• Jump to our list of the best baby slings and wraps

Slings and wraps use soft, usually stretchy, fabric that fits to the shape of your baby’s body and they can often be used for babies from newborn right up to toddler years. They are also ideal for both parents of all shapes and sizes, as they are adjusted to your body as you put them on.

We've spoken to sling and carrier expert Hannah Wallace, the owner of Wear My Baby, one of the UK’s leading baby carrier shops and advice service. She's outlined everything you need to know before choosing your sling or wrap, as well as how to choose the best one for you and how to use one safely.

Best baby slings and wraps at a glance

• Best budget baby sling: Juicy Bumbles Baby Sling, from £19.99 at Amazon
• Best wrap for multiple children: Lifft Stretchy Wrap, £39.99 at Amazon
• Best eco-friendly baby sling: Freerider Co. Eucalyptus Baby Sling, £58 at Amazon
• Best baby wrap for hot weather: Ergobaby Aura Baby Wrap, £49.90 at Amazon
• Best baby wrap for upright breastfeeding: Boba Serenity Bamboo, £49 at Amazon
• Best easy-to-adjust baby wrap: Dreamgenii Snuggleroo Baby Carrier, £47.62 at Amazon
• Best size-inclusive baby wrap: Gaia Stretchy Baby Wrap in Organic Cotton, £39.99 at Amazon
• Best baby wrap for making a statement: Joy & Joe Rainbow Stretchy Wrap, from £26 at Joy and Joe
• Best baby wrap for durability: Tag Togs Sa-Be Stretchy Wrap, from £37 at Tag Togs

Use these links to find out more information about baby carriers including how to wear them and why you should consider buying one.

• Why should I use a baby wrap?
• What to remember when using a baby wrap or sling
• How to wear a baby wrap safely?

Here's our pick of the best slings and wraps to buy in 2025

1. Juicy Bumbles Baby Sling, from £19.99

— Best budget baby sling

Suitable from: Birth to 3 years (15kg) | Carrying positions: 3, 2 front parent-facing and 1 world | Machine washable:  Yes | Material: 95% cotton, 5% spandex

Pros: 

• Good value
• Stretchy material
• Comfortable to wear
• Multiple carry positions

Cons:

• Basic design
• Better suited to smaller/younger babies

Coming in at under £20, the sling is made from 95% cotton with a blend of spandex for added stretch, and impressed our testers with the value the Juicy Bumbles Baby Sling offered. Parent tester, Shakira (pictured above), who used the Juicy Bumbles sling with her 4-week-old newborn said: "I thought this would cost a lot more! It provides comfort, an easier lifestyle for mums on the move and is overall a great quality buy."

Our testers found the traditional wrap-around design took a little getting used to and the instructions could have been a bit clearer, but even those who hadn’t previously used a sling before were able to get to grips with the fitting after a few tries.

Parent tester Shakira felt the sling provided a “comfortable” and “secure” carry for her premature newborn.

At 490cm in length, fellow parent tester Danielle found the sling to be “flexible and stretchy” and commented that “it doesn’t dig in or leave any nasty marks on your shoulders or back.”

Available from: Amazon and Juicy Bumbles

2. Lifft Stretchy Wrap, £42.95

— Best baby wrap for multiple children

Suitable from: Birth to 2-3 years (2.5kg to 15kg) | Carrying positions: 1, front parent-facing | Machine washable:  Yes | Material: 94% cotton, 6% elastane | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.3 stars

Pros: 

• Stretchy
• Supportive for twins and toddlers
• Easy-to-follow instructions

Cons:

• Excess material

The Lifft Stretchy Wrap is called stretchy for a reason – the cotton material has a 2-way stretch, which helps make it supportive and snug. There’s a lot of fabric, which means it can be used with babies, twins and toddlers up to around 3 years old. “I love that I’m able to fit my newborn twins in this sling, as well as my chunky toddler,” says home tester Amy, mum of 3 (although, not all 3 at the same time!).

Like many wraps, if you’ve not used one before it may take a little bit of practice to get the knack, although our home testers and Awards judge and sling expert Hannah Wallace praised its easy-to-follow picture instructions. "There were step-by-step photos to show you how to put the wrap around your body and then how to put your child in," said home tester Leanne, mum of 2.

Our testers found the Lifft Stretchy Wrap easy to put on, well-made and highlighted the strong, supportive but stretchy material. As MFM reviewer Georgia, pictured above, said "once baby was in, he seemed very comfortable and content, as well as secure. It's also comfortable to wear because it's so ergonomic." This wrap gets bonus points for being designed by a babywearing consultant and ethically manufactured in Yorkshire.

Read our full MadeForMums review of Lifft Stretchy Wrap here

Available from: Lifft and Amazon

3. Freerider Co. Eucalyptus Baby Sling, £58

— Best eco-friendly baby sling

Suitable from: Birth to around 18 months (3.6kg to 13.6kg) | Carrying positions: 1, front parent-facing | Machine washable: Yes | Material: 100% Tencel

Pros: 

• Eco-friendly
• Super-soft material
• Lightweight
• Stylish

Cons: 

• Pricey
• Better suited to lighter/younger babies than suggested age range

For parents wishing to shop sustainably, the Freerider Co. Eucalyptus Baby Sling is made from ethical, sustainable Tencel materials that are produced by extracting wood pulp from forests and eco-conscious tree farms. MFM parent tester Jen, mum of one, explained why she loved this sling: “It aligns with the values I hope to achieve as a new mum: fashionable, ethical, practical, beneficial for my baby and ergonomic.”

As with most stretchy slings, it is super-comfortable for newborns and our home testers liked how light and soft the Tencel material is. Parent tester Ella, mum of one, found the sling useful for wearing around the house. She said: “My baby feels well-supported, including his leg positioning and I find it very comfortable as long as you maintain good posture.”

The thin, breathable material absorbs 70% more moisture than cotton, according to Freerider Co. However, our awards judge and sling expert Hannah Wallace felt it overpromised on the maximum weight range of 13.6kg and suggested it'd be more comfortable for both mum and baby up to around 7kg.

Available from: Amazon, Freerider Co., Natural Baby Shower

4. Ergobaby Aura Baby Wrap, £59.95

— Best baby wrap for hot weather

Suitable from: Birth to 2 years (3.6kg to 11.3kg) | Carrying positions: 1, front parent-facing | Machine washable: Yes | Material: 100% natural viscose | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.7 stars

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Suits all body types
• Integrated pocket
• Friendly material
• Very breathable

Cons:

• Pricey

This really lightweight viscose fabric made from eucalyptus and acacia makes the Aura a good choice for use in the summer, or for parents who get hot easily.

As with several of the baby wraps, the 5 metre long Aura can be worn by most body types. MFM parent tester, Meena, mum of 3, explained: “At just over 5ft tall, I end up with masses of extra fabric, which you just tie around your waist. It was also big enough and stylish enough for my husband to rock it for a trip to the park.”

The Aura comes with clear, illustrated instructions and links to online how-to videos. “I found watching the videos the best way to learn how to use this style of wrap,” said Meena. It also has a handy label and leading-edge stitching to help make tying a breeze.

Read our full MadeForMums Ergobaby Aura Baby Wrap review

Available from: Amazon and Natural Baby Shower

5. Boba Serenity Bamboo, from £49

— Best baby wrap for upright breastfeeding

Suitable from: Birth to 2-3 years (3kg to 16kg) | Carrying positions: 1, front parent-facing | Machine washable: Yes | Material: 68% viscose from bamboo, 25% cotton, 7% spandex | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.4 stars

Pros:

• Breathable fabric
• Allows for upright breastfeeding
• Wide choice of colours and patterns
• Breathable

Cons: 

• Difficult to adjust whilst in use
• Very stretchy fabric takes getting used to
• Pricey

The Serenity Wrap comes in 8 plain colours and 2 patterned designs. MFM parent reviewer Alex, mum of 2, liked the gender-neutral colour choices and said: "the fabric felt incredibly soft, luxurious and breathable thanks to the moisture-wicking bamboo material. I also liked the colour – Rainforest, a darkish green... this one is particularly versatile and unisex."

The ergonomic design and upright positioning follow the TICKS guidelines and is recognised by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute as a ‘hip-healthy’ product. “This was a revelation for me, especially as a second-time mum,” said Alex, who added that it was: "Extremely easy, discreet and convenient." However, she also said: “The wrap is designed for breastfeeding in an upright hold only and it’s best done standing up. This may not suit everyone as the latch is different to the standard cradle hold.”

Read our full MadeForMums Boba Serenity Bamboo wrap review

Available from: Amazon and Kiddies Kingdom

6. Dreamgenii Snuggleroo Baby Carrier, £45

— Best easy-to-adjust baby wrap

Suitable from: Birth to around 12 months (15kg) | Carrying positions: 3, front parent-facing, front world-facing and hip | Machine washable:  Yes |  Material: 100% cotton

Pros: 

• Clear instructions
• Soft cotton material
• Very easy to adjust
• Multiple carry positions
• Easy to clean

Cons:

• Pricey
• Needs to be washed in a laundry bag due to buckles

If you feel daunted by a long fabric wrap, then the Dreamgenii Snuggleroo Baby Carrier might fit the bill. It's easy to slip on over your head, before you place your baby inside and pull the 2 adjustable straps to get the desired fit. An additional support band adds another level of comfort and support for the baby – and reassurance for the wearer. Designed to "recreate the movement and tight embrace of the womb" the Dreamgenii Snuggleroo is suitable for use from birth to 12 months, in a choice of 3 carry positions.

It's a great option for those who want a stretchy wrap, but need more structure and support in the design. Our parent testers praised the ease of adjustment, with MFM parent tester Kayleigh, who tested this with her 4 month old, saying, "It was very quick and easy to put on with no adjustment needed after the first wear."

Parent tester Sephira, who tested the carrier with her 5 month old (pictured above), also rated the clear instructions, which she said "described the process, step-by-step and provided links to videos for more support." She added, "I thought I wouldn't be able to fit my child in comfortably, but I felt so confident with the instructions given."

Available from: Amazon, Argos and Baby Central

7. Gaia Stretchy Baby Wrap in Organic Cotton, £24.99

— Best size-inclusive baby wrap

Suitable from: Birth to around 3 years (3.6kg to 15kg) | Carrying positions: 1, front parent-facing | Machine washable:  Yes | Material: 100% organic cotton

Pros:

• Comfortable
• Sustainable
• Clear instructions
• Fits a wide range of sizes of wearer
• Organic cotton

Cons:

• Material not as stretchy as some other wraps
• Limited colour choice

Made from soft 100% certified organic cotton, the Gaia Stretchy Baby Wrap is a stylish and sustainable choice for eco-conscious families. Naturally anti-bacterial, biodegradable and free from chemical dyes, its planet-friendly credentials really impressed our parent testers, with our MFM parent tester Eleanor commenting that "the high quality cotton, good ethics in production and values around sustainability would influence my decision to choose this."

With easy to follow instructions – which one parent tester was very pleased to spot were also sewn into the baby wrap for how-to help on the go – and a lightweight feel, the Gaia is a good option for those new to babywearing.

MFM parent tester, Samantha, who tried out the Gaia wrap with her 13-week-old baby, said, "It's extremely comfortable. I put it on in the morning and usually do not take it off until evening time when my child is ready for bed. I highly rate this in regards to comfort." While the manufacturers claim it offers 3 carry positions, these are all variations on a front parent-facing position, which you can move through from newborn to baby to toddler.

At 5m in length, the wrap claims to be size-inclusive, which it certainly is in comparison with some of the others in our round-up. MFM parent tester Eleanor, pictured above, who tested the wrap with her 4-month-old daughter, said "I am a size 20/22 and was pleased to find that it fit me perfectly and comfortably. My husband is a size XL and also had no problems fitting the sling around his body."

Available from: Amazon, Gaia, John Lewis and Natural Baby Shower

7. Joy & Joe Rainbow Stretchy Wrap Bamboo, from £26

— Best baby wrap for making a statement

Suitable from: Birth to 3 years (16kg) | Carrying positions: 1, front parent-facing | Machine washable: Yes | Material: 100% organic cotton or bamboo and cotton | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.0 stars

Pros: 

• Colourful design
• Choice of fabrics
• Washes well
• Includes matching bag and hat

Cons:

• Takes time to master how to fit
• Bright design might not be to everyone's taste

This brightly coloured rainbow stretch wrap is ideal for newborns and is very soft, with a choice of either organic cotton or a bamboo/cotton mix fabrics. The Joy & Joe wrap is a fun and adorable take on a classic wrap. Our testers found it secure, comfortable and relatively easy to fit.  Sling expert Katy Blundell loved the bright, vibrant colours, saying: "It felt well-made with good quality stitching and a lovely amount of stretch."

The material is machine washable and feels durable. As it is a wrap rather than a structured sling it will take a bit of practice to get it right, although it does come with video instructions to help. It's great choice for experienced baby wearers who want something that will really make a statement. Parent tester Kayleigh, pictured above, who tested this with her 2 month old said: “So easy to wash, no bobbling or shrinkage and air dries very quickly on a clothes horse! It’s lovely material and looks gorgeous."

Read our full MadeForMums Joy & Joe Rainbow Stretchy Wrap Bamboo review

Available from: Joy & Joe, Bambino Baby

9. Tag Togs Sa-Be Stretchy Wrap, from £34

— Best baby wrap for durability

Suitable from: Birth to 2-3 years (2.5kg to 15kg) | Carrying positions: 1, front parent-facing | Machine washable: Yes | Material: 100% cotton | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.3 stars

Pros: 

• Lots of colour choices
• Durable material
• Easy to wash

Cons: 

• Bulky and thick material
• Less supportive for toddlers
• Can be hot to wear in summer

The handmade Tag Togs Sa-Be Stretchy Wrap was popular with our testers due to its comfort for both parent and baby plus its stability; however, the thick, double-layered material could be hot to wear in warmer weather. "On the first use, my daughter fell pretty much straight to sleep, so I think that speaks for itself that it’s comfortable for her," said parent tester Bethany, mum of one.

Made from 100% jersey cotton, the sling is: "Really easy to wash," and hasn’t "overstretched or sagged," according to Bethany.

While parents need to read the instructions carefully to put on this wrap correctly, it is easy to use with practice according to our testers. As with most stretchy wraps, this is great for newborns but might not offer enough support and stability for toddlers. However, parent tester Matthew, dad of 2, commented: "our baby is particularly large but the Sa-Be makes carrying him comfortable and relatively easy."

Read our full MadeForMums Tag Togs Sa-Be Stretchy Wrap review

Available from: Tag Togs

Why should I use a baby wrap?

Hannah describes the reasons why baby wraps and slings are a great choice.

“They’re incredibly practical – you have your hands free and a baby sling takes up far less room than a stroller. Plus, there's no upper limit to how many hours a day you can carry your baby, so long as they’re safely fitted in the carrier and their airways are protected (see the TICKS guidelines, below).

They can be comfier than baby carriers – though you can wear them for trips outside, the soft, stretchy fabric is ultra-comfy and there are no buckles or clips to dig in, so they are comfortable case for wearing them around the house.

A well-fitted baby wrap can help postnatal recovery – wearing your baby helps with bonding, as it promotes the flow Oxytocin (the ‘love hormone’) and can help alleviate the symptoms of postnatal depression. They can also gradually increase your strength and fitness after the birth, as you carry your growing baby.

Babies feel happy and settled in baby wraps and slings – your newborn will feel calmed and comforted by your body’s movements and the sound of your heartbeat. It’s good for their physical, cognitive and emotional development too, as they’re able to engage with you and with the world around them. Being held upright is also great for their digestion, helps avoid colic and wind and has many of the same benefits as tummy time.

They're designed to be accommodating for different sizes – There's a common misconception that wraps are better suited to women but I’ve fitted them to thousands of men who love them and find them super comfy. You can even use them with twins!”

What to remember when using a baby wrap or sling

Hannah says:

“Baby wraps and slings can be used from day one – your baby can literally go from womb to wrap. Have a practice tying it (with a doll or teddy) before your baby arrives, then pop it into your hospital bag. Though they may look tricky to begin with, it’s easy once you’ve had a few practise tries.

Stretchy wraps can be pre-tied – tie one on at the start of the day and leave it on, like a piece of clothing. Then just pop your baby in and out as needed. Easy!

Baby wraps and slings are ideal for the first few months – though they are often safety tested to be able to carry a toddler, realistically once you baby gets heavier, parents tend to move on to a baby carrier that offers multiple carrying positions (parent facing, outwards facing, back and hip carrying).

You may need more than one carrier – a soft wrap for the early months, especially around the house, then a more long-lasting, multi-position carrier to last up to toddler years.

How to wear a baby wrap safely?

Babies should always be carried upright – so that their airways are open and clear. Babies should never be carried in a lying down, ‘cradle’ position.

Make sure it is well tightened – This is so that your baby cannot slump inside it. If your baby carrier is too big or too loose, your baby’s chin can drop down onto their chest, which could compromise their airways.

Always make sure you can see your baby’s face – Never cover your baby’s face with any fabric. Babies should be positioned high up on your chest and be close enough for you to easily kiss the top of their head without craning your neck.

Be sure not to overheat your baby – As a rough rule of thumb when carrying, your body counts as one layer of clothing, the baby wrap is at least one more and if you’re in a warm place that’s a third – so make sure they’re not overdressed.

Remember the T.I.C.K.S guidelines – This is a handy reminder of what to check for when using a baby carrier (Tight, In view at all times, Close enough to kiss, Keep chin off the chest, Supported back).

• Jump to our list of the best baby carriers

There are huge variety of different styles that allow you to carry your baby on your front, side or back. Some carriers can be used from the birth of your baby, others have a minimum weight limit. While most parents get the maximum use out of them in the first 18 months or so, many can actually be used to carry children aged three years or even more; in fact, one carrier on our list could be suitable up to the age of 7.

To compile this list, we tested a range of carriers with our parent testers and their babies, as well as consulting babywearing experts and midwives for their advice. We also compared the carriers, looking at their fabrication, features, padding and support to come up with a list that caters for all requirements.

Best baby carriers at a glance:

• Best baby carrier for easy fitting: Joie Savvy Baby Carrier, £99.99 at Very
• Best newborn baby carrier: Ergobaby Embrace Baby Carrier, £99.99 £84.91 at Amazon (Save £15.08 or 15%)
• Best budget buy baby carrier: Infantino Flip 4 in 1 Convertible Baby Carrier, £26 £21.92 at Amazon (Save £4.08 or 16%)
• Best baby carrier for parents of different sizes: Ergobaby Omni Breeze Baby Carrier, £184.90 at Boots
• Best baby carrier for back support: BabyBjörn Harmony Baby Carrier, £208.90 £142.14 at Amazon (Save £66.76 or 32%)
• Best eco-friendly baby carrier: Mamaruga Zebulo, £145 at Amazon
• Best compact baby carrier: Integra Baby Carrier, from £85 at Integra Baby
• Best baby carrier for parent-facing: Baby Tula Free to Grow Baby Carrier, £132.08 at Amazon
• Best carrier for toddlers: Tula Pre-school Carrier, £149 at Tula
• Best baby carrier for breastfeeding mums: Beco Gemini Baby Carrier, £59.99 £39.99 at Amazon (Save £20 or 33%)
• Best baby carrier for adjustability: Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap baby carrier, £54.99 £38.49 at Amazon (Save £16.50 or 30%)

Jump to what to look for when choosing a baby carrier, with advice from a sling and carrier expert
Jump to what are the alternatives to a baby carrier?
Jump to how to wear a baby carrier safely

Here's our pick of the best baby carriers to buy in 2025

1. Joie Savvy Baby Carrier, £100

Best baby carrier for easy fitting

Suitable from: birth to 3 years | Carrying positions: 4 — newborn front facing parent, front facing parent, front facing out,  on back facing parent | Machine washable: Yes | MFM star rating: 4.8

Pros:

• Good support for you and baby
• Magnetic clips
• Easy to fit

Cons:

• Buckles and clips may be difficult to negotiate at first

This carrier offers plenty of comfort for parents thanks to the well-padded straps and a really good lumbar spine cushion. It’s also good for your baby’s development, allowing their spine to be held in a natural C-shape and their hips and legs in the M-position certified by the Hip Dysplasia Institute.

Our home testers found that the bib-style buckles at the front make it easy to get your baby in and out of the carrier. You can put the entire carrier on first and make most of the adjustments, then put your child in by lowering the front 'apron' and doing up the magnetic clips. This also makes switching positions a little easier. Parent tester Helen liked how easy it was to use in different ways, saying: "to swap positions from parent-facing to outward-facing is very simple – just an adjustment of the buttons at the front."

Read our full MadeForMums Joie Savvy baby carrier review

Available from: Very, Kiddies Kingdom and Ebebek

2. Ergobaby Embrace Baby Carrier, £99.90

Best baby carrier for newborns

Suitable from: birth to 1 year | Carrying positions: 2 — front facing parent, front facing out | Machine washable: Yes | MFM star rating: 4.8

Pros:

• Good for very small babies
• Soft fabric

Cons:

• Doesn’t have a very long life
• Only 2 carrying positions

Available in two fabrics – a soft jersey knit or a cool mesh that’s great for warmer weather, the Ergobaby Embrace is made with a simple design that has just three clips to secure your baby in place, and it’s ideal for the fourth trimester when you might wear your baby on a daily basis.

Parent tester Lacey said it had already made life easier, describing it as: "very comfortable and lightweight." Because the fabric is so soft, it moulds to your baby’s shape to keep them comfortable and snug. It can be used from birth as long as your baby weighs more than 3.2kg and you can continue to use it up to 25lbs (approximately 9 months).

Parent tester Laura, who tested this with her 8-week-old baby (pictured above), said both her and her husband loved the carrier and found it easy to use, but did note that an extra pair of hands can be useful: "it's very easy to use with only a few simple clips to fasten before you're ready to go, but we did struggle to do this on our own and often needed someone else to assist with the fastenings whilst the wearer held baby in place."

Read our full MadeForMums Ergobaby Embrace baby carrier review

Available from: Mamas and Papas, Kiddies Kingdom, Amazon and Ergobaby

3. Infantino Flip 4 in 1 Convertible Baby Carrier, £36

Best budget buy baby carrier

Suitable from: birth to 2.5 years (3.6 to 14.5kg) | Carrying positions: 4 – front facing newborn, front facing parent, front facing out, back facing parent | Machine washable: Yes | MFM star rating: 3.5

Pros:

• Good price
• Good range of carrying positions

Cons:

• May not be as comfortable and durable as other models
• May not be good for very small babies

If you're interested in babywearing but on a tight budget, this is a great price for a carrier that our parent testers really rate. It can be used in 4 positions, including as a newborn carrier. It is adjustable so that it can fit different parents or carers and it will also continue to fit your baby as they grow.

It has a good and supportive waist belt that helps to distribute your baby’s weight across your torso and pelvis and thus avoid back strain and there’s a bib to protect the fabric from drool and dribble and keep the carrier looking better for longer.

Parent tester Megan was impressed, she said: "we love it. It’s easy to use and to adjust sizes between me and my partner when each of us is using it."

Read our full MadeForMums Infantino Flip Advanced 4-in-1 baby carrier review

Available from: Argos and Amazon

4. Ergobaby Omni Breeze Baby Carrier, from £184.90

Best baby carrier for parents of different sizes

Suitable from: birth to 4 years (3.2kg to 20kg) | Carrying positions: 4 – front-facing parent, front-facing out, hip and back | Machine washable: Yes | MFM star rating: 4.5

Pros:

• Adjustable head support
• Suitable for all body types
• Four carrying positions
• Super breathable
• Lightweight
• Privacy hood
• Detachable front pocket

Cons:

• High price point

"This has actually blown my mind!" was the reaction of one of our parent testers who was so impressed with the features of the Omni Breeze. With SoftFlex Mesh breathable fabric, the Omni Breeze carrier provides maximum airflow, making it a great baby carrier for warmer days. According to the Ergobaby website, it is 50% cooler than similarly comparable mesh baby carriers. The fabric is super lightweight and breathable and perfect for warm weather.

"For those looking for something for newborn through to 4 years, it’s a winner – if you’re happy to spend a bit of money, of course," noted parent tester Claire in her review of the Ergobaby Omni Breeze. It has brilliant support when outward facing, good breathability, excellent lumbar support and easy adjustability around the head and neck area.

"The carrier makes your baby feel almost weightless, plus it adapts to you and your baby’s shape; the functionality is super and it’s a breeze to put on and adjust. From teething solutions and breastfeeding privacy to being seen in the dark, the designers have thought of everything and more with the Breeze" Claire added, who tested this with their 4-month-old twins.

Providing an easy, adjustable fit for both baby and parents of different sizes, the Ergobaby Omni Breeze is certainly a hardworking and comfortable carrier that will last from newborn to 4 years.

