Cheap strollers are everywhere, and are a light and compact single pushchair without all the bells and whistles that you'll find on more versatile and expensive models. Strollers generally weigh more than lightweight pushchairs, so this probably isn't the one to pick for travel use – it's more robust and substantial than that.
Think of a stroller as a great value budget buy – the no-frills of the pushchair world. Cheap strollers are easy to pick up from all manner of retailers, including Amazon, Argos and Boots.
The best strollers are good and serve many purposes: they are versatile and compact, make travelling easier for parents, and can also be passed on to your pregnant friends to use for their babies in the future.
Best cheap strollers at a glance:
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Best stroller for easy travel: Joie Nitro Stroller - Buy here on Argos
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Best stroller for comfort: Red kite Push me Quatro Stroller - Buy here on Amazon
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Best stroller for padded seats: Graco Breaze Lite - Buy here on Amazon
For any parent, a stroller helps carry those baby essentials - while taking your baby outside. With so much storage space to space, a stroller assists with literally everything.
If you already have an all-singing-and-dancing pushchair or pram, but now you need something really manoeuvrable for quick trips into town with your tot, a stroller is a great with investment. Here are eight of our favourite cheap strollers you can buy today.
Best cheap strollers to buy
Best stroller for portability
This lightweight stroller offers easy portability thanks to its quick and compact fold with storage latch that keeps the stroller folded. It has a removable padded arm bar plus adjustable calf support and multi-position recline to keep them comfortable.
Review: "Fab buggy, ticked all the boxes for me…light to carry, easy to manoeuvre (even with a larger toddler), comfortable for my son and compact enough to fit in a small boot. Also, handles are high, great for taller people, so we don't have to slouch!"
Pros
- A compact fold makes packing up quick and makes travelling with baby even better.
- Lightweight, offering parents easy portability to get where they need to go without extra effort.
Cons
- Not many colours.
Best stroller for comfort
A simple design that makes it perfect for grandparents, the seat of this cheap stroller has a multi-position lie-back recline with leg adjustor so your child will have a comfortable ride. It has lockable swivel wheels for easy pushing and is easy to fold when not in use. It also comes with a rain cover to ensure your baby is kept dry when out and about.
Review: "It folds easily and is easy to manoeuvre and more importantly my granddaughter is comfortable enough in it to fall asleep. It is excellent value for money and I would not hesitate to recommend it. I don't think other more expensive strollers have anything extra to add."
Pros
- Lightweight, clean and simple design buggy.
- Suitable from birth until older toddler.
Cons
- The wheels have quite a lot of rolling resistance, so might be heavy to push.
Best stroller for storage
Ready for any weather, this colourful stroller comes with a cover and UPF 100+ hood. Once folded into the compact bundle, the telescopic pull handle will allow you to easily pull the stroller from one place to another. It's super lightweight at 6kg and freestanding to boot.
Review: "Brilliant really easy to set up, really light! Would recommend it if you want something nice for your little one and easy to set up. Worth the money!"
Pros
- This stroller features a new telescopic pull handle.
- You can change your stroller's hood and chest pads.
Cons
- Might be too colourful for some.
Best stroller for padded seats
Offering multi-position recline for snoozes on the move, the Graco Breaze Lite weighs just 6.5 kg but has a whole host of brilliant features such as a compact fold,easy-release bumper bar, front swivel-lock wheels and a large, easy-access storage basket.
Review: "This buggy has everything you will need to go on enjoyable walks - easy to fold and unfold, lovely to push (feels springy, like it's got suspension), front wheels can be locked if you don't like swivelling wheels, good size fabric basket underneath, mesh in the hood so you can lift the flap and check on baby while walking, easy to recline when baby drops off to sleep. Comes complete with rain cover, bumper bar for attaching toys to, comfy padded seat which gives good cushioning from head to toe, foot rest for when child is bigger."
Pros
- Rain cover included.
- Lightweight at only 6.5 kg.
Cons
- Fiddley to push the side buttons in to fold.
Best stroller for all weather
At just under £50, this Red Kite Baby Push Me 2U stroller is a bargain. It has lockable swivel wheels and a harness to ensure your child is secure as well as comfortable in the deep padded seat. The detachable hood and additional rain cover mean the stroller is suitable for all weather conditions, while the shopping basket allows for extra storage.
