What is a travel system?

A travel system is a buggy that can be used with a Group 0+ infant car seat.

How do travel systems work?

Travel systems allow you to easily attach and remove a Group 0+/infant car seats onto the frame of a pushchair with compatible adaptors.  

Will I need to buy a travel system?

You don't have to buy a complete travel system, but you may want one if you often travel in a car with your newborn.  Most pushchairs are travel system compatible with a wide variety of car seats, however, it's worth remembering that not all car seats fit all cars, so please check that the car seat you are looking to buy can actually fit in your car first.  

Also, car seats are for travelling in a car, not a bus or on a train, and they are not for sleeping in either.  You shouldn't keep your baby in a car seat for longer than 2 hours, the exception is if you're using a lie-flat car seat.  

If you are going out and not driving, it's best to use the pushchair carrycot and not the infant car seat.  

Car seats are vital safety tools for keeping children secure when travelling in a vehicle, not as a device where your child can sleep at home or on a shopping trip.  

After 15 months, your little one will have to move onto a second stage (Group 1) car seat, and you can use the seat unit of the pushchair a buggy alone.  

How much should I spend on a travel system?

There's a huge range in travel system prices.  Like most things, there are the budget versions and expensive models, how much you send really depends on your budget.

But to give you an idea on price, we've ordered these travel systems by cheapest to the most expensive, starting at a bargain £250 and going up to £1280!

• Travel systems under £500
• Travel systems over £500
• Step-by-step buyer's guide to travel systems
• Best double buggies that are travel system compatible

These are the best travel systems you can buy...

1. Recaro CityLife, £450 (can be used with Recaro Guardia car seat an additional £150) MadeForMums Awards Gold Winner Travel System under £500

If you're looking for a lightweight stroller that will last your child from birth to toddlerhood comfortably - look no further than our gold-winning travel system, the Recaro CityLife.

Practical and functional, it has a one-hand fold, large and easy-access shopping basket, push footbrake.   it’s so easy to manouevre makes it an easy win for parents.

Used with the Recaro Privia Evo car seat, it converts easily into a quality, comfortable travel system. We love the lie-flat seat and adjustable backrest.

What our MadeForMums Awards judges say about the Recaro CityLife pushchair:

“It feels very stable for how light it is. It's a very well designed stroller and I'm a massive fan.” Carmelle, mum-of-two.

“Very high quality, with great engineering, easyfold mechanism, large basket and comfy, spacious carrycot.” Magda, mum-of-two.

Read our full review of the Recaro CityifeTravel System here.

You can buy the Recaro CityLife Travel System from Pram World, KiddieCare and Kiddies Kingdom

2. Red Kite Push Me Fusion Complete Travel System, £260, MadeForMums Awards Joint Silver Winner Travel system under £500

Suitable from birth and packed with features including a one-hand fold, reversible and convertible  seat unit/carrycot, there’s plenty of bang for your buck with this 2018 silver award-winning travel system.

Leatherette details, a brushed aluminium chassis, and the package includes a Group 0+ car seat, reversible seat liner, bumper bar and a rain cover.

Weighing 15kg, it folds down to 82cm x 66cm x 34cm.

What our MadeForMums Awards judges say about the Red Kite Push Me Fusion Travel System:

“Fantastic value for money, easy to use travel system.” MFM Reviews Editor, Hazelann.

“I thought being able to change the seat into a carrycot was brilliant - I’ve never seen that before and thought it was extremely innovative and space-saving! The car seat was easy to fix onto the frame, and its inclusion made the whole thing even more fantastic value for money.' Elizabeth, mum-of-two.

Read our full review of the Red Kite Push Me Fusion Travel system here.

You can buy the Red Kite Push Me Fusion from Asda, Kiddies Kingdom and Tesco

3. Roma Vita Complete Travel System, £400, MadeForMums Awards Joint Silver Winner Travel System Under £500

Many parents opt for a travel system because it gives you everything you need right from the get-go, and this is no exception. The Roma Vita system includes the Vita stroller, carrycot, car seat, changing bag, footmuff and raincover - all for just £400.