Read our full MadeForMums ErgoBaby Omni Breeze baby carrier review

Available from: Boots, Amazon and Ergobaby

5. BabyBjörn Harmony Baby Carrier, £208.90

Best baby carrier for back support

Suitable from: birth to 3 years (3.2kg to 15kg) | Carrying positions: 4 – front newborn position, front facing parent, front facing out, back | Machine washable: Yes | MFM star rating: 4.5

Pros:

• Good back support
• Premium fabric
• Grows with baby
• Lumbar support in the waist panel

Cons:

• High price point

With a wide seat area and adjustable support for young babies, the BabyBjörn Harmony carrier has been carefully designed for hip health, keeping your baby’s hips and legs in the deep M-shape that experts agree is the healthiest position for babywearing. The head support can be adjusted through 3 positions to keep even tiny newborns’ heads supported and it’s super easy to adjust as they grow, using simple poppers.

Similar to the Joie Savvy, this carrier has an apron design with front clips that help you get your baby in and out easily and is  simple to adjust to the wearer’s body shape. It has good padding on the shoulder straps, belt and good back support to keep you comfortable even when wearing your baby for long stretches.

Sling expert Katy Blundell was impressed with the quality of the carrier, describing it as "well-made with lovely breathable fabric." It may be more expensive than some but has been designed to be used for 3 years, so it will grow with your baby and represents good value for money.

Parent tester Alannah, who tested this with their 3 month old (pictured), said "my husband found it really comfortable and supportive. It didn’t hurt his lower back or shoulders which the older carrier did."

Read our full MadeForMums BabyBjorn Harmony baby carrier review

Available from: BabyBjorn, Kiddies Kingdom Mamas & Papas, John Lewis and Amazon

6. Mamaruga Zebulo, £145

Best eco-friendly baby carrier

Suitable from: birth to 2.5/3 years (3 to 20kg) | Carrying positions: 3 – front facing parent, back facing parent, hip | Machine washable: Yes, on cold

Pros:

• Ethically made
• Organic fabrics
• Comfy for parent and baby
• Inclusive fit range
• Fun patterns

Cons:

• On the pricier side
• No world facing option
• Tricky to get the hang of at first

Mamaruga is run by 2 passionate babywearers and mums, and the Zebulo is a great quality carrier designed to keep your baby close from birth up to around 2.5 years of age. Made from 100% organic natural fabrics and woven by crafts people in Türkiye, it’s a fantastic sustainable, ethical and eco-friendly choice that’s durable and looks great.

Designed to be used from birth in the front, parent facing position, it holds your baby in a comfortable and ergonomic position, with their hips and spine in the best M-shape for growth and development. You can also use the Zebulo as a hip carrier, or as a parent facing back carrier once your baby can sit unaided.

While our parent tester, Beth (pictured), who tested the carrier with her 6-month-old baby, felt the carrier was a little tricky to get the hang of at first, by her 4th attempt she felt confident enough to put it on by herself. She explained, "the back straps that need to be pulled upwards are tricky to do as it’s quite an unnatural movement. Again, practise and learning which straps to adjust made it easier to do solo."

Beth also agrees with the brand’s claim that the Zebulo is "inclusive" and "designed to be used by everyone" as it felt just as comfortable for petite Beth to wear as it did for her 6ft husband.

Beth also praised the comfort levels for her son, who hasn’t always felt comfortable in baby carriers: "once fastened in, he is very calm in the Zebulo and starts babbling away to himself, taking in all of the surroundings. Each time we’ve gone for a walk in this carrier, he’s fallen asleep after 30 minutes or so."

Available from: Mamaruga and Amazon

7. Integra Baby Carrier, from £85

Best compact baby carrier

Suitable from: birth to 5 years (3.2kg to 24kg) | Carrying positions: 2 – back and front | Machine washable: Yes | MFM star rating: 4.3

Pros:

• Modern prints
• Great value
• Supportive
• Compact

Cons:

• Doesn’t suit every body shape

Created by mum of 3, Sarah Sadler, the Integra Baby Carrier is designed to be compact but supportive for your baby. Sling expert and babywearing consultant Hannah Wallace commented that the Integra has “all the feel of a wrap, but was much easier to use” and praised the lack of bulkiness and thick padding. However, she recommends trying the Integra first to check how well it fits your body shape.

Parent tester Paul, dad of two, said, "the Integra is a great carrier; it’s compact but also felt comfortable for our little one and supportive for my back. It is high quality – the material looks and feels great. We loved the design, which is cheerful for kids but modern for parents too."

Made to last your baby up to their toddler years, it comes in 3 sizes, with Size 1 suitable from birth until around 2 years, Size 2 from 18 months to around 3 years and Size 3 from 3 years up to 5 (admittedly, for "shorter carrying moments," as the brand points out).

Read our full MadeForMums Integra Baby Carrier review

Available from: Integra Baby and Babi Pur

8. Baby Tula Free-to-Grow Baby Carrier, £139.90

Best baby carrier for parent-facing

Suitable from: birth to 4 years (3.2kg to 20kg) | Carrying positions: 2 – front facing parent, back facing parent | Machine washable: Yes, on cold | MFM star rating: 4.6

Pros:

• Great for bonding
• Simple design
• Lots of prints available

Cons:

• Only 2 carrying positions (no forward facing option)

This carrier has gained lots of praise from our testers who all commented on how comfortable and supportive it is. It’s easy to use and the carrier distributes your baby’s weight evenly across your torso to help prevent backache. It has a simple and straightforward design that does not have surplus clips, buckles or pockets but has an adjustable section where your baby sits that grows with them up to toddler years. It comes in lots of different prints and colours in a high quality fabric and can be folded up and popped into a changing bag or under the stroller when not in use.

This carrier does not have a world-facing option, but instead is optimised for a comfortable parent-facing carry, or (as the child gets old) a back carry position. This does mean fewer options, but the benefit is a really good ergonomically-designed front carry that's likely to keep your child comfortable and content for longer. Parent tester Abigail found it useful for settling her 8-month-old daughter adding, "she gets excited when she sees the carrier as she likes to be in it."

Read our full MadeForMums Baby Tula Free to Grow baby carrier review

Available from: Tula, Babipur and Amazon

9. Tula Pre-school Carrier, £149.90

Best carrier for toddlers

Suitable from: 4 to 7 years (16kg to 31.8kg) | Carrying positions: 2 – back and front | Machine washable: Yes | MFM star rating: 4.5

Pros:

• Offers extended carrying
• Extra supportive carrier panel

Cons:

• Not suitable for people with back problems
• On the pricier side

With reinforced construction and an extra-large carrier panel, the Tula Pre-school carrier allows parents to comfortably carry kids from toddler years and beyond. Babywearing expert, Hannah Wallace explained, "this is really good value for extended carrying and offers something new and important to the market. It is ideal if your child is in age 3 to 4 years clothes and you’ve outgrown your baby/toddler carrier."

MFM parent tester Rachel, mum of 1, found it to be a great fit for her child and said,  "I haven’t used my stroller since I’ve had it on test. My pre-schooler loves it, says he’s super comfy and calls it the ‘carry cuddle’!:

While our home testers found the padded shoulder straps comfortable, they warned that this carrier is not necessarily suitable for someone with back problems. "Initially comfortable and felt very supportive but after about 5 minutes my back was very strained when used front-facing. I have a bad back (thanks kids!) and found that I wouldn’t be able to use the carrier for very long," said home tester Lucy, mum of 2.

Read our full MadeForMums Tula Pre-school carrier review

Available from: Tula

10. Beco Gemini Baby Carrier, £79.99

Best baby carrier for breastfeeding mums

Suitable from: birth to 3 years (3.5 to 15kg) | Carrying positions: 4 – front facing parent, front facing out, back facing parent, hip | Machine washable: Yes, on cold

Pros:

• Simple to use
• Good support
• Breastfeeding-friendly

Cons:

• May not be as comfortable with an older baby

This lightweight carrier is made from cool mesh fabric that's breathable yet durable. It can be used from birth up to 3 years and you can wear your baby facing you in the early months, then facing the world once they can hold their head up, and finally on your back as they head towards toddler years. It has good padding on the waist belt to avoid back strain and an adjustable chest strap to evenly distribute your baby’s weight. There’s even a handy pocket on the waistband for a packet of wipes or a muslin. Parent tester Sami tested it with her baby and said, "one of the best things I bought for my baby. We've used it so much! Perfect for dog walking too, as you have 2 free hands and great for beach walking and forests."

As there's no fabric between the baby and the wearer's body, it's easy to use for breastfeeding mothers too, as all you need to do when your baby is facing you is to loosen the side buckle, allowing your baby to lean sideways to reach your breast. Always remember to return your child to the upright position and do up the buckle again when you have finished nursing.

Available from: Amazon

11. Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap baby carrier, £69.99

Best baby carrier for adjustability

Suitable from: birth to 11.8kg | Carrying positions: 1 | Machine washable: Yes | MFM star rating: 4.3

Pros:

• Easy to adjust
• Comfortable to wear
• Ergonomic
• Suitable for newborns
• Easy to clean

Cons:

• Only parent facing
• Lacks sturdiness
• Limited age usage

The Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier uses elements from both structured baby carriers and fabric wraps to create a baby carrier that is easy to put on and adjust.

Combining style and function, the Hug & Cuddle is a good choice for parents with a newborn or young baby, at a price that makes it affordable for many.

"With my newborn, I found it easier to pull the seat fabric inwards to make the seat narrower while not wearing the carrier and then adjust as needed once he was snug inside," parent tester Helen noted in her review of the Hug & Cuddle. "The adjustable belt and straps mean that your baby is held close and tight to you, while the wrap parts and cuddle cover offer head support where needed."

Overall, if you're looking for a comfortable, easy to adjust option that won't break the bank, then the Hug & Cuddle carrier from Infantino is a great pick.

Read the full MadeForMums Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap baby carrier review

Available from: Amazon and BabyCity

What to look for when choosing a baby carrier:

Sling and carrier expert Hannah Wallace is the owner of Wear My Baby, one of the UK’s leading baby carrier shops and advice services. Here, she’s outlined everything you need to know before choosing your baby carrier. She then shares her advice on how to use one safely.

Get the right size: Choosing a baby carrier is a lot like choosing jeans, shoes or a bra – how it fits depends both on your body shape and your preferences of what feels good on your body. For example, mums who are very petite and/or have large breasts should generally avoid very bulky carriers that have internal harnesses. I spend a lot of time looking parents up and down and assessing which carriers will be perfect for their size and shape! I can almost always find carriers that will fit both mum and dad, so you don’t necessarily need two carriers – but if you get the opportunity to try on a wide range of carriers, you may find that you have different favourites.

 Get the right fit : Remember that how a carrier is fitted is just as important as which one you choose. If not well fitted, even the fanciest, high-end carrier may not offer optimal safety for your baby and can put a strain on your back and shoulders. It’s worth getting advice from baby carrier experts or your local sling library, where they can help you get the most comfortable fit.

Carrying positions: Baby carriers come with a range of positions that will help you and your baby to get a comfortable fit as they grow. From 4 months (to around 10 months) your baby can be carried facing outwards – make sure they can hold their head up well and that they are big enough for their mouth to be clear of the carrier. It’s not essential to carry your baby facing outwards – letting them ride with their arms out of the carrier is a great alternative – but many babies enjoy facing forwards and discovering the world whilst still being held snugly against the parent. Your baby will feel heavier as their weight will be pulling away from you, so only do so for short periods of time (30-45 minutes is ideal) and never when they are asleep. Many carriers can also be used for hip carrying (from 5 to 6 months) and back carrying (from 6 to 9 months).

Ease of cleaning: It’s common for parents to use their baby carriers for several hours a day, several days per week, for a couple of years, so it’ll no doubt get dribbled, chewed and vomited on. It’s worth checking if you can pop it in the washing machine or if it’s suitable for wipe cleaning only.

Cost: Most carriers tend to sit around the £130 to £150 price point, but there are much cheaper ones available. Price isn’t necessarily an indication of quality when it comes to carriers, as some of the lesser-known and more affordable brands performed as well as higher-priced brands in our tests. The most important thing is to find a baby carrier that fits you well and that you can use easily.

What are the alternatives to a baby carrier?

If you’re after a soft, stretchy wrap to wear with your baby rather than a structured carrier, we’ve also rounded up the best baby wraps and slings with our parent testers. Ideal for smaller newborns, slings differ from baby carriers in that they don’t usually have clips, buckles or buttons, and have to be tied to fit securely, which will take practise.

Backpack carriers are also great for parents who like to head places a buggy would struggle to go, whether this is an epic mountain trek or just the local market. Back carriers are suitable for babies who can sit up and support themselves – generally you’ll see them labelled as being okay for use from six months and they last until your child is three or four years old – if your back can withstand it!

How to wear a baby carrier safely

Babies should always be carried upright: This is so that their airways are open and clear. Babies should never be carried in a laying down, ‘cradle’ position.

Make sure it's well-tightened: Ensure your baby cannot slump inside the carrier. If it is too big or too loose, your baby’s chin can drop down onto their chest which could compromise their airways.

Make sure it's adjusted correctly: If your carrier is adjustable, make sure the width and height of the carrier is set to the correct size for your baby’s age and stage. There’s usually a guide to this one inside of the carrier’s waistband; if not then refer to the instruction manual.

Make sure you can see your baby’s face: Babies should be positioned high up on your chest and be close enough for you to easily kiss the top of their head without craning your neck.

Make sure their legs are positioned correctly: The IHDI (International Hip Dysplasia Institute) recommends carrying with baby’s hips in a natural "M" position during their first 6 months, with the hips bent a little more than a right angle – 90°+ (see image below). The IHDI also has a list of approved "hip healthy" baby carriers if you want more reassurance.

Be sure not to overheat your baby: As a rough rule of thumb when carrying, your body counts as one layer of clothing, the baby carrier is at least one more, and if you’re in a warm place that’s a third – so make sure they’re not overdressed.

Remember the T.I.C.K.S guide to babywearing safety – This is a handy reminder of what to check for when using a baby carrier (Tight, In view at all times, Close enough to kiss, Keep chin off the chest, Supported back).

Read more...

• What you need to know before buying a baby carrier
• Hip dysplasia and carriers; what you need to know
• 10 of the best baby slings and wraps

To celebrate the spooky season, we've rounded up a few of our favourites to help make the run-up to Halloween that bit more exciting.

Unlike Christmas advent calendars, which run for 24 days, most Halloween advent calendars count down the last 13 days of October leading up to Halloween itself. So, there's still plenty of time to buy one for your child. Why 13? Well, that's because 13 is an unlucky number... well, unless its related to advent calendars.

So, if you're wondering how to keep track of how long's left until Halloween, here are our favourite Halloween advent calendar picks.

Best Halloween advent calendar at a glance

• Best Halloween calendar for plushie fans: Squishmallows Squish-a-longs Halloween 13 Day Advent Calendar, £14.99 at John Lewis
• Best Halloween calendar for horror fans: Funko Pocket Pop! 13 Day Killer Kountdown, £39.99 at Amazon
• Best Halloween calendar for sweet treats: Iceland 13 Days of Halloween Calendar, £2.50 at Iceland
• Best Halloween calendar for a crafty Halloween: Baker Ross Haunted House Halloween Countdown Kit: £4.95 at Baker Ross
• Best Halloween calendar for kids and adults: 13 Nights of Halloween, £19.95 at Amazon
• Best Halloween calendar for parents or older children: Bird & Blend Tea Co. Spooky Countdown Calendar, £40 at Bird & Blend
• Best Halloween calendar for pin collectors: 12 Days of Beetlejuice Pin Collectors Calendar, £26.67 at Amazon

Best Halloween advent calendar & Halloween countdown calendars

1. Squishmallows Squish-a-longs Halloween 13 Day Advent Calendar, £14.99

Best halloween calendar for plushie fans

Like the Christmas version, the Squishmallows Halloween advent calendar is adorable. However, unlike the Christmas advent calendar, the 'Squish-a-longs' calendar includes spooky favourites like a vampire, pumpkin and candy corn Squishmallows.

Available from: John Lewis

2. Funko Pocket Pop! 13 Day Killer Kountdown, £39.99

Best Halloween calendar for horror fans

If you've got a major horror film fan in your house then this Funko Pop! calendar is the perfect pick for them. It includes all the spooky season icons like Frankenstein's Monster and Dracula as well as Chucky, The Bride and more!

Available from: Amazon

3. Iceland 13 Days of Halloween Calendar, £2.50

Best Halloween calendar for sweet treats

If Christmas is all about chocolate, Halloween is all about sweets. This gummy filled countdown calendar from Iceland puts the treat in trick or treat this Halloween.

Available from: Iceland

4. Baker Ross Haunted House Halloween Countdown Kit, £4.95

Best Halloween calendar for a crafty Halloween

This is one of the few Halloween advent calendars that spans the whole month of October, so you'll have a few days to catch up on. That being said, the calendar is currently 38% off and will make for the perfect crafty Halloween.

Available from: Baker Ross

5. 13 Nights of Halloween, £19.95

Best Halloween calendar for kids and adults

Just because it's Halloween, doesn't mean parents can't get in on the fun. This spooky spells calendar includes a bunch of decorations for the spooky season, making it perfect for kids and adults.

Available from: Amazon

6. Bird & Blend Tea Co. Spooky Countdown Calendar, £40

Best Halloween calendar for parents or older children

If you're looking for a way to kickstart the cosy spooky autumn vibes, then tea is a great place to start. This enchanted book of spells contains 13 potion bottles full of tea, matcha, tea powder and all you need to whip up the perfect brew.

Available from: Bird & Blend Tea Co.

7. 12 Days of Beetlejuice Pin Collectors Calendar, £26.67

Best Halloween calendar for pin collectors

If you're a pin collector, know someone who is, or you're just a huge Beetlejuice fan, then this is the perfect pick for you. For 12 days, you'll open a different Beetlejuice-themed pin making this a must buy for fans of everyone's favourite bio-exorcist.

Available from: Amazon

• Jump to our list of the best lightweight pushchairs

What they all have in common is their lightweight frames — no buggy on this list weighs more than 7kg with the seat on – and the ability to fold up small for storage, whether that's in your home, in a buggy park at a childcare facility, or on public transport. Beyond that, we've looked for extra features like good storage, great suspension, and other offerings that make these buggies stand out from the crowd.

If you have twins or children close in age, we also have double buggy recommendations — including lightweight options. Plus, pram fans, buggy sunshades and covers for when you're out and about in the summer or taking your stroller with you on holiday.

Best lightweight strollers and buggies at a glance

• Best lightweight buggy for travel with a newborn: Stokee YOYO3, £399 £305 at Natural Baby Shower (Save £94 or 24%)
• Best lightweight buggy for travel with a toddler: Silver Cross Clic 2, £295 £244.99 at Amazon (Save £50.01 or 17%)
• Best lightweight buggy for longevity: Joolz Aer2, £439 at John Lewis
• Best lightweight buggy for frequent flyers: Cybex Libelle, £269.95 at Natural Baby Shower
• Best budget buy lightweight stroller: Graco Myavo, £100 at Boots
• Best lightweight buggy for taller toddlers: Baby Jogger City Tour 2, £284 £153.51 at Amazon (save £130.49 or 46%)
• Best stylish lightweight buggy: Cybex Orfeo, £319.95 £289.95 at Kiddies Kingdom (Save £30 or 9%)
• Best lightweight buggy for use with a car seat: Joie Signature Tourist, £175 at Boots
• Best lightweight buggy for extra storage: Maxi Cosi Lara 2, £175 at Boots

If you want more information about what to look for when choosing a lightweight buggy, you'll find all the information you need at the bottom of our roundup.

Jump to what to consider before you buy a lightweight stroller
Jump to how we tested and chose these buggies

Here are the best lightweight strollers for 2025

1. Stokke YOYO3, £399

– Best lightweight buggy for travel with a newborn

Weight: 6.2kg for pushchair + 1.8kg for Newborn Pack | Age suitable for: Birth (with Newborn Pack) to 22kg (approximately 4 years) | Parent-facing option: With newborn options only | Travel system compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.4 stars

Pros:

• Newborn options (one of which folds)
• Super manoeuvrable
• Premium, stylish materials
• Cabin-approved size

Cons:

• Not the easiest to fold
• Need to buy the 0+ newborn pack separately to use from birth

The launch of the original YOYO revolutionised the lightweight pushchair industry and the 3rd iteration of the popular stroller is still as nimble, lightweight, compact and travel-friendly as its predecessors. The newest version has enhanced suspension, double the storage basket capacity (10kg!), reflective wheels, an added ventilation window and an improved buckle on the harness.

What has remained in this version is the tricky fold mechanism. Out of all the buggies on our list it has the most compact fold (and can even fold with the newborn pack attached), but it's probably the trickiest to fold down and definitely requires a little practice. Once folded however, it is cabin-approved and folds up into a very small, neat and lightpackage.

Lightweight pushchairs usually have a reputation for being flimsy and tricky to manouvre, but reviewer Daisy found the YOYO3 a dream to push: "The wheels offer a smooth ride, and I don’t feel like I need to be monitoring the pavement to steer around any potential bumps in the road (literally), as the pram can easily handle them. It’s also easier to steer and manoeuvre than larger prams I’ve tried, meaning you can zip through crowds or around tight corners confidently. We took it around busy markets and cramped shops and never had any problems."

The YOYO3 also has the option to add all kinds of accessories, from a roll-along bag (£75) to a buggy board (£110). And if you want to use it from birth, you can add on the newborn pack (£195), which resembles a cocoon and fastens over the flattened seat base.

Read our full MadeForMums Stokke YOYO 3 pushchair review

Available from: Amazon, John Lewis, Natural Baby Shower and Stokke

2. Silver Cross Clic 2, £295

– Best lightweight stroller for travel with a toddler

Weight: 6.5kg | Age suitable for: birth to 22kg (approximately 4 years) | Parent-facing option: No | Travel system compatible: No | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.4 stars

Pros:

• Ultra compact
• One-handed fold
• Very easy to steer
• Lie-flat recline
• Shoulder strap included

Cons:

• No parent-facing option or travel system option
• Small storage basket
• Not the sturdiest for everyday use

Silver Cross has been a mainstay in the lightweight buggy market for years with its umbrella-folding Pop stroller (£195), but the latest version of the iconic Clic, is a much more innovative and modern alternative. It's 1kg lighter than the Pop, has a much smaller fold and the new Clic 2 is loaded with practical features to make day-to-day use, or travel with your child easier.

A real standout feature of the Clic 2 is its fold. The one-second folding mechanism is activated with the click (hence the name) of a button and folds down incredibly compactly. Plus, it's freestanding and there's a shoulder strap included for easy transportation. You can even pack it in the included travel bag for extra protection if travelling.

This isn't the sturdiest buggy on the list, and it does struggle with more difficult terrains. On smooth ground it's a breeze to push and MFM reviewer Lucy said she often pushed it one-handed: "the pushchair moves so easily and feels light as a feather... On smooth terrain it glides without hardly touching it. For a travel buggy, the suspension felt very good. It performs well on tarmac or even short grass but struggles on gravel tracks and cobbles." Understandably, this is definitely a buggy suited to city streets or for travelling.

The buggy is suitable from birth thanks to its lie-flat ergonomic seat, but it is parent-facing only, with no option to add a carrycot or infant car seat. Some parents may not feel comfortable using it from birth, and we think this buggy really comes into its own when used with toddlers or older babies.

Read our full MadeForMums Silver Cross Clic 2 pushchair review

Available from: Amazon, John Lewis, Natural Baby Shower and Silver Cross.

3. Joolz Aer2, £429

— Best lightweight buggy for longevity

Weight: 6.5kg | Age suitability: From birth to 22kg | Parent-facing option: Only with carrycot or infant car seat | Travel system compatible: Yes | MFM Review star rating: 4.7 stars

Pros:

• Smooth one-handed fold
• Shoulder strap included
• Extendable canopy
• Folding carrycot option
• Sustainably made
• Car seat compatible
• 10-year transferable warranty

Con:

• Pricey
• Forward-facing only

The Joolz Aer2 is the latest version of the iconic Aer+, an impressive lightweight buggy that's known for its sleek look, folding carrycot, a quick, intuitive fold and wealth of excellent features. The newest iteration has all of these traits and more. Its lie-flat ergonomic seat is suitable from birth (or you can add on a carrycot for £229 or infant car seat with adaptors for £44.95) it's cabin-approved when folded and impressively, it has an extremely generous warranty.

Not only is the pushchair frame strong, durable built to last, but if you register your Aer+ online within 6 months of purchase, you will receive a 10 year transferrable warranty, meaning that if you sell or pass on your stroller when you've finished using it, the warranty can be passed on to its new user.

The Aer2 really is built for everyday use, it's a dream to push and very easy to manoeuvre through city streets and on public transport, and even trickier terrain too. MFM reviewer Ellen said, "I was able to steer it one-handed on busy streets and up and down kerbs. It is a breeze to get on and off buses, and the four-wheel suspension ensures the rider does so in comfort. I was pleasantly surprised by how smoothly it rolled over grass during trips to the park. Even the sand strewn paths in the playground posed no problem for this stroller."

