There is no single age at which a baby "goes in a pushchair". It depends on the model, and on whether the seat lies flat or you add a carrycot or newborn insert. This guide shows what the specs we hold for the buggies we handle say about that. It is not medical advice: for how your own baby should sleep and sit, ask your midwife or health visitor.
Check the maker's minimum age first
Every model has a minimum age (or weight) set by its maker, in the manual. That is the rule that counts, not what a seller or a listing says. If you are buying second-hand and the manual is missing, look for the model's manual on the maker's website, or don't buy until you have it.
What our catalogue shows
We hold specs for 42 models. In our data:
- 41 are listed as suitable from birth and 1 (the Bugaboo Butterfly) is listed from 6 months. "From birth" often depends on how the buggy is set up, as below.
- 24 have a seat that lies flat, 6 do not (Bugaboo Fox 5, Bugaboo Butterfly, UPPAbaby Cruz V2, UPPAbaby Minu V2, Babyzen YOYO3 and Babyzen YOYO2) and for 12 we have not recorded it.
- Carrycots: 19 models include one, 18 offer one as an extra, 1 uses a newborn insert and 4 have none.
So "from birth" can mean three different things: a seat that lies flat, a carrycot that comes in the box, or a carrycot or insert you buy on top. Read the model's own page before you assume.
Seat that lies flat, carrycot, or neither
- Lie-flat seat: the seat itself reclines to flat, so the same seat can carry on into the toddler years.
- Carrycot or newborn pack: a separate lie-flat bed that sits on the frame. When your baby outgrows it, you swap to the seat.
- Seat that doesn't lie flat: the maker will usually give a later starting age, or say a carrycot or newborn pack is needed for the early months. The Butterfly is the example in our data.
If you are buying second-hand, check that the carrycot or insert is part of the sale. Some models need it for the early months and it is often sold separately.
Which should you pick?
- Newborn and you walk a lot: look at a model with a lie-flat seat or a carrycot included. Our buggies pages list the ones we handle with their specs.
- Small boot or flat: check the folded size on the model's page, and see the fold guides for how each one folds.
- Second buggy for travel at six months or so: a lighter stroller whose seat doesn't lie flat can be fine once the maker's minimum age is met.
Buying used? Our second-hand pram checklist covers what to look for, and our safety page sets out the checks we run on every buggy.
Outgrown it already?
If the pram has done its time, selling it means the next family gets it. 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, or compare the options in where to sell a pram.