While it's common to seek out the best travel system when you first have a baby, you may want to opt for something a little lighter as your child grows up, such as a travel pushchair.
The follow-up to the popular Joolz Aer, the Joolz Aer+ with cot combines the best of both worlds: a lightweight buggy that you can also swap out to use with a cot.
Joolzwww.joolz.com
Pros
- Lightweight and compact
- One-hand one-second fold
- Airplane compatible
- Eco-friendly fabrics
Cons
- Bumper bar must be bought separately
Testing the Joolz Aer+ with cot
As a first-time mum, I was keen to have a travel system as our main pushchair because I liked the flexibility of being able to use a cot or infant car seat with the frame. However, as much as I adore my Bugaboo Fox 5, I was also aware there would be times that something lighter would come in handy, especially with the holidays coming up and being someone who isn't the strongest when it comes to storing a travel system in a car boot. Enter, the Joolz Aer+.
Assembly
The Joolz Aer+ with cot came neatly bundled together in two boxes, one for the buggy and another for the cot. My husband was pleased to find that (after having spent a lot of time building baby gear) when it came to assembly, there was nothing to do apart from pulling out the Joolz Aer+ from its handy travel pouch.
Removing the pushchair seat to replace it with the newborn cot was admittedly a little trickier but realistically, you're only going to be doing this the once so it's not too much of a hardship.
Design and quality
There's no doubt about it, this pushchair is a really good-looking piece of baby kit. And as well as looking great, the fabrics of the Joolz Aer+ are made from 100 per cent recycled PET bottles which is a really nice sustainable touch that I appreciate. There are a number of colour choices with the Joolz Aer+, with four new ones having been introduced recently: forest green, sandy taupe, space black and our choice - stone grey.
Compact fold
As you'd imagine, as the Reviews Editor for a parenting website, I've seen how a lot of pushchairs fold and the Joolz Aer+ is up there with the best when it comes to ease and smoothness. Once the brake has been applied, you use one hand to simply hold down both the main button and the safety button directly underneath it with your thumb and fold the pushchair. It will automatically fold into a standing position.
To unfold, you once again press in the safety button and hold down the main button at the same time and then lift upwards to release the entirety of the buggy which will click into place. And that's it!
As you'd expect from a compact stroller that can fit in the overhead locker of a plane, the Joolz Aer+ is seriously small once folded. Fitting neatly in the accompanying travel bag, I love how easy it is to store in our home when not in use.
I was pleased to find the Joolz Aer+ can also be folded when the bassinet cot is attached, so there's no need to remove it. After applying the brake, you need to push back the canopy and then push in on the safety button on the edge of the bassinet and pull up on the lever which releases the bassinet. Then you want to go back to the same two buttons on the pushchair handle which will collapse the Aer+ with the cot. It needs a further press to lock everything in place but then you're good to go.
As when in the pushchair formation, there's a carry strap to use over your shoulder although being bulkier when folded than the buggy seat, it won't fit in the travel bag.
Aer+ cot
Available to buy separately or as part of a package with the pushchair, the Joolz Aer+ cot is still a really compact size when added to the pushchair frame which is exactly what I was hoping for in comparison to my bulky travel system.
It comes complete with a breathable mattress to keep your newborn comfy and just like with the pushchair, the extendable sun hood has a mesh panel for airflow.
Comfort and safety
Any parent wants to know their offspring are two things when using a baby product: safe and comfortable.
The seat unit of the Joolz Aer+ is really generous in both width and height and would be ideal for taller babies. The harness is easy to adjust one-handed with a 5-point buckle so your youngster is safely strapped in.
The UPF 50+ sun hood ensures your youngster is protected at all times with great coverage and this can be extended further with a zip on the canopy. This also offers extra ventilation on hotter days thanks to the breathable mesh panel which I found useful for keeping an eye on baby.
When it comes to comfort for baby, the Aer+ buggy seat offers three different positions: seated, relax and sleep - where the seat can be reclined fully flat for snoozing on the go. These positions are controlled by a zip at the back of the seat.
While you obviously wouldn't use it for something like running, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the wheels and suspension were able to handle multiple types of terrain with ease, ensuring a smooth ride for both driver and passenger.
For a smaller pushchair, we had no qualms with the volume of the shopping basket (5kg) and fit in everything we could need. There's also a handy storage pocket on the back of the seat for the likes of your phone or keys.
Final verdict
Overall, I'm really impressed with the Joolz Aer+. It's a lightweight, attractive pushchair with the ability to transform into a travel system, making it a fantastic option for many families who perhaps don't want the expense of a larger travel system as well as having to buy a lighter, compact option too.
No, it might not be suitable for those looking to tackle trickier terrains or perhaps live in the countryside but for those in urban areas or those after something that takes up minimal room, it's a worthy contender as a main pushchair.
The compact fold with both the buggy seat and cot attachment is really impressive and on the whole, it's easy for anyone to use with some great recline options.
Joolz Aer+ FAQ
Is Joolz Aer+ suitable for newborns?
It is indeed! The pushchair seat is suitable from newborn when in the lie-flat position, making it safe from birth. However, some parents might still prefer to buy the Joolz Aer+ with cot which we've reviewed above.
What is the difference between Joolz Aer and Aer+?
While the weight remains the same, the Joolz Aer+ has a few additional features that you won't find on the standard Aer. This includes an even larger sun canopy with ventilation and a wider basket. The wheel design has also been improved and there's now an adjustable harness with a click-and-go 5 point buckle.
The Aer pushchair is only suitable for little ones that can sit unaided which is typically around six months.
What does Joolz Aer+ come with?
If you buy just the Joolz Aer+ pushchair, in the box you'll receive:
• Joolz Aer+
• Travel pouch
• Raincover
A journalist since 2015, Emily Gilbert is the Features & Reviews Editor for Mother&Baby and has written for the website and previously the magazine for seven years. Emily writes about everything from the top baby products to pregnancy, fertility and maternal mental health. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.