The most popular pram accessories for professional pushing
The first pram in 1733 was a carriage pulled by a dog, pony or goat. Sadly things have moved on a lot since then and we’re expected to do all the hard work ourselves. But there are some things to make it easier. Here are the eleven most popular pram accessories. And a brilliant way to keep pram wheel mud and dirt away from your clean floors.
1. Buggy clips
Most prams come with shopping baskets but sometimes these are too full with nappies, wipes, nappy cream, spare clothes, bibs, lunch, water, milk, spare blanket etc etc for any actual shopping. You could tie the shopping to the buggy like this:
Or you can use buggy clips. These turn your buggy into your own personal Sherpa - carrying all the bags you need (although probably not up a mountain.) They do look a lot like climbing carabiners so make sure you don’t accidentally use one if you do go up a mountain. That could end badly. And try to avoid the other big danger - that you haven’t loaded up so much that the buggy tips backwards with the weight. We’ve all seen it happen. Don’t be that person. (I’ve been that person.)
If you’re buying buggy clips the most popular ones seem to be Baby Uma clips. They’ve won a multitude of awards, are made of sturdy aluminium and fit onto any kind of handle or frame. Each hook holds up to 5kg. Which is 8 basketballs, 42 bananas or a cat.
2. Rockit
You put the baby in the pram and start walking. The motion sends them off to sleep. And then the moment you stop their eyes dart open and your moment of peace is over. Unless you continually push the buggy backwards and forwards. It becomes so instinctual that I’ve found myself doing this with a trolley full of shopping, not a child. I once did it with the pram for long enough to eat a whole pizza. My rocking arm ached by the end. What I actually needed was Rockit. This is a clever gadget that’s attached to the pram and gently rocks it. It’s basically like having a robot arm nanny. And who wouldn’t want one of those?
3. Pram Sunshade
Some kind of sunshade is very important. Babies have very delicate skin, which is not sunbathing friendly. Many prams come with a hood/canopy that extends far enough to provide protection from the sun. If not, some parents drape a muslin cloth from the hood, which will provide shade but won’t block out UV rays. Never use a blanket as your baby could overheat.
You could also buy a parasol, although they can be annoying as you have to constantly move them as you change direction to ensure they are blocking the sun.
One brilliant solution is the Snoozeshade, which is a sunshade that blocks 99% of UV rays. It also creates a dark environment for a baby to sleep in during the day. Cutting out the light and also the stimulation of the outside world can often really help your baby to nap. It has won over 70 awards, which is nearly as many as Meryl Streep.
4. Pram fan
In hot weather and heatwaves, a pram fan might help cool your baby down. AA pram fan can be clipped onto the frame or handles and then the flexible neck used to position it. So once the baby has had enough, angle it towards you and pretend you’re in a music video.
This one by Dreambaby has soft, foam blades so is very safe around a curious baby. Although it’s best to keep out of reach, especially as some have said their babies have torn off the blades.
5. pram rain cover
Your pram should come with its own rain cover. If it doesn’t you’ll need to buy one. Unless you live in Dry Valleys in Antarctica which has had no rain for nearly two million years. Which is unlikely.
You can usually get one that is specifically designed for your pram or there are universal rain covers which fit any buggy. Don’t be tempted by anything too cheap as they tend to go cloudy after a while and you’ll have a very frustrated child who can’t see out. I speak from experience.
The Bemece Universal Rain Cover has a large zip-up window so that you can put the baby in or take it out without removing the whole cover. There are also air holes for ventilation.
6. pram toys
Many parents like to attach toys to their prams to stimulate or entertain their babies. Sometimes these are books. I have never ever seen a baby reading a buggy book. These are surely the most bought then unread books since Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time. But there is one buggy toy that is incredibly popular: Freddie the Firefly. Babies seem to love it. Even though a firefly is a strange choice for a newborn toy. As fireflies use their glow at night to attract mates or prey. So basically sex or murder. I can really see the lust for flesh in Freddie’s eyes.
He clips onto a buggy or car seat and has lots of different textures and noises for your baby to explore.
It’s also possible to buy straps to attach any of your baby’s favourite toys to the pram. Babies love throwing much-loved things out of their prams into the gutter. It’s like they have fleeting moments of deciding to become a Buddhist monk and ridding themselves of all their earthly possessions. Then scream at bedtime because they’ve changed their mind. So it is a good idea to tether toys to the pram. The Baby Buddy secure-a-toy is a popular option.
