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How to Choose a Baby Stroller

Buying a pushchair can feel like buying a car. There are hundreds of models, every review contradicts the last, and the price range is bewildering. The good news is that most modern strollers sold in the UAE are perfectly safe. The real decision is not which one is best, but which one suits the way your family actually moves around.

Before you look at a single model, picture a normal week. Are you mostly loading it into a car boot, or walking to the shops? Is there a lift in your building, or three flights of stairs? Will an older sibling need a ride when they get tired?

Answer those questions honestly and the list of suitable strollers shrinks dramatically.

The pushchair you actually use every day is worth more than the one with the longest feature list.

Start with your newborn’s needs

For the first months, a baby needs to lie flat or almost flat so that breathing and spine development are not compromised. Look for a full recline, a carrycot option, or a compatible infant car seat. Lightweight umbrella-style strollers with upright seats are for older babies who already sit unaided.

Weigh it, fold it, lift it

In the shop, fold and unfold it yourself while holding something in one arm, because that is how you will do it in real life. Then lift it. A three-kilo difference is barely noticeable in a showroom and very noticeable at the end of a long day. Check that the folded shape actually fits your boot, not just the boot in the brochure.

Think about shade and airflow

In Al Ain’s climate this matters more than almost any other feature. Look for a deep, extendable canopy with a UPF rating and a breathable mesh panel so air can move. Avoid draping a blanket over the hood, because it traps heat rather than cooling the seat. Feel the fabric and the metal frame after they have sat in the sun before you buy.

Check the wheels for your pavements

Larger wheels with some suspension handle kerbs, sand and uneven paving far better than small hard castors. Swivel front wheels that can be locked straight give you the best of both. If your routine is mostly mall floors and car boots, small wheels are fine and lighter.

Test the brakes, harness and standards

Look for a five-point harness, a brake you can apply confidently with a sandal on, and a stable base that does not tip when a bag is hung on the handle. Check for a recognised safety standard mark on the frame or box, and register the product so you receive any recall notices.

Live with it before you commit

Where you can, borrow or try a friend’s model for an afternoon. Storage baskets that are too small, handles that are too low, and canopies that block your view of the baby are the sorts of things that only reveal themselves in use.

A parent arriving at nursery with a baby in a pushchair at Little Regent Nursery
Babies resting in a shaded outdoor area at Little Regent Nursery

Whatever you choose, there is a shaded drop-off and plenty of space for pushchairs at our villa in Tawam, Asharej. Little Regent Nursery welcomes babies from two months in our Waddle Ducks and Tiny Toucans rooms, with a full-time nurse on site and daily records of sleeping, feeding and nappy changes. If you are planning childcare for your baby, contact us to arrange a visit and see the rooms for yourself.