How to choose a pram, pushchair or travel system

Choosing a pram or pushchair is often the first big buy for a new baby, and the choice can feel endless. The good news is that a handful of questions narrows it down quickly: how old is your baby, where will you use it, and how will it fit into your daily life? This guide walks through them in plain English, and points to the official safety advice along the way.

The main types, in plain English

The words are used a bit loosely in shops, so here is how the NHS describes them:

• Pram: gives a baby plenty of space to sit and lie comfortably, but takes up a lot of room and is hard to use on public transport. If you have a car, the NHS suggests looking for one that can be dismantled easily, and says you may need a pram harness to strap your baby in securely, so it's worth thinking about one at the same time.
• Pushchair (also called a stroller or buggy): a lighter, folding seat on wheels. The NHS says pushchairs are only suitable for young babies if the seat fully reclines so they can lie flat, and advises waiting until your baby can sit by themselves before using any other type.
• Carrycot on wheels: a light, portable cot with handles that often attaches to a wheeled frame. Your baby can sleep in it for the first few months.
• 3-in-1 travel system: a carrycot and a set of wheels (a "transporter") that converts to a pushchair when your baby outgrows the carrycot. Many sets also include a car seat that clips onto the frame. More on that below.

Baby carriers and slings are a different thing altogether. If you're thinking of one alongside a pushchair, the NHS recommends the T.I.C.K.S. rules for safe babywearing (tight, in view, close enough to kiss, keep chin off chest, support the back).

Newborns need to lie flat

This is the single most important thing to get right if your baby is very young. RoSPA says babies in a pram or pushchair should travel flat on their backs until around six months old, when they are strong enough to support their own heads. It also warns that non-reclining seats are not suitable for a child under six months.

In practice, that means a newborn needs either a pram, a carrycot, or a pushchair whose seat reclines fully flat. Check the maker's stated minimum age for each mode, and look at how flat the seat actually goes. If a listing says a seat is "suitable from birth", look for the detail on how it does that, such as a lie-flat position or a carrycot.

Trading Standards South West adds a useful reminder: a baby cannot safely sit up unaided until at least four months of age. So it's worth deciding early whether you want a lie-flat pram or carrycot for the first months, or a single system that changes as your baby grows, before you start comparing models.

Safety marks and checks

Look for the standard

RoSPA says that whether you buy new or second-hand, you should always look for a reference to a safety standard on the product. For pushchairs and prams, that is BS EN 1888-1:2018+A1:2022 or, on older products, BS 7409:1996. Trading Standards South West notes that older second-hand pushchairs might instead be marked BS EN 1888:2012 or BS EN 1888:2003. The marking is usually found on the frame or the seat.

Check the basics before you buy

The NHS suggests checking that:

• the brakes are in good working order
• the handles are at the right height for pushing
• the frame is strong enough

RoSPA and Trading Standards South West add some more things worth checking, ideally in a shop where you can handle the product:

• A five-point harness. Both recommend one. Trading Standards South West notes that many older pushchairs only have three-point harnesses.
• Parking brake. Lock and unlock it and then push. The parking brake should work both forwards and backwards.
• Folding locks. Trading Standards South West says there should be two safety locks to stop the pushchair folding up with a baby in it. Check it is properly unfolded and "locked" together before use.
• Stability. It should feel stable in all directions.
• No damage. Look for sharp edges or torn fabric.

Think about real life

Safety basics aside, the best pushchair is the one that works for the way you live. These are the questions worth asking yourself. They're our suggestions rather than rules, though the NHS and Trading Standards South West raise several of the same points.

• Will it fit the car? Measure your boot and compare it with the folded size on the maker's listing. Weight matters too if you'll be lifting it in and out. The NHS suggests choosing a light pushchair if you'll be lifting it on to trains or buses.
• Where will you use it? Pavements, parks, uneven paths and shops all suit different wheels and suspension. Check the maker's published details for wheel type and folded size, and compare them side by side.
• Who will push it? If two people of different heights will use it, check that the handle height suits both. Some handles adjust, some don't.
• How easy is it to fold? Try it with one hand, as you might have to when you're holding a baby. Keep your child well away from the moving parts whenever you fold or unfold it.
• Will it last? Trading Standards South West suggests weighing up the cost of an age-restricted pushchair against one that can cater to your baby's growth and development as they age. It's worth working out how many months you'd realistically use each option.
• Storage. A pram takes more space at home as well as in the car.