With one of the highest RRPs on our list, it is certainly a premium option but if you have the budget, then its features and durability make the price worth it. According to MFM reviewer Ellen: "the Joolz Aer2’s strength is its longevity and versatility — it is suitable for newborn babies through to four-year-olds — so if you’re looking for a compact buggy that you will use every day, as well as when travelling, then it is certainly a great choice."

Read the full MadeForMums Joolz Aer 2 stroller review

Available from: Joolz, John Lewis, Natural Baby Shower and Mamas & Papas

4. Cybex Libelle, £289.95

– Best lightweight buggy for frequent flyers

Weight: 5.9kg | Age suitable for: 6 months to 4 years (22kg) / From birth with infant car seat | Parent-facing option: No – only with infant carrier (sold separately) | Travel system compatible: Yes | MFM Review star rating: 4.1 stars

Pros:

• Extremely compact
• Freestanding when folded
• Very light
• Easy to unfold using one hand

Cons:

• Only suitable from birth with a car seat
• Not ideal for single-handed pushing

One of the lightest strollers on our list, the Cybex Libelle is is also one of the smallest when folded, at 32cm x 20cm x 48cm. It won a Red Dot product design award for its compact construction, and is tiny enough to store in a plane’s overhead compartment or in the footwell of a car. The secret is in a clever design that sees the wheels fold inward once the frame is collapsed. "In 3 simple movements, it is the size of a large backpack," marvelled parent tester Pooja, mum of a 3 year old, after putting it to the test. MFM reviewer Sarah, who tested this with her 10-month-old son said, "I feel it is worth the price for the compact fold alone – compared to your average foldaway, it is so tiny." You can see it being folded by the MFM team here.

Having unfolded the buggy using just one hand, Pooja was impressed that it doesn't comprise on quality or stability – there’s even front-wheel suspension. "On hilly grass, it handled it a lot better than I expected. It moves and turns smoothly and doesn’t bounce up and down much, making it comfortable and relaxing for my baby." On the downside, the right-angled dual handlebars can make single-handed pushing tricky.

With decent padding, an "infinite" recline and adjustable leg rest, the Libelle is comfortable for babies and toddlers from 6 months and it's definitely designed with older babies and portability in mind, as Cybex describes it as their "ultimate travel stroller." However, it can also be used as a travel system using car seat adaptors (£44.95) too.

Read our full MadeForMums Cybex Libelle travel stroller review

Available from: Amazon, John Lewis, Boots and Natural Baby Shower

5. Graco Myavo, £130

– Best budget buy lightweight buggy

Weight: 5.8kg | Age suitable for: Birth to 22kg | Parent-facing option: No | Travel system compatible: No | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.2 stars

Pros:

• One-handed fold
• Great value
• Good manoeuvrability
• Large basket for a compact stroller
• Versatile seat positioning
• Great for taller children

Cons:

• Can't use from newborn
• Not the most sturdy
• Harness fastening is complicated
• Lack of ventilation — no breathable mesh panel

In the struggle to find a low-cost lightweight pushchair that still performs well without being too flimsy, enter the Graco Myavo. At 5.8kg it's the lightest pushchair on our list, at £130 it's less than half the price of many pushchairs on our list, and at H52.5cm x W65.3cm x 32.5cm when folded, it's quite compact too. Alongside this is a good UPF 50+ hood, a bumper bar, a rain cover, a calf rest and an incredibly generous basket, especially for a small and lightweight buggy.

It has a quick and intuitive fold too which our testers loved. MFM reviewer Steph, who tested the Myavo with her 1 year old and 3 year old said, "I loved its intuitive, quick and easy one-handed fold. What really stood out to me was how effortlessly I could do this one-handed, even while holding my baby in my other arm. I was genuinely surprised by how smooth and user-friendly the mechanism was." Steph also loved the manoeuvrability of the stroller and was impressed by how smooth it felt to push, despite its lightweight frame: "pushing the stroller is effortless. It feels as sturdy and smooth as a larger, more premium pushchair, despite being compact and lightweight. The steering is extremely smooth, and compared to other strollers I’ve used, including Maxi-Cosi and Silver Cross, this one is noticeably better in terms of handling and manoeuvrability."

It can be used from birth thanks to its full, lie-flat recline, but there isn't a parent-facing option, so you may feel more comfortable using this once your baby passes the 6-month mark.

It is, understandably, missing some features found on more expensive strollers, such as mesh panels and padded shoulder straps, but the stroller still offers incredible value for money and is a great option if you're looking for a lightweight day-to-day stroller on a budget, especially for an older toddler.

Read the full MadeForMums Graco Myavo stroller review

Watch our full MadeForMums Gravo Myavo stroller video review on YouTube

Available from: Boots, Amazon, Very and Argos

6. Baby Jogger City Tour 2, £284

– Best lightweight buggy for toddlers

Weight: 6.5kg | Age suitable for: From birth to 22kg (approximately 4 years old) | Parent-facing option: No – only with carrycot or infant car seat (sold separately) | Travel system compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.2 stars

Pros:

• Adjustable calf support
• Well-padded fabric
• Carry bag included
• Narrow and nimble

Cons:

• Carrycot/car seat don't look nice on the frame
• Doesn't fit cabin luggage dimensions

If you have a child who's high on the height percentiles, the sleek oval design of this buggy includes a low footrest and long adjustable calf support that's great for longer legs. MFM reviewer Helen, who tested this with her 7 month old and 3 and a half year old said, "I appreciated the adjustable calf support, not always a feature of lightweight pushchairs, which really helped make both children look and feel more comfortable."

This slimline buggy impressed our parent testers with its superior ability to fit through narrow spaces and be pushed and steered one-handed down shopping aisles, busy pavements and public transport. They also praised how comfy the buggy was for their riders. “As the buggy was so lightweight I was surprised how padded the fabric was,” commented parent tester Carolynne, mum of a 4-month-old. For young babies, the seat reclines to a near-flat position but a carrycot or car seat can be added above the seat too. Like the Didofy Aster 2, the fabric remains on the seat when you add these items, which does look a bit odd but doesn't affect performance or practicality.

Other key features include a one-hand folding mechanism and one-piece fold — you can find out how to fold the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 buggy here — as well as the storage bag with long straps. And while it won’t quite fold down to cabin-luggage dimensions, it does fold very flat (19cm deep) so is ideal if you need to keep it in a car boot or a narrow hallway or cupboard.

The UV 50+ canopy has an extension panel and mesh panel to allow you to keep an eye on your child. MFM reviewer Helen said her baby slept well in the pushchair and the hood "helped to keep him in cosy darkness," but some home testers reported that the back panel flaps about in the wind.

Read our full MadeForMums Baby Jogger City Tour 2 lightweight pushchair review

Available from: Amazon, Very. Kiddies Kingdom and Natural Baby Shower

7. Cybex Orfeo, £299.95

– Best lightweight buggy for urban travel

Weight: 6.3kg | Age suitability: From birth to 22kg | Parent-facing option: With infant car seat |  Travel system compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.3 stars

Pros:

• Ultra-compact
• No assembly required
• Ergonomic
• Lie-flat seat suitable for newborns

Cons:

• Small basket
• Non-adjustable handlebar height
• No window peephole

A lightweight pushchair can be a game-changer in a busy city, especially if you're out and about using public transport a lot. So having a reliable, nippy and compact pushchair option is a must if you're an urban dweller or take a lot of family city trips. It's in this environment that the Cybex Orfeo really shines, it's ultra-compact when folded and unfolded, has an integrated carry strap for easy transportation, and according to MFM reviewer Allie, who tested the Orfeo with her 5-month-old son (pictured above) its chassis is "strong and durable and doesn't scratch easily", meaning it can survive scrapes in a bustling environment.

Despite its light frame, it pushes beautifully and provides a comfortable ride for children too. MFM reviewer Allie said, "I was surprised by how easy it is to push the Cybex Orfeo. I’m used to pushing the YOYO 2 around, which is a notoriously bumpy ride for little ones, but the Orfeo glides fairly quietly over a variety of surfaces."

Other features include an ergonomic lie-flat recline so it's suitable for use from birth (you can also buy car seat adaptors (£44.95) and attach an infant carrier), a one-pull harness, integrated and adjustable leg rest and an extra-large UPF50+ sun canopy.

Read our full MadeForMums Cybex Orfeo stroller review

Available from Natural Baby Shower, Boots and John Lewis

8. Joie Signature Tourist, £175

– Best lightweight buggy for use with a car seat

Weight: 6.6kg | Age suitable for: Birth (with carrycot or car seat) to 15kg (approximately 3 years old) | Parent-facing option: No – only with carrycot or infant car seat (sold separately) | Travel system compatible: Yes | MFM Review star rating: 4.2 stars

Pros:

• Great as a travel system
• Premium looks at competitive price
• Magnetic harness buckle

Cons:

• Canopy doesn’t provide full shade with buggy in upright position
• Doesn't fit cabin luggage dimensions

If you're looking for a lightweight stroller with good travel system functionality, we love the fact that the Tourist quickly adapts to hold Joie's ever-popular infant carriers or the brand's Ramble carrycot (£150). Unlike some others on this list, the seat fabric can be removed before doing this so the resulting look is a little more sleek and has a lot in common with a larger newborn pram.

The Tourist is suitable from birth as the seat unit is designed to lie flat, but MFM reviewer Jen, who tested it with her 6-month-old son and 3-year-old daughter, said "there is still a slight angle" and recommended the carrycot as a more secure option for children under 6 months. "Niftily combining a carrycot, infant carrier and forward facing seat option 'all in one sweet ride', it’s a clever combination if you’re looking for something flexible and stylish without a hefty price tag," she added.

As part of Joie's Signature range, a curated collection of premium products, the Signature Tourist is clad in luxe fabrics in 2 tones that make the stroller look smart ("a more premium feel than the £200 price point might suggest," said MFM reviewer Jen) and feel soft and cosy for your baby or toddler. It also boasts clever magnetic buckles that make securing wriggling toddlers that bit easier, plus an adjustable calf support for a comfortable ride.

Users love the the hands-free magic fold – press the button while pressing down the handlebar and watch as the buggy tucks itself into a neat, freestanding package ready to be carried using the integrated strap or stowed out of the way. Despite the "tourist' name it doesn't quite fold small enough to be used as hand luggage, but it's still neat and tidy for travel.

The water repellent and SPF 50+ canopy will see off brief showers and overhead sun but some parent users reported it doesn’t reach down far enough to fully protect from the sun in some positions, so you may wish to consider an additional parasol or safe buggy cover.

Read our full MadeForMums Joie Signature Tourist review

Available from: Argos, Boots and Kiddies Kingdom

9. Maxi-Cosi Lara 2, £189.99

– Best lightweight buggy for storage

Weight: 6.4kg | Age suitable for: Birth to 22kg (approximately 4 years old) | Parent-facing option: No – only with car seat | Travel system compatible: Yes

Pros: 

• Extra storage basket
• Double wheels for a smooth ride
• Carry strap
• Easy "magic" fold

Cons:

• No carrycot option
• Slightly larger fold than some on the list

In order to keep lightweight buggies as streamlined as possible, one thing that you often have to compromise on is storage. A light frame just can't accommodate a big basket. However, Maxi-Cosi has come up with a really innovative solution with its Lara 2 buggy: it's added a second basket directly underneath the seat. It's not huge, but it's perfect for keeping items like your wallet and phone within reach, and even provides a secure spot for valuables while your baby naps – when the seat is reclined it reduces access.

Along with those storage options, this buggy also packs in other great features like a bumper bar, carry strap, and double wheels for more manoeuvrability on varied terrains (as with the GB Pockit+, this doesn't mean a smooth ride over very tough terrains, just that it'll tackle slightly uneven surfaces with a little more grace). All this and it still comes in at only 6.4kg.

The fold is a one-touch magic fold, and it collapses to an admirably small size that Maxi-Cosi claims meets cabin baggage for some airlines (do check before you fly as it's a little deeper than some others on this list).

This pushchair also has the benefit of being compatible with Maxi-Cosi's range of infant carriers, although there isn't a carrycot option. The seat is suitable from birth if you don't mind it being world-facing.

Available from: Amazon, Boots, Maxi-Cosi and Kiddies Kingdom

What to consider before you buy a lightweight buggy:

Age suitability – Many manufacturers advertise their strollers as suitable from birth as they have lie-flat seats. However, some seats marketed as such do not actually lie completely flat, and you may feel they’re not suitable for your newborn or little baby. It's always best to check to see exactly how flat the seat unit is and how much head support is on offer if you’d like to use it from birth. A compatible carrycot or bassinet may be needed to provide the ideal lie-flat position for young babies.

Parent-facing or world-facing seat positions – While many larger pushchair seats can be adjusted to face towards you or out towards the world, lightweights are traditionally limited to world-facing only. Think about what’s important to you and your child: toddlers often prefer to face outwards to see what’s going on in the world around them anyway.

Terrain suitability – By nature of the design, lightweight buggies tend to come with small wheels which are better suited to pavements, flat paths and urban areas, although most can handle grass and footpaths without any issues. If you need something that can deal with heavier terrains and bumpy ground, you may want to consider an all-terrain pushchair.

Sun and rain covers – You’ll probably need a hood/sun canopy to shade your baby against the sun but on lightweight strollers these can be flimsy or not reach far enough to protect from morning or afternoon sun. Look for extendable canopies with built-in SPF, or keep room in your budget for an additional sun shade, cover or parasol. Also check if a rain cover is provided as many of the hoods on lightweight buggies won't protect from showers.

Recline – Some lightweights have seats that can recline in multiple positions, which is useful for the times when your baby or toddler has fallen asleep and you want them to lie as flat as possible. Look at how this is controlled, on many lightweights it's a simple pull cord and buckle, rather than a click mechanism.

Adjustable calf support or footrest – This will give your toddler’s legs something to rest on, but not all strollers have them.

Shopping basket/storage –Strollers generally have much smaller baskets than their larger pushchair counterparts so do take a look at the dimensions if you need to store items in your stroller. Others may have additional pockets or bags that can fasten on, which significantly add to the available storage.

Price – As with any buggy, the more you spend, the more features you can expect, but there are bargains to be had. You can get a perfectly decent lightweight buggy for under £100 but it won’t fold down to cabin-luggage size or be as durable as a buggy that costs three times that amount. Most lightweight buggies cost between £200 and £400

• Best sunglasses for babies
• Best sun creams for babies, toddlers and children
• Best travel cots for babies and toddlers
• Best baby carriers tried and tested

Traditionally, children's advent calendars are all about chocolate, whether that's the classic Dairy Milk calendar, or something slightly more boujee like Tony's Chocolonely, but, that doesn't mean it's your only option.

From simple sweet advent calendars, toy advent calendars and even ones with whole LEGO sets inside, there are plenty of unusual calendars out there to try. So, to help you find the best advent calendar for your child, we scoured the market and compiled a list of the very best.

Remember though, advent calendars are not just for children, so take a look at our best advent calendars for teens or our step-by-step guide on how to make your own advent calendar from scratch. Did you know you can also get a Halloween advent calendar?

Jump to:

• Best kids' advent calendars at a glance
• Best kids' advent calendars to buy this Christmas
• Chocolate and sweet advent calendars
• Toy advent calendars
• LEGO advent calendars
• Unusual advent calendars

Best kids' advent calendars at a glance

Chocolate and sweet advent calendars

• Kinnerton Bluey Advent Calendar, £1.50
• Dairy milk chocolate advent calendar, £3.28
• M&S Science Museum Advent Calendar, £2.75
• Haribo Sweets Advent Calendar, £6.98
• Personalised Santa Advent Calendar, £8

Toy advent calendars

• Aquabeads Christmas Advent Calendar, £12.29
• Playmobil Christmas Bakery Advent Calendar, £26.99
• Thomas & Friends MINIS Advent Calendar, £23.99
• Hot Wheels Advent Calendar, £23.99
• Play-Doh Advent Calendar Playset, £23.99
• Peppa Pig Advent Calendar, £45
• Pokemon Deluxe Advent Calendar, £52.99
• Micromallows Squishmallows Advent Calendar, £64.99 £51.89 at Amazon (Save 20% or £13.10)
• Disney Parks Wishables Soft Toy calendar, £87.49

LEGO advent calendars

• LEGO City Advent Calendar, £19.99
• LEGO Friends Advent Calendar, £19.99
• LEGO Frozen Advent Calendar, £29.99

Unusual advent calendars

• Hey Duggee: Advent Calendar Book Collection, £25 £16.99 at Amazon (Save 32% or £8.01)
• Melissa & Doug Wooden Advent Calendar, £21.99
• Fidget advent calendar, £23.99
• The Purple Cow handmade Christmas decorations Advent Calendar, £29.90
• Elf on the Shelf Advent Calendar, £29.95
• National Geographic Gemstone Advent Calendar, £24.99 £19.99 at Amazon (Save 20% or £5)

Best kids' advent calendars to buy this Christmas

Below you'll find our picks for the top 25 kids' advent calendars, divvied up by chocolate and sweets, toys, LEGO and the more unusual calendars you won't find in the supermarkets.

Chocolate and sweet advent calendars

1. Kinnerton Bluey Advent Calendar, £1.50

Available at: Ocado and Amazon

This chocolate advent calendar is all about everyone's favourite Australian dog: Bluey. Every day you'll get a new milk chocolate based on Bluey's favourite things about Christmas.

2. Dairy milk chocolate advent calendar, £3.28

Available at: Cadbury

It's a classic for a reason. The Dairy mil advent calendar is reasonably priced and full of sweet surprises.

3. M&S Science Museum Advent Calendar, £2.75

Available at: Ocado

Budding archaeologists will love digging chocolate dinosaurs out of this advent calendar, sadly there's no bones only milk chocolate.

4. Haribo Sweets Advent Calendar, £6.98

Available at: Asda

If you don't like chocolate but still want a sweet treat each morning in December then the Haribo advent calendar is a fantastic option. Each day you get a mini bag of Haribo sweets to enjoy, including Moams, pinballs and of course their gummy bears.

5. Personalised Santa Advent Calendar, £8

Available at: Thorntons

You can make things that little bit more special for your child with this Thorntons advent calendar. After 23 days of milk chocolates, the final treat is a hand-iced milk chocolate plaque bearing their name.

Toy advent calendars

6. Aquabeads Christmas Advent Calendar, £12.29

Available at: Amazon

Suitable from: 4+ years

Swap the chocolate calendar for this Aquabeads one. Perfect for kids who enjoy getting busy with creating little things and displaying them afterwards. Each day will unveil a Christmas-themed template and beads to create a festive keepsake design. There's also a spray bottle included to keep the beads stuck together, some string and a bead stand to turn the creations into hanging or standing ornaments.

7. Playmobil Christmas Bakery Advent Calendar, £26.99

Available at: Amazon

Suitable from: 3+ years

This Playmobil advent calendar is a fabulous combination between play and real life. Similar to the LEGO CITY advent calendar, you can create your own festive scene with the figures behind each door such as a snowman or Santa Clause himself. But, the best thing about this advent calendar is it also has baking accessories such as cookie cutters to help your children bake festive treats.

8. Thomas & Friends MINIS Advent Calendar, £23.99

Available at: Amazon

Suitable from: 3+ years

In this set you'll get 24 miniature toy trains inspired by Thomas and Friends. Highlights include Thomas himself, Percy, Gordon and 6 exclusive holiday-themed trains.

9. Hot Wheels Advent Calendar, £23.99

Available at: Boots

Suitable from: 3+ years

Budding race-drivers can race cars all around a Christmas scene to get in the festive spirit. Hot Wheels' advent calendar has 24 doors of toy-car fun to be revealed including 8 cars and 16 accessories. Attached to the box you will find the playmat to race your cars.

10. Play-Doh Advent Calendar Playset, £23.99

Available at: Amazon

Suitable from: 3+ years

The Play-Doh advent calendar is brilliant for giving children something to do each morning. Behind each door is a can of Play-Doh and a modelling tool to help you create your own Play-Doh Wonderland. There are also playmats and creation cards to help give inspiration and ideas at to what to model

11. Peppa Pig Advent Calendar, £39.99

Available at: Amazon

Suitable from: 3+ years

Peppa Pig fans this one is definitely for you. Every day you'll get a new mini-figure of Peppa and the members of her family, or a range of Christmassy props to help them wrap up warm.

12. Pokémon Deluxe Advent Calendar, £52.99

Available at: Boots

Suitable from: 3+ years

Pokémon fans! This Christmas you can catch 'em all! This advent calendar features mini-figures of all your favourite Pokémon, including Pikachu, Pichu, Charmander, Squirtle and more.

13. Micromallows Squishmallows Advent Calendar, £64.99

Available at: Amazon

Suitable from: 3+ years

Get ready for cuteness overload with this calendar full of the tiny but mighty 2.5-inch Micromallows, featuring holiday like Nick Santa Claus, Manny Snowman, and more.

14. Disney Parks Wishables Soft Toy calendar, £87.49

Available at: Disney Store

Suitable from: birth

This calendar is more expensive than most, but it's a whole toybox in itself, with soft plushies of all your favourite Disney characters decked out in their finest festive outfits. Look out for Woody, Remmy and Simba.

LEGO Advent Calendars

15. LEGO City Advent Calendar, £19.99

Available at: LEGO

Suitable from: 5+

Inside the 24 windows of this advent calendar you'll find 195 LEGO pieces, ready to be assembled into a festive Christmas scene. Inside, you'll find Santa and Mrs Claus, a snowman, a skier, and so many more merry mini-figures.

16. LEGO Friends Advent Calendar, £19.99

Available at: LEGO

Suitable from: 6+

This 272-piece set from LEGO Friends will help you assemble the ultimate cosy Christmas. The family mini-figures come with presents, toys, a guitar and more.

17. LEGO Frozen Advent Calendar, £29.99

Available at: LEGO

Suitable from: 5+

If the other Disney calendar was too expensive, try this LEGO version. Inside, you'll have the pieces to assemble all your favourite Frozen characters including Elsa and Anna.

18. LEGO Minecraft Advent Calendar, £29.99

Available at: LEGO

Suitable from: 7+

This calendar is perfect for the Minecraft super fan in your life. The set includes all the classic mobs including a creeper, skeleton and more.

Unusual Advent Calendars

19. Hey Duggee: Advent Calendar Book Collection, £18

Available from: Amazon

There are a tonne of children's book calendars available, including this one from Hey Duggee. Behind each door you'll find a storybook of Duggee's various adventures.

20. Melissa & Doug Wooden Advent Calendar, £21.99

Available from: Amazon

Suitable from: 3+ years

The set includes a magnetic wooden tree and 24 magnetic baubles and a star to be placed at the top of the tree. To keep all the baubles safe throughout the month, there is a little wooden box at the bottom of the tree to keep them in before they're put onto the tree.

21. Fidget advent calendar, £23.99

Available from: Amazon

Suitable from: 3+ years

So many kids love fidget toys, whether that's to play with in class (if allowed) or just to build up their collection at home. Fidget toys are especially good for children with sensory needs to help calm them in stressful situations.

22. The Purple Cow handmade Christmas decorations Advent Calendar, £29.90

Available from: Amazon

Suitable from: 6+ years

This advent calendar is fantastic for amusing children, especially over the Christmas break when you may be trying to get lots of festive errands done. In each box is something fun for your child to do such as a craft, recipe card, story book or elf challenge. Some of the crafts included are; making a snowball juggling bear bauble, making snowmen puppets and many more.

23. Elf on the Shelf Advent Calendar, £29.95

Available from: Amazon

Suitable from: 3+ years

This set is as much for parents as it is for kids. Everyday, you'll get a new idea and kit for our old friend Elf on the Shelf. Overall there are 70 interchangeable pieces and instructions for set up each day.

24. National Geographic Gemstone Advent Calendar, £29.99

Available from: Amazon

In the calendar, there are 24 gemstones and not only that, you get a little keepsake pouch to store the rocks and stones in. The gemstones included consist of agate, green aventurine, hematite, sodalite, turquenite, tiger's eye, blue calcite and plenty more. Turn the stones into wearable jewellery with the jewellery kit included. Every purchase of these calendars helps to support the National Geographic Society to further the work of protecting nature, further research and educating us all.

Read more:

• Must have top toys for Christmas, from the big retailers
• How to make your own advent calendar 
• Best personalised Christmas gifts for kids 

There’s a huge variety on the market now, from traditional audio monitors to all-singing, all-dancing smart baby monitors that track your baby’s breathing, room temperature and even heart rate. Some also include handy extra features that could mean you don't need to buy a separate sleep aid, nightlight or cot mobile.

Through a mix of hands-on testing by real parent's and expert insight and advice, we’ve rounded up the best baby monitors available right now – covering a range of budgets, features and family needs to help you find the one that fits your home and lifestyle.

