Canstar Blue’s 2020 prams & strollers review has seen Baby Jogger, Valco Baby, Mother’s Choice, Steelcraft, Bugaboo, Kmart, Target and Britax compared on handling & steering, weight & size, features, durability & quality, ease of folding, design & style, value for money and overall satisfaction.
Baby Jogger was rated best in Canstar Blue’s latest pram & stroller ratings. It earned five-star reviews for overall customer satisfaction and all other categories. It’s the brand’s fourth win in six years.
From tiny shoes to giant fluffy toy bears, there’s plenty to go goo-goo gaga over when there’s a bub in the house. But even the smallest things, like prams and strollers, can come with seriously big price tags. Parents who have been around the block before and are preparing for another arrival may also be shocked at the cost of upgrading to a new model.
To get from A to B with your newborn, a good pram or stroller is a must. However, picking the best one isn’t as simple or as cheap as it used to be, with new models offering high-class designs to make the journey for both parents and bubs a breeze. To help you decide what’s best for your baby, Canstar Blue has asked more than 600 parents for their feedback on the pram or stroller they’ve purchased (and used) in the last three years. Respondents rated brands on handling and steering, weight and size, durability and quality, ease of folding, design, features, value for money and overall satisfaction. Brands that received the minimum required survey sample size of 30 responses are compared in the latest report.
Baby Jogger has bounced back to the top of our pram and stroller ratings in 2020, after scoring a five-star winning streak across the board. The brand has consistently been rated best in our annual reviews over the years, now taking out the title for a fourth time in six years.
Here are the best brands of prams & strollers in Australia, as rated by consumers in Canstar Blue’s latest review:
Aussie parents cooed over Baby Jogger in our latest review, rating the brand best across all categories. These include handling & steering, weight & size, features, durability & quality, ease of folding, design & style, value for money, and overall satisfaction.
Notably, Valco Baby also received full marks for design & style, similarly to Mother’s Choice for weight & size and Steelcraft and Bugaboo for features.
Most of the brands featured in our report landed on a solid four stars for overall customer satisfaction, except for Kmart, Target and Britax which ended on three stars.
Active people who become parents can struggle to manage their adventures while lugging along their little ones. That’s why, in 1984, Baby Jogger was founded by a father who wanted a stroller capable of enduring long-distance use, over all kinds of surfaces. It’s important to note that not all Baby Jogger strollers are suitable for jogging – there are various models for different needs.
The range covers numerous terrains and uses, so you can take your baby along with you on even the most active and adventurous of pursuits. Baby Jogger’s ‘City Select’ is stated to be the most versatile of the lot. It’s designed to keep rolling as your family grows, allowing you to add an additional seat if you have another one on the way. The brand is also well-known for prams that can be folded with just the one hand, meaning you can easily hold your little one and pack the car at the same time. Baby Jogger is certainly a premium brand, with prices ranging from around $450, up to upwards of $1,000.
Covering a diverse range of prams and strollers across single and double configurations, Valco Baby is an Australian baby care company, serving Aussie families for almost 50 years. The line-up includes models from the ‘Snap’, ‘Trend’, ‘Spark’ and ‘Nomad’ ranges. Most strollers feature bumper bars, retractable canopies and soft, thick padding to help keep your little one safe and comfy.
Many Valco Baby strollers are also customisable, with a number of add-ons, such as an external bassinet available. The brand also sells a sports pack which comes with rugged clip-on wheels to accommodate more adventurous trips out with your baby. Designs cover all kinds of needs as well as styles, to suit your family’s preferences. There is even a ‘Trend’ model featuring a denim design for urban lifestyles. Valco Baby prams and strollers can be had for around $250 to $1,200.
There’s also a ‘Just Like Mum’ range, which includes a list of mini strollers (as well as doll strollers) your child can push around. These can cost anywhere between $49.99 to $189.99.
Part of Dorel Australia – one of the largest suppliers and designers of nursery products in the country – Mother’s Choice describes itself as a brand for mums looking for a great deal on practical and accessible products without worrying about being trendy. It covers a wide range of furniture and transport gear for babies and toddlers, including car seats, cots and highchairs to keep your baby comfortable, whether it be during naptime, while eating dinner, or while out and about.