Review: "I brought this to use for my grandaughter when she comes around and we want to go to the park. At 8 months old she loves it. It tilts back if she sleeps and I put a pair of cosy toes in it to keep her warm. This goes up and down so easy, it's sturdy and good enough to keep in the back of the car for when we pop out."
Pros
- Easy to fold down.
- Lightweight two position lie back stroller.
Cons
- A bit small in size.
Best stroller for easy travel
www.argos.co.uk
Compact yet sturdy, this cheap stroller has a lightweight chassis, compact umbrella fold and convenient carry handle, making it ideal for travel. The Joie Nitro has five single-handed recline positions as well as dual-wheel suspension for tackling bumpy terrain.
Review: "Got this a few weeks ago and I have to say that for the price it is an amazing push chair. Feels very sturdy and well made. Very easy to put together and has held up well on walks as well as woodland walks."
Pros
- 5-point SoftTouch harness, which is soft and gentle on your baby's sensitive skin whilst keeping them safe and secure.
- Foot-operated umbrella fold.
Cons
- Not many colours to choose from.
7.
Cuggl Laurel
Best stroller for lightweight
www.argos.co.uk
Cheap and cheerful, this lightweight Cuggl Laurel baby stroller weighs just 4.9kg. With a fixed recline position, your child will be safe and secure in the forward-facing seat with a five-point harness.
Review: "I purchased this to use for my granddaughter who is 2 years old. I can fold it to fit in the back of my car, it is strong, sturdy and a good height for me to push with hurting my back. I would certainly recommend it plus I think it is very good value for the money."
Pros
- Lightweight baby buggy.
- Comes with shopping basket.
Cons
- Rain cover not included.
Best stroller for adjustability
www.mothercare.com.kw
It's easy to recline the seat of this Mothercare stroller with just one hand if your little one wants to lie back for a nap or sit more upright. The five-point harness can adjust to three positions as your little one grows, while the adjustable calf rest will support those little legs. When not in use, the Nanu has a compact, umbrella-style fold for easy storage.
Pros
- Compact and great value with a bright, fun print.
- The Nanu stroller is designed to give your child a safe and customised ride from birth to 3 years old.
Cons
- Fiddly to fold.
Seven things to ask yourself…
Is it good value for money?
Strollers are inexpensive, but choose one that's robust and durable too. It will need to withstand the weight of a growing toddler.
Do you drive or use public transport?
If you rely on public transport to get around, go for a compact stroller that won't seem cumbersome if space is limited, and that's quick and easy to fold. But, if you drive, it's more useful to have the option of attaching your baby's car seat to the pushchair chassis, so a stroller that converts to a travel system is a better choice.
How much storage space do you have?
Think about where you'll keep the pushchair when it's not in use. A pushchair that's freestanding when folded is super-useful if you'll be storing it in your hallway, as it's less likely to topple over and bash you in the shins every time you walk past. Look at the strollers with an ultra-compact fold if you're seriously pushed for storage space.
Will you use it from birth?
Some strollers are only suitable for use from six months, but there's usually an accessory you can buy separately to adapt it for use before six months – and you'll have to factor this into your budget. Or choose one designed for use from birth instead.
How long do you plan to use it for?
Strollers are generally cheaper, but they can be a false economy if you buy one that doesn't live up to the demands of carrying a heavy toddler But perhaps you'd prefer to pay less and buy another with a different print in a couple of years?
Will you use it on rougher ground?
Strollers have small wheels designed to offer good manoeuvrability on city streets (and shiny shop floors!), but if you're likely to use it on rougher ground, look for a model with lockable, swivel wheels.
What are your priorities?
No stroller offers everything, so decide whether it's more important for you to have a generous shopping basket, a good-sized hood, an umbrella, or a decent seat recline for naps on the move. You need to decide if you want a parent-facing stroller or if you want your child to be able to look around at the world in front of them.
Remember, while you are trying to adjust to life life as a new parent - you can easily forget that life does not stop when you have a child.
There are beautiful places that you can still take your little one to, like the cinema (for mothers and babies, the gallery, even the library.
This is where a baby stroller comes in: it gives you the flexibility to move around whether you're taking a walk in your local park or simply want to explore or try new things.
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.