you time and money, giving you the opportunity to concentrate on the components that are compatible. A brand bundle typically includes a pushchair and a car seat that are designed to match each other in terms of design and fit. They might also include extras like a parent organizer, or cup holder, which could be a great addition to your travelling.

Some brands also sell various accessories, like a baby bassinet or rain cover, which allows you to transform your travel pushchair into a double buggy, or twin pushchair. These are particularly handy when you have older siblings and want to make sure that they have a comfortable place to sit while traveling.

Folding is simple

Travel pushchairs should be simple to fold, especially in smaller spaces such as the cabin of a train or airplane. The Joie Pact Pro is a good example, with one-handed operation that our testers for parents found incredibly simple to use. This makes it perfect for parents who want to take their baby on day trips, local excursions, and air travel.

Another alternative is a travel system bundle that combines an infant car seats from the same brand. This way, you can be sure that the car seat will fit the pushchair you have chosen and will work with the chassis you've chosen for your baby. These types of bundles are often cheaper than purchasing the items separately, but it is important to ensure whether the items you're looking to buy work together before making the purchase.

If you're planning to use your pushchair to travel on rough terrain, look for one with a sturdy base with wide and large wheels that can cope with bumps and snags. Smaller wheels are hard to control on anything other than smooth surfaces. Reversible seats are also useful, as your baby can initially face their parent and then face the world when they get older.

Depending on the time of year you're planning to travel you'll also have to consider whether your pushchair will provide the protection against weather you require. A sunshade can protect your child from harmful UV rays, and a raincover will prevent snow or water from entering the pushchair. Be sure to buy the right rain cover for your particular model of pushchair, travel pushchair not a generic one.

The final requirement is that the pushchair should be light and compact. This is especially important for travel pushchairs that must be capable of folding down to a compact size. The Bugaboo Butterfly has one of the smallest folding options on the market and can be stored in overhead compartments of some airlines (although not all). Our parent tester found it really comfortable to ride in with her toddler with a large and well-constructed seat that reclines to provide a comfortable nap.

Easy to manoeuvre

It's essential to be able fold and move the pushchair easily and quickly if you are navigating busy train or bus stations with a sleeping child. This will allow you to get on and off the vehicle without disturbing your infant. Look for models with smooth front wheels that swivel to allow you to turn and move your buggy effortlessly.

Typically the travel pushchairs have smaller wheels than other types of strollers to keep their weight and size low, but if you want something for more rough terrain or for a walk across the beach, choose one with larger wheels that are more durable to withstand this type of challenge.

Some retailers and brands offer travel systems that include the pushchair, car seats and any extras you may need. This is an excellent option when you know what you want but don't want to spend hours looking for the right parts. However, always check that the items you buy will work in conjunction before buying a travel package. Certain brands provide this information on the internet or you can contact an agent for assistance.

Easy to store

If you are planning to put a pushchair that can travel in your car's boot or in the overhead bin of an airplane, it should be compact and foldable. It's also beneficial if the pushchair is equipped with a harness for the shoulder so that you can carry it with one hand, especially when your child is asleep!

When you're choosing a travel-friendly pushchair, think about how often you'll use it and what kind of terrain you'll be covering. Some travel buggies, for instance are best suited for city walks on smooth roads. They're not suited for use on the beach or off-road. If you're planning on going off-road and need an extra sturdy buggy, make sure it comes with suspension as well as more wheels that can handle rougher terrain.

Another thing to think about is whether you'll be using it from birth. If so, you should look for a buggy that has a newborn pack or a bassinet. The Babyzen Yoyo2 is a great example, featuring a clever one-hand fold and lots of accessories, including a newborn bassinet with a rain cover as well as an extremely comfortable foot muff.

If you're certain you'll only use it for short shopping trips, opt for a travel pushchair that comes with a car seat adaptor that can be attached to the chassis so that you can keep your baby in their snug car seat for most of the trip. Many travel system bundles include the car seat, however you can make your own custom bundle if you prefer.

When choosing a travel system, keep in your mind that it's likely to cost more than buying the separate items separately, so consider how much use you'll get from each component. You'll have to think about the cost of a base to connect your car seat to your pushchair and any adaptors you might require. You can find these all on the internet or in stores and some brands offer bundles that include them all, making it easy to create your dream travel system!