While there are a lot of pushchairs for your baby available on the market, finding the best parent-facing strollers or pushchairs for you can be a great way to connect with your little one as they face you while out and about.
Most parent-facing strollers or pushchairs are lightweight with a robust frame, made with easy manoeuvrability in mind. They're designed to deal with navigating through busy city life settings or on those long countryside walks.
When using a parent-facing stroller, you may be focused on other things that are happening around you, but with a parent-facing pushchair, both you and your little one are encouraged to smile or talk to each other more, which can play a big part in strengthening your bond.
The best parent-facing strollers at a glance:
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Best lightweight pushchair: Bugaboo Bee 6 Pushchair - view on Argos
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Best pushchair for storage: Nuna Demi Grow - view on Mamas&Papas
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Best foldable pushchair: Joie Mirus Scenic Pushchair - view on Argos
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Best rotatable pushchair: Cybex Eezy S Twist+2 Pushchair - view on John Lewis
It can be tricky to find the perfect stroller for your little one, so we've put together the below list to help make your decision that little bit easier. We've included a selection of the best cheap prams, foldable pushchairs and ones with rotatable features that are all front-facing; check them out below.
The best parent-facing strollers and pushchairs 2023
Best lightweight pushchair
www.argos.co.uk
Description
This compact, light Bugaboo Bee6 is a great choice for urban adventurers with a newborn or toddler. It has smooth steering and four-wheel suspension, so your child can enjoy the ride from the comfort of their padded seat. The one-hand, one-piece fold makes it oh so easy and takes up less space, making it ideal for at home or when out and about.
One parent review said: "I bought this Bugaboo Bee as a second stroller for a lighter option, and its been the best companion since. I live in a city, so it's the perfect size, not too bulky and heavy, incredibly easy to steer around with one hand and a decent sized basket. I'm using it now for my growing toddler, and I can't wait to see how he gets up and down from the stroller on his own thanks to its low seat! Absolutely beautiful fabric, was worth the extra money for the Washed Black. You can never go wrong with buying a bugaboo stroller. Top quality."
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to steer, ideal for cities
- Large storage basket
- Front and rear-facing
Cons
- Bright hood may be a little off-putting, but it's also available in grey or black
Best pushchair with accessories
www.argos.co.uk
Description
The Ebony Deluxe Pushchair by Cuggl looks expensive but actually comes at a bargain price. Its seat can be adjusted to be parent-facing or forward-facing, and with its easy folding system, you'll be able to swiftly pop up and down this pushchair in no time. It also comes with plenty of accessories too, including a large shopping basket, footmuff for the winter and rain cover.
One parent review said: "I bought it few months ago as a last resort and I'm glad I did! My baby was in a phase when he hated everything - the carrier, the wrap, the pushchair (carrycot pram which converted into bucket style stroller) yet he took to this stroller straight away. It flew with us providing him with a flat safe surface for sleeping, we established a ritual of a morning nap on the move and it works wonders every time he's too tired to just fall asleep."
Read our Cuggle Ebony deluxe pushchair review
Pros
- Affordable and trendy-looking
- Comes with a raincoat and winter footmuff
- Adjustable leg rest and handle for extra comfort
Cons
- Heavy and quite large once folded up, not ideal for smaller cars
Best pushchair for storage
www.mamasandpapas.com
Description
Silver award winner at the Mother&Baby Awards 2022
There's a lot to love about the Nuna Demi Grow. It features custom dual suspension, which enables the best ride for you and baby, a removable, extendable and protective UPF 50+ canopy with flip-out eyeshade, built-in clear hubcaps to protect from dirt and debris and a five or three-point anti-loop harness featuring quick release button. It's easy to fold, flip the seat, and switch to carrycot or car seat modes and also has one-handed adjustable calf support.
One parent review said: "I'm a mom of three my oldest being 6 and my youngest being 3 months old. This stroller has exceeded my expectations! I wish I had this when my oldest was born! The easy to manoeuvre wheels make it great for our daily walks that go from sidewalk to rocks. The quality is all top notch. Can remove the cover to a mesh window to let in the nice breeze."
