"Stroller" is the word you will see in most searches, "pushchair" and "pram" are the usual UK terms, and shops use all three. This guide does not pick a winner. It sets out the questions that decide which type suits you, with the figures we hold for the 41 models we handle. For the words themselves, see pram vs pushchair. It is not medical advice: ask your midwife or health visitor how your own baby should sleep and sit.
Start with how you will use it
Write down where most trips will happen before you look at a single model.
- Car boot and pavements: folded size and weight matter most, because you will lift it every day.
- Parks and country paths: wheels and suspension matter more than a small fold. Each model page lists tyres, suspension and what it is best on.
- Public transport and a small flat: a compact fold and a pushchair that stands up on its own when folded.
- Flights and holidays: a light travel model, usually as a second buggy.
Full-size, compact and travel: what each is for
We group our catalogue into three types. The figures below come straight from that data.
| Type | Models | Weight (kg) | Folded volume (litres) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Full-size pushchair | 26 | 10.2 to 15.3 (25 recorded) | 116 to 281 | | Compact pushchair | 8 | 6.5 to 11 | 63 to 168 | | Travel pushchair | 8 | 6 to 7.6 | 41 to 96 |
- Full-size: the all-rounder and the closest to a traditional pram. Biggest to lift and store.
- Compact: a middle ground for a smaller boot or flat.
- Travel: the lightest and smallest folds. Seven of the eight fold to cabin-bag size, according to the makers' figures.
Folded volume is length x width x height, so a lower number really does mean less boot space. Check the exact folded size on the model's page in our buggies section against your own boot.
Newborn needs: carrycot, lie-flat seat or insert
If you are buying before the baby arrives, this is the question that narrows the field fastest. A young baby needs a flat, supported lying position, and there are three common ways to get it:
- A carrycot: a separate bed-style unit. In our full-size models, 18 of 26 include one and 8 sell it separately. In compact, 1 of 8 includes one, 5 sell it separately and 2 have none.
- A lie-flat seat: 13 of the 26 full-size models, 7 of the 8 compact and 4 of the 8 travel.
- A newborn insert: one travel model uses an insert rather than a carrycot.
All 26 full-size and all 8 compact models are listed as suitable from birth. Seven of the 8 travel models are, with one (the Bugaboo Butterfly) listed from 6 months. "Suitable from birth" is the maker's claim and often depends on the set-up, so read the manual. Our guide to when a baby can go in a pushchair goes through this in more detail.
Weight and fold: what the numbers mean
- Weight is what you lift into the boot. Full-size models run from 10.2 to 15.3kg, compact from 6.5 to 11kg and travel from 6 to 7.6kg.
- One-hand fold: 12 of 26 full-size, 7 of 8 compact and 7 of 8 travel. Handy when you are holding a baby.
- Stands when folded: 18 of 26 full-size, 7 of 8 compact and 7 of 8 travel. Useful in a hallway or on a train.
- Folds with the seat on: 28 of the 42 models. Worth checking if you do not want to take the seat off every time.
Not sure how a particular model folds? See the fold guides, and our fold-up pushchairs compared guide for the smallest and easiest folds.
Car seats and travel systems
A travel system is a frame that takes a carrycot, a seat and a car seat. Our catalogue records whether a model takes a car seat: all 26 full-size and all 8 travel models do, and 6 of the 8 compact. Adaptors are often sold separately, so check the note on the model page. We do not sell car seats and this guide gives no advice on them, only on compatibility. Browse what is listed as a travel system.
Will it grow with you?
- Child weight limit: the maximum child weight is 22 to 25kg for full-size models and 22kg for compact and travel.
- A second child: 11 of the 42 models convert to a double. Our guide to double pushchairs for a newborn and a toddler covers them.
- A second buggy later: many families add a light travel model. Our best travel strollers and cabin-approved strollers guides cover those.
Which type suits which use
| If this sounds like you | Look at | | --- | --- | | One buggy from birth, lots of walking | Full-size, with a carrycot included | | Small boot, flat, public transport | Compact, with a one-hand fold | | Second buggy, holidays, flights | Travel, once the baby can use its seat | | A second child on the way | One of the 10 models that convert to a double |
To see real examples side by side, try the Bugaboo Butterfly 2, the Babyzen YOYO3, the UPPAbaby Vista V3 and the iCandy Peach 7, or compare any pair on our compare pages.
Why buy second-hand, and what to check
Pushchairs are often used for a year or two, so a good second-hand one can cost far less than new. The catch is condition. Our second-hand pram checklist covers what to look for, and our safety page sets out the checks we run on every buggy we refurbish. You can see current stock in the shop.
When you have chosen and no longer need the old one
Selling your old buggy pays for the next. Rebuggy gives you an instant price, a free box and free FedEx collection (DPD for the biggest prams), and pays within 48 hours of it passing our check. Get your price.