Best baby monitors at a glance

• Best Wi-Fi free baby monitor: LeapFrog LF920HD 7 inch HD video baby monitor, £179.99 at Boots
• Best baby monitor for picture quality: Momcozy 5” Dual-Mode Smart Baby Monitor, £199.99 at Momcozy
• Best budget video monitor: Motorola VM483 Video Baby Monitor, £41.94 at Amazon
• Best baby monitor for younger children: Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby Monitor, £219.99 at Maxi-Cosi
• Best baby monitor for multiple kids: Babysense HD Split-Screen Monitor, £134.99 £99.99 at Amazon (Save 26% or £35)
• Best baby monitor for moving between locations: Babymoov YOO Go Plus HD Video Monitor, £149.99 £109.99 at Amazon (Save 27% or £40)
• Best baby monitor for sleep tracking: Nanit Pro Camera – Complete Monitoring System + Sound and Light Machine, £379.99 at Amazon
• Best movement baby monitor: Angelcare AC25-1 Baby Movement Monitor with Video & Sound, £249.99 £169.90 at Kiddies Kingdom (Save 32% or £80.09)
• Best baby monitor for growing with your baby: CuboAi Plus Smart Baby Monitor 3, £279 £219 at Amazon (Save 22% or £60)
• Best baby monitor for heart rate tracking: Owlet Smart Sock, £299 at Owlet
• Best baby monitor for audio only: VTtech BM1000, £24.99 £19 at Amazon (Save 24% or £5.99)

Use these links to learn more about how we picked the baby monitors in our list as well as how we tested them and what to look out for when buying yours.

• How we chose the best baby monitors
• What are audio baby monitors?
• What are video baby monitors?
• What are movement sensor baby monitors?
• What are wearable baby monitors?
• When do you stop using a baby monitor?
• Are baby monitors safe?

Here's our pick of the best baby monitors to buy in 2025

Best video baby monitors

1. LeapFrog LF920HD 7” High Definition Pan & Tilt Video Monitor, £179.99

Best Wi-Fi-free monitor

Type: Video | Frequency type: Digital | Range: up to 300m | Screen size: 7 inches | Talkback function: Yes | Night vision: Yes | Alerts: Sound and motion | Control with app: No

Pros:

• Pan and tilt camera remotely
• Large display
• Colour night vision
• Wi-Fi and app-free

Cons:

• Sometimes loses connection
• Needs frequent charging

If you're looking for a video monitor that does it all without needing to connect to your home Wi-Fi, this is a safe option. It boasts a wide angle pan and tilt camera, a giant 7 inch high definition screen, a good built-in range, plus the added bonus of a built-in nightlight.

LeapFrog monitors are made by VTech, which has a strong reputation in the baby monitor world. We have found their models can disconnect occasionally (you will need to turn the camera on and off to fix this) but that is pretty standard across the market. Overall this is a great value monitor for those who don't want to go down the Smart route and use Wi-Fi. Parent tester Rachel said, "It is a fantastic baby monitor. Great battery life, signal, picture quality. The zoom and rotation is the best I've seen."

Read the full Leapfrog LF920HD 7" High Definition Pan and Tilt Monitor review

Available from: Boots, Argos and Mamas&Papas

2. Momcozy 5” Dual-Mode Smart Baby Monitor, £179.99

Best baby monitor for picture quality

Type: Video | Frequency type: Digital | Range: not supplied | Screen size: 5 inches | Talkback function: Yes | Night vision: Yes | Alerts: Sound | Control with app: Yes | Award: Silver – Best Baby Movement Monitor, MadeForMums Tech Awards 2025

Pros:

• Great screen quality
• Easy to use
• Long battery life
• Both in-app and monitor use
• Room temperature monitoring
• WiFi and non-WiFi mode

Cons:

• In app feed can be delayed
• Need an SD card to record or take pics.

Momcozy is best known for producing breast pumps, but the brand's foray into baby monitors has been a huge hit – so much so the only issue you may have is finding it in stock.

"Setup was quick, easy and pleasant. It took me under 10 minutes from the unboxing to pairing with the app," said MFM reviewer Harriet, who tested the monitor with her 10-month-old son. "The 2K resolution gives such a clear view that it makes you feel like you are in the room with them, especially in day mode and the night vision is definitely the best that I have seen from any baby monitor."

Awards tester Rachel, mum to a 5-month-old agrees: "I was blown away by the picture quality and zoom ability of this camera. Having the ability to zoom in and check my baby’s breathing was a huge plus for me as a new, slightly anxious, mum.”

The aim of the monitor is to offer best-in-class wifi-free performance meaning it's brilliant for both a home and when travelling, plus there are welcome extra features like Smart Motion Detection, Shared Video Access and Auto Video Recording. With both monitor and in-app options you'll never miss it when motion is detected giving you complete peace of mind too.

The image quality is further enhanced with the ability to fully pan and tilt the camera and a zoom feature to see more clearly what baby is up to. And any super cute moments can be saved in the app and shared securely with up to 20 family members.

Other brilliant additions include the ability to add up to four cameras as your family grows, a temperature sensor, 2-way talk and lullabies, and a handy VOX (voice-activated) mode to save battery and reduce the light in your room while you sleep. Using this can mean the parent unit works all night without needing to be plugged in.

Available from: Momcozy and Amazon

3. Motorola VM483 Video Baby Monitor, £48.62

Best budget video monitor

Type: Video | Frequency type: Digital | Range: 1,000ft (around 300m) | Screen size: 2.3 inches | Talkback function: Yes | Night vision: Yes | Alerts: No | Control with app: No

Pros:

• Great value
• Compact design
• Secure network
• Night vision
• 2-way talk feature

Cons:

• Small screen
• Poor battery life

If you're looking for a video monitor on a tighter budget, this Motorola model offers all the basic features you need and is staggering value, often on sale for around £60. Although still an investment compared to a very basic audio monitor, it's significantly cheaper than the smart monitors and tracking monitors that now dominate the market, and it comes from a brand that offers a good sturdy build.

It has a range of up to 1,000 ft (about 300m) which should be fine for most houses, and though it doesn't pan remotely, the camera itself has a well-designed stand that can be angled to get a good view of the cot, and there's a built-in digital zoom too.

Kate, a member of our Top Testers Club praised Motorola monitors for "amazing video quality and great range in our very long house."

Available from: Amazon

4. Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby Monitor, £219.99

Best baby monitor for younger babies

Type: Video | Frequency type: Digital | Range: 50m indoors, up to 200m outdoors | Screen size: 5 inch | Talkback function: Yes | Night vision: Yes | Alerts: Sound and motion | Control with app: Yes

Pros:

• Quick to set up
• Long battery life
• Customisable settings
• Clear picture
• Choice of lullabies and sounds
• Automatic motion detection and tracking capabilities

Cons:

• Alert sensitivity varies
• No backlit buttons for night use
• Notification tone loud
• Expensive

The monitor comes with a 5'' 720p parent unit but also connects to the Maxi-Cosi App which allows you see your baby in Ultra HD, even in the dark or at night thanks to the night vision camera. You can also use the app or parent unit to remote pan, tilt and zoom the camera and it has a range of up to 200m.

However, the standout feature of the See Pro monitor is the CryAssist service, which you get a free 6-month subscription to when you buy the monitor. CryAssist is a clever technology that notifies you when your baby is crying, and 'translates' the crying to help you work out what is wrong. Our reviewer found that initially it analysed their baby's cries incorrectly, but after providing feedback, it gradually improved its analysis and started to analyse the cries correctly more often. As reviewer Louise said, "this tool seems most useful if you have a baby that is struggling to settle for long periods of time (like a sleep regression)."

The monitor does have some alert reliability issues, reviewer Louise told us, "with the sound alert settings on low, my son might cry out and the monitor wouldn’t always alert us to it. However, if he starts to properly cry for an extended period of time then it will alert us. If we switch the setting to high, then it will alert us to him chatting or crying out, but it also alerts us to a door closing downstairs or a dog barking outside."

If you're looking for that extra reassurance and peace of mind while your baby rests, the CryAssist could be a really helpful feature for you. Plus, it accompanies a really durable and feature-packed monitor which stands out fot its battery life, screen size and ease of use.

Read the full MadeForMums Maxi-Cosi See Pro baby monitor review

Available from: Boots, Amazon, Mamas & Papas and Maxi-Cosi

5. Babysense HD Split-Screen Baby Monitor, £134.99

Best baby monitor for multiple kids

Type: Video | Frequency type: Digital | Range: 300m | Talkback function: Yes | Night vision: Yes | Alerts: No | Control with app: No

Pros:

• Add up to 4 cameras, see 2 at a time
• Good night vision
• Quality screen

Cons:

• No movement alerts or smart features
• Can't buy it with just 1 camera

If you have more than one young child, you'll need a baby monitor that can be expanded with multiple cameras. While a number of the models listed here have the option to add an extra camera, this model goes one better by also offering a split-screen display on a single parent unit.

Parent tester Alexandra added, "I love the split-screen, and the dual camera functions work really well. The night vision is excellent, the audio is clear and unbroken. The screen is a really good size and the battery life is amazing. I also love the two-way talk-back functionality."

The camera has pan and tilt options plus 2x and 4x zoom and clear night vision. There are also built-in white noise and lullabies. However, although Babysense does make a breathing monitor, this model doesn't have any of the more "smart" features like movement alerts or a Wi-Fi connection and app. The upside of that? Babysense has managed to create a monitor that should last up to 20 hours in ECO Mode and 12 hours in Standard Mode – significantly more than some rivals. However, it does mean you're restricted to the built-in range of 300m.

Read the full MFM Babysense HD Split-Screen Baby Monitor review

Available from: Amazon and Babysense

6. Babymoov YOO Go Plus HD Video Monitor

Best monitor for moving between locations

Type: Video | Frequency type: Digital | Range: 300m | Talkback function: Yes | Night vision: Yes | Alerts: Yes | Control with app: No | Awards: Gold – Best baby monitor, MadeForMums Tech Awards 2025

Pros:

• Add up to 4 cameras
• 4 attachment accessories for portable use
• VOX mode
• Large 5" HD screen with good night vision
• Battery powered (no need to plug in)
• Great sustainability credentials

Cons:

• Battery life not the longest
• No phone app

Babymoov was founded in 1997 with a promise of bringing innovation and good design to everyday products for parents and kids. The brand now offers a wide range of products, for sleep, mealtime, bathing and beyond, winning a variety of parenting awards along the way. The brand is known for its strong eco credentials and as the name suggests their mission is to create products that can be taken on the 'moov' with your family on new adventures.

The YOO Go Plus HD Video Monior is no exception and is brilliant for use both at home and when you're on holiday or moving between houses thanks to the rechargeable battery that means you don't need to find a plug socket and the four attachment accessories it comes with that mean you can place it on/ hang it/ clip it to any surface you come across when travelling. These attachments even include an inspired suction cup for attaching to windows or glass.

Another standout feature of this monitor is the low or zero emission sleep technology mode, which means the screen is only activated when a sound is detected, which helps save energy, stops baby being exposed to any waves during their sleep and avoids unnecessary light in your room when sleeping.

Available from: Amazon UK (£127.46), Kiddies Kingdom (£139.99), Natural Baby Shower Ltd (£149.95) and Boots (£149.99)

Best tracking / movement / wearable baby monitors

7. Nanit Pro Camera – Complete Monitoring System + Sound and Light Machine, from £379.99

Best baby monitor for sleep tracking

Type: Video | Frequency type: Digital | Range: Wi-Fi | Talkback function: Yes | Night vision: Yes | Alerts: Sound and motion | Control with app: Yes | Awards: Silver, Best Baby Tech – MadeForMums Tech Awards 2025

Pros:

• Sleep tracking
• Robust safety features
• Great quality camera
• Very clear audio

Cons:

• High price point
• Insights costs extra after first six months
• No screen (phone only)

The Nanit Pro Camera – Complete Monitoring System + Sound and Light Machine is a premium smart monitoring system combining an HD video monitor, sleep tracker, nightlight, and white noise machine. The camera has in-depth movement tracking options of its own, but by adding the wearable breathing band element (included in size 0-3 months) you'll be able to find out even more about your baby's sleep habits by tracking their breathing too. The app will then give you expert guidance and tips to help your baby to sleep better. Unlike some smart monitors, the wearable is not a sensor in itself, it's printed with a pattern that the camera tracks to "see" your child breathing, so there are no electronic parts on or near your baby.

The subscription element is something to consider if you plan to monitor your child long-term. You'll get 6 months of Insights Basic included with your purchase (and Basic is all you really need). After that you will need to pay a subscription to unlock sleep insights and some features – this can cost anything from £40 to £240 per year depending on the level of insight you require and the offer at the time.

MFM tester Sarah who tested the monitor with her 9-month-old baby was very impressed by the sleep insights: "The insights helped us to track how much sleep she was actually getting overnight and allowed us to spot when ‘danger naps’ in the afternoon were potentially interfering with her nighttime sleep. It also made us realise just how often we helped her to sleep and that we needed to work more on self-settling."

It has multiple mounting options and both the wall mount and stand have built-in cable tidies which are a huge bonus where safety is concerned. The wide-angle lens offers a clear picture, although like anything that connects to your home Wi-Fi, our testers did report that it would occasionally disconnect and it does lag slightly on slower home Wi-Fi speeds. You also need to consider if you're happy to view the feed on your phone or tablet, as there is no separate parent unit/screen. In our tests, having it open ran down the battery of an iPhone 13 in about 5 hours, but this is very much designed to be used with alerts, rather than an "always on" view.

Available from: Amazon, Natural Baby Shower

8. Angelcare AC25-1 Baby Movement Monitor with Video & Sound, £249.99

Best movement baby monitor

Type: Video and movement | Frequency type: Digital | Range: 150m | Screen size: 4.3 inch | Talkback function: Yes | Night vision: Yes – infrared | Alerts: Sound and visual | Control with app: No

Pros:

• Motion tracking
• Good quality screen
• Lots of features including a nightlight and 2-way talkback
• Easy to setup and use
• Great battery life

Cons:

• High price point
• Short range compared to others on list

This sleek and stylish baby monitor from Angelcare comes with a wireless Movement Sensor Pad that is placed under your baby's mattress. The clever technology has 4 sensitivity levels and monitors every movement from each corner of the mattress, it will then alert you if no movement has been detected for 20 seconds.

Don't worry about the pad disturbing baby either, parent tester Constance found that the "pad is slim and discreet once placed under the mattress and it doesn't affect baby's sleep at all."

"We really couldn’t be happier with the AC25-1 monitor," said parent tester Sophie in her review of the Angelcare AC25-1. "The quality of the product, and the excellent range of functions combined with the reliability of each feature, has really given us peace of mind to help us leave our 4-month-old in her crib whilst she naps."

The AC25-1 monitor is also the first product of its kind to be endorsed by The Lullaby Trust, a charity which works to reduce the risk of SIDS and support families affected by baby loss. The partnership, according to The Lullaby Trust, "promotes safer sleep practices for infants." The charity recognise how important baby monitors can be for providing reassurance to parents, and this is the first time they have partnered with a monitor brand, choosing one that reflects their ethos: medically certified, contact-free and totally transparent.

"A medically certified, does-it-all baby, quality baby monitor that has the ability to monitor movement, sound and video of baby to give you peace of mind whilst they sleep. This monitor comes as a complete package," added reviewer Sophie.

Read our full MFM Angelcare AC25-1 Baby Movement Monitor with Video & Sound review

Available from: Very, Amazon, Kiddies Kingdom

9. CuboAi Plus Smart Baby Monitor 3, from £279

Best baby monitor for growing with your child

Type: Video and movement | Frequency type: Digital | Range: Wi-Fi | Talkback function: Yes | Night vision: Yes | Alerts: Numerous sound and motion | Control with app: Yes | Awards: Gold - MadeFooMums Awards 2023

Pros: 

• Customisable alerts
• Quality camera with very clear night vision
• Motion and sleep tracking
• Easy to set up
• Can play white noise

Cons:

• Can only be used with phone
• No VOX setting
• Expensive
• AI functions aren't always useful with older babies
• Additional subscription needed to get the full benefit

This little bird-shaped baby monitor does a lot more than just look cute. It packs in all kinds of smart motion features, including AI-powered alerts, sleep tracking, temperature and humidity monitoring and 2-way talk. It also interprets babies’ movements (including rolling over and face covering) and sleep patterns using artificial intelligence and notifies parents when there's a problem. It's controlled by an app so you don't get a parent screen but instead set up numerous custom alerts to your phone.

One of the main differences between the Cubo Ai Plus 3 and the previous Cubo Ai Plus is the quality of the night vision, something our parent tester Nicola, who tested it with her twin boys really loved: "I think one of the strongest features of the Cubo Ai 3 is the night vision," she says. "The picture is in HD, and even with 2 babies in shot you can clearly see features. Compared to other monitors, this clarity put my mind at ease, with the ability to zoom in to clearly see their face and where the elusive dummy had disappeared to."

Another feature that really stood out to our testers was the ability to map out custom "danger zones" in your home – you then get a special alert if your child moves into these areas. While a lot of baby monitors have standard in-cot motion alerts, this special features gives this monitor more longevity once your child has moved to a bed: you could set up a zone around their bedroom door to alert you when they leave their room, for example.

"I loved how the Cubo was able to capture and record moments, allowing you to see the development of your child," said parent tester Janet. These can be downloaded and kept, although Janet did point out this may come at an extra cost later down the line. Similar to the Nanit, the Cubo AI Plus comes with a 12-month premium subscription, after which you'll need to pay to keep certain enhanced features. At £49.99 and £69.99 per year, they're cheaper than the Nanit options, but still a significant extra cost.

Read the full MFM CuboAi Plus Smart Baby Monitor 3 review

Available from: Amazon and Cubo AI

10. Owlet Smart Sock, from £299

Best baby monitor for heart rate tracking

Type: Heart rate | Frequency type: Digital | Range: Wi-Fi | Talkback function: No | Night vision: No | Alerts: Pulse | Control with app: Yes

Pros:

• Comfortable to wear
• Easy to set up and use app
• Offers reassurance in the early months

Cons:

• Connectivity issues
• Doesn’t have longevity of other monitors
• High price point

The Owlet features a wearable "sock", designed to provide more precise information than traditional video monitors. It uses an infrared light to measure the child's pulse. This is then connected to a base which sends information over Wi-Fi to a connected smartphone, meaning you can check your baby's pulse wherever you are.

While it may be useful to have these statistics at hand, you should remember it will not be 100% accurate at detecting low oxygen levels in the blood. Researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia found it to have an 88% sensitivity rating in detecting oxygen levels in the blood, so it’s best viewed as a device to provide some extra reassurance, and not a medical device.

The standard Owlet set-up doesn't feature a camera, instead letting the app alert you to your baby's movement. However, if you do prefer to have a visual too, you can purchase a bundle featuring an impressive HD camera, but at £389 this makes it the most expensive offering in our list.

Available from: Natural Baby Shower and Owlet

Best audio baby monitors

11. VTech BM1000, £25

Best baby monitor for audio monitoring

Type: Audio | Frequency type: Digital | Range: 50m | Talkback function: No | Night vision: No | Alerts: Sound and lights | Control with app: No

Pros:

• Affordable
• Sound sensitive lights
• Belt clip
• Out of range alert

Cons:

• Very basic functionality
• No video or motion alerts

This is a simple audio-only baby monitor that works well across the home without breaking the bank. Despite being a budget buy, the sound quality is clear and consistent even when moving between rooms. The sound sensitive lights are also a useful alert system for when you have the audio alerts kept low.

Battery life tops out at about 7 hours, so good enough for a night or two (given that it will be on standby for much of this time if your baby is sleeping). The top of the monitor itself is a little top heavy though, so it's worth making sure you have it set up in a solid spot to avoid it falling and potentially waking baby.

The out of range alert is a nice addition which lets you feel peace of mind knowing that you're connected, even if your baby is quiet and there are no noise alerts. The addition of a belt clip is also nice touch that lets you keep this on you as you move about without thinking about it.

Available from: Amazon and Kiddies Kingdom

How we chose the best baby monitors

We recruited families across the UK to test all the different types of baby monitor to see which ones really perform. They reported back to us with their thoughts on everything from signal range and battery life to video quality, and we ensured they really put the monitors through their paces.

We also spoke to members of our Top Testers Club who have purchased baby monitors over the last few years, to see which models and brands are most popular with parents, and to get a better idea for the types of baby monitor that are most in demand. This also flagged some important concerns many parents have regarding certain models and features.

Once we had feedback, we cast our editorial eye across the market as a whole and examined all the baby monitors as a group, looking at how they compared with each other and how they catered to different requirements. Our aim is to bring you the very best across each category and budget, recognising that different situations have very different needs whether that's mounting options, connectivity or privacy and security.

What are the different types of baby monitors?

Audio baby monitors

Usually the most affordable option, these only allow you to hear your baby, but not see them. They generally come in 2 parts: a unit with an audio sensor that goes in the baby's room, and a parent unit that you keep with you to listen out for cries. Many of these operate wirelessly: some require batteries, others can be charged when not in use.

Video baby monitors

These consist of a camera with sound to capture both video and audio of your baby, and some way of viewing that video feed (either a parent unit with a screen, an app for your phone, or both). You'll need to mount the camera in the child's room so you can see the whole cot (some may come with a stand or mount for this). Most cameras are wired, so you'll also need a plug socket within easy reach. In terms of providing the video and audio feed, some connect to your home Wi-Fi, and others run off their own built-in signal. Many give you the option to do both.

Movement sensor baby monitors

These baby monitors come with an additional unit (usually a thin mat that goes under the cot mattress) which tracks the tiny movements your child makes as they sleep. The idea is to give extra reassurance that your child is safe and well: if no movement is detected after a short period, you get an alert. You may find that a high-end video monitor has its own built-in movement sensor, too. These tend to work in the opposite way: they alert you when your child makes a large movement (such as rolling over, sitting, or standing up) to let you know they are awake/unsettled.

Wearable baby monitors

These use similar technology to fitness trackers or heart rate monitors to take an even closer look at what your baby is doing while they sleep. You put your baby to sleep wearing the smart item (either a piece of clothing or a clip-on monitor) and it tracks their movement and breathing to deliver data to an app. They often work in conjunction with a video monitor, so you get sound and pictures too. Tracking this data can help reassure anxious parents during overnight sleep, and also help to learn more about the baby's sleep habits and patterns to create a better routine. The UK government's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has determined that some of these products are borderline with medical devices, so it's likely we'll see more regulations in this area in the future.

What to look for when buying a baby monitor

Power supply – Some monitors (particularly video ones) will need to be plugged in at all times, so you'll need to ensure you can mount the baby unit safely with all wires out of the way of tiny hands. Audio or "wireless" monitors may take batteries, or come with a mains charger. For those that need charging, check the battery life: most last 8-12 hours max, so will need recharging every day.

Parent unit –If your video monitor comes with a parent unit (a screen to view and control the camera) then you'll need to be able to charge this too. Most have a reasonable battery life but larger screens or those with more features use more power, and if you want to keep the screen on with the brightness up at night, you'll usually need to plug it in. Look for parent units with standby or voice-activated modes to conserve power and give you more flexibility.

Range – Many baby monitors have their own analogue or digital signal built into the units: digital is now the norm but do check before you buy. The product specs will list the maximum range of this signal: this is how far you can take the parent unit from the cot or crib. However, the stated range doesn't take into account walls, floors, furniture, or anything else that could interfere with the signal. If you have a large house or thick walls, you may find that you can't go too far from the baby's room, and may find a Wi-Fi monitor is more reliable.

Wi-Fi connection – Although most monitors will have their own signal built in, some will also connect to your home Wi-Fi, and have an app you can add to your phone. This opens up lots of new options, including increased range, the ability to record and save videos, and perhaps the ability to view the live feed from multiple devices (such as a parent unit and a smartphone or tablet). It may also mean you can view the feed using your phone's data if you're away from the house (although we don't condone spying on the babysitter!). If you're adding your baby monitor to your home Wi-Fi it's important to ensure your home WiFi is secure and your devices are password protected. You should also make sure to update the app and/or firmware each and every time a new version is released.

Camera and video quality – Most decent video monitors now have HD video, and you'll want something with good night vision as you're likely to be watching a dark room. Some models even have colour night vision now. Also consider the lens in the camera: more expensive models may have a wide-angle lens to view the entire cot, a zoom function, or be able to track movement and automatically pan and tilt. Others may need to be mounted higher up for the same visibility.

Crying and movement alerts – Movement monitors and wearables offer the most in terms of movement alerts and tracking, keeping an eye on your child's breathing throughout the night. But many of the more high-end video monitors can also be set to wake – and even record video – if your baby stirs or makes a sound. This feature comes in particularly handy as your child gets older and is able to climb out of their cot: at least you'll be able to watch back and see how they did it!

Features to soothe your baby – A lot of monitors have 2-way audio so you can talk to your child. Some will even play light shows, lullabies, soothing sounds, or white noise. Do look into these options as they're often overlooked, but this could mean you don't need to buy a separate sleep aid. On the flip side, they can push up the price of the overall unit considerably, and many families end up not using many (if any) of these extras.