Read our full Nuna Demi Grow review
Pros
- Large basket area for storing items
- Three recline positions, all adjustable with one hand
- All-season seat to keep baby warm in winter and cool in summer
- Storage basket
Cons
- May be too big for some
Best washable pushchair
doona.shop
Description
Is it a car seat, or is it a stroller? It's both! The Doona is the world's first infant car seat with fully integrated wheels, switching from chair to pushchair in seconds. The system has four wheels that collapse under the seat base; when the wheels are released, and then you have a stroller! Although offering a lack of storage, it's lightweight, easy to steer and will, of course, send you a lot of time.
One parent review said: "The Doona car seat is so easy to use. A button releases the wheels so it transitions into a stroller simply. I use mine everyday to drop off and pick up my toddler to preschool and the Doona makes it so easy. My baby is comfortable in the car seat and stays asleep being transported into and out of the car smoothly. I couldn't be without it. I would highly recommend to anyone."
Pros
- 2-in-1 car seat (with ISOFIX) and pushchair
- Fabric removable and washable
- Bamboo charcoal fibre cushioning is anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic
Cons
- No basket underneath or anywhere to store items
Best foldable pushchair
www.argos.co.uk
Description
Lightweight and compact, the Joie Mirus folds easily with one hand and takes up little space in a car boot. It is practical, portable and brilliantly efficient on public transport. Offering a good sun canopy and a decent-sized basket, it has lockable front swivel wheels and dual-wheel suspension.
One parent review said: "I bought this pushchair as I wanted something compact that could be both parent and world facing. On a budget, this is a good pushchair that does just that. The handle easily flips rather than having to remove the seat. It also folds fairly small but is still quite long and just fits in the boot of my Seat Leon lengthways, but with plenty of room for shopping to be piled around it."
Pros
- Affordable
- Free-standing when folded
- Rear-facing and forward facing option
- Comes with rain cover
- Spacious basket for storing items
Cons
- Steering a little tricky when seat is in parent facing position
Best rotatable pushchair
www.johnlewis.com
Description
The agile new Eezy S Twist+2 makes life easier for parents and more comfortable for their children. With one hand, the seat unit and integrated legrest can be rotated 360°—from parent-facing to forward-facing and back again. The pushchair can also carry a Cot S, a baby car seat or a Cocoon S: a 4-in-1 Travel System giving parents multiple options for the journey ahead. Big wheels and 4-wheel suspension ensure smooth rides on urban terrains ranging from cobblestones to unpaved paths.
One review said: "We bought this as a second pushchair for travelling, but we now use it as our primary stroller - it's small, light, easy to steer, and has a great basket size. There is an additional seat liner / pad for comfort, but it's really not required."
Pros
- All-terrain wheels for tackling uneven surfaces
- 360˚ rotatable seat
- Compact One-hand fold
- Ergonomic Lie-flat Position
Cons
- Handlebar isn't adjustable
What are the benefits of a parent-facing stroller?
A parent-facing stroller has multiple health benefits for you as well as your little one. As you give eye contact and more of your attention to them, they're more likely to speak back to you when you talk to them. Plus, some research has found that it can even lower their heart rate and help them to fall asleep quicker than if they were in a forward-facing pushchair.
How much storage space do you have?
If you live in the city, this can mean limited space to store baby gear. Think about where you'll keep the pushchair when it's not in use. A compact stroller for travel that's free-standing when folded is super-useful if you'll be storing it in your hallway.
Can you use it from birth?
Some parent-facing strollers are only suitable for use from six months, but there's usually an accessory you can buy to adapt it for use before six months, so factor this into your budget or look for one designed for use from birth instead.
Forward-facing or parent-facing stroller?
Being able to keep a close eye on your baby in the parent-facing position while you're travelling is understandably appealing. As well as being able to easily communicate and keep eye contact with your youngster, it also means you can quickly check if they're asleep or have even lost a sock.
Experts recommend that your baby should be in a parent-facing stroller up until nine months, where they can then be switched to a forward-facing one instead. However, if you're keen to keep parent-facing for a bit longer, we've selected a variety of options of parent-facing strollers and pushchairs for you to choose from.
Emily Gilbert is the Features & Reviews Editor for Mother&Baby and has written for the website and previously the magazine for six years. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.