Bababing Raffi 2.0 pushchair review

The bundle includes a sleep-safe bassinet, pushchair and footmuff and is available in three colours, including a lovely rich burgundy-brown – the ‘heritage’ shade I tested out. You can also use the frame with most car seats, an excellent touch that adds versatility and convenience.

It's £725 RRP puts it alongside the likes of the Silver Cross Tide travel system bundle, £760, and a bargain compared to the premium Bugaboo Dragonfly with carrycot, £945.

How easy is it to build the Bababing Raffi 2.0 pushchair?

It took just under 10 minutes to set up the Raffi 2.0 from unboxing to having it up and running with the carrycot attached. The instructions are very clear and easy to follow — I’m not a good reader of instructions and often find myself having to watch a video to set things up right, and although Bababing have these online, too, which is great, the paper instructions were plenty. Most of the set-up is pretty intuitive if you’ve ever used any sort of pushchair system before.

How do you fold and unfold the Bababing Raffi 2.0 pushchair?

Folding and unfolding the pushchair is simple enough, and takes seconds:

• First, push the sun hood back and lower the handlebar
• Lift the lever at the top backside of the chair unit and begin to push the chair together
• And voila! The pushchair snaps together to fold

It's very easy to fold, although I think the 'one-handed auto-fold' feature is somewhat overstated. I didn’t really feel comfortable using just one hand, and for all but the very last moment where it folds together, you’ll probably find yourself using two hands in some capacity.

I certainly wouldn’t feel comfortable relying on it while holding a child in my other arm, for example, and if you’re small or not very strong, you’ll probably find it pretty unwieldy to do this whole motion without practice.

How compact is the Bababing Raffi 2.0 pushchair when folded?

The Raffi 2.0 is pretty compact when folded, measuring L64cm x W58cm x H34cm without the carrycot. It would fit easily in any car boot (I have an estate car, so this is not an area I was worried about, but it lies quite flat, so shouldn’t pose a problem in even much smaller cars).

How smooth is the ride?

I can’t find any fault with the manoeuvrability of the Bababing Raffi 2.0 — it glides smoothly along pavement and grassy terrain alike, and even makes a good job of getting up and down the dodgy gravelled trail that marks the entrance and exit to one of my favourite walks around our local lake. Considering its sleek styling and appearance as more of a city or urban pram, I’m impressed that it’s unfazed by more countryside pursuits.

On pavements, it’s absolutely fine to be pushed with one hand, though I wouldn’t risk doing so on anything less smooth underfoot. Generally, the pram is lightweight considering its size and doesn’t require too much 'handling' as it’s responsive and the suspension is more than adequate.

What do you think of the Bababing Raffi 2.0 carrycot?

The carrycot is a great bit of kit, particularly thanks to the anti-reflux incline and the fact that it is collapsible for storage or transport.

The anti-reflux incline is essentially a little prop under the head of the bassinet that allows you to lift it a few inches. Although they recommend you don’t use this until the baby is over 2 months old, I could see that it would work effectively for those who need it, and is even a good idea if your child doesn’t have reflux, as it can offer a nicer position for the child to see a little further out of the pram.

We used the carrycot on some of the first hot and sunny days of the year and I was impressed at the thought given to keeping baby shaded and cool – the canopy comes down really far, eliminating the need to buy a pram shade, and you can open up a mesh area at the back of the pram to increase air flow.

The carrycot also has a 'Kose Cool' lining to keep the temperature under control – although I couldn’t scientifically test this, I can say that my little one stayed comfortable and didn’t get overheated despite the warmth of the days we went out!

How easy is it to lift the Bababing Raffi 2.0 carrycot?

It is easy to lift the carrycot off the pram frame one-handed, although personally I’d rather not – I tended to keep it on the frame if baby was napping in it and just wheeled it indoors. It’s actually almost too easy to lift it off – I occasionally tried to use the handle to pull down the canopy for shade by accident, and nearly ended up releasing the carrycot from the frame unintentionally.

What age is the Bababing Raffi 2.0 carrycot suitable for?

The carrycot is designed to be used from birth up to approximately 6 months. If you have a big baby, I don’t think the carrycot will quite take you to 6 months (it’s not super long, so if your baby is tall, it won’t be roomy forever, but it carries up to 9kg).

For a child on the 50th percentile or below, it should last just fine, and for the first six weeks of his life, my baby has found it very comfortable and napped in it happily for more than an hour at a time.

What’s the seat like on the Bababing Raffi 2.0?

The pushchair seat is particularly important, as you’re likely to use this for much longer than the carrycot. It promises to carry up to 22kg, which could theoretically take you well past the toddler years, although at two, my toddler is already going off being transported in a pushchair, much preferring to balance bike – or worse, to be carried.

When he was in it, he didn’t complain and seemed comfortable and well-supported, and the magnetic buckle made securing him in the seat easy and uncomplicated.

The seat also lies almost flat for younger babies, if you want to use it from newborn, although I would not feel comfortable with this as I prefer the high sides and big sun canopy of the carrycot, which feels much safer and more protected for such a tiny one.

Is the pushchair easy to adjust for the parent and child?

Yes – the adjustable footrest on the Bababing Raffi 2.0 means it grows with your toddler and can be used or not used depending on what they find most comfortable. The canopy coverage is very good, especially on the carrycot attachment, although you might still need an extra sun shade on the pushchair on very bright days, especially if your toddler needs to nap on the go.

The handlebar adjusts easily between three heights, doable with just a squeeze of the button in the middle of the bar, and could be tweaked to suit me at 5ft 7 just as well as my husband at 6ft 2.

What are the brakes like on the Bababing Raffi 2.0 pushchair?

Great. The brake pedal is easy to use with a press or flick of your right foot to engage or release.

Do you like the storage basket on the Bababing Raffi 2.0 pushchair?

The storage could be a little better — the basket is a good size, although it appears bigger than it is in practice. It’s much easier to access when the carrycot is attached to risers — without them, it can be a bit difficult to get bits and pieces in and out. It would have been nice to have a little pocket somewhere to easily slip things like your phone or keys.

The bag hooks are nifty and work well – they are perfect for my large, shoulder bag style Avery Row nappy bag (though this will depend much on what kind of bag you have), but the one thing I am really missing is a cup holder! Where is this mama