Mother’s Choice offers a mix of three-wheel strollers, four-wheel strollers, travel systems, lightweight strollers and even twin strollers. There are also a couple of models that are exclusively available from Big W or Target.
One of the models is the ‘Flux Active Stroller’, which offers a removable bumper bar, air tyres and an extra-large UPF50+ canopy stated to protect your little rugrat in all weather conditions. In addition, it features a quick fold system with a lock. Prices usually start from just $99 to $399. Accessories like fold-away bags, raincovers, sunshades, lambswool stroller inserts and adaptors are also available.
A brand owned by Britax – the baby travel and furniture company probably best-known for its child car seats – Steelcraft strollers are said to be travel-friendly thanks to their lightweight quick-fold design. The range includes twin prams, reverse handle and travel system strollers. Look out for features such as a reclinable and extendable sun canopy, peek-a-boo window and extra storage space.
Steelcraft says it uses ‘high-performance’ fabrics and offers stylish designs on its umbrella strollers and reverse handle strollers (allowing parents to have their child facing either forward or backward). To deal with double the trouble, the Steelcraft ‘Agile Twin Travel System’ is one option to consider. It includes two child trays, a rain cover as well as Agile Receivers (one for the pram and baby capsule). Otherwise, you can find a mix of Agile reverse handle strollers, ‘EZ Ride’ lightweight strollers, and several travel system strollers.
Bugaboo is on a mission to help parents ‘move freely’, offering a number of strollers and luggage systems to let you explore the world in comfort and style. Bugaboo’s chief designer and co-founder said it all started with their childhood obsession with wheels and a true passion for getting people out and about. That’s why the company promises to produce products that can be taken out for adventures and get well-worn.
There are several collections to target different types of lifestyles, including the ‘Fox’ (comfort), the ‘Cameleon’ (all-in-one), the ‘Donkey’ (convertible), the ‘Bee’ (urban), the ‘Runner’ (for jogging) and the ‘Ant’ (for travel). Bugaboo’s ‘Bee 5’ model is stated to be ‘the most comfortable and stylish compact pram’ in the line-up. Expect to pay premium prices from $890 to around $2,900, depending on style and size, although you can find sales through the Bugaboo website.
The cheap and cheerful department store specialising in homewares and cheap electronics has a range of budget strollers for Aussie consumers to choose from. Making parenting affordable, Kmart covers a range of equipment to get you and the little one out and about. The range might change throughout the year, but some of the regular finds include a couple of upright strollers for $20 and a layback umbrella stroller for $59. There’s also an upright umbrella stroller for $39, featuring a canopy, padded safety harnesses and a shopping basket. Each of these are designed to carry up to 15kg, with all models made to suit children aged from at least six months. You can also pick up plenty of accessories, such as head supports, shopping trolley organiser clips, stroller bags and clip-on stroller toys.
Keeping it simple, Target currently offers three different strollers, including a simple upright buggy for $25 and a ‘Trip Stroller’ for either $89 or $99 (depending on the model). The upright buggy is designed to be lightweight and compact for easy storage and those quick little trips. It’s said to be suitable for children aged six months and up, with a maximum weight of 15kg.
The Trip Stroller is said to be more comfortable, with quilted padding and front swivel wheels, but is still designed to be lightweight for convenient movement and transport. It’s suitable straight from birth and features a multi-position backrest. Additionally, it’s designed with a self-fold lock for easy transportation.
Every family is different, which is why Britax doesn’t mess around when it comes to variety. It offers a wide range of options, including 3-wheel strollers, twin strollers, umbrella strollers, reverse handle strollers, lightweight strollers and travel system strollers. The brand also has its own safety technology, which you find in the ‘Unity ISOFIXBaby Capsule’, ‘B-First Convertible Car Seat’ and ‘Kid Guard Booster Seat’ from the B-only collection.
Some Britax strollers, including some Steelcraft models, are exclusively available from stores such as Big W and Baby Bunting. These particular strollers are usually available from around $150 to $950.
