Best cheap pushchairs for your little ones

Thankfully, since pushchairs are the perfect option to see your babies through to toddlerhood, you're already saving money in the long run. However, if you're looking to stretch your savings even further, what are the best cheap pushchairs out there and which one is best suited to your needs? Pushchairs are brilliant for older babies and toddlers because they are often lighter and more compact, or they might be easier to manoeuvre compared to a larger pram, and there are compact pushchairs to travel with which really can reduce the hassle of travelling with young children. But how do you choose the best cheap pushchairs for your family?

With so many on the market, along with the likes of lightweight strollers or even buggies to run with, the amount of choice can make things a bit more difficult to narrow down the best cheap pushchairs for you. It also depends why you want a pushchair. Perhaps you need an extra one for family members who help out with babysitting, or maybe when travelling as a family you need something both compact, but also inexpensive, because it might get a bit battered in the hold of a plane. Alternatively, you might have a fancy pram or buggy but you need something to keep in the back of the car as a spare. There are so many reasons to buy a pushchair.

Best cheap pushchairs at a glance:

•Best cheap pushchair for travelling: Amababy Lightweight pushchair

•Best cheap pushchair for all weather: Cuggl Rowan Complete Pushchair in Rustic Blue

•Best cheap pushchair for quality: Silver Cross Zest Black

As all parents know, there is always something else you need to buy for your little one. They are constantly outgrowing clothes and toys, or as they get bigger they need the next stage car seat, or even a new nightlight if they are learning to self-settle. The list is endless and that is why it is important to find the best cheap pushchairs to avoid spending any more money than you have to, especially if you have already forked out on an expensive travel system before they were born. Things to think about include, how light it is, ease of folding, how compact, what terrain can it handle, and if your little one still naps on the go, can it recline to make sleep more comfortable? And of course, budget!

That's why we've rounded up the best cheap pushchairs to help you out.

What's the difference between a pram and a pushchair?

There's a lot of crossover between the different modes of transport for babies and toddlers. The main ones are prams, pushchairs, strollers and buggies. But what's the difference between them?

Typically, prams and pushchairs will be more robust, while strollers and buggies are best for the short term. For example, strollers and buggies are suited to older babies as they can be easily folded down. Being compact not only are they great for quick trips to the shops but there are many travel strollers ideal for taking on holiday. Whereas prams and pushchairs are usually a higher quality purchase and can be adapted to grow with your little one. Also consider the benefits of double strollers for family days out if you have two young children who might both need to rest their legs.

Pram

Prams allow babies to lie down flat and are most commonly used for newborns and smaller babies up until six months old. Sometimes, you can convert your pram into a pushchair. Converted prams are ideal if you want a mode of transport to grow with your tot, as you can use these as pushchairs from six months old and beyond. There are lots of options for prams, even designer prams, but these will be costly.

Pushchair

Pushchairs are designed for babies from six months and above, usually suiting your toddler up until they're three years old. The seat will allow your six-month-old baby to sit up and you can usually adjust the seat with most seats offering an option for your little one to be parent facing.

However, not all pushchairs or strollers will be suitable from birth, so be sure of this by reading the specifications of each model. Some models will offer a seat that has a lie-flat recline that's suitable from birth, but others may not. Others may come with a convertible seat that's sold with the pushchair or separately, that is suitable for newborns. This may also be the case with buggies so make sure you are clear about your requirements.

Finally think about where you will use the buggy, pushchair or pram. If you are mostly in a city or town the terrain won't be a problem. However, for country living, or taking baby on long dog walks, or even needing a buggy for a toddler to hop in when their legs are tired are on a long countryside walk, you will need to think about the best all-terrain prams and pushchairs.

How much is a cheap pushchair?

Depending on its features, a cheap pushchair can cost somewhere around £100, sometimes less. However, when you're looking at double pushchairs or pushchairs that offer a complete travel system, you'll be looking at slightly more. Some of the more expensive pushchairs can retail for up to £1,300. You will need to consider what you need the pushchair for, how often you will use it and if you already have a travel system, to determine if the pushchair you are interested in is worth the expense or even if it is a cheap pushchair.

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Laura Healy is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby. She is a mum-of-two girls and loves writing about all things parenting. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and enjoys reading and attending literary festivals, as well as writing fiction.