Often described as Joie’s best pushchair by experts, the affordable Joie Versatrax is a 4-in-1 travel system that can be used with a carrycot, infant car seat, and toddler seat in both rear- and forward-facing mode. The padded seats recline easily with one hand and are suitable from six months to around age four, with plenty of room to grow. If you want to use this pushchair from birth, the Thule Urban Glide 2 also functions as a travel system as you can attach both a carrycot (must be bought separately) and a baby car seat. The carrycot, while fiddly to fit to the chassis, lies flat and is both deep and roomy, making it a cosy and supportive place for newborns to lay. If you have more than one child, the Urban Glide 2 can also be bought as a double buggy. A lightweight double stroller may have less features and comfort but that is the tradeoff for the other practical features. The best traveling double strollers for long days out are those that are lightweight and small enough to lug around and store, yet feature extras such as recline, independent sun canopies and decent storage underneath. Something a double umbrella stroller is unlikely to offer. The stroller comes with a host of extras which goes some way to justifying its price. The UPF 50+ extendable hood is a decent size, the 5kg shopping basket is more than big enough for everyday essentials, and the rain cover keeps your child completely dry. There’s also a bumper bar which can be folded down with the buggy. This buggy is just what you need for busy, urban life with little ones in tow! The shopping basket is not as roomy as other models, but big enough to stash a few bits of shopping.

When compiling our list of recommendations, our trusted and experienced parenting journalists spend hours researching each product category, using a variety of sources to evaluate which products are the best.

A lightweight stroller can certainly be used as an everyday buggy. While they are designed with travel in mind, they are also practical for daily use due to their compact size and easy manoeuvrability. How long can lightweight buggies be used for?

Travel systems tend to be the go-to for parents of newborn babies because they're compatible with carrycots and baby car seats – the latter of which allows parents to transfer their baby from car to pushchair and vice versa with minimum hassle. Think about what accessories are included in the price– a raincover, foot muff and sun canopy are all useful extras.The seat sits high on the frame, which is handy for larger children who may otherwise be close to dragging their feet on the floor, and the canopy can be unzipped for added cover or lifted in places to allow for extra ventilation. The charm of the Mixx Next is in its use of high-quality material (the faux leather push bar is a nice touch) coupled with a mid-range price tag. A travel system, sometimes called a pram, is the more traditional and bulky method of transporting a baby around. All-terrain or off-road pushchairs have larger than average wheels (and often one large wheel at the front) and superior suspension so its more suitable for this type of travel. Often you can buy accessories like cup holders, bag clips/ stroller purse clip hooks, or a double stroller organiserto make the stroller more convenient. (I found mine invaluable, especially if the storage basket was small). Decide which features are an absolute must for you, and ones you could compromise on. 4. Ease of Folding Finally, we put each one through its paces with the help of real parent testers, during which they test and determine several factors, including: ease of use, sturdiness, storage available, how the recline and brake performs, the quality of accessories, cleanliness, aesthetics and value for money.

We also spoke to buggy expert Emma Redding, founder and director of BuggyFit, who sees a huge range of buggies through her work and regularly fields questions about the right stroller for both parent and child. She was able to advise us on what most parents are looking for when choosing a lightweight buggy. As with the Bugaboo, the price is a little on the expensive side, but the luxurious quality of the Peach means that it will last for years and as it can convert from a single to a double is a buy with great longevity.Read next: The best buggy boards to buy, as tested by parents Why do babies need to lie flat in a pram? Come rain or shine, this pushchair has got you – or should we say your baby – covered. The included rain cover has its own pouch for easy storage when it’s not in use and the UPF 50+ sun shade gives full coverage on sunnier days.

Key specs – Age range: Suitable for 0 months to 22kg; Wheels: All-terrain wheels; Folded dimensions: 83.5 x 51.5 x 31.5cm; Unfolded dimensions: 92-83 x 60 x 98.5-108cm; Weight: 12.6kg For older babies and toddlers, the seat has three recline settings, the lowest of which is an almost-flat recline, and the hood, which comes with an aerated peekaboo window, can be extended on warmer days. The downside is its high price tag, although it’s expected from a premium brand such as iCandy. While you may find some of the features included here in more affordable models, we don’t think you can beat the iCandy Orange 3 for overall style. The new textured velour fabric, for instance, is a lovely touch that really sets it apart from the competition.First you'll need to establish what kind of pram will suit your needs. Are you looking for a travel system that you can attach a carrycot or baby car seat to? Or are you after a lightweight buggy or umbrella stroller for nipping around the city? A convertible double buggy may be better suited to you if you need to ferry two children around. Or maybe you're in need of a pushchair that can be fitted with a buggy board to accommodate an extra passenger? The Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) further rounded out our research by providing essential safety information on buying and using a buggy. What is a stroller? What lets it down in terms of functionality is the basket which can hold 4kg in weight but struggles to fit a changing bag inside. It can also take over an hour to assemble. Granted, you may pay a bit more for Stokke products, but for the extra money you get a whole load of additional features, advanced comfort, stylish design, reliability, durability and optimal customer support.