7. Cup holder
When I was younger I wouldn’t even think to take a drink out with me. Now I can’t even go to post a letter without bringing a bottle of water. Cup holders are handy for keeping this water within easy reach. They are even better for hot drinks in takeaway cups which you obviously can’t just sling in the under-pram basket. A bottle of milk will often fit well too. This John Lewis one is good value for money and will fit on to most prams and pushchairs.
8. Stroller organiser
Maybe a cup holder is not enough. Maybe you also want to keep within easy reach a coffee, water, bottle of milk, purse, phone, keys, snacks and toys. In which case you need a stroller organiser. This is a caddy that attaches to your pram handles. They are very useful for keeping drinks upright and avoiding a lot of rummaging around in your changing bag at crucial moments like getting on a bus. They often have insulated drink holders, different compartments and detachable pouches for valuables. (I.e. money, phone and keys not jewels. Unless you are a gem dealer, in which case ignore that.) Some zip up to keep everything dry when it rains.
9. Carpet protector
Pram wheels have an annoying habit of getting very dirty. Especially in the winter. Until they invent self-cleaning wheels (hurry up please), other solutions have to be found. Particularly if the entrance to your home is covered in cream carpet. Here are your options:
Find a safe, dry place to keep your pram chassis outside. Perhaps a shed. Perhaps the boot of your car.
Carry the pram into the house and store it folded up.
Keep a clear plastic mat by the front door to leave the pram and protect the carpet.
Hose or rinse the wheels off before you go inside.
Get a pram sled. This clever invention enables you to push your pram to anywhere in the house and keep the floor clean and dry.
Put shower caps over the wheels. Really. All those ones you got from hotels - now is the time to use them.
You can’t get more professional than this. Just remember to take them off before you go out again as that would be less professional.
10. Pram wrist strap
A buggy wrist strap is for attaching yourself to the pram. It turns you into an anchor to stop the pram from rolling away downhill should you accidentally let go of the handles. A runaway pram is thankfully something more likely to be seen in a film, but if you live in a very hilly area a wrist strap might give you peace of mind. Some prams have them incorporated into the handle. My Bugaboo Bee had one but I’m ashamed to say it took me over a year to work out what it was actually for. LittleLife do a good one, made from soft material.
11. Pram lock
A pram lock could be useful if you leave the buggy outside a lot. I’ve never witnessed a pram theft but a report in 2019 concluded there could be up to 127,000 prams stolen in the UK each year. Seeing as they cost hundreds of pounds it’s not really surprising. Although I’m guessing it’s new prams that are being pinched rather than the food-encrusted, muddy older prams. If you do get a lock, don’t get one with a key that you will lose. Go for one with a combination code that you will forget. But can reset.
My Buggy Buddy pram lock doubles up as a buggy clip to hold your shopping and also secure a handbag. But it can also be attached to something narrow like a railing.
If you want something with a bit more reach, try a cable lock designed for securing bikes.
12. Footmuff aka cosytoes
These are fairly essential in the winter if your baby is out of their carrycot and sitting up in the buggy. The names footmuff and cosytoes are a bit misleading though. If it’s just warming the toes you’ve either bought the wrong thing or have the world’s tallest baby. They go up a lot higher than the feet and are often like a little sleeping bag.
You could just use a blanket but these have an annoying habit of getting kicked off. Whereas a footmuff has slits for the buggy straps to pass through so is fully secure. Most pram brands have their own footmuff but universal ones are often cheaper.
The John Lewis Anyday universal footmuff will fit most prams and pushchairs and is very cosy. It has a zip for easy access.
And now you’re ready for some very professional pram pushing. You certainly won’t need everything on this list. The only absolute essentials are ones that protect your baby from the rain and sun. And you’ll be glad to know I left out the buggy cooling pad, the fur hood trim and the pram charms. But everything else might help a bit. Until we can start having dogs, ponies and goats pulling our buggies again.
These pram accessories were chosen after research into the best-selling, award-winning, most-recommended and best-reviewed products. If you buy through a link, we may earn a small affiliate commission. 5% of profits are donated to UK Baby Banks to help parents in need of essentials like nappies and baby clothes.