Ease of expansion – Do you have more than one child, or are you considering extending your family in the future? If so, you may wish to look for a unit that has the option to add more cameras. Some people use monitors until their children are preschool age, and being able to see all your children on one screen is far easier than plugging in, charging, and keeping an eye on two or more separate systems.

Mount or stand – Video monitors will need to be placed on a shelf, fastened to a wall or placed on a stand to give you a good view of your baby. Some come with stands, others have mounts that need to be screwed into the wall, and a few have clips or mounts. Do look into this when you purchase, especially if you live in rented accommodation and can't put holes in the walls. You can buy universal stands (such as the Flexi Air 360, £46.99) or flexible camera holders that fasten onto the cot. Or you could consider damage-free options like Command hooks or strips.

Price – Baby monitors range from around £20 for a simple audio monitor to over £300 for a wearable and camera unit combined. Somewhere in the middle, you'll find an ever-increasing range of video monitors, which can vary from about £60 to £200. More expensive models will generally have more features, larger and better quality screens, and better cameras.

When do you stop using a baby monitor?

When you stop using a baby monitor while your child is sleeping will depend on your child's age and development. "Most experts recommend stopping baby monitor use between ages 2 and 4," is the advice from security brand Reolink. "By this time, children have developed more regular sleep patterns. They can also get in and out of bed without assistance. These milestones mean less need for constant overnight supervision."

Your child may have different monitoring needs, though, so it's always worth considering their specific sleeping pattern and development before you stop using a monitor. "Look for signs your toddler or preschooler is outgrowing the need for nighttime monitoring," writer Alicia noted in the same article from Reolink. "Watching for critical physical and behavioural changes can help determine the right time. This is how you can decide when to stop using a baby monitor."

That being said, when we chatted about all things baby monitors with our Top Testers Club, several parents said that they have continued to use their baby monitors as their children have gotten older. "Started using at 7 months when she went into her own room," said parent tester Kelly. "Still using at 4! Not sure when I'll stop. It's so handy for checking she's in bed etc without going in her room and waking her up!" MadeForMums Community Manager Dani also pointed out that her daughter was at least 6 before she realised they could switch it off, so it's perfectly fine if you want to keep using your baby monitor past the age of 4.

Are baby monitors safe?

A baby monitor is an essential piece of kit for any parent. As you'll see from the above guidance, there are a range of options on the market all with a variety of features. Ultimately, you should always purchase a sturdy monitor that can hold up to the rigours of family life like those we've tested and suggested in our list. Of course, baby monitors are just a tool designed to be used in conjunction with checking on your baby regularly in person so always ensure you monitor their temperature, movements and breathing.

It's also worth spotlighting the fact that many parents have questions about security and WiFi baby monitors, with some concerns about potential hacking. Like any other internet-connected device, WiFi baby monitors can be vulnerable, so it's always worth taking a few precautions and following good online security practices in the same way you would when securing other devices at home.

For example, enable security software updates and two-step authentication on your monitor as well as changing the default password to a strong password. This should be updated regularly to ensure its efficacy. Lastly, you should only use WiFi networks you trust, again ensuring that you follow password best practices with your home WiFi network. You could also opt to unplug the monitor when it isn't in use to be doubly sure it won't get hacked.

If this is a concern for you, our list includes multiple fantastic WiFi-free options. For more information, be sure to check our guide on how to keep your baby monitor secure from hackers.

Read more:

• Buyer's guide to baby monitors
• Best cots and cot beds for babies
• Best baby mattresses
• Best tower fans
• Best baby ear defenders
• Best phones for kids

• Jump straight to our list of the best travel cots

We’ve analysed the travel cot market and rigorously tested a range of different models to find the best ones for your family. Whether you're looking for something safe for a newborn, or a roomy cot for an older toddler, you'll find it here. Some travel cots can also be used as playpens for a baby, although, if you're looking specifically for a playpen check out our best playpens for babies and toddlers.

We've also got cosy bedding inspiration – tried and tested by real parents and their kids. If you're planning on travelling somewhere hot with your little ones, take a look at our selection of the best buggy covers and best pram fans. For older kids, take a look at our selection of the best toddler travel beds.

Best travel cots at a glance

• Best for flexibility: Joie Roomie Go Travel Bedside Crib, £180 £144 at Natural Baby Shower (Save 20% or £36)
• Best travel cot for easy assembly: Bugaboo Stardust, £225 £195 at Kiddies Kingdom (Save 13% or £30)
• Best multi-use travel cot: Silver Cross Slumber 3-in-1 Travel Cot, £195 at Kiddies Kingdom
• Best travel cot for added extras: Graco Contour Electra, £115 at Boots
• Best budget buy travel cot: Red Kite Sleeptight Travel Cot, £35 at Amazon
• Best travel cot for occasional use: Cuggl Deluxe Superlight Travel Cot, £60 at Argos
• Best travel cot for newborns: Joie Kubbie Sleep, £100 at Boots
• Best budget travel cot for co-sleeping: Red Kite Dreamer Bedside Travel Crib, £55 at Argos
• Best travel cot for versatile newborn co-sleeping: Chicco Next2Me PopUp, £215 £199 at Kiddies Kingdom (Save 7% or £16)
• Best travel cot for no upper weight limit: BabyBjörn Travel Cot Light, £169.92 at Amazon
• Best stylish travel cot: Tutti Bambini CoZee Go 3-in-1 Bassinet, Travel Cot & Playpen, £169 £159.99 at Kiddies Kingdom (Save 5% or £9.01)
• Best lightweight newborn travel crib: ErgoPouch Easy Sleep Portable Crib, £129.95 at Amazon
• Best lightweight travel cot for a good mattress: Venture Airpod Travel Cot, £119.99 £99.99 at Amazon (Save 17% or £20)
• Best travel cot for versatile features: Hauck Sleep'n Play Centre Travel Cot, £79.95 at Boots

• Jump to best travel cots and cribs in 2025
• Jump to why do I need a travel cot?
• Jump to what to look for when buying a travel cot
• Jump to how, when and where will you use your travel cot?
• Jump to how much does a travel cot cost

Here are the best travel cots for 2025

1. Joie Roomie Go Travel Bedside Crib, £180

Best travel cot for flexibility

Suitable from: birth (with newborn insert) to 9kg | Travel cot weight: 9.5kg | Unfolded dimensions: L90.3cm x W68.5cm x H74.4-82.2cm| Folded dimensions: L84cm x W51cm x H6cm |  Newborn bassinet: No |  MFM Review Star Rating: 4.5 stars

Pros:

• Easy and quick to assemble
• Co-sleeping functionality
• One-hand drop-down side panels
• Can fit in a small car boot when folded
• Tilt function
• Can fit to different types of beds

Cons:

• Wheels only move in one direction and not side to side
• Too heavy for plane or train journeys
• Pricey

"While at 9.5kg it is slightly heavier than some of its competitors, it folds up neatly into a slim frame that can easily be transported from room to room. I was really impressed that the crib came as one piece and could be assembled with no tools too," noted parent tester Allie in her review.

The cot is super simple to use and it folds down to a slim, easy to transport package that makes it easy to fit in the boot of the car.

Some features, like the 'next-to-me' function, do take a bit of getting used to as there are limited instructions but one you've figured it out it doesn't take too long.

"My baby is a real wriggler and seemed to appreciate the extra space to flail his arms and legs around," Allie continued. "The mattress is soft and supportive, and the panels are padded and soft for extra protection."

Overall, while it is pricey, the Joie Roomie Go is a comfy, compact and easy to assemble travel cot that allows you to keep your child close even while on the road.

Available from: Boots, Very and Natural Baby Shower

2. Bugaboo Stardust, £225

Best travel cot for easy assembly

Suitable from: birth (with newborn insert) to 2 years/15kg | Travel cot weight: 6.7kg | Unfolded dimensions: L64cm x W98cm x H85cm| Folded dimensions: L 65cm x W14cm x H85cm |  Newborn bassinet: Yes 

Pros:

• Quickest to assemble
• 2 mattress height positions
• Lightweight
• Easy to unfold

Cons:

• Quite large when folded
• Expensive

Along with the ease of assembly, the built-in mattress is what you pay for with this model: it's not only comfortable but can be adjusted to two height positions (with the newborn insert) making it easier to lift out newborns and babies not yet sitting up unaided. This is particularly handy if you’re prone to back problems or have just had a C-section. The mattress can be folded down inside the cot, meaning no extra assembly is required.

MFM home tester Rovenna, who tried it with her 4-month-old, said, "The fact it has both a raised zip in baby bassinet or a deep bed for toddlers – as well as a comfortable and generously filled built in mattress – is fantastic. It’s compact and lightweight, meaning it can be easily moved from room to room and transported in its handy carry bag.”

Available from: Bugaboo, Amazon, Natural Baby Shower and Kiddies Kingdom

3. Silver Cross Slumber 3-in-1, £195

Best multi-function travel cot

Suitable from: birth (with newborn insert) to approx. 3 years (up to 15kg) | Travel cot weight: 7.65kg | Unfolded dimensions: 112 x 80 x 67cm| Newborn bassinet: Included

Pros:

• 3-in-1 functionality
• Breathable mesh with a padded mattress
• Will grow with your child
• Sustainable fabric
• Stylish

Cons:

• Large when assembled, expensive

The Silver Cross Slumber might be expensive but it does have three distinct uses as a bedside co-sleeper, travel cot and playpen.

Zip in the newborn insert to create a bedside crib suitable from birth until approximately 6 months old. The newborn insert sits at the top of the cot, meaning your baby will be at the height of your bed - although these is no option to drop the side in this mode as with some bedside cribs.

As your baby grows, you can use the Slumber as lightweight travel cot, using the same mattress. A waterproof carry case is included to allow for easy portability on the go. You can also use the Slumber as a secure play pen, and there's a zip-open door your toddler can crawl in and out when they are older.

At 7.65kg it’s a lightweight design that can be transported easily and stored away when not in use. The Slumber also has an easy-fold function meaning it can pop up and fold down quickly. For eco-conscious parents, Slumber features quilted material crafted using a yarn made from recycled plastic bottles that would have otherwise been sent to landfill. It looks good too, with an attractive, minimalistic design. This is a useful product that will grow with your child and a stylish option from a trusted brand.

The Silver Cross Slumber is available in two different colourways, carbon and stone.

Available from: Amazon, John Lewis and Kiddies Kingdom

4. Graco Contour Electra, £100

Best for added extras

Suitable from: birth to 15kg | Travel cot weight: 10kg | Unfolded dimensions: H:91cm W:73cm D:104cm| Folded dimensions: H:85cm D:23cm | Newborn bassinet: Yes

Pros:

• Lots of accessories included
• Good newborn bassinet

Cons:

• Heavy

If you're looking for a travel cot that will do double or even triple duty, this could be the product for you.

MFM home tester Jessica said, "The Graco Electra travel cot has proven to be a lovely cot for my 5 month old son. It folds up to an easily transportable, small travel bag and has lovely extras such as the hanging toy bar and night light which are well thought out."

There's a newborn bassinet that fastens in to keep tiny babies close, and the whole unit is on wheels so it can be moved easily. It's definitely not the lightest product on our list, but remove any accessories you're not using (such as the changer or bassinet) and this significantly reduces the weight to make it easier to move or carry.

Read our full MadeForMums Graco Contour Electra travel cot review

Available from: Boots, Graco, Halfords and Very

5. Red Kite Sleeptight Travel Cot, £35

Best budget buy travel cot

Suitable from: birth to 15kg | Travel cot weight: 8.7kg | Unfolded dimensions: L99cm x W59.5cm x H80.5cm| Folded dimensions: L27cm x W25cm x H80.5cm| Newborn bassinet: No | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.2 stars

Pros:

• Great value
• Easy to assemble

Cons:

• Thin mattress
• Not very lightweight
• No newborn bassinet

Where the Red Kite Sleeptight travel cot excels - beyond it's fantastic name - is the ease of assembly. “Once you have pulled up the handle in the bottom and un-assembled the cot, it is very easy to fold shut and put into the carry-bag,” stated our MFM reviewer Jessica, who called it “hassle-free and very quick.” Travel cots of this type usually have an order in which each section has to be assembled (or taken down), so pay close attention to the instructions.

This cot's purse-friendly price point doesn’t mean you have to compromise on quality – you’ll find plenty of useful design features like a full padded top rail and mesh sides to provide visibility and air flow. Our MFM reviewer and parent testers also found it felt robust once built. One parent tester said, “It feels secure, with the side bars locking in place, and is sturdy enough to accommodate a lively toddler.”

Read our full MadeForMums Red Kite Sleeptight travel cot review

Available from: Amazon and Kiddies Kingdom

6. Cuggl Deluxe Superlight Travel Cot, £60

Best travel cot for occasional use

Suitable from: birth to 15kg | Travel cot weight: 6kg | Unfolded dimensions: L85 cm x W56cm x H86m| Folded dimensions: L50cm x W61cm x H15cm| Newborn bassinet: No

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Folds up small
• Easy to assemble
• Affordable

Cons:

• Small footprint
• Low weight limit
• No newborn bassinet

Coming in at only 6kg, this is one of the lightest travel cots on our list, and also one of the most affordable. If you're looking for an all-rounder for occasional use during the first couple of years of your child's life, it's a good value option that performs well. We found it can be constructed in minutes and folds up to a suitcase size, although it's sadly not quite small enough to take as hand luggage on a plane.

The built-in mattress is 2.5cm deep, putting it on a par with most travel cot mattresses but perhaps not up there with the likes of the Bugaboo Stardust. Overall, the cot is smaller in size than some other options we tested, but that means it folds up smaller too. However, for taller children a larger option like the Joie Kubbie or BabyBjorn might last you longer.

Available from: Argos

7. Joie Kubbie Sleep Travel Cot, £99.99

Best travel cot for newborns

Suitable from: Birth to 15kg | Travel cot weight: 8.79kg | Unfolded dimensions: L99cm x W59.5cm x H80.5cm| Folded dimensions: L 27 cm x W 25 cm x H 80.5cm | Newborn bassinet: Yes

Pros:

• Simple drop-side feature
• Grows with baby

Cons:

• Not very lightweight
• Can be tricky to put up and down

The Joie Kubbie Sleep combines the functionality of a travel cot with that of a bedside crib, with a drop-down side operated by a button that allows easier access to a newborn while in bassinet mode. It does sit quite high up so the exact functionality will differ depending on the type of bed you have, but in those early days when mum is healing it could be a lifesaver.

"One of the great features of the Joie Kubbie Sleep travel cot is that it can be used beside the bed once its straps are attached to the bed, and its side is dropped," said MFM reviewer Dominic, who tested this with his newborn daughter. He was also impressed with the durability, saying, "I’m really impressed with the quality of the build, despite the ‘sticky’ mechanics. Once assembled, it feels sturdy enough to last a number of years, which will be helpful for when our daughter can start using it as a playpen."

Once your baby is old enough, you simply put up the side, drop the mattress down to the base of the cot, and it becomes a generously-sized travel cot and playpen that'll last until the child weighs 15kg. The pull-and-click functionality takes a few minutes to master, and like others of this style there's an order you need to memorise in order to get it to go up and down smoothly, but Joie has a great instructional video to help.

Read our full MadeForMums Joie Kubbie travel cot review

Available from: Boots, Very, Halfords, John Lewis

8. Red Kite Dreamer Bedside Travel Crib, £58

Best budget travel cot for co-sleeping

Suitable from: birth (with bassinet) to 15kg | Travel cot weight: 7.6kg | Unfolded dimensions: L99cm x W57cm x H76cm| Folded dimensions: L27cm x W71cm x H26m| Newborn bassinet: Yes

Pros:

• Permanent drop-side option
• Good mattress
• Lightweight

Cons:

• Flimsy newborn insert

Like the Joie Kubbie sleep, the Red Kite Dreamer offers the perfect travel option for families with newborns that use a bedside crib at home, as it has the same drop-side functionality built into a more portable travel cot. However, unlike the Joie Kubbie Sleep, which has a button-operated drop-side, this one is fastened with buckles, making it more suited to those who want to keep the cot fastened to their bed with the side dropped permanently down, for a safe way to cosleep with a newborn.

Once the baby is older, it becomes a travel cot that's almost a metre in length, offering lots of space for a growing toddler. The mattress was quite controversial amongst our testers. While our reviewer found it to be too firm for their 9 month old, other testers really rated it. "As travel cots go this is one of the comfiest mattresses I’ve seen. It feels nice and padded and had a solid firm base underneath to secure into the cot," said home tester Bridget, who tested this with her 4 month old.

Read our full MadeForMums Red Kite Dreamer beside travel cot review

Available from: Red Kite, Boots, Amazon and Kiddies Kingdom

9. Chicco Next2Me PopUp, £215

Best travel cot for versatile newborn co-sleeping

Suitable from: birth to 6 months | Travel cot weight: 10.5kg | Unfolded dimensions: L97cm x W80cm x H82cm | Folded dimensions: L97cm x W84cm x H23m | Newborn bassinet: No

Pros:

• 6 height positions
• Quick and easy fold
• Mesh design
• Ergonomic mattress included
• Great visibility and air ventilation

Cons:

• Heavy
• Shorter life span than other options
• Can be difficult to transport
• No newborn bassinet

The PopUp is the latest offering from the Chicco Next2Me range and is a great option for parents who will be travelling with their young baby a lot in the first 6 months. The Red Kite Dreamer and Joie Kubbie Sleep also offer co-sleeping but, unlike these, the PopUp has a range of features that make it a really great choice for newborns.

Thanks to its foldable feet, it is suitable for use with beds with storage compartments. It also comes with straps that allow the crib to conveniently attach to different beds. It can be used as a standalone or bedside crib and transforms easily between both. It also has 2 wheels that make it easy to move from room to room around the house.

MFM reviewer Helen who tested the Chicco Next2Me Pop Up with her 1-month-old son Alessio said, "The Pop Up works very well as a crib for the early months of a baby’s life, especially for people who will be travelling a lot, because it is so easy to put up and down. It would certainly be a practical buy if you are going to be driving to stay away from home several times in the first 6 months of your baby’s life."

Helen also noted the fold as being a particular highlight. "The ease of putting the cot up and down with the 3-second fold, and without the need to dissemble anything, is the main selling point and for good reason. It easily folds up into one piece and is easy to insert into the travel bag included." However, at 10.5kg, the PopUp is the heaviest option on our list and is quite bulky when folded. Whilst compact and able to fit under some beds while not in use, it does have a large footprint and therefore takes up quite a lot of car boot space and may not fit into the boot of smaller cars.

Read our full MadeForMums Chicco Next2Me Pop Up travel cot review

Available from: John Lewis and Kiddies Kingdom

10. BabyBjörn Travel Cot Light, £199.90

Best travel cot for no upper weight limit

Suitable from: 0-3 years | Travel cot weight: 6kg (including travel bag) | Unfolded dimensions: L112cm x W64cm x 82cm | Folded dimensions: L49cm x W60cm x H14cm | Newborn bassinet: No

Pros: 

• Lightweight
• No upper weight limit
• Easy to set up
• Premium feel
• Extra thick mattress
• Great visibility from any angle
• Hard for little ones to climb out of

Cons:

• One of the most expensive options
• No newborn bassinet

This lightweight, easy-to-use travel cot impressed our parent tester for a number of reasons – as you'd expect for one of the most expensive options on our list.

The brand known for stylish baby products won't disappoint parents on the go, with a sleek silhouette, premium-feeling fabrics and excellent functionality. It's impressively easy to set up and fold down – a true highlight compared to trickier styles such as the Joie Kubbie Sleep. Simply pull out each leg, click it into place on the top frame, then place the mattress inside and secure with poppers.

Former MFM Head of Consumer Content and mum of 3 Christy commented: "It's so easy to set up, which is really useful if you forget how between holidays, or are asking a grandparent to help. I had no worries about sleepily packing it up at the airport hotel before we took an early flight."

Christy, who tested the cot with her tall 2 year old, says: "I loved the fact that the BabyBjorn has no weight limit. With a heavy toddler who is not ready for a bed, it's perfect. He slept very well, even though we tested it on a hard tiled floor."

The cot folds up into a flat rectangle shape, stored in a carry bag. Christy adds: "We took it as hold luggage out our TUI flight, and could even have fitted it inside our large family suitcase to avoid dropping it off at the 'oversized luggage' desk."

Available from: Natural Baby Shower. Amazon and BabyBjörn

11. Tutti Bambini CoZee Go 3-in-1 Bassinet, Travel Cot & Playpen, £169

Best stylish travel cot

Suitable from: Birth (with bassinet) to 3 years | Travel cot weight: 6.5kg | Unfolded dimensions: L133cm x W98cm x H65cm | Folded dimensions: L72cm x W62cm x H14cm | Newborn bassinet: Yes | Awards: Bronze – Travel Cot, MadeForMums Awards 2023

Pros: 

• Stylish
• Multi-functional
• Premium feel
• Lightweight
• Quick to put together
• Mattress included
• Storage case included

Cons: 

• Quite large
• Can be difficult to transport
• Expensive

This Scandi-style cot impressed our testers with its appealing, stylish design and ease of use.

It's suitable from birth with the included newborn bassinet and foldable mattress. As your baby gets older, the mattress can be unfolded to be used as a floor-level travel cot. Then you can zip open the mesh window and you've turned it into a playpen.

The mesh fabric all around the cot provides great visibility and airflow and, available separately, is the Day & Night Shade which can help your baby switch off and sleep in bright or unfamiliar places.

Parent tester Cali, who tested the CoZee Go with her 13-month-old son Teddy, really loved the style and quality of the travel cot: "There are cheaper travel cot and playpen options out there but they don't look as stylish or high quality. I absolutely love the minimalist look, it's stylish and neutral. All of the materials feel extremely good quality — this is definitely one of the comfier travel cots that we've used."

Cali also praised its different elements, "The CoZee Go makes a great playpen, the zip opening was especially good for giving my son the freedom to come and go as he pleases. As a travel cot, its a really good size so should last well into toddlerhood."

Parent tester Claire, who tested this with her 3-month-old son Zach also praised the design of the cot, "It is a high-end, stylish travel cot that’s built to last and worth its price tag. It also packs up compactly for ease of transport and has a very comfortable mattress that I think little ones will sleep well in."

In her review of the CoZee Go, Claire wrote, "this is such a great travel cot – everything bar managing to zip the bag back up has really impressed me. It’s easy to put together, looks great and packs up compactly for ease of transport. I’m looking forward to trying out the playpen in a few months when Zach can sit up/start crawling!"

Read the full MadeForMums Tutti Bambini CoZee Go 3-in-1 Bassinet, Travel Cot & Playpen review

Available from: Boots, Kiddies Kingdom, Natural Baby Shower and Amazon

12. ErgoPouch Easy Sleep Portable Crib, £99.95

Best lightweight newborn travel crib

Suitable from: birth to showing signs of rolling | Travel cot weight: 2.2kg | Unfolded dimensions: L80cm x W49cm x H27cm| Folded dimensions (in backpack): L50cm x W49cm x H8cm | Newborn bassinet: Yes | Awards: Silver – Travel Cot, MadeForMums Awards 2024

Pros:

• Very light and compact
• Mesh sides
• Mosquito net included
• Multifunctional

Cons:

• Shorter life span than other options
• Expensive

This option from ErgoPouch is a super unique, highly portable option. It is suitable for overnight sleep with newborns, so ideal for babies who are sleeping in a moses basket or crib at home and not quite ready to spend their holiday in a larger cot. Our testers found the breathable mesh sides make it easy to keep an eye on your baby, and the easy fold and included storage backpack make this a great shout for travel in the early days. The high sides and sturdy steel frame also make it a safe resting place for tummy time and play.

ErgoPouch say the product is designed as a safe sleep area for a newborn infant, but do advise you discontinue use once your baby shows signs of rolling, or has reached 9kg (whichever comes first).

Holly, who tested it with her 7 week old, Charlotte, says, “My honest initial thoughts were that it was flimsy – however as soon as I assembled the product I realised it was exceptionally well produced - the materials are wonderfully lightweight which allows it to be carried in the accompanying backpack with ease. Similarly, I was worried that the mattress would be overly thin but in reality it is not much thinner than the mattress we currently have in the moses basket and is soft and comfortable. Great value for money!”

We also like the fact the mattress is breathable, and the cotton cover can be removed for washing. For lazy days by the pool or in your garden, it even comes with a mosquito net for extra protection for your baby. Folded down and popped in the travel case, it can also fit in overhead lockers on the airplane, or inside a suitcase.