Disney+ has arrived in Australia with all your favourite shows and movies. There are two plan options to choose from – a monthly subscription at $11.99 per month, or prepay for a year at $119.99 and save on the monthly cost. Both plans include the same features, with unlimited downloads and the ability to stream on up to four screens at the same time. This table includes links to a referral partner.
| Brand | Subscription Type | No. of Screens/same time viewing | Advertised Cost^^/month or year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $11.99 over one month |
4 | $11.99 |
Get DealCanstar Blue receives a commission for sign-ups through Disney+ * |
|
min. cost $119.99 over one year |
4 | $119.99 |
Get DealCanstar Blue receives a commission for sign-ups through Disney+ * |
|
^^View important information | |||
A pram or stroller will naturally be high on your ‘to buy’ list if you’re expecting a child, or if your child is approaching toddlerhood, warranting the purchase of a stroller. Prams & strollers need to be more than just reasonably priced, as our survey found. We identified the following drivers of parent satisfaction in order of importance:
Handling and steering continues to be the biggest driver (pun intended) of parent satisfaction. If you’ve ever gone for a walk with a cumbersome pram, you’d know that it can be a workout in itself! Weight and size play into this as well, but having a good pram or stroller that you can wheel around on various terrains and park easily can take the stress off your body and baby!
Other key findings from our 2020 survey include:
A new pram or stroller isn’t necessarily a cheap purchase. Although our latest survey shows parents are definitely spending less on new prams dropping from $539 previously, to $487. Our survey also revealed one in ten people (10%) chose the cheapest pram or stroller available, while a fifth (20%) picked a model that was part of a sale or deal.
With plenty of variety in the market, it can be a tough gig finding a pram or stroller suitable for your bundle of joy, and to make it easy for you to navigate streets, public spaces as well as getting it in and out of the car. So what types of prams and strollers are available on the market?
Prams and strollers are also available in three and four-wheel varieties. This is definitely another aspect to consider, in addition to regular factors like weight, stability, and maneuverability.
A ‘pram’ is generally designed for younger infants and is short for ‘perambulator’. Meanwhile, ‘strollers’ are more basic in design and offer a convenient place for older infants to sit. Prams feature soft flat bottoms and large canopies that allow the baby to lie flat. Prams also tend to feature larger wheels and provide a much more ‘complete’ package, lending to higher prices.
Strollers, on the other hand, might be better for toddlers who want to see more of the real world, rather than just sleep. That’s why strollers are usually the last step before kids start walking fully on their own. Strollers are also typically smaller and more portable, making it easier to store in cars, at home, or even while on-the-go.
Of course, you don’t necessarily have to choose one type over the other as many brands come with ‘hybrids’ that can configure the seating to either a pram-style or stroller-style. One type isn’t necessarily better than the other, but considering your child’s age might end up making the decision a little clearer. Convertible units which allow you to switch from a pram into a stroller, and vice-versa, are the most popular among our survey respondents. Most people we surveyed bought a convertible model (42%), while the number of people who use a stroller (30%) or a pram (27%) remained pretty similar for both sides.
For some parents, prams and strollers are as much of a social statement as it is a place for your child to sit and nap. Our survey revealed a slight case of ‘keeping up with the Joneses’, with 11% of people admitting that they envy other parents who own a better pram or stroller. A similar number of parents also said they feel judged by others for what they use (8%). Here are a few reasons that might explain why:
Out of the parents surveyed, a third (35%) checked online reviews before buying, and a fifth (22%) asked their friends or family for advice.
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s home & lifestyle journalist, Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito. She’s an expert on household appliances, grooming products and all things grocery and shopping. In addition to translating our expert research into consumer-friendly ratings reports, Tahnee spends her time helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services, while highlighting the best deals and anything you need to be aware of.
Picture credits: Blazej Lyjak/Shutterstock.com, Dmitry Kalinovsky/Shutterstock.com, 4Max/Shutterstock.com, Oleggg/Shutterstock.com.
Our latest customer satisfaction research on prams and strollers saw a number of brands rated best in different categories:
Canstar Blue surveyed 1,200 Australian parents of children aged 6 years and under across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who have purchased a pram or stroller in the last three years – in this case, 640 people.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.
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