With the unpredictability of British weather, it’s best to be prepared for both a sudden downpour and blinding sunshine when out and about.
But when you’ve also got a baby and a pushchair in tow, how can you weather-proof it so you’re prepared for every eventuality? And what accessories should you look for if you’re in the market for a new pushchair?
Read on for some tips and tricks for when you’re on the move, or head straight to our pushchair reviews to discover the best ones we’ve tested.
Which accessories are worth having?
There are lots of pushchair accessories out there from brands like Bugaboo, iCandy and Babyzen. Many come as standard but there will also be optional extras you can buy separately.
All of our pushchair reviews list the accessories they come with as standard, as well as optional extras and accessories that are available for that pushchair. You can find this information under the ‘Tech Specs’ section of the review.
Make sure you check what your prospective pushchair comes with to ensure it suits your needs.
Hood or sun canopy
Pushchairs almost always come with hoods included. They protect your baby from wind and rain, offer protection from the sun, and block out some of the daylight if your baby needs a snooze in their buggy.
Many hoods now have built-in UV protection to protect your baby’s sensitive skin, although it’s not part of our tests to check if the UPF factor stands up to manufacturer claims.
Look for a pushchair with an extendable hood that can be pulled right over your baby – the amount of cover a hood provides does vary and we make a point of commenting on hood size and practicality within our reviews.
We also check if it has any windows or mesh panels that provide ventilation but may also let water in.
Do sun covers draped over a pushchair cause it to overheat? Find out by reading our pushchair safety tips guide.
Raincovers
Should the weather turn, a clear, plastic raincover could be essential. Check if your pushchair has one included or if it’s an optional accessory that you can buy from the manufacturer website.
You can buy universal fit raincovers for pushchairs and travel systems if it’s not included. We spotted raincovers at John Lewis, Amazon and Boots.
Rain covers are typically compact to stow away, so handy to keep in your changing bag or shopping basket so they’re with you on all journeys.
After use, make sure you let them thoroughly air dry before packing them away for future use.
Other accessories
A footmuff or apron is good for colder snaps to make sure your baby is kept warm and dry. They tend to have water-repellent material on the outside and fleece linings on the inside to feel extra cosy.
Mosquito nets can be useful for holidays abroad to protect your little one from mosquitos, flies or wasps, while a detachable parasol (such as this Bugaboo umbrella) can protect against the sun angled at the best position.
Look out for pushchair handle muffs or handwarmers. These are special gloves that stay attached to the pram or pushchair handle, but you can slip your hands into to keep them toasty.
We’ve spotted handle muffs for sale at a range of retailers and manufacturers including JoJo Maman Bebe and Maxi Cosi.
All-terrain tyres
Not just designed with off-road treks in mind, all-terrain tyres can be useful for winter walks when there’s ice or snow on the ground or slippery leaves to contend with.
Look for pushchairs with large, rubber air-filled or foam-filled tyres with thick treads that can cope better on slippery surfaces.
All-terrain pushchairs can be four- or three-wheeled, although some three-wheel pushchairs are designed as running or jogging buggies, and can be quite long and bulky. The model below is the Thule Urban Glide 2.
There’s a filter on our pushchair reviews so you can view which all-terrain models we’ve tested to make your choice easier.
Mudguards can be handy to prevent any splash-back on your legs. However, check they’re not too close a fit to the wheels or they could trap debris and mulchy leaves under the mudguard and affect how easy it is to push.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/2022/01/how-to-weather-proof-your-pushchair/