And it looks fantastic too. We put the system - designed by TV star Amy Childs - through its paces, and it was certainly a head -turner when out and about. 

Practical features such as the 2-way facing seat that reclines to full lie-back position is a great touch, and the large hood with viewing window makes a fun ride for your little one.

What our MadeForMums Awards judges say about the Roma Vita Travel System:

“I was actually really surprised at how light it was and the fact it comes with a carry handle at the side, makes it really easy to lift and transport, in comparison to other systems. The chassis also comes with a compact, self-standing fold, which made it super simple to fold up and store in a small space.” Nikki, mum-of-one.

“My favourite part is the sleek design and the navy and tan colour.” Katy, mum-of-three.

You can buy the Roma Vita travel system from Roma Prams.

4. My Babiie MB200+ Complete Travel System, £349.99, MadeForMums Awards Bronze Winner Travel System under £500

Designed with Billie Faiers, the rose gold and blush My Babiie MB200+ certainly looks the part. So, if you're after a standout travel system for under £500, this could be the one for you.

A lightweight buggy with a large shopping basket, a height-adjustable handle and the fact it's easy to fold, means this a popular choice with parents, and the reason it deserves its bronze award.

Included is a bassinet and Group 0+ Car Seat, both of which attach to the pushchair frame. It comes with a free raincover, cup holder and apron style footmuff too.

What our MadeForMums Awards judges say about the My Babiie MB200+ Travel System:

“Great value for parents on a budget. Lots of extras. The rose gold and blush make it a real insta-pram.” Charlotte, mum-of-two.

“Once assembled, it is easy to change between bassinet, car seat and main seat, and to use the brakes, hood and fold-down.” Claire, mum-of-one.

You can buy the My Babiie MB200+ travel system from My Babiie and Precious Little One

5. Cosatto Wow Complete Travel System, £695, MadeForMums Awards Gold Winner Travel System over £500

Scooping a gold award for the second year running, this system comes in seven unique, head-turning patterns.

With its sturdy frame, reversible seat unit, roomy carrycot and large shopping basket, our judges were impressed. And it's great value for money too. Wow!

It’s also light – weighing just 7.3kg with the seat or 9.7kg with the carrycot attached, and it folds down to 82cm x 58cm x 31cm.

Add the Port Group 0+ car seat for £174.95, and a matching footmuff (£59.95) and change bag (£59.95).

What our MadeForMums Awards judges say about the Cosatto Wow Travel System:

“The system is easy and simple to put together. The quality is excellent, and it looks stylish. It is lightweight and compact for easy handling, and when collapsed it is easy to fit into the boot of a car.” Christina, mum-of-two.

“Great travel system for parents who want to stand out from the crowd, the Cosatto Wow combines unique designs with well thought-out features like the one-handed system to remove the carrycot, and a one-handed adjustable foot rest, which makes life easier. The carrycot is deep and comfy, and the basket is large and I love the hidden storage pocket. Quality car seat that can be used belted in the car.” MFM Reviews Editor Magda.

Read our full review of the Cosatto Wow travel system here.

You can buy the Cosatto Wow travel system from Cosatto, Precious Little One and Mothercare.

6.Mamas & Papas Ocarro, £649, (can be used with Cybex Aton Q Car Seat an additional £150) MadeForMums Awards Joint Silver Winner Travel System over £500

Mamas & Papas says the Ocarro is ‘designed for comfort’ and we have to agree. Beautifully designed, its features are just as well thought-through, with a plush padded seat, a plump pillow to support your baby's head and thick, padded straps on the pushchair seat.

The frame is suitably sturdy, which means a smooth ride, and dual suspension helps manouevre kerbs easily - great for an on and off-track.

Used with the CYBEX Aton Q car seat, the Ocarro converts easily to a travel system, and with an easy to use one-hand fold, with no need to remove the seat, life couldn't get much simpler. We like!

What our MadeForMums Awards judges say about the Mamas & Papas Ocarro Travel System:

“The first thing that stuck me was the quality of the product. It looks more expensive than you would expect for the price, and I loved pushing it around. The leather handles and shiny chrome finish were a great touch.” Meena, mum-of-two.