Available from: Ergopouch and Amazon

13. Venture Airpod Travel Cot, £109.99

Best travel cot for lightweight with good mattress

Suitable from: birth to 3 years | Travel cot weight: 6kg | Unfolded dimensions: L85cm x W55cm x H66cm| Folded dimensions: 60cm x 15cm x 50cm | Newborn bassinet: No | Awards: Gold – Travel Cot, MadeForMums Awards 2024

Pros:

• Easy to build and collapse
• Mesh design
• Good mattress
• Lightweight

Cons:

• No newborn bassinet
• Can’t be used as playpen

This travel cot is very lightweight, comfortable and easy to carry. It's available in a number of colours and features mesh panels on all sides. The mesh means that you can get a great view of your baby or toddler, while also ensuring good air circulation at night time.

The Airpod travel cot has a better quality, more luxurious mattress than you might expect. Although the Cuggl Deluxe is very similar and quite a bit cheaper in price, we found that the mattress in this travel cot was of much higher quality.

“It was very easy to remove from the carry case and put the cot together.” said MFM home tester Sarah. “It was also easy to take apart and put back into the travel case. No fiddling or spare parts. The easiest baby item I have actually put together.”

The Airpod Travel Cot is suitable from birth, but it doesn't come with a bassinet, something that you might prefer for a newborn. Offering a good amount of room, the travel cot can also be used as a play pen, and offers a comfy night's sleep for babies and toddlers.

Available from: Amazon

14. Hauck Sleep'n Play Centre Travel Cot, £79.95

Best travel cot for versatile features

Suitable from: birth to 15kg | Travel cot weight: 8.5kg | Unfolded dimensions: L125cm x W68.5cm x H82cm| Folded dimensions: L22cm x W21cm x H76.5cm | Newborn bassinet: Yes | Awards: Bronze – Travel Cot, MadeForMums Awards 2024

Pros:

• Good value with lots of features
• Changing table included
• Can wheel along when folded
• Easy to assemble and transport
• Sturdy

Cons:

• Thin, uneven mattress
• Not very lightweight

The Hauck Sleep'n Play Centre Travel Cot has all the bells and whistles for under £100. This includes an integrated changing table, high and low sleeping positions (reducing back strain), a utility pocket, a zip-down side panel for a fun playpen adventure (crawl in – crawl out) and a fun design with pops of colour. For ease of moving about, it also has two wheels when folded up that means you can pull it along like a suitcase – genius!

Our home testers found the cot to be well made and sturdy, and they particularly liked the wipeable fabrics. With a little practice, parents found it easy to set up and fold down as long as they performed the steps in the right order. "The cot feels sturdy when set up and the fabric is wipeable which makes life easy when on the go," says Shannon, who tested it with their 2-month-old baby Rae (pictured).

Testers would have liked the mattress to be a bit thicker, however, and didn't score it quite so highly for comfort (Hauck do sell a thicker mattress separately). One parent said they found the included mattress did not lie completely flat, but that “the unevenness was not to the extent that we had concerns about baby”. They also felt the changing table’s safety strap could be longer for older babies.

"It's good travel cot for the price with lots of features," said Jennifer, who tested the cot with her 3 month old Brianna. "It's large so will last while our child grows, and the ability to use from newborn up is obviously very helpful. The included change station an added bonus for when baby is small and I think the quality of the frame and materials is good."

Available from: Boots and Amazon

Why do I need a travel cot?

One of the main benefits of travel cots are their portability. Regular cots are often made of wood and to disassemble and put in a car or suitcase would be quite a task! With a travel cot disassembly is usually a matter of a few minutes (or even seconds) and some of the travel cots on our list fold small enough to fit in a suitcase or overhead locker alongside a cabin-approved stroller.

Travel cots are an on-the-go sleeping option that means you won’t have to rely on sleeping arrangements at your destination. For frequent travellers they can be as familiar to little ones as their regular bed; helping to aid sleep in a different environment.

What to look for when buying a travel cot

Portability — Travel cots have lighter-weight components and are designed to be easily carried and stored. But they're still cots, so none of them are going to fold into a truly tiny package. They fold into different shapes so look for the folded style that suits your needs. Some of the travel cots on our list fold into a long 3D rectangular shape more suited to public transport, others fold flat to fit well in a car boot.

Weight — Travel cots vary significantly in weight - we found some that are under 7kg and others that weigh in at a hefty 10.5kg. There's even a super-light travel crib, albeit with a shorter usage period. Think about how often you’re going to use it, and if you’ll be lifting it up and down stairs or in and out of a car. If you want frequent use, a very lightweight travel cot may suit you best. Of course, a heavier cot is likely to feel more sturdy and offer more functionality. 

Ease of assembly/disassembly — Once you have the knack, putting a travel cot up and down should be a very quick process - a matter of minutes, if not seconds. Do read the instructions though, many have a knack and have parts that need to be put together in a very specific order. If you only plan on using it occasionally, a cot with a very easy, or intuitive fold, might suit you better than an 'easy once you've practised a few times' option. 

Age suitability — Age suitability really varies for travel cots. Most can be used from birth – we’ve specified the manufacturer’s instructions – but the travel cots that have a built-in bassinet offer a cosier, elevated sleep environment for newborns. This will also make bending down to lift them out easier if they need frequent settling through the night. Several of the cots even have drop-down sides to allow them to be used as a bedside crib. Some cots can only be used for a few months while others are suitable up to around 3.5 years.  

Mattress — Travel cot mattresses tend to be thinner and harder than normal cot mattresses. This is partly to enable a compact fold and easy storage, and is why travel cots are usually not recommended for permanent overnight sleep. But remember, a firm mattress is important for safe sleep for your baby, and doesn’t mean your child won’t be comfortable. Most manufacturers will state that you shouldn't add an extra mattress to a travel cot.

Extra functions — Some travel cots can serve as a handy playpen once babies can sit up.  Some also have a changing station, which could be useful if you’re frequently travelling with a baby. 

How, when and where will you use your travel cot?

Do you plan to use the travel cot frequently during the year, or do you need it for a particular holiday? The frequency and location of where you’ll use it will help when considering weight, functionality and budget. For example, if the travel cot will be used for overnight stays at relatives or friends every month, you won’t need to worry too much about weight and the ease of assembly – especially if it can remain constructed.

For holidays in hot climates, a breathable mattress and all-around mesh panel are factors to consider. These help with air circulation and will provide a more comfortable environment for your child to sleep. Some travel cots include or offer the option of an insect net and sun protection.

For travel involving flights, it’s worth investigating your airline’s baggage allowances. A light, compact-folding model with easy assembly could be your best solution. 

How much does a travel cot cost?

Our list covers travel cot prices ranging from £35 up to more than £200 - so quite a wide scope. For items at all price points, we expect a safe, comfortable and stable sleeping environment.

When looking at budget options, our reviewers found that they certainly did the trick and functioned well as a travel cot but were quite basic with limited added extras. For example, you shouldn’t expect a changing station included on a lower priced travel cot.

When considering more high-end travel cots we still expect good value (not overpriced), premium components and extra thought on a design that will make traveling with kids a breeze. Of course, the more often you travel, the easier it is to get your money’s worth out of a more expensive travel cot.

The mid-range options on our list – priced under £100 include many great benefits and may tick quite a few boxes but without some of the lush extras of more expensive models.

Read more...

• Best lightweight buggies under 7kg
• Best baby carriers
• Best compact folding buggies
• Best toothbrushes for babies, toddlers and children
• How to apply for a newborn passport

If you've got little ones, you'll be looking at simple, bright and engaging games to help children develop their skills and get involved. Whereas, for slightly older kids the best family board games might involve a little strategy, inventive thinking or outright silliness.

Looking for extra entertainment? Discover our quiz for kids. From animals to fairy tales, we’ve rounded
up 100+ fun and age-appropriate quiz questions for children aged 3–11 with answers included. Also discover riddles for kids and kids jokes.

We've rolled a lot of dice, spun a lot of spinners and had a fair few slightly over-competitive moments in our quest to find the best board games for children of all ages, from pre-schooler to teen. And after a lot of turn-taking and card-dealing – not to mention sock-exploring, kitten-paw-flicking and drawing upside down – we've found some brilliant board games to recommend.

If you're looking for something fun to play with the family on the Nintendo Switch instead, check out our list of the best Nintendo Switch games depending on age and suitability. Plus, check out our roundup of the best card games for kids of all ages.

Best family board games at a glance

• Great for hand-eye coordination: Exploding Kittens: A Game of Cat and Mouth, £11.70
• Great for dexterity: The Sock Game, £21.99 £18 (save £3.99 or 18%)
• Great for quick-fire strategy: Monopoly GO, £19.84
• Great for suspense: Orchard Toys Dino-Snore-Us, £12.18
• Great for pattern recognition: Ubongo Junior, £9.95
• Great for quick thinking silliness: Happy Salmon, £18.99
• Great for serious strategy: Ticket to Ride Europe, £44.99 £24.65 (save £20 or 44%)
• Great for eco-friendly messaging: Petit Collage Rush to Recycle, £13.81
• Great for cross-generational laughs: Ravensburger #UpsideDownChallenge Game, £19.99
• Great for non-competitive play: Space Cow Dream Catcher, £11.74
• Great for creativity: Blank, £12
• Great for quick thinking: 5 Second Rule Core Classic Buzzer, £14.99
• Great for excitement: Drone Home, £28.99
• Great for preschooler fun: Peppa Pig Muddy Puddle Game, £22.99
• Great for quick-paced fun: Cobra Paw, £14.99
• Great for hand-eye coordination: Cheeky Monkeys, £13.97
• Great for early strategy skills: Froggit, £23.36
• Great for matching skills and silliness: Uno Showdown, £9.85
• Great for memory skills: Baffled, £21.50
• Great for logic thinking: Dog Crimes, £13.95

Here’s our pick of the best family board games for ages 4 to teenagers, as tested by kids and rated by parents

1. Exploding Kittens: A Game of Cat and Mouth, £11.70

Great for hand eye coordination

Age suitability: 7+ | Best for age: 8+ | Batteries: None
Awards: Editor's Choice, Made For Mums Toy Awards 2021

What it is: A pinball-style game during which you compete to catapult the most balls into the open mouth of the board's cat centrepiece. Includes 24 balls, 2 magnetic Kitty Paw Flickers and 6 optional wall bumpers. For 2 players (or more if you download the special tournament app).

Why we love it:  It's fun to look at and really unique to play – as our child tester Rosie, 8 said, "I love how you flick the paws with the balls inside: there are no other games like this!" It's also really good for for parents, as well as kids. Natasha, mum of another of our child testers, Anthony, 8, said, "Us adults had just as much fun as the children. All of us were cheering one another on and getting more and more competitive as the game went on!" We particularly like how you set up the game 'arena' just by opening up the box.

Available from: Exploding Kittens and Amazon

2. The Sock Game, £21.99 £18 (save £3.99 or 18%)

Great for dexterity

Age suitability: 8+ | Best for age: 8+ (or younger with adult supervision) | Batteries: None
Awards: Gold, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2021

What it is: A sensory-skills board game where, using touch alone, you race to be the first to retrieve a specific object (like a cork or a button) from a sock stuffed full of similar objects. Comes with 2 big socks, 60 objects, a spinner, 2 scoring counters and instructions. For 2 players or more.

Why we love it: The premise of this game is simple but it's good fun– and can get pretty competitive!  Our child tester Maisie, 8, said, "I would definitely recommend it for other families as it is a fun game for all ages. I like finding the different objects as quickly as possible and I like that some of the objects have different rules like scoring 2 points or having your hand in the sock to start with." We also like that you can add to the socks some objects of your own – there are  blank spaces on the board to write them down. Worth noting that, though it's marked for ages 8+, we think younger children would enjoy playing this too – as long as an adult is around to keep a watchful eye on all the little pieces.

Available at: Amazon

3. Monopoly GO!, £19.84

Great for quick-fire strategy

Age suitability: 8+ | Best for age: 8+ | Batteries: None
Awards: Editor's Choice, MadeforMums Toy Awards 2024

What it is: This entirely mobile-based board game is Monopoly with a twist. Just like in classic Monopoly, players roll the dice and land on property, which they can use in-game cash to buy and then collect rent on. However, in Monopoly GO!, you can also participate in timed challenges and mini-games to earn extra rewards.

Why we love it: It's fast and fun – and actually puts adult players on a pretty level playing field with child ones. Mum Hayley said, "My boys loved this game. It retains the original Monopoly feel but on a much more kid-friendly level. Very original and relatively quick to play, they enjoyed playing it on repeat!"

Available at: Amazon

4. Orchard Toys Dino-Snore-Us, £12.18

Great for suspense

Age suitability: 4+ | Best for age: 4+ | Batteries: None
Awards: Gold, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2021

What it is: A dinosaur-themed board game where the objective is to collect as many eggs as you can without waking the sleeping T-Rex (by landing on a dino footprint). Includes a spinner, jigsaw game board, 4 dinosaur playing pieces, a T-Rex character, 24 eggs and 4 nests. For 2 to 4 players.

Why we love it: It's a great-value, colourful, simple counting-spaces board game with a real element of suspense: who's going to wake the T-Rex next? "I get excited and nervous about waking the dinosaur up," said our child tester Avana, 5. "I really love this game!" We also really like the little twist at the end when you count up your eggs: you turn them over to see how many cracked ones you have and you can't count those in your total. This was the part that really got our child testers giggling in anticipation.

Available at: Amazon, Jojo Maman Bebe and Orchard Toys

5. Ubongo Junior, £9.95

Great for pattern recognition

Age suitability: 5+ | Best for age: 5+ | Batteries: None
Awards: Silver, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2021

What it is: A game where each player gets a puzzle board and races everyone else – and the timer – to place the correctly shaped animal tiles on their board, complete their puzzle and win 'jewels'. Comes with 50 double-sided puzzle boards (with varying levels of difficulties), an hourglass timer, animal tiles and plastic gems. For 1 to 4 players.

Why we love it: This junior version of the adult game is well pitched at the 5+ age range, and we like that different players can select puzzle boards with different levels of difficulty. Our child testers all grasped the rules quickly and got very excited when the timer was turned over and they started looking for the right animal tiles. "I like the animals and winning lots of treasure like a pirate!" said our child tester Zachary, 5. His mum Janet added, "I think this will become a firm family favourite in our house and last for many, many years. It is difficult enough for older children and adults to be challenged by the puzzles but not too hard (on the easier level) for little ones to be put off."

Available at: Magic Madhouse

6. Happy Salmon, £18.99

Great for quick thinking silliness

Age suitability: 6+ | Best for age: 6+ | Batteries: None
Awards: Joint Bronze, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2022

What it is: A card game where you draw a card with an action that requires a partner- find your partner with the matching action and discard your card. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins. For 3 to 8 players.

Why we love it: It's quick and simple, with plenty of ways to make you laugh out loud. It’s also the perfect size to take away on a trip, plus the packaging and cards are 100% compostable, biodegradable and plastic-free. Mum Sophie says, "My 7 year and 5 year old boys enjoy Happy Salmon."

Available at: Debenhams and Amazon

7. Ticket to Ride Europe, £44.99 £24.65 (save £20 or 44%)

Great for serious strategy

Age suitability: 8+ | Best for age: 10+ | Batteries: None
Awards: Bronze, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2021

What it is: A game where you use the board to try to build railway tracks across Europe to connect the cities you draw (as cards) at the beginning. You score points for, amongst other things, connecting up all your cities and having the longest continuous track. Comes with an instruction books– that you will need to read carefully. For 2 to 5 players.

Why we love it: This is a really good game for older kids, with lots of scope for strategic (and cunning) planning. It also has great inter-generational appeal, with one of our child testers having hours of fun playing this with her granny. The secret's in the blend of luck and strategy – and how you're never quite sure who the winner is until you tot up the scores at the end. "This game was really hard when you start but when we got a little into it, it started getting really fun," said our child tester Emily, 9.

Available at: Amazon

8. Petit Collage Rush to Recycle, £13.81

Great for eco-friendly messaging

Age suitability: 4+ | Best for age: 5+  | Batteries: None
Awards: Bronze, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2021

What it is: An eco-minded board game all about recycling – and made with 50% recycled card. The aim of the game is to sort your cards (depicting household objects) into the correct recycling boxes before the recycling lorry reaches its destination. For 2 to 4 players.

Why we love it: It looks very sweet – with bright colours and illustrations – and, as well as having a worthy educational aim, the game is fun to play. The little recycling boxes (which arrive flat for you to assemble) are not super-robust, so this is probably a game for a more careful child. It was definitely a massive hit with our child tester Blake, 6, who said, "I like learning what goes into the bins and all the colours. I played twice and want to play again!"

Available at: Amazon

9. Ravensburger #UpsideDownChallenge Game, £24.99 £19.99 (save £5 or 20%)

Great for cross-generational laughs

Age suitability: 6+ | Best for age: 6+ | Batteries: None
Awards: Bronze, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2021

What it is: A board game in which you take it in turns to complete simple challenges, such as writing your name or pouring water from one cup to another, while wearing a pair of plastic goggles that flip your vision upside down. For 2 to 6 players.

Why we love it: This game is all about silliness and laughter: it's impossible not to look ridiculous struggling (because you will!) to do a simple task with the goggles on. "Scarlett found it hilarious watching me and her dad trying to do some of the tasks," said Claire, mum of our child tester Scarlett, 8. Millie, mum of another child tester, Freddie, 7, said, "Freddie thought it was amazing and he kept the goggles on afterwards, trying to do other activities around the house!" Freddie himself rated the game "10 out of 10". Do note that quite a number of the goggle challenges involve household objects you need to supply (such as toilet roll tubes) so you may want to have a quick flick through the cards beforehand.

Available from: Amazon and Smyths Toys

10. Space Cow Dream Catcher, £11.74

Great for non-competitive play

Age suitability: 4+ | Best for age: | Batteries: None
Awards: Bronze, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2021

What it is: A 15-minute dream-themed board game, in which you see if you can win a dream token by covering up the 'nightmare' piece with the right-sized cuddly toy piece. The winner is the player who fills up their cloud base with dream tokens first. For 2 to 4 players.

Why we love it: It's a very simple and not at all competitive game, so it may not be everyone's cup of tea but our child tester Cassi, 6, really fell in love with it. She was drawn in by the stories you can weave around dreams, although she was keen to point out she didn't find the nightmare cards scary "at all"! "My favourite toy is the unicorn," she said. "And I added on to the game that we write down out stories from the dreams we make."

Available at: Board Game, Amazon and Firestorm Games

12. Blank, £12

Great for creativity

Age suitability: 6+ | Best for age: 8+ | Batteries: None
Awards: Bronze, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2021

What it is: A fast-paced card game, where you try to discard the 7 cards from your hand by matching the colours and numbers in the central pile and following rules (such as, 'if a 5 is played, the order of play switches direction). So far, so similar to UNO (below). The twist is that the 1st person to discard all their cards gets to create a new rule (and customise a blank playing card) for the next game. For 2 to 6 players.

Why we love it: It's an original concept that's lots of fun – and our child testers got very creative with their rule-making. One of our child testers, George, 9, said, "This game is pretty funny. I like trying to think of new penalties to write on the cards, to make it as silly as possible. I also like how the games are quite short, so you can play lots of different games in a small amount of time."

Available at: Amazon and Hub Games

12. 5 Second Rule Core Classic Buzzer, £14.99

Great for quick thinking

Age suitability: 10+ | Best for age: 10+ | Batteries: 3 x AAA (not included)
Awards: Bronze, Made For Mums Toy Awards 2021

What it is: A fast-paced party game in which you race against the clock to name 3 things associated with a seemingly easy topic – such as 'things that go with chips'. Do it before the 5 second timer runs out, and you can give the buzzer a satisfying smash; have a mind-blank, and the alarm will go off. For 3 players or more.

Why we love it: "This game has everything that we look for as a family," said Eve, mum of our child tester, Arthur, 10. "It's easy to follow, simple to set up, has clear instructions and can be enjoyed over and over by adults and children equally." And we agree, especially as there are so many question cards (326 cards; 652 questions) that it'll be a long while before you play the same game twice. Arthur himself added, "I love it – it was so much fun! I found it exciting and challenging trying to answer in 5 seconds. Smashing the buzzer was great!"

Available at: Amazon

13. Drone Home, £28.99

Great for excitement

Age suitability: 6+ | Best for age: 6+ | Batteries: 4 x AAA batteries (not included)

What it is: A fast-moving action race game featuring an actual drone. Your aim is to launch each of your 3 aliens down a ramp and into the drone, which will then lift off into the air. But you have to watch out for other players, who can knock your alien out of the drone with their own. For 2 to 4 players.

Why we love it: Our child tester Wyatt, 8, got his whole family playing this game – and it was a huge hit, with all of them "screaming in excitement", according to mum Rebecca. "I like how the drone flies off with the alien inside it," said Wyatt. "It flies so high to the ceiling, it makes me laugh so much. I love this game!"

Available at: Interplay and Amazon

14. Peppa Pig Muddy Puddle Game, £28.99

Great for preschooler fun

Age suitability: 4+ | Best for age: 4+ | Batteries: None

What it is: A game where you vie to help George jump over muddy puddles to reach Peppa at the top of the hill – without falling through a puddle and having to start again. Comes with a green hill topped by Peppa, 12 playing pieces and 24 action cards. For 2 to 4 players.

Why we love it: Anything Peppa-themed is (obviously) a big hit in any household with small occupants but this 20-minute game is a good game in its own right. It's well designed and fun – and our child testers found the idea of falling in the deep puddles very amusing. It's definitely aimed at preschoolers but, according to Mackenzie, mum to our child tester Reuben, 4, it's a hit with school-age children. too. "The whole family joined in to play," she said, "and we all thoroughly enjoyed it!"

Available at: Amazon

15. Cobra Paw, £14.99

Great for quick-paced fun

Age suitability: 6+ | Best for age: 6+ | Batteries: None

What it is: A quick-paced game where you take turns to roll a symbol-studded dice and then try to the matching symbol tiles before your opponents can. The first to grab 6 correct tiles wins. For 2 to 6 players.

Why we love it: This is an easy-to-master, 5 to 15-minute game that encourages quick recognition skills, quick reactions – and a healthy competitive spirit! "Noah got the rules really quickly," says Sarah, mum of our child tester, Noah, 7. "It’s a fantastic, fun game. It's also really portable and excellent value for money."

Available at: Waterstones and Amazon

16. Cheeky Monkeys, £13.97

Great for hand-eye coordination

Age suitability: 4+ | Best for age: 4+ | Batteries: None

What it is: A fast-moving game of chance – you race to collect the bananas – with a (not-so-serious) element of strategy – you can steal bananas from each other. Includes a 2-part 3D tree, 32 monkey cards, a spinner board, a pool board and instructions. For 2 to 4 players.

Why we love it: It's a simple and really well thought-out game that's fun to play – from hanging bananas on the tree to making monkey noises to – thrillingly – nicking other people’s nanas. Our child testers had a ball! From Orchard Toys, like Dirty Dinos (above), it features nice and sturdy (recycled) cardboard playing pieces, and it's a decent price.

Available at: Orchard Toys and Amazon

17. Froggit, £23.36

Great for early strategy skills

Age suitability: 7+ | Best for age: 7+ | Batteries: None

What it is: A board game in which you try to be first to guide your frog family across the lilypads to the other side of the pond – without getting blocked by another player or scared back to the start by the big fish. Can be played at Junior or Expert levels. Comes with 6 frog families, a big fish and instructions. For 2 to 6 players.

Why we love it: This game is such fun and we love how you can adapt it to the age of the children playing: younger players will enjoy the thrill of a fast game, while older children can take their time to develop a winning strategy. "The game is easy to understand, fun to play and great of kids of all ages," says Becky, mum of our child tester Archie, 7. As for Archie himself? "This is a really cool game," he said. "I like trying to beat my brother and want to try playing it with 5 friends at the same time!"

Available at: SmartGames and Amazon

18. Uno Showdown, £9.85

Great for matching skills – and silliness

Age suitability: 7+ | Best for age: 7+ | Batteries: 3 x AA (not included)

What it is: A twist on the bestselling card game where you try to get rid of all your cards by matching the colour and numbers of the card on the central pile, only now there is a Showdown card which allows you – if you’re fast enough – to use an electronic unit to fire extra cards at your opponents. Comes with instructions. For 2 to 10 players.

Why we love it: The original UNO games is a deserved classic but this, according to our child testers, takes things to a whole new level. The tension as you wait to press the showdown unit when the completely unpredictable noise sounds is hilarious – and a fun counterpoint to concentrating on the cards in your hand. A great family game.

Available at: Amazon and The Entertainer

19. Baffled, £21.50

Great for memory skills

Age suitability: 6+ | Best for age: 7+ | Batteries: None

What it is: A memory game in which you have 60 seconds to remember the position of 12 symbol tiles ­– which then keep changing position as you play. Includes a board, 12 symbol tokens and lids to cover them, ‘life’ cards and a dice. For 2 to 4 players.

Why we love it: Our child tester Thomas, 6, really enjoyed trying to remember where the different symbols are and even liked getting it wrong so he could "lose a life!" We reckon this absorbing 40-minute really game comes into its own, though, with children aged 7 or 8 and above. We rate it highly (and are trying to look past being beaten at it by our own children).

