10 of the best forward and rear facing buggies
Buying a buggy with a reversible seat direction means you can go from parent facing to forward facing as your baby's needs change.
Which direction should a buggy face?
Most pushchairs nowadays can be used with the seat either forward or rear facing - also known as world or parent facing.
Having an option with a reversible seat means whatever age your child, you can choose the seat facing direction that'll work for you both.
There’s a whole generation of versatile buggies that will give you the best of both worlds, converting from rear to forward facing pushchair and back again.
Parent facing, your little one can look at you when she's in her pushchair, so you can chatter away face-to-face. While world facing adds stimulation from everything going on out there.
If you want to know more about the discussions surrounding which way babies should face, check out our story forward or parent facing - which pushchair should you choose? Also, don't miss our round-up of buggy types, buggy buyer's guide and travel system buyer's guide for more easy-to-follow advice.
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Read on for our pick of the best forward and rear facing pushchairs.
Mamas & Papas Ocarro pushchair, £699
Age suitable for: Newborn to 15kg (approx. 3 years)
Weight: 13.5kg
Travel system compatible: Yes
The new Ocarro – which translates to ‘giant armadillo’ – has taken the best bits of the Mamas & Papas Armadillo stroller and put them into a new pushchair suitable from birth to 15kg.
In five understated colours, this pushchair combines chic style with features like extra plush padding, super easy steering and travel system compatibility.
The Ocarro folds with the pushchair seat in place, both when it’s in forward-facing and parent-facing positions, so it's ultra convenient.
Our reviewer thought it was excellent value for money, and could compete with more luxurious brands on looks.
Read the full Mamas & Papas Ocarro buggy review here
Buy the Mamas & Papas Ocarro from Mamas & Papas, Mothercare, and Amazon.
Cosatto To & Fro stroller, £209.95
Age suitable for: Newborn to 15kg (approx. 3 years)
Weight: 12.6kg
Travel system compatible: Yes
Looking for an umbrella-fold stroller that can face forwards or towards you?
The Cosatto To & Fro answers just that demand - it offers features you would expect of a stroller, like a life span from birth to 15kg (around 3 years), 5-point safety harness and duo-directional UPF 50+ hood with extendable sun visor.
However, its major selling point is the fact it can be used in parent or world-facing mode and it’s travel system compatible. Plus it also comes in a double version, with independently reversible seats.
Our reviewer was impressed by the “nifty front to back reversible action” that is unlike a traditional reversible seat, but pointed out it can only be used lie-flat when in parent-facing mode, while it has multiple seat recline positions when forward facing.
Read the full review of the Cosatto To & Fro here.
Buy the Cosatto To & Fro from Uber Kids.
Bugaboo Bee 5 buggy, £539
Age suitable for: Newborn to 15kg (approx. 3 years) when rear facing or 17kg when forward facing
Weight: 8.9kg
Travel system compatible: Yes
Now in its fourth incarnation since a number of tweaks, the new Bugaboo Bee 5 still has all the quirky yet chic appeal of the original.
The Bee 5 features a circular joint system that lets you change the seat direction simply - just fold the seat forward, pick it up and turn it round. The added benefit of the Bugaboo Bee 5 is that is can also be folded with the seat facing either forwards or backwards, so no need to take it apart first.
Read the full Bugaboo Bee 5 buggy review here
You can buy the Bee 5 on the Bugaboo website and from Samuel Johnston
Koochi Modhero travel system, £589.95
Age suitable for: Newborn to 15kg (approx. 3 years)
Weight: 10.9kg
Travel system compatible: Yes
This forward and rear facing travel system from the people behind British brand Cosatto packs a real punch in its design – plus it comes with everything except the kitchen sink included so there’s no costly extras.
Our reviewer described it as ‘sturdy’, ‘durable’ and a ‘pleasure to push’, and was delighted with being able to interact with her little one in both parent-facing and world-facing modes, thanks to the large peekaboo panel in the hood.