“Very easy to use, I like how easy it is to lock and unlock the wheels. Nice big basket for shopping.” Claire, mum-of-one.

Read our full review of the Mamas & Papas Ocarro travel system here.

You can buy the Mamas & Papas Ocarro travel system from Mamas & Papas and Baby Planet

7. Babystyle Egg, £1,045, (can be used with the Kiddy Evoluna i-Size car seat and adapters an additional £389), MadeForMums Awards Joint Silver Winner Travel System over £500

Be prepared to swoon: The Babystyle Egg’s stunning look is a real head-turner, with its sleek curves, four chic chassis options and seven seat colours to choose from.

And those good looks don’t come cheap, with the main buggy costing £692, then another £324 to add the compatible car seat (Kiddy Evo Luna i-size), though this does include an ISOFIX base, and £29 for the car seat adapters.

But is it really worth that kind of cash? Well, our reviewer certainly thought so, describing it as the “perfect pushchair”.

She loved how easy it was to push, and that it folded up compactly. In fact, her only negative was its weight, at 13.5kg.

What our MadeForMums Awards judges say about the Babystyle Egg Travel System:

I would have LOVED this from birth. It pushes like a dream and so easy even with one hand. I managed easily in and out shops doors and my daughter was very comfy in there. I got regal navy and it was gorgeous, received many compliments on it... The fact it can be converted to a double is also great as it makes it even more valuable for the money. Natalie, mum-of-3.

It is an expensive option, but could last through at least two children and feels robust, and long lasting. MFM Reviews Editor Magda Ibrahim

Read the full review of the Babystyle Egg here.

Buy the Babystyle Egg from John Lewis and Natural Baby Shower.

8. Ickle Bubba Stomp v4 All in One Complete Travel System with ISOFIX Car Seat Base, £599, MadeForMums Bronze Winner travel system over £500

With its included ISOFIX base, infant car seat, separate carrycot, seat unit and chassis, plus a whole host of accessories, you get everything but the kitchen sink included with the Stomp v4.

The bronze award-winning travel system was praised by our MFM judges for its stylish look and good quality fabrics, while it has an extra large easy-access basket, and reversible seat.

Ickle Bubba have thought of everything for the fashion-conscious parent – and the system comes with a choice of silver or black chassis, with contrasting fabrics in silver, back, pink, red or blue.

It folds down to 61cm x 71cm x 30cm, and the chassis and wheels weigh a lightweight 6.5kg.

What our MadeForMums Awards judges say about the Ickle Bubba Stomp v4 All in One Travel System:

'Amazing product. The pushchair is so easy to use, all the pieces fit together easily and come apart just as easily, making storage simple and assembly straight-forward. I loved how simple it was to pop the wheels on and take them off. I have a large boot so space isn’t an issue, but if it was I would have found this feature particularly useful.' Georgina, mum-of-two. 

'Easy to use, stylish travel system at a fantastic price. The design and colour ways are head turning, and I love how easy it is to push, fold and lift - it does feel light when folded.' Magda Ibrahim, MFM Reviews Editor.

Check out the Stomp V3 in this full review.

You can buy the Ickle Bubba Stomp v4 All in One Travel System from Ickle Bubba, Tesco and Baby Security.

9. Cybex Mios, £600 (can be used with the Cybex Cloud Q Car Seat an additional £230)

Our reviewer said of the lightweight Cybex Mios: 'It’s one of the very few pushchairs designed with a growing toddler in mind. It boasts a reversible seat unit that’s very easy to change from parent to world-facing, and it’s generously-sized allowing a comfortable fit as your baby grows.'

Described as the Cybex PRIAM's little brother, this narrow stroller tackles urban situations with ease. Compact, flexible and practical - it looks pretty chic too. We love the seat's breathable mesh that helps regulate the child's body temperature, especially in those warmer months.

Used with a Cybex Cloud Q car seat, your complete travel system awaits you.

You can see our full review of the Cybex Mios here.

Buy the Cybex Mios from John Lewis, Mamas & Papas and Pram World

10. Baby Elegance Venti Complete Travel System, £369

Your little one needs a sleep when out and about.  No problem with the Baby Elegance Venti. This innovative pushchair allows you to convert from pushchair to carrycot mode in one simple movement.