If you can, try before you buy. Trading Standards South West says not to be afraid to try before you buy and to make sure you're happy using it.

Travel systems and car seats

A "travel system" usually means a pushchair frame that a car seat can clip onto, so you can move a sleeping baby from the car to the pushchair without unbuckling them. The NHS describes group 0+ car seats as rear-facing seats for babies up to about 15 months or 13kg, and notes that some of these can be clipped onto a pushchair frame.

If you're considering one, check these things:

• Which car seats fit which frame. Some frames need separate adaptors, and not every seat fits every frame. Look at the maker's compatibility list.
• The car seat itself. It still has to be a UK-approved car seat with an E-mark label showing R129 or R44. Our car seat guide explains the labels and the law. Whatever pushchair you choose, the car seat has to suit your baby and your car.
• How long your baby will use it. Infant carriers are outgrown first. After that, your baby will need another car seat, so think about whether you'll keep using the same pushchair frame with a different seat.

One safety point to remember: The Lullaby Trust says car seats are designed to keep babies safe while travelling, not as a main sleeping place, and recommends taking your baby out as soon as you reach your destination. That applies even if the seat is clipped on to a pushchair frame.

Pushchairs and safer sleep

Babies will nod off in a pram or pushchair. Here is what the official advice says:

• The NHS advises always placing your baby on their back to sleep, with their feet at the bottom of the cot, Moses basket or pram ("feet to foot").
• The Lullaby Trust says the base of a pram or pushchair should be flat and not sloping, and the hood should be kept down indoors.
• Don't cover a pram or pushchair with a blanket or material to keep the light out. The padded sides can trap more heat, so check your baby's temperature by feeling the back of their neck or chest.
• The Lullaby Trust advises against letting babies sleep in a seated or inclined position. If there's no other option, a baby needs to be in the lie-flat position, which must be completely flat, not just reclined.
• Don't let a baby sleep unsupervised in a pushchair seat. The Lullaby Trust says the straps keep a baby safe in the pushchair but are not tested for unsupervised sleep.

The NHS says the safest place for your baby to sleep for the first six months is in a cot or Moses basket in the same room as you. A pram or pushchair is for getting around.

Using it safely day to day

RoSPA's advice for pushchairs and buggies is short and practical:

• Keep your child harnessed in at all times and never leave them unattended.
• Don't hang shopping bags on the handles or put coats and bags on top, as these can cause it to tip over. Trading Standards South West says a pushchair can easily become overloaded and tip.
• If you use a buggy board for an older child to stand on, make sure it's suitable for your pushchair and fitted correctly.
• Avoid non-approved accessories that can cause damage.
• Look after it. Regular maintenance matters, and incorrect folding can damage the product.
• Always read the instructions before assembling and using it.

Trading Standards South West also says not to stick your pushchair into the road while waiting to cross.

Buying second-hand

RoSPA supports second-hand pushchairs but advises caution. If you're buying or accepting one:

• Check that it hasn't been recalled. You can use our Check my gear search, and the full GOV.UK list.
• Check it's marked with the safety standard (see above).
• Check the harness has five straps, isn't frayed and has a secure buckle. Check for damage such as sharp edges or torn fabric, and make sure the wheels aren't badly worn.
• Ask about its history: who it was used for, how old they were and how old the product is.
• If buying online, be wary of listings that don't match what arrives. Trading Standards South West warns that goods sold online can be inferior or even fake, so check the seller.

A quick checklist

• Is my baby old enough for the seat? Does it lie flat if they're a newborn?
• Is it marked BS EN 1888 (or BS 7409 if older)?
• Five-point harness, working brakes, two folding locks
• Handle height OK for everyone who'll push it
• Fits my boot, and I can lift it
• Car seat and adaptors compatible (travel systems)
• Not on the recalls list

Where this information comes from

We haven't tested any products. Everything above is based on these official and expert sources, which we read and checked for this guide. Guidance can change, so always check the latest version, and follow the instructions that come with your product.

• What you’ll need for your baby (pushchairs, prams, carrycots) — NHS
• Pushchairs and buggies — RoSPA
• Safety tips for out and about — RoSPA
• Pushchairs product guide — Trading Standards South West (Buy Wise Be Safe)
• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) — NHS
• Safer sleep advice (pram and pushchair section) — The Lullaby Trust
• Product Safety Alerts, Reports and Recalls — GOV.UK (OPSS)

This guide is general information, not medical, legal or individual safety advice. If you're unsure which product suits your baby, ask a trained retailer, your midwife or health visitor.