Pushchairs & buggies
Shopping guide to buggies, strollers and pushchairs, from Ethical Consumer

Shopping guide to buggies, strollers and pushchairs, from Ethical Consumer


This is a product guide from Ethical Consumer, the UK's leading alternative consumer organisation. Since 1989 we've been researching and recording the social and environmental records of companies, and making the results available to you in a simple format.

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The cost of pushchairs can range from a cheap, lightweight model to a £2,000 designer buggy with alloy wheels and a number plate, but what is the real cost of buying a pushchair?

This report includes:

  • ethical and environmental ratings for 13 popular pushchairs, buggies and strollers
  • Best Buy recommendations
  • whether or not to buy second hand
  • what are the cheaper and greener alternatives for carrying babies

 

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Score Ratings

Our ratings are live updated scores from our primary research database. They are based on primary and secondary research across 19 categories. Find out more about our ethical ratings. 

 

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The Full Scorecard shows the 'black marks' for each product, by each of the 19 categories. The bigger the mark, the worse the score. So for example a big black circle under 'Worker Rights' shows that the company making this product has been severely criticised for worker abuses.

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Best Buys

as of Sept/Oct 2007


As our ratings are constantly updated, it is possible that company ratings on the score table may have changed since this report was written.


Best Buys are the Bugaboo and Spanish Jane brands.


Pushchairs

Pushchairs can be divided into three main types: Rugged all terrain; Cheaper and lightweight buggies or strollers; More expensive and bulkier travel systems which can be used with a car seat or carrycot.

You could pick a celebrity stroller like the Bugaboo Frog or the new Maclaren buggy which, at £2,000, is the world's most expensive pushchair. It has embroidered leather seats, alloy wheels, carbon-fibre body work and even its own exclusive number plate. Fortunately, most of the models on our table are less expensive.

For those of you wanting a lower tech and even more lightweight and portable solution to baby carrying, try baby slings, front carriers and rucksacks. These of course have a weight limit. See how these brands compare in the Baby Carriers report.

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