Read the full review of the Koochi Modhero travel system here.
Buy the Koochi Modhero travel system from Amazon.
Silver Cross Wayfarer buggy, £550
Age suitable for: Newborn to 25kg (approx. 5 years)
Weight: 10kg
Travel system compatible: Yes
Silver Cross never went out of fashion, but its traditional reputation has now combined with modern design for a brand with a reputation that precedes it. Even the Royal family love the brand, with Kate Middleton choosing the Silver Cross Sleepover Elegance for Prince George.
Our reviewer says it's hard not to fall in love with this pram. Touches like the chrome rims on the hood, well stitched fabric, freestand fold function, and large shopping basket all add to the Wayfarer experience, but it's worth pointing out the buggy only folds with the seat attached forward-facing, otherwise it must be removed.
Read the full Silver Cross Wayfarer review here
You can buy the Wayfarer on the Silver Cross website or at Samuel Johnston
Mee-Go Milano pram, £699
Age suitable for: Newborn to 15kg (approx. 3 years)
Weight: 11.5kg
Travel system compatible: Yes
It might be one of the newest pushchairs from British brand Mee-Go, but the Milano has a very distinctive old-fashioned design.
There's almost something Mary Poppins-esque about it despite the super modern chassis.
As well as the rear or forward facing seat options, there’s a choice of chassis – Classic or Sport, with a sprung suspension and swivel front wheels.
Our reviewer loved the Mee-Go Milano for ‘style, toughness and finish’ and found it very cosy for her little one. She found it fairly compact when folded, but noted it can’t be folded with the seat in place.
Read the full review of the Mee-Go Milano here.
Buy the Mee-Go Milano from Kiddies Kingdom
iCandy Raspberry buggy, £460
Age suitable for: Newborn to 25kg (up to 5 years)
Weight: 6.6kg
Travel system compatible: Yes
The compact and cute iCandy Raspberry can not only face forwards or towards you, but it folds with the seat in either direction too - which our reviewer found very convenient.
Aside from being small in size (36.6cm x 54cm x 85.5cm) the buggy is also freestanding when folded, taking away the need to try and balance it against a wall somewhere, while MFM parents also commented on the buggy's easy steer.
Read the full iCandy Raspberry review here
You can buy the iCandy Raspberry from Mothercare or John Lewis
Joolz Day2 buggy, £799
Age suitable for: Newborn to 20kg (approx. 4 years)
Weight: 12.9kg
Travel system compatible: Yes
Joolz – which prides itself on its Dutch credentials - has upgraded its original Day buggy with 20 tweaks to the design.
The new Day 2 is still a well-designed and stylish travel system, which has a multi-position reclining seat which is reversible using the buttons on either side in seconds.
Our reviewer said the height of the buggy – which is at tabletop height – is one of its best selling points and she loved how close it meant she could be to her son.
Plus it can be folded with the seat still attached, for speed, or taken off to make it more compact.
Read the full Joolz Day2 review here.
Buy the Joolz Day2 direct from Joolz and Pramworld.
Baby Elegance Cupla Duo tandem pushchair, £598.99
Age suitable for: Newborn to 15kg (approx. 3 years)
Weight: 18.2kg as a tandem
Travel system compatible: Yes
The beauty of this tandem pushchair is it converts from single to double, ideal for a growing family, and both seats can be used either forward or rear facing, or with carrycots or car seats.
It’s versatile, adaptable and our reviewer scored the Cupla Duo a full five stars for its ease of folding and unfolding.
She also liked the height of the buggy for interacting with little ones, and the extra large, easy to reach basket.
Read the full Baby Elegance Cupla Duo review here.
Buy the Baby Elegance Cupla Duo from Argos.
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Authors
Magda Ibrahim is a freelance writer who has written for publications including The Times and Sunday Times, The Sun, Time Out, and the London Evening Standard, as well for MadeForMums.
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