Quick answer: for a newborn, choose a stroller whose product page lists it from 0 months, with a deep recline and a five-point harness. From 6 months, a lighter buggy listed from 6 months becomes an option too. Whatever you pick, check two numbers on the product page before you buy: the age range and the weight capacity.
Most strollers in our strollers collection are listed for 0 to 3 years. That sounds simple, but a newborn and a two year old need very different things from the same seat. Here is what matters at each age, with real strollers and the limits their pages state.
What does a newborn need from a stroller?
A newborn needs to lie back, not sit up.
A flat place to sleep
Newborns sleep a lot, and many will fall asleep on a walk. The UK safer sleep charity The Lullaby Trust says the safest place for a baby to sleep is their own clear, flat, separate sleep space, such as a cot or Moses basket. When it explains how to use a pram as a sleep space away from home, its very first check is: "Is the pram's sleep space completely flat?"
So for the newborn months, look for the deepest recline you can find, and move your baby to a flat cot for longer sleeps.
How deep is the recline?
Our product pages tell you how many recline positions a stroller has, but they do not state the angle of the deepest one. For example, the Pocket Air Stroller page says "up to 3 reclinable positions", and the Pocket Stroller page says "Multi-Position Recline". If a fully flat position matters to you, ask R for Rabbit's customer care to confirm the deepest recline of the model you like, or see it in a store before you buy.
A five-point harness
All four newborn-friendly strollers in the table below come with a five-point harness, according to their pages. The two buggies listed from 6 months have a 2-point harness instead.
How does the right stroller change as your baby grows?
As your baby grows, the recline matters less and the seat, the fold and the weight limit matter more.
- Newborn to 6 months: deep recline, five-point harness, a stroller listed from 0 months.
- 6 to 12 months: your baby may enjoy sitting more upright to look around. A reversible seat lets them face you or face the world. The Street Smart Regal page describes a "Two-Way Reversible Seat" for exactly this.
- 1 to 3 years: a quick fold and a light frame make daily outings and travel easier, as long as the weight capacity still covers your child.
What weight limit should I look for?
Look for a weight capacity comfortably above your child's weight today, so the stroller keeps fitting as your child grows. Every stroller has two limits on its page, an age range and a weight capacity. Stop using it once your child goes past either one, whichever comes first.
Weight capacities differ more than you might expect. The Pocket Air Stroller page says "Up to 15 Kg", while the Street Smart Regal and the Pocket Stroller pages say "Upto 20 kgs". Both are listed for 0 to 3 years, so the weight limit is what separates them.
What does EN 1888 mean on a stroller?
EN 1888 is the European safety standard for pushchairs and prams. It comes in two parts:
- EN 1888-1 covers pushchairs and prams "designed for the carriage of one or more children, up to 15 kg each".
- EN 1888-2 adds requirements for "pushchairs, designed for the carriage of one or more children, above 15 kg and up to 22 kg each", and is used together with Part 1.
Several of our stroller pages state that the stroller is EN 1888 certified, but they do not name the part. If you plan to keep using a stroller after your child passes 15 kg, ask R for Rabbit's customer care which part the certificate covers.
Which stroller suits which age?
Newborn to 6 months
Start with our Newborn ready collection, which groups products listed from birth. Four strollers worth comparing:
| Stroller | Age on page | Weight capacity on page | Standard on page | Recline on page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Street Smart Regal | 0 to 3 years | Up to 20 kg | EN 1888 | Multi-recline, two-way reversible seat |
| Pocket Stroller | 0 to 3 years | Up to 20 kg | EN 1888 | Multi-position |
| Pocket Air Stroller | 0 to 3 years | Up to 15 kg | EN 1888 | Up to 3 positions |
| Chocolate Ride Travel System | 0 to 3 years | 0 to 20 kg | EN 1888 (stroller), ECE R44/04 (included car seat) | 3 positions |
The Chocolate Ride Travel System pairs the stroller with a matching infant car seat, which its page says is ECE R44/04 certified. If you are buying for car journeys too, read our car seat stages guide first.
6 to 12 months
Browse everything for 6 to 12 months. This is where buggies come in. The Pixie Buggy is listed for 6 months to 3 years with a weight capacity of up to 15 kg, an umbrella fold, a 2-point harness and rear-wheel brakes. The Kiddie Kingdom Buggy is listed for 6 months to 2 years and its page says it is EN 1888 certified; its page does not state a weight capacity.
1 to 3 years
Browse 1 to 2 years and 2 to 3 years. If you travel often, the Pocket Air page says it "easily fits into the cabin luggage", and the Pocket Stroller page mentions a trolley handle for pulling it like a bag.
How do I keep my baby cool in a stroller?
Do not drape a cloth over the stroller to block the sun. The Lullaby Trust advises against covering prams, buggies and travel systems "with blankets, cloths or any cover that stops the air flowing", because the baby can get too hot and you cannot see them easily. Use the stroller's own canopy instead.
To check whether your baby is too hot, feel their chest or the back of their neck, as The Lullaby Trust suggests. If they feel sweaty or clammy, remove a layer. Our baby clothes sizes guide has more on dressing for warm weather.
Questions parents ask
Can a newborn use a stroller?
Yes, if the product page lists it from 0 months, like the four strollers in the table above. For naps, The Lullaby Trust's advice is that babies sleep on a flat surface, so recline the seat as far as it goes and move your baby to a cot for longer sleeps.
When can my baby move to a buggy?
When your baby is within the age the buggy's page lists. The Pixie Buggy and the Kiddie Kingdom Buggy are both listed from 6 months.
Is EN 1888 the same as the weight capacity?
No. EN 1888-1 covers children up to 15 kg and EN 1888-2 covers pushchairs for children above 15 kg up to 22 kg. The weight capacity is a separate number stated on each product page, so check both.
Can I take a stroller on a flight?
That depends on your airline, so check its rules before you fly. The Pocket Air Stroller's page says it fits into cabin luggage.
More guides: when is a baby ready for a high chair, and all our parent guides.
Sources
- The Lullaby Trust, "Baby sleeping products" (the safest place for a baby to sleep): lullabytrust.org.uk/baby-safety/baby-product-information/baby-sleeping-products/
- The Lullaby Trust, "Safer sleep on holiday" (checklist for using a pram as a sleep space; last reviewed 1 Feb 2025): lullabytrust.org.uk/baby-safety/travel-and-weather/safer-sleep-on-holiday/
- The Lullaby Trust, "Hot weather" (do not cover prams; checking temperature; last reviewed 1 Feb 2025): lullabytrust.org.uk/baby-safety/travel-and-weather/hot-weather/
- EN 1888-1:2018+A1:2022, Child care articles, Wheeled child conveyances, Part 1: Pushchairs and prams (scope), Estonian Centre for Standardisation catalogue: evs.ee/en/evs-en-1888-1-2018+a1-2022
- EN 1888-2:2018+A1:2022, Part 2: Pushchairs for children above 15 kg up to 22 kg (scope): evs.ee/en/evs-en-1888-2-2018-a1-2022-consolidated
- R for Rabbit product pages for each stroller named above (age group, weight capacity, standard and features as stated there).