Available at: Cheatwell and Amazon

20. Dog Crimes, £13.95

Great for logic thinking

Age suitability: 8+ | Best for age: 8+ | Batteries: none

What it is: A logical-reasoning game where you work out clues to find out which pup committed the canine crime. Includes game board, 6 dog tokens, 6 crime tokens, 40 challenge cards and an instruction booklet. Also comes in a cat version. For 1 player.

Why we love it: This is a brainteaser game with a nice sense of humour: "In one challenge, I had to work out which dog had pooed!" said our delighted child tester David, 9. The various 'whodunit' challenges are graded from beginner to expert level, so you can increase the level of difficulty as you get the hang of it. Very nicely made, with good thick card and great illustrations. A great gift for a would-be sleuth.

Available at: Amazon

We've more top toys, all tested and rated by parents and children...

• Top toys for Christmas – for kids of all ages
• Best toys for 4 year olds
• Best toys for 5 year olds
• Best stocking filler toys

Some fold up small enough to be taken on a plane as hand luggage and they're usually lightweight so are easy to carry once folded, which can be especially great if you're carrying it up stairs often, or on public transport a lot. Compact-folding pushchairs are

• Jump to the best compact pushchairs

Our list of compact-folding pushchairs is a combination of 2 product types: firstly, true compact folds that are super-small for travel or urban living. We've then included some more traditional travel systems and premium pushchairs that fold up smaller than their rivals, for those looking for a from-birth solution with more functionality.

Best compact pushchairs at a glance

• Best budget compact fold pushchair: Kinderkraft Apino, £119 at Boots
• Best budget lightweight compact-folding pushchair: Graco Myavo, £90 at Argos
• Best compact-folding pushchair for comfort: Bugaboo Butterfly, £335 at Boots
• Best compact-folding pushchair for travel: Cybex Libelle, £269.95 at Boots
• Best parent-facing compact-folding pushchair: Cybex Eezy S Twist+2, £469.95 £399 at Kiddies Kingdom (Save £70.95 or 15%)
• Best compact-folding pushchair for convertibility: Stokke YOYO3, £419 £349.97 at Amazon (Save £69.03 or 16%)
• Best compact-folding pushchair for growing with your child: iCandy Pip, £429 at Boots
• Best compact-folding pushchair for an adjustable handlebar: Ergobaby Metro+ Stroller, £319.90 at Boots
• Best pushchair for sturdiness: UPPAbaby Minu V3, £399.95 £355 at Natural Baby Shower (Save £44.95 or 11%)
• Best pushchair for style: Inglesina Quid 2, £299 at Kiddies Kingdom
• Best pushchair for urban living: Bugaboo Dragonfly, from £695 at Boots

Find out what to consider when buying a compact-fold pushchair

Here are the best compact-fold pushchairs for all budgets in 2025

1. Kinderkraft Apino, £119.99

— Best budget buy compact-folding pushchair

Age suitability: Birth to 22kg | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: H47m x W58cm x 34.5m (without bumper bar) | Weight: 7.5kg | Car seat compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 3.8 stars

Pros:

• Amazing value
• Bumper bar included
• Stylish design
• Easy auto-fold
• Extendable hood
• Large storage basket

Cons:

• Not the sturdiest build
• Raincover not included
• Large seat harness
• Tricky to carry when folded
• Wheels can be noisy

Coming in at under £120, the Apino stroller from Kinderkraft represents really amazing value in this category, especially as it has some key features included that are missing on some far more expensive strollers (such as a bumper bar and one-handed magic fold). That said, it is missing a rain cover – a must in UK weather – and it isn't the smoothest ride of all the compact folds we tried. It's also heavier than most other models on this list. However, at this price, we definitely think it still stands out.

"The overall design is very sleek and compact, yet it’s functional. The stroller has very nice details, such as leathery handlebar and bumper bar, padded seat / backrest, smooth wheels and a large canopy with a small window," says parent tester Hannah, who tested this with her 5 month old. She also called out the contrasting details on some of the colourways: "I like the gold rose details of the frame and wheels, and the fact they match makes it look more elegant."

The seat lies near-flat, and you can buy car seat adaptors (£24.95 at Pramworld) to attach an infant carrier to transform it into a travel system.

Read the full MadeForMums Kinderkraft Apino stroller review

Available from: Kiddies Kingdom, Boots and Very

2. Graco Myavo, £130

— Best budget lightweight and compact-folding pushchair

Age suitability: Birth to 22kg | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: H52.5cm x W65.3cm x 32.5cm | Weight: 5.8kg | Car seat compatible: No | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.2 stars

Pros:

• Very lightweight
• One-handed fold
• Great value
• Good manoeuvrability
• Smooth and responsive handling
• Large basket for a compact stroller
• Versatile seat positioning
• Great for taller children

Cons:

• No specific newborn accessory
• Not the most sturdy
• Harness fastening is complicated
• Materials and design give a somewhat cheap appearance
• Lack of grip and padding on the shoulder straps, and absence of groin pad
• When the canopy is retracted, the hood rubs against the handlebar
• Lack of ventilation — no breathable mesh panel

If you're looking for a cheap day-to-day runaround that folds up super small and is super-light, you can't go far wrong with Graco's great value Myavo stroller. At a third of the price of some of the very high-end models in this list, it still packs in plenty of great features, including a good-sized UPF 50+ hood, solid wheels, a bumper bar, a calf rest, and a decently-sized basket, especially for a compact stroller.

It also has a one-handed magic fold, although it is worth noting this has one of the larger folds on the list and is not suitable for taking into the cabin of a plane. See our list of the best cabin-approved strollers if you're looking for a buggy you can take on a plane.

Although the buggy doesn't have a specific newborn cocoon or pod, it can be used from birth due to its full recline, although it doesn't have a parent-facing option and it's probably more useful from around the 6 month mark.

Parent tester Carol, who tested this with her 6 month old said, "the stroller folds down with one hand, one click and stands on its own within seconds. Storing it once folded is really easy as its quite compact, which is quite handy if using public transport, restaurants and you needed to fold the stroller down to make space. I would definitely recommend it as a travel stroller particularly in city areas. I also think for older babies and toddlers this would be a really good everyday stroller."

Read the full MadeForMums Graco Myavo stroller review

Watch our full MFM Gravo Myavo stroller video review on YouTube

Available from: Amazon, Very and Argos

3. Bugaboo Butterfly, £419

— Best compact-folding buggy for comfort

Age suitability: From 6 months to 22kg | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: H54cm x W45cm x L23cm | Weight: 7.3kg | Parent-facing: No | Car seat compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.6 stars

Pros:

• One-handed fold
• Durable
• Shoulder strap included
• Large basket
• Comfortable and large seat unit

Cons:

• Expensive
• Not suitable from birth and doesn’t recline completely flat

A cabin-approved, sleek and stylish, feature-packed pushchair — it's no wonder the Bugaboo Butterfly is a popular compact-fold option. Whether you're looking for a travel-ready stroller complete with shoulder strap and an easy fold (watch it in action here), or a compact buggy that will handle day-to-day urban life, the Butterfly is a brilliant choice that offers parent-friendly features and child-friendly comfort.

MFM reviewer Cher tested the Butterfly with her 2-year-old son (pictured) and 6-month-old daughter and told us how comfortable her children found the pushchair, especially her toddler: "the seat unit has a padded insert which is super comfortable and in the words of my 2-year old son, is “very cosy”. He liked the leg rest, which can be adjusted and set to 5 different positions, but it can also be folded away if preferred. There seems to be a fair amount of growing room for him and I definitely think it will last another year or so before he outgrows it."

Cher was also glowing in her praise of how compact the Butterfly is, saying "it is so compact, it takes up hardly any room in my car boot, and it self-stands too so can easily be taken on buses or trains. It also has a shoulder strap which makes it a breeze to lift and carry handsfree."

It has a basket that will hold up to 8kg, was described by Cher as "one of the easiest strollers to fold" and is incredibly sturdy despite its light weight and compact design.

Read the full MadeForMums Bugaboo Butterfly review

Available from: Amazon, Kiddies Kingdom, Bugaboo and Boots

4. Cybex Libelle, £289.95

— Best compact-folding buggy for travel

Age suitability: From 6 months to 22kg | One-handed fold: No | Folded dimensions: W32cm xH20cm x L48cm | Weight: 5.9kg | Parent-facing: No | Car seat compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.1 stars

Pros:

• Super-compact fold
• Cabin-approved (for most airlines)
• Easy to fold
• Stylish
• Very lightweight

Cons:

• Not suitable before 6 months (except with car seat)
• Sunshade could be more extendable
• Tricky two-handed fold

The Cybex Libelle has one of the most eye-catching compact folds in our round-up: it doesn't just fold down, but in too (find out how to fold it in our video), making a neat, flat package that's smaller than most hand luggage allowances. It's a two-handed fold, but it's easy to operate and ideal for travel.

The compromise you pay for that tiny fold is a pushchair that's slightly less versatile than some other models. It doesn’t come with a carrycot option and the recline doesn’t go near-flat, but it is compatible with Cybex’s range of infant car seats, so you can use it from birth as a travel system if you’re not planning to be on the go for too long at a time. The sun hood doesn’t provide as much coverage as some other models on the list, but this pushchair definitely wins on weight and portability. MFM reviewer Sarah (pictured) also added, "The seat unit is surprisingly large and roomy."

MFM home tester Pooja commented: “I cannot believe how small it becomes without compromising the quality and stability. We took it onto hilly grass and it handled it a lot better than I expected. It moves and turns smoothly and doesn’t bounce up and down much, making it comfortable and relaxing for my baby.”

Read the full MadeForMums Cybex Libelle pushchair review

Available from: Boots, Kiddies Kingdom, Samuel Johnston, Natural Baby Shower

5. Cybex Eezy S Twist+2, £469.95

— Best parent-facing compact-folding buggy

Age suitability: from birth with carrycot to 22kg | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: L68cm x W47.5cm x H30.5cm | Weight: 8.6kg | Parent-facing: Yes | Car seat compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.6 stars

Pros:

• Parent- and world-facing seat
• Robust build
• Easy to push
• One-handed fold
• Lie-flat seat
• All-terrain wheels

Cons:

• Small shopping basket
• Heavier than other models
• Frame easily scratched
• Handle bar isn’t adjustable

The stand-out feature of this compact buggy is the 360-degree seat rotation system, which allows you to twist the seat around to switch between parent-facing or world-facing – an option that's not found in the majority of other compact pushchairs. You can see the MFM team show the clever way it transforms here. This makes it a great option for younger babies, as it also has a lie-flat seat and the option to add a Cybex carrycot for a more cosy newborn option.

It is one of the heavier options on our list due to the twisting mechanism, but according to parent tester Abigail, it is a dream to push. "This pram is like pushing a feather, even with a heavy toddler in," she said. "And then even lighter once folded. I pop my pram in the boot whilst holding my toddler and I can do it without struggling."

MFM reviewer Katy (whose son is pictured above) was really impressed with its robustness and ease of steering. She said, "it’s worth the investment as it should genuinely last from birth to the end of toddlerhood."

Members of our Top Testers Club also rave about this model and its features and it's one of the most frequently recommended buggies within our community.

Read the full MadeForMums Cybex Eezy S Twist+2 pushchair review

Available from: Kiddies Kingdom, Cybex, Natural Baby Shower

6. Stokke YOYO3, £399

— Best compact-folding pushchair for convertibility

Age suitability: Birth (with newborn pack or bassinet) to 22kg | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: H44cm x W18cm x L52cm | Weight: 6.1kg | Parent-facing: with newborn options | Car seat compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.4 stars

Pros:

• Super compact when folded
• Customisable and extendable
• Great accessories on offer
• Stylish
• Lightweight
• Smooth and easy to push

Cons:

• Expensive
• Complicated fold
• Doesn't fully recline

The YOYO was one of the first truly compact folding pushchairs of this type and is still popular with parents far and wide, having set the bar in the sector. Now in its 3rd iteration, the Stokke YOYO3 retains the compactness of the original and still stands out thanks to its ease of use, clever details and overall super functionality. Plus, not only is it a great everyday pushchair, it's approved to go in the cabin by a number of major airlines.

As well as two newborn options (the newborn pack (£195) or the shell (£245)) it is very easy to use the bespoke ride-on board for older kids (£110), and you can get a roll-along bag to store an extra 10kg (£75). There's even the YOYO Connect seat (£325) that turns it into a tandem double pushchair. This means it gives owners far more options for expansion than simpler compact buggies. In fact, many parents have ditched their primary prams for a YOYO-only approach.

MFM reviewer Daisy, who tested the YOYO3 with her two-month-old son, said that the YOYO3 really does stand up as an everyday pushchair: "while expensive, the Stokke YOYO³ pushchair and 0+ newborn pack more than holds its own as an everyday pushchair for parents who want to get out and about with their new baby, which I think justifies the price tag. The design is sleek and stylish while still managing to be robust, and the materials are premium."

Read the full MadeForMums Stokke YOYO3 pushchair review

Available from: Amazon, Natural Baby Shower, John Lewis and Stokke

7. iCandy Pip, £429

— Best compact-folding buggy to grow with your child

Age suitability: From birth to 25kg | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: H 44cm x W 24cm x L 56cm  | Weight: 7kg | Parent-facing: No, only with car seat | Car seat compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.8 stars

Pros:

• Wide ventilation window
• Four-wheel suspension and great manoeuvrability
• Stylish
• Practical hand strap for carrying

Cons: 

• Basket is small
• Bumper bar and handle mark easily
• Slightly fiddly seat recline

If you're looking for the luxury touches and robustness expected from an iCandy pushchair, but don't have the space for a pushchair with a pretty large footprint, then meet their new compact stroller: the Pip.

The Pip has so many features that iCandy's pushchairs are known for, including plush and soft fabrics, great suspension and a stylish finish, but in a very compact package (folded, it's just H 44cm x W 24cm x L 56cm which makes it cabin-approved for most airlines). Despite this compact fold, it has a tall and wide seat with a generous 25kg weight limit, so could last your child up until they're around 5 years of age. MFM reviewer Steph said, "my daughter settled straight in; she seemed happy sitting on the padded liner and the seat is generously spacious... I found the pram was perfect for naps on the go, reclining deeply to create a comfortable place to sleep for my daughter. The seat is lie-flat so can even be used from newborn age. The footrest can also be adjusted to give your baby extra room as they grow."

Also, despite it's compact size and light weight, the Pip has exceptional manoeuvrability, especially if you're primarily using it on city streets. It's not going to replace an all-terrain buggy or tackle any muddy off-road trails with ease, but MFM reviewer Steph told us, "the Pip stroller zipped along pavements, and was nimble going up and down kerbs, and onto buses and trains. Easily manoeuvrable, it steers well even one-handed and made smooth work of cobbles, uneven pavement and station platforms. Any city dweller knows that getting around sometimes requires speed and fast reactions, but this agile pram was well up to the task, cutting through crowds easily."

With the Pip, you're not only getting a premium pushchair that's durable and sturdy enough for everyday use, it also provides an extremely comfortable ride for your baby or toddler and comes with some great extras including a bumper bar, multi-position footrest, carry bag and rain cover.

Read the full MadeForMums iCandy Pip stroller review

Available from: Mamas & Papas, John Lewis, Boots and iCandy.

8. Ergobaby Metro+ Stroller, £319

— Best compact-folding buggy for an adjustable handlebar

Age suitability: From birth (in newborn nest mode) to 22kg  | One-handed fold: No | Folded dimensions: H54cm x L44cm x W25cm | Weight: 7.8kg | Parent-facing: No | Car seat compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.5 stars

Pros: 

• Adjustable handlebar
• Good storage
• Small fold
• Lightweight
• Comfortable

Cons: 

• Heavier than some other models
• Two hands needed to fold/open
• Parent-facing only

Ergobaby's entry to the compact fold pushchair market addresses a number of the issues people have with some very stripped-back lightweight strollers: there's a generous basket, decent-sized wheels, plenty of padding, a good seat recline, and – perhaps most importantly – an adjustable handlebar. For very tall or short caregivers, this could mean a far more comfortable push.

It also has a clever in-built newborn "nest" that makes it more comfortable for babies under the age of 6 months: the calf rest folds up and fastens in place to create a comfy, flat sleeping space for your newborn.

Those added features do make the pushchair slightly heavier overall, at 7.8kg (vs an average of around 6kg). However, the fold is still very compact and those features do really add to the comfort and convenience of the stroller. MFM reviewer Bianca, who tested this with her 6 month old, said, "My baby seemed extremely comfortable and secure thanks to the ergonomic padding and robust safety straps. I believe it will last my baby well into her toddler years as there’s plenty of room for her to grow into."

Parent tester Connie said, "The Ergobaby Metro+ stroller is extremely simple to use. It is not a one hand open but is still very simple and quick to open and fold back down which is very beneficial for me. it is lightweight and easy to carry (with the bonus of the carry handle on the seat cushion) and folds up very small, so could even fit in the smallest of cars." You can learn how to fold the Ergobaby Metro stroller here.

Read the full MadeForMums Ergobaby Metro+ stroller review

Available from: Boots

9. UPPAbaby Minu V3, £399.99

— Best compact-folding pushchair for sturdiness

Age suitability: From birth to 22kg | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: H54.6cm x L25.4cm x W45.7cm | Weight: 7.6kg | Parent-facing: With car seat | Car seat compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.7 stars

Pros:

• Quick and simple to unfold and fold
• Easy buckle adjustment
• Smooth recline seat
• Generous basket
• Sturdy frame

Cons:

• Doesn’t have great manoeuvrability in tight spaces
• Tricky to carry by hand

If you're concerned that most compact folds won't be practical for daily use because they just don't have the storage and sturdiness you need, this might be the stroller that changes your mind. If you're familiar with UPPAbaby's larger prams like the Cruz and Vista, you'll know the brand is known for its huge shopping baskets, and that popular feature has been replicated – albeit on a smaller scale – in the brand's travel-friendly stroller, the Minu — with a basket that can carry up to an incredibly impressive 11.3kg. It also offers a solid build at a compact size, with a lightweight frame that still feels built to last. As MFM reviewer Steph, who tested the pushchair with her 6-month-old daughter, explains, "unlike other city pushchairs I’ve used, where lightness often comes with a flimsy quality, the MINU V3 felt completely sturdy. "

When folded, it also has a convenient shoulder strap "which made carrying it much easier than I anticipated," continued Steph. "It was surprisingly light at 7.5kg and, thanks to the padded handle, I could hang it on my shoulder comfortably while holding my nappy bag and baby." The MINU V3 is also IATA compatible, meaning it's cabin-approved which also makes it a great travel stroller option.

Thanks to its lie-flat seat, it can be used from birth but is forward facing only. However, you can purchase adaptors to add a car seat. The pushchair really will grow with your child too. The seat unit is incredibly roomy with a height of 52.1cm and has an adjustable 3-position footrest so can be used comfortably until your child hits the 22kg weight limit.

Read the full MadeForMums UPPAbaby Minu V3 pushchair review

Available from: Natural Baby Shower, Kiddies Kingdom and John Lewis

10. Inglesina Quid 2, £299

— Best compact-folding pushchair for style

Age suitability: From birth to 22kg | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: H58cm x L46.5cm x W19cmcm | Weight: 5.9kg | Parent-facing: No | Car seat compatible: No | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.5 stars

Pros:

• Stylish design with colour options
• Well-designed storage
• Travel-friendly
• Lightweight
• Easy to push and steer

Cons:

• No specific newborn addition
• No adjustable handlebar

If you want a well-built pushchair that also delivers when it comes to looks, our home testers raved about the sleek design of the Inglesina Quid 2, which now comes in a choice of either beige or "gecko green" with contrast zips and linings.

Hajra, who tested it with her 6 month old and 3 year old said, "It came in a stunning camel beige colour and under the hood is a peachy orange colour. I absolutely love the design and the colours it comes in. it’s a really good quality pram, that looks and feels premium made."

When it comes to features, it just squeaks in as cabin baggage for the more lenient airlines, and boasts a well-padded seat, a bumper bar, an extendable hood and a compact but well-designed storage basket. We also like the one-handed fold, and the fact the folded pushchair stays upright without fabric touching the ground. There's also a small handle to carry it, or a carry bag (sold separately).

Available from: Kiddies Kingdom

11. Bugaboo Dragonfly, from £695

— Best compact-folding buggy for urban living

Age suitability: from birth (with folding carrycot) to 22kg | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: L90 x W52 x H36cm (with seat) | Weight: 7.9 - 9.9kg | Parent-facing: Yes | Car seat compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.7 stars

Pros:

• Folding carrycot
• Good storage
• Smooth ride

Cons:

• Expensive with carrycot
• Not as compact as a true compact fold

If you're looking to buy only one pushchair/travel system from birth but still want something with a relatively small fold size, the Bugaboo Dragonfly could be your perfect match. This replaces the much-loved Bugaboo Bee as the brand's flagship city pushchair, and it boasts some great features, namely a collapsible carrycot that folds while on the frame, and a huge 10kg storage basket.

Although it lacks the tiny fold of a buggy designed for air travel, it folds tall and flat, making it great for narrow hallways and staircases. If you're looking for a does-it-all pushchair that takes up minimal space, this could be the one for you but do note, this is not a traditional compact fold stroller – it's a full pram/travel system.

The extra inches and kilograms on this frame does mean it can offer many things more lightweight buggies can't, including a reversible seat, superior suspension and loads of storage space.

MFM reviewer India was impressed with how it feels to push, saying, "The Dragonfly’s built in suspension ensures comfort and a smoother ride for both parents and babies." She did, however, find the folding carrycot tricky to get used to, and this is something we've found in our testing too. Once you get the knack it's easy as you can see in our video below, but it does take some practice at first.

Read our full MadeForMums Bugaboo Dragonfly pushchair review

Available from: Natural Baby Shower, Boots, Mamas&Papas and Bugaboo

What should I look for or consider when buying a compact-fold pushchair?

Frequency of use – Some strollers are super-light and the perfect solution for travel, but might feel a bit too lightweight for everyday use. Others are more substantial as they combine a comparatively compact fold with all the versatility of a full-sized travel system and are designed for everyday use with a newborn. Identifying what your priority is will make choosing much easier.

Age suitability – A lot of compact folding pushchairs are designed for older babies and toddlers who can sit up, but an increasing number are suitable from birth, either offering a lie-flat seat or the option to buy an additional carrycot. Some may also be travel system compatible, meaning you can attach an infant car seat. In order to keep the frame light, it may be that a carrycot or car seat attaches on top of the seat fabric. This is perfectly safe and functional, but it can look a bit odd.

Seat recline – Some compact folding pushchairs only have a small recline. This may be fine for some toddlers, but it's not suitable for younger babies. It's also worth noting that pushchairs can be categorised as lie-flat even if they’re not completely flat – they can still lie at 150° angle rather than a flat 180°. We’d strongly recommend that if you’re using this as your main buggy from birth, that you ensure you choose one that lies completely flat or comes with a carrycot.

Adjustability – Many compact strollers don’t offer that much in terms of adjustability – no extendable handlebar, a seat can’t be parent-facing, it can’t lie flat, and so on. These features add weight and bulk, which is why they're often the first to go. If you value a degree of adjustability, you might want to go for a model that is slightly less compact, but we've also found models in this list that offer those extra features while still being travel-friendly.

Fold type – Not all folding mechanisms are created equal, and just because a pushchair has a compact fold, that doesn’t mean it’s a smooth, fuss-free folding process. Some are truly one-handed with the push of a button. Others require a bit more involvement, two hands, or a few steps to fold it down, but they may fold down much smaller as a result making them more suitable for travel, particularly by plane.

Comfort – Often, when a design focuses so much on minimising size, comfort features, such as soft padding or extendable hoods to ward off harsh sunshine, can be neglected. The compact buggy category spans a huge range from purely functional with minimal comfort features, to rather luxurious models. If you’re planning to use the buggy as your everyday mode of transport, this might become a crucial factor in decision-making.

Storage – If you find yourself relying on your buggy to do all the heavy lifting – shopping, changing bag, sports kit, snacks – then choosing a compact buggy might be tricky. There are many that don’t offer much in terms of storage, some don’t even allow you to store your handbag. So, basket size – and access to that basket – can become a top priority.

Accessories – Since their compact, and often lightweight, design means they have a more stripped-back feel, many of these models come with the option to purchase additional accessories like footmuffs, cup holders, shopping bags, parasols and so on. Some don't even have a rain cover included as standard, so do look out for this when calculating overall cost: what was a bargain may be less of one when you work out how many added extras you'll need.

Price – Although these buggies are small, light and streamlined, all the technology to get them so compact means they often come at a cost. The majority of buggies in our list are around the £200-£400 mark, but a more comprehensive option suitable from birth could set you back over £1,000.

Read more...