Complete with a comfortable, convertible carrycot, car seat, footmuff and raincover, it's great value for money.

You can buy the Baby Elegance Venti from Precious Little One, Argos and Baby Elegance

11. Peg Perego Book 51S Complete Travel System £1,010

Italians know that what matters is style, not fashion - or the saying goes. Well, Italian company Peg perego have certainly thought about style with the Book 51 S.

Design and tailoring excellence come together in this lightweight, comfy and stylish pram. As the name suggests, the chassis opens and folds like a book even when the bassinet or seat are attached. And with the ability to change the seat direction and lay baby down flat, it's a travel system that makes life very easy too.

Navigating small spaces? The narrow width and off-road technology ensures it adapts to all surfaces with the greatest agility. And though it may may be at the more expensive end of the market, you'll get a quality product and that includes the carrycot, car seat, seat unit and lots of accessories. It's all you'll need.

You can buy the Peg Perego book 51 S from Trendy Baby

12. Bugaboo Cameleon, £949, (can be used with the Maxi Cosi Pebble Plus car seat an additional £180)

In its third incarnation, the Bugaboo Cameleon has gone from strength to strength.

According to our reviewer, Bugaboo claim that the Cameleon is a perfect all-rounder, and in many ways it is. 'It can be used from birth to age three. Plus it has the niftiness of a city stroller, combined with the robustness to deal with off-road terrain.'

A multi-terrain pushchair that glides along pavements, it boasts lots of extras too such as a reversible, reclinable seat, height adjustable handlebar, two-wheel position to take on sand and snow and rotating bumper bar. It converts to a travel system with ease using the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus car seat.

Read our full review of the Bugaboo Cameleon here.

You can buy the Bugaboo Cameleon Travel System from Natural Baby Shower, Tony Kealys and John Lewis

13. Stokke Xplory, £946.99, can be used with the Stokke iZi Go Modular™ by BeSafe car seat seat an additional £199)

The iconic high seat on the Stokke Xplory makes it really stand out.

With its adjustable, forward or rear-facing seat that promotes eye contact with your little one, and its narrow base, this is an eye-catching buggy. Plus there are well-thought out features like the multi purpose use as a restaurant highchair, though it isn’t that compact to store, folding down to 99cm x 34cm x 56cm.

Add a carrycot (£170) and Stokke IZI Go Modular by Be Safe car seat (£229) to create a full travel system package from newborn.

Read our full review of the Stokke Xplory travel system here.

You can buy the Stokke Xplory travel system from Pram World and Back In Action

14. ABC Design Salsa 4, £760, (can be used with the Maxi Cosi Pebble Plus car seat an additional £180)

With a maximum weight limit of 25kg, the Salsa 4 is a  2-in-1 travel system with one of the longest age ranges out there.

Our judges loved its no-nonsense quality and German engineering, and were impressed with its robust but lightweight feel at 10.2kg.

The cosy carrycot is comfy, and features like the leatherette trim and logos add a touch of style, while the frame folds down to 30 x 63 x 82cm.

Car seat adaptors allow Maxi-Cosi, Kiddy and Cybex car seats to be simply attached for travel system use.

You can buy the ABC Design Salsa 4 from Obaby, Mothercare and Amazon

15. UPPAbaby Cruz, £748, (can be used with the Nuna Pipa Icon Car Seat an additional £170)

Labelled the perfect pushchair by mum-of-two Lily Allen, the updated UPPAbaby Cruz is a lightweight city travel system that's perfect for negotiating the busy streets and looking stylish too.

Scoring a brilliant 4.5 stars out of 5 in our review, the Cruz is suitable from birth with the addition of the carrycot (sold separately at £189) and has a lie-flat seat unit that can be used as rear or forward facing.

A major plus point is the one-step fold which allows you to collapse the buggy with (or without) the seat unit attached.

What's more, the Cruz stands when its folded - a nifty space saving feature. Weighing in at just under 10kg with the seat unit on, the Cruz is a good bet if you spend time getting in and out of the car.

It costs £559.99 as a standalone pushchair plus adaptors for a Maxi-Cosi car seat (Pebble Plus £199).