• The best lightweight strollers under 7kg
• Best prams and pushchairs for newborns
• Best travel systems for newborn babies

Parents beware though: pushchairs described as "cabin-friendly" on manufacturer’s websites usually have a disclaimer that reminds customers to check this with their airline. To save you the legwork, we have tested different types of pushchairs with compact folds and asked eight major airlines for their carry-on size requirements for travel buggies. We then compiled a list of the best travel strollers that can be stored in the overhead lockers of plane cabins.

• Best cabin approved strollers
• What to look for when buying a travel buggy
• Carry-on hand luggage size limits by airline
• Do all airlines allow buggies as hand luggage — a breakdown of each major airline

Best travel strollers for flying at a glance

• Best cabin-approved stroller for sleek design: Cybex Libelle, £269.95 at Boots
• Best pull-along cabin-approved stroller: Silver Cross Jet 5, £345 £295 at Amazon (Save £50 or 14%)
• Best cabin-approved stroller for superior pushing and steering: iCandy Pip, £429 at Boots
• Best cabin-approved stroller for luxury touches and colour choices: Cybex Orfeo, £299.95 at Boots
• Best cabin-approved stroller for newborns: Stokke YOYO3, £399
• Best cabin-approved stroller for sustainability: Joolz Aer2, £439.99
• Best cabin-approved stroller for storage: Bugaboo Butterfly, £335 at Boots
• Best cabin-approved stroller to grow with your child: UPPAbaby MINU V3, £399.95 at Natural Baby Shower
• Best value cabin-approved stroller: Kinderkraft PILOT 2, from £179

You can jump straight down to see our list of the best travel prams for planes below, or if you want to know more about what to look for when buying a travel buggy and more information about the major airlines and their policies, you'll find everything you need at the bottom of our list.

Best cabin approved strollers for 2025

1. Cybex Libelle, £289.95

Best cabin-approved stroller for sleek design

Age suitability: From 6 months to 22kg | One-handed fold: No | Folded dimensions: H 48cm x W 32cm x H 20cm  | Weight: 5.9kg | Car seat compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.1 stars

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Fits into a bag
• Stylish
• Fast and intuitive fold

Cons:

• Only a shallow recline
• No foot rest
• Short canopy

This buggy looks chic and has a clever, compact fold that helped it win a Red Dot product design award for its compact construction.

MFM reviewer Sarah said it was "perfectly suited to travel and staycations, but could improve on some design features, such as basket size and carry strap." It also has a limited recline for naps, and no useful additions like a foot rest or peephole in the hood. She said the buggy is competitively priced and stylish with a "top class design and feel." Sarah reported, however, that the wheels "don’t cope too well going up hills or very rough terrain, and are very much designed for a city run-around rather than an off-road, nature trip."

"It is not a one-handed fold, as you need to fold it in on itself with both hands," said Sarah, "but it does fold very quickly and rather dynamically." This results in a compact box measuring only 48 x 32cm x 20cm. The folded buggy fits within the cabin bag size requirements for 6 of the 8 airlines in our survey. It is sadly not included on Virgin Atlantic’s list of accepted buggies.

Read the full MadeForMums Cybex Libelle pushchair review

Available from: Boots, Kiddies Kingdom, Samuel Johnston, Natural Baby Shower

2. Silver Cross Jet 5, £345

Best pull-along cabin-approved stroller

Age suitability: From birth to 22kg | One-handed fold: No | Folded dimensions: H 60cm x W 37cm x L 25cm  | Weight: 7.5kg | Car seat compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.5 stars

Pros:

• Can be wheeled when folded
• Magnetic fastening
• Lightweight and easy to push

Cons:

• Two handed fold
• Forward facing only
• Basket is difficult to access

The latest in the Silver Cross Jet range, the Jet 5 takes an already great pushchair and makes it even better.

As MadeForMums reviewer Harriet noted, "A stylish, compact, pushchair perfect for travel and/or urban life but faces limitations on rough terrain, tricky basket access and a sunroof that could benefit with extra coverage."

Like the previous model, the Jet 5 can be pulled along behind you like a suitcase making it great for a quick dash through the airport or train station. In addition to making it easy to transport, the ultra-compact nature of the fold continues the Jet 3's tradition of being easy to store and stow at home and in the boot of your car when not in use.

"The lightweight design and comfortable dual-handle makes it very easy to handle whilst holding the baby when using both the folded-up and pull-along design," added Harriet.

Harriet also noted that her baby fell asleep in the Jet 5 every single time she used it thanks to the soft padding and an almost flat recline position. The harness also came in for some praise with the magnetic design making it quick and easy to fasten and adjust.

Where the Jet 5 falls down is, similarly to the Jet 3, in the folding process and storage.

While Harriet noted the ride was smooth on everyday terrains like pavements, gravel and short and dry grass, the Jet 5 does struggle on rougher terrain like woodland floor, wet or long grass and uneven cobblestones."

Overall, the Jet 5 is a fantastic premium option from a reliable and storied brand that'll provide you with a solid, lightweight stroller for your next holiday.

"While it has a few minor drawbacks - limited basket access, a sun hood that could be longer, and some struggles on rough terrain— for me, its convenience, quality, and practicality outweigh these issues," concluded Harriet.

Read the full MadeForMums Silver Cross Jet 5 stroller review

Available from: Amazon, Kiddies Kingdom and Silver Cross

3. iCandy Pip, £429

Best cabin-approved stroller for pushing and steering

Age suitability: From birth to 25kg | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: H 44cm x W 24cm x L 56cm  | Weight: 7kg | Car seat compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.8 stars

Pros:

• Wide ventilation window
• Four-wheel suspension and great manoeuvrability
• Stylish
• Practical hand strap for carrying

Cons: 

• Basket is small
• Bumper bar and handle mark easily
• Slightly fiddly seat recline

Known for their larger pushchairs, like the Peach 7, luxury brand iCandy makes its first entry into the lightweight stroller market with the iCandy Pip — a stroller that retains iCandy's iconic touches, exceptional quality and fantastic design, but in a smaller, cabin-approved package.

As expected, the iCandy Pip has a robust frame and is ideal not just for travel, but for use as an everyday pushchair too. The seat unit is lie-flat and suitable from birth (it is forward-facing only, but is car seat compatible), plus it's tall and wide so is roomy enough for your growing toddler. Plus, it has an extremely impressive 25kg weight limit, as opposed to the 22kg weight limit seen on most strollers.

What we particularly love about the Pip is how easy it is to push and steer the buggy, especially as this is where lightweight buggies usually struggle. MFM reviewer Steph, who tested the Pip with her 10-month-old daughter Sydney (pictured above) said, "Lightweight but solid, the Pip stroller zipped along pavements, and was nimble going up and down kerbs, and onto buses and trains. Easily manoeuvrable, it steers well even one-handed and made smooth work of cobbles, uneven pavement and station platforms."

Although one of the more expensive buggies on our list, the fantastic build quality of the stroller, plus the extra features that are included such as a bumper bar, multi-position footrest, carry bag and rain cover, means that this buggy's price point really is worth it.

The basket on the Pip certainly isn't the biggest, but if you don't require a huge amount of storage, the Pip is a great option not just for accompanying you on trips abroad, but as your primary pushchair too.

Read the full MadeForMums iCandy Pip stroller review

Available from: Mamas & Papas, John Lewis, Boots and iCandy.

4. Stokke YOYO3, £399

Best cabin-approved stroller for newborns

Age suitability: From birth to 48 months | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: H 44cm x W 18cm x L 52cm  | Weight: 6.1kg | Car seat compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.4 stars

Pros:

• Stylish
• Lightweight
• Parent facing
• Smooth and easy to push
• Adaptable for hot or cold weather

Cons:

• Not the easiest to fold
• A tight fit for longer or larger babies

The latest update of the popular travel stroller, the Stokke YOYO3 includes everything impressive about its predecessors, meaning it's still the perfect companion for city living or family holidays.

It is ultra-light and compact, cabin-approved and carry-on friendly, and equipped with a quick, one-handed fold feature, though that fold is a bit on the fiddly side.

With the kind of premium fabrics we've come to expect from the Yoyo range alongside a stylish look and feel, the Yoyo3 continues to be an excellent option for parents looking for form and function.

"The fabrics wiped down easily when they got splattered with spit-up, and still look new even after a few weeks of regular use with a newborn," noted MFM reviewer Daisy. "They also held up well when we got caught out in the rain – the newborn shell is water resistant and kept our son cosy and dry."

Overall, you can't go wrong with the latest version of the Yoyo pushchair, which continues to be a fantastic travel pick for parents.

As Daisy pointed out, "the design is sleek and stylish but feels robust, and I like that it is parent-facing so I can keep an eye on my son while he’s napping. For parents who want to zip around a city with their new baby, this pushchair will empower you to get out and about."

The seat unit on the YOYO3 is suitable from 6 months, but you can purchase the newborn pack which makes it suitable for use from birth. The newborn pack very handily folds when attached to the YOYO frame and should also fit cabin baggage dimensions.

Read the full MadeForMums Stokke YOYO3 pushchair review

Available from: Amazon, Natural Baby Shower, John Lewis and Stokke

5. Joolz Aer2, £429.99

Best cabin-approved stroller for sustainability

Age suitability: From birth to 4 years | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: H 23.5cm x W 44cm x L 53cm  | Weight: 6.5kg |  Car seat compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.7 stars

Pros:

• Lightweight and compact
• Easy to fold
• Smooth, comfortable ride
• Sleek design

Cons:

• Handlebar height cannot be adjusted
• No parent facing option
• Expensive

The Joolz Aer has become an icon in the lightweight buggy world for a reason and the latest version, the Aer2, has solidified this status. The buggy has one of the easiest and most satisfying folds of any pushchair we've tested, as well as a smooth ride that makes it a great option for travel.

It is exceptionally well designed with premium fabrics and a sturdy chassis that keeps things lightweight without compromising on durability.

The Aer2 iterates on an already fantastic pushchair adding an integrated leg rest, bigger basket and larger wheels as well as improvements to the already fantastic fold. Seriously, we can't tell you enough just how fun this thing is to fold.

"Robust enough for everyday use and small enough for long-haul travel, I would recommend the Joolz Aer2 to parents looking for a lightweight, compact stroller that will take them through from baby to toddler," noted reviewer Ellen.

"This pushchair would be especially well suited to for city dwellers, frequent travellers and public transport users."

If you don't mind paying the premium price tag (and the extra money needed for the carrycot, which we'd recommend if you're planning on using it with a newborn), then there aren't many travel strollers better than the Aer2. Also, the Aer2 comes with an impressive 10 year transferrable warranty, meaning the longevity of the buggy really is impressive. Plus, all fabrics on the Aer2 are made from recycled PET bottles — making this not only a stylish and practical choice, but a great sustainable one too.

Read the full MadeForMums Joolz Aer2 stroller review

Available from: Very, Natural Baby Shower, Mamas&Papas

6. UPPAbaby MINU V3, £399.95

Best cabin-approved stroller to grow with your child

Age suitability: From newborn to 22kg | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: H54.6cm x W45.7cm x L25.4cm  | Weight: 7.6kg | Car seat compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.7 stars

Pros: 

• Quick and simple to unfold and fold
• Easy buckle adjustment
• Smooth recline seat
• Generous basket
• Sturdy frame

Cons: 

• Doesn’t have great manoeuvrability in tight spaces
• Tricky to carry by hand

The latest version of UPPAbaby's lightweight stroller offering, the Minu V3 is truly built for travellers. From the quick, one-handed IATA-compatible compact fold and included carry strap, to extra clever features such as a hidden pocket for a tracker and an extremely generously sized basket that can hold up to 11.3kg — perfect for all your holiday essentials.

It is one of the heavier inclusions on our list, but this is due to the incredibly sturdy and durable frame that MFM reviewer Steph, who tested the pushchair with her 6-month-old daughter (pictured above), loved: "unlike other city pushchairs I’ve used, where lightness often comes with a flimsy quality, the MINU V3 felt completely sturdy."

What makes this pushchair perfect for babies and toddlers alike is the extremely plush and premium seat unit. As reviewer Steph explains, "the buggy comes with a padded insert that adds a layer of softness to the seat. The seat reclines deeply to create more comfortable conditions for sleep, plus there’s an adjustable footrest that you can extend as your baby grows. There's also a 5-point, no-rethread harness which was incredibly simple to adjust – the clasp glides seamlessly across the straps."

The MINU V3 is suitable from birth thanks to the lie-flat recline, but is forward-facing only. However, you can buy car seat adaptors (£34.95) to turn the stroller into a travel system.

If you're looking for a reliable lightweight pushchair that is sturdy enough to handle everyday use but also folds up small enough to take on a plane, the MINU V3 is a fantastic option.

Read the full MadeForMums UPPAbaby MINU V3 pushchair review

Available from: Natural Baby Shower, Kiddies Kingdom and John Lewis

7. Cybex Orfeo, from £299.95

Best cabin-approved stroller for luxury touches and colour choices

Age suitability: From birth to 22kg | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: H 52.5cm x W 47.5cm x L 15.5cm  | Weight: 6.3kg | Car seat compatible: Yes | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.3 stars

Pros:

• Ergonomic
• Adjustable leg rest
• Carry strap included
• Front wheel suspension
• Stylish

Cons:

• Small basket
• Fiddly to unfold

For families seeking a luxurious and stylish travel buggy, the Cybex Orfeo ticks these boxes in abundance. Its sleek design is packed with travel-ready features that make it comfy for children and easy to use for parents. These include a one-pull harness, a large UPF 50+ sun canopy, a 5kg basket and suspension in the front wheels to help navigate bumpier surfaces. You can also attach a Cybex baby car seat to the Orfeo with the car seat adaptors (available separately for £44.95). The stroller is suitable from birth thanks to its ergonomic lie-flat recline (but it is forward-facing only, like most of the buggies on this list).

MFM reviewer Allie, who tested the Orfeo with her 5-month-old son (pictured above) was impressed by how comfortable the buggy was for her baby, "the straps held him in securely and the seat fully reclines, making naps on the go much easier. There’s an integrated leg rest too, which should come in handy as he grows. There isn’t any padding on the sides or the backrest, but my son seemed comfortable and nodded off fairly easily."

There's an integrated carry strap for easy transportation once it's folded, and it should be accepted in the cabin by Emirates, EasyJet and British Airways. Reviewer Allie said that "folding the buggy is a dream and takes a matter of seconds," but did flag that she found it  tricky to unfold: "it took me a really long time to get the knack for clipping the pushchair into place and I found it kept collapsing back into its folded structure."

There are also some striking colour options to choose from too, from a subtle and stylish Almond Beige (pictured above) to a bright and bold Candy Pink.

Read the full MadeForMums Cybex Orfeo stroller review

Available from: Natural Baby Shower, Cybex, John Lewis, £299.95 at Boots

8. Bugaboo Butterfly, £335

Best cabin-approved stroller for storage

Age suitability: From 6 months to 22kg | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: H54cm x W45cm x L23cm  | Weight: 7.3kg | Car seat compatible: Yes | Awards: Gold — Compact-fold Pushchair over £300, MadeForMums Awards 2024 |  MFM Review Star Rating: 4.6 stars

Pros:

• One-handed fold
• Strong and durable
• Shoulder strap
• Large basket

Cons:

• Not the lightest
• Expensive

Bugaboo’s pushchairs have a reputation for being well designed and the Butterfly is no exception. It folds down into a slender package and boasts a range of smart features.

The Butterfly offers Bugaboo’s smallest fold, collapsing to 54 x 45 x 23cm, meaning it should be accepted into the cabin by three airlines on this list — BA, EasyJet and Emirates. It appears to follow the trend among newer travel prams to feature a well-cushioned but minimal seat and hood, so there is no excess fabric to deal with when folding up small.

Parent tester Gabrielle said, "Bugaboo say it is a one second fold and I think they are about right. It is easily folded & put up one handed and is incredibly lightweight so I can carry (a not small) 18 month old and pram together easily." MFM reviewer Cher, who tested the buggy with her 6-month-old daughter and 2-year-old son (pictured) also commented that "I can honestly say that the Butterfly is one of the easiest strollers to fold."

It also has an incredibly impressive shopping basket — holding up to 8kg of shopping — so perfect for your airport and holiday essentials.

Cher was pleasantly surprised with "how sturdy it is compared with other strollers" and loves how the Butterfly handled "various types of tough terrain really well."

Read the full MadeForMums Bugaboo Butterfly pushchair review

Available from: Boots, Bugaboo, Kiddies Kingdom and Amazon

9. Kinderkraft PILOT 2, £179

Best value cabin-approved stroller

Age suitability: From birth to 24kg | One-handed fold: No | Folded dimensions: H 52cm x W 45cm x L 21cm  | Weight: 8kg | Car seat compatible: No | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.3 stars

Pros:

• Suitable from birth
• Stylish design
• One-handed fold

Cons:

• Lack of suspension
• Protective travel case can be tricky to get on

One of the more recent strollers to launch in the category, the Kinderkraft PILOT 2 is a great value travel stroller with a fantastic one-handed fold, built-in footrest and, if that's not enough, it's also suitable from birth.

"In the crowded lightweight stroller market, the Kinderkraft PILOT 2 is a great value stroller at a really competitive price, that also boasts some useful features and a sleek, stylish appearance," noted parent reviewer Sophie, who tested the PILOT 2 on a family holiday.

The tiny fold and travel bag make this a great companion for family holidays, offering great performance for the price.

"I would recommend it as a budget option for travel as it will give you a robust yet stylish experience, all for well under £200," added Sophie.

It should be noted that, like many strollers designed for travel, there is a notable lack of suspension in the PILOT 2 and it isn't as lightweight as some of the other options on this list.

Read the full MadeForMums Kinderkraft PILOT 2 pushchair review

Available from: Kinderkraft

What to look for when buying a travel buggy

• Fold type – A major feature of all travel buggies is a compact fold, but each will fold in a slightly different way. A number of models now have special gravity-assisted 'magic' folds that can be done with just a flick of the wrist. However, these buggies don't tend to fold quite as small as those with two-handed or multi-step folds.
• Comfort for child – Travel buggies may have limited padding so they can fold up small, so look at the fabric on seats and straps, and decide if you need leg rests or calf supports before you buy, as this may limit your options.
• Ease of steering/pushing – A small fold means small wheels, which can struggle on tougher terrains like sand dunes or cobblestones, but most will be fine through airports, along pavements and on grass. Look for front wheel suspension for the smoothest ride.
• Handlebar height – Many travel buggies have fixed height handlebars, which are designed to work for most heights, but may be more uncomfortable for taller or shorter parents. It's important to try before you buy if you're tall or petite.
• Durability –  Due to their lightweight nature, these buggies won't feel as solid as a traditional pram or travel system as the frame is designed to easy to pick up and fold. The more budget lightweight buggies might not be able to handle as many knocks as heavier, bulkier models or more premium designs.
• Age suitability – Many lightweight strollers are designed for use from 6 months, and even those that offer a lie-flat seat that's suitable from birth may be world-facing only. If you're looking for a buggy to use from birth, look for one that offers the ability to convert the seat or add a carrycot. On the other end of the scale, some lack the leg rest that older children may need, or have a 15kg weight limit which could significantly reduce their longevity.
• Hood coverage – Some travel buggies have shorter, non-extendable hoods with minimal fabric. They're designed not to add weight or get in the way of the compact fold, but you may want full coverage during hot weather or at nap time. Look for deeper UPF 50+ hoods, or consider buying a buggy cover or parasol for extra protection.
• Storage – Travel buggies often only have room for small baskets, so you won't be able to keep as much in one of these as in a larger pushchair. Look out for extra zip pockets and detachable bags for more space.
• Weight – When choosing a portable buggy it is important that it is light to carry, and it should weigh less than 10kg for cabin use. We've listed the weights of all the buggies on our list.

Carry-on hand luggage size limits by airline

The International Air Transport Association’s guide to carry-on size requirements says that carry-on baggage should have a maximum length of 56 cm, a width of 45 cm and a depth of 25 cm, so a buggy must fold to within these limits to be "cabin approved". However, not all airlines follow the IATA guidelines exactly, so we spoke to them to find out the exact rules.

Do all airlines allow buggies as hand luggage?

The International Air Transport Association’s general guide to carry-on size requirements is used by hundreds of airlines around the world. It suggests that carry-on baggage should have a maximum length of 56 cm, a width of 45 cm and a depth of 25 cm. These dimensions include wheels, handles and side pockets. However, this guidance is voluntary and individual airlines still have their own policies and size restrictions. We spoke to eight major airlines to find out what their specific policies are.

Please do bear in mind that things can change at the gate and on busy flights passengers may be asked to put larger items of hand luggage into the hold, including buggies. Similarly, we've heard anecdotal evidence that some of the airlines listed below may accept slightly larger folding buggies in some circumstances.

Below, we've included a more in-depth look at the different guidelines for each airline.

Emirates

Emirates is the most easygoing of the airlines we spoke to about travel buggies, perhaps because they fly larger, modern planes. A spokesperson said they would accept any size of folding travel buggy into the cabin, as long as there was space. “Customers are permitted to carry only one fully collapsible stroller/pushchair or infant’s carrycot in the aircraft cabin free of charge, subject to space availability,” we were told. If there is no available space, the stroller will be checked in as hold luggage.

They even went as far as to say that “A stroller with a car seat can be taken on-board for stowage provided sufficient space is available on-board.”

“Emirates does not recommend a particular pushchair but it should be fully collapsible,” they added. “Some brands even offer a zipped travel bag which the stroller neatly fits into.”

Easyjet

Though policies can change, EasyJet currently has two cabin bag sizes, a smaller one that is free and a larger, paid-for, size that must weigh less than 10kg.

“As long as the buggy fits within the dimensions of our cabin bag allowances they would be permitted in the cabin,” a spokesperson for the airline told us.

When folded, a couple of the more compact buggies we tested fit the smaller size of 45 x 36 x 20 cm. Both these buggies and all the remaining pushchairs on our list fit within the larger, paid for, cabin bag size of 56 x 45 x 25 cm. Both sizes have a maximum weight of 15kg.

British Airways

British Airways’ cabin bag size is currently the same as EasyJet’s larger, paid-for cabin bag size, with a maximum size of 56 x 45 x 25 cm. With BA – though rules can change – it is generally free to have one cabin bag this size, and it can weigh up to 23kg. A spokesperson for BA told us that travel buggies of this size will be accepted in place of your hand luggage.

The website also states however that: “As with all larger cabin bags, this is not guaranteed to travel in the cabin, but our staff will make every effort to accommodate if space is available.”

It is worth noting that BA’s website suggests that most umbrella-style buggies can wait for you at the aircraft door at both ends of your flight at “most” airports. However the compact fold of the travel buggies on this list is wider than a typical umbrella fold (BA’s size limit for this option is 117 x 38 x 38cm) so – read strictly – travel buggies with a compact fold would need to be taken into the cabin where they meet the requirements.

Jet 2

In contrast to the positive responses from the other airlines, Jet2 told us that no travel buggies of any size would be allowed into cabins on its flights, with “all infant-related luggage” needing to go into the hold.

We asked why this was but were given no further answer.

TUI

At 55 x 40 x 20cm, TUI’s hand luggage size is smaller than EasyJet and BA’s but the same size as Ryanair’s. A TUI spokesman told us that its hand luggage policy applied to both bags and travel buggies that meet the size requirements.

The TUI website states: “Customers can take 1 piece of hand luggage per person (excluding infants) weighing up to 10kg and with maximum dimensions of 55 x 40 x 20cm on a TUI Airways flight.” We have, however, heard from members of our Top Testers Club that they have successfully taken slightly larger folding strollers such as the Silver Cross Clic onto TUI flights, so you may get lucky if you encounter crew members who're willing to be flexible.

Ryanair

Ryanair told us that if a foldable pushchair meets the size requirements of a 10kg cabin bag, at  55 x 40 x 20cm, and if – importantly – there is adequate capacity in the cabin, passengers are allowed to carry their foldable pushchair onboard free of charge.

As with any of these low-cost airlines, overhead lockers on busy flights fill up fast, so capacity may well be lacking. Still, it is worth asking.

Qantas

The Australian airline confirmed to MadeForMums that a fold up buggy that fits within its hand luggage restrictions can be carried in the cabin and stored in the overhead locker. On international flights the maximum cabin bag size is 56 x 36 x 23cm, which is slightly narrower than other airlines.

Virgin Atlantic

“We only accept a certain list of pushchairs that meet the size and weight limitations of our hand baggage policy to ensure there is enough space onboard for all our customers and their luggage,” a Virgin Atlantic spokesman said.

This list is very specific and includes only four branded buggies: the GB Pockit, Britax Holiday, Silver Cross Jet and Babyzen Yoyo.

“In cases where pushchairs do not meet carry-on restrictions,” the spokesman continued, “they are tagged and placed in the hold for the flight. For the majority of Virgin Atlantic destinations, they are brought to the aircraft door upon arrival to assist customers through the airport.”