Read the full UPPAbaby Cruz review here

Buy the UPPbaby Cruz from John Lewis or Kiddicare.

16. Silver Cross Wave, £995, (can be used with the Silver Cross Simplicity car seat an additional £150)

For a company that's been going since 1877, you would hope they know a thing or two about producing quality buggies. And this is one sturdy, luxury buggy.

With its innovative One plus One® system that transforms the Wave from a single travel system to a double without the need for an extra purchase, is a real plus. As our reviewer says 'I really loved this feature as I’m constantly swapping between a single and double.'

Comfort is a given with any Silver Cross buggy, and the ventilated carrycot that's suitable for overnight sleeping is a much-loved feature of the Wave.

Add a Silver Cross Simpicity car seat and the travel system is complete.

Read our full review of the Silver Cross Wave here

You can buy the Silver cross Wave from Silver Cross, Peppermint and Very

17. Jane Minnum, £599, (can be used with the Jane iMatrix i-size car seat car seat an additional £300)

Designed for the city, this nifty little buggy with its ultra-light chassis is ready for action!

Able to manouevre around the tightest of corners, it's compact, light to carry and fits almost anywhere - even with the seat attached. The foldable Micro-BB carrycot is great for storing in small spaces and is suitable for overnight sleeping.

Our reviewer loved the dual-action parking brake, saying 'It's brilliant. Situated in the middle of the frame, locking the wheels with this mechanism is a breeze. It’s a simple clip-up, clip-down action that seamlessly works. It never sticks and never fails.' Praise indeed.

Combine with the Jane iMatrix i-size car seat and you have a full travel system. Practical, comfortable and stylish - this is a great option for a new parent.

Read our full review of the Jane Minnum travel system here.

You can buy the Jane Minnum travel system from Jane, Precious Little One and Pram World

18. iCandy Orange, £875, (can be used with the Maxi Cosi Pebble Plus car seat an additional £180)

We'll be honest, this is one good-looking buggy. Sleek, stylish and colourful - you must check out the Flame shade. And our reviewer agrees: 'Wow. This literally is an all-singing, all-dancing pushchair.'

Not only does it convert simply from a single to double pushchair, there's an in-built buggy board that can hold up to 20kg in weight, a huge shopping basket and 30 different configurations. So, whatever your needs for your growing family, the Orange has it covered. 

With cute features like the leatherette bumper bar that swivels so you can unclip it to take your little one in and out - the attention to detail is superb.

Used with the Maxi Cosi Pebble Plus car seat, it's a complete package, and we love it.  Here's our complete review of the iCandy Orange.

You can buy the iCandy Orange pushchair from John Lewis and Mothercare.

19. Joie My Trax, £200, (can be used with the Joie i-Gemm car seat an additional £120)

If you're after value for money, this is it!

A multi-position, flat reclining seat that's great for snoozing babies and toddlers, you could also simply snap off the pushchair seat and add the carrycot to form a cosy pram. Pair with the Joie Gemm infant car seat and you have one versatile travel system.

Little extras such as the extra large shopping basket, an extendable hood with peek-a-boo viewing window and unique one-handed 'Flash Fold' located in the middle of the seat unit add to the fact that you get a lot of bang for your buck.

You can buy the Joie My Trax from Joie and Mothercare

20. Cybex Priam, £1350 with Cybex Cloud Q car seat

German manufacturer Cybex has created a high-tech travel system that folds down in a two-step process and can be reclined with one hand, leaving the other free to hold a toddler's hand, clutch your shopping bags, or guzzle that must-have coffee.

This is a high-end, luxury travel system with the option to customise the wheels to your favoured terrain and to choose the car seat and carrycot from a range of colours. Suitable from birth to around 13kg the basic price just for the pushchair with carrycot is £1,100 but there's a full range of options available to upgrade your Cybex one step further.

Read our full Cybex Priam review

Buy the Cybex Priam from Mothercare

Read more...

• 10 of the best convertible pushchairs
• Best new pushchairs to buy in 2018
• MadeForMums Awards 2018: The winners
• The best forward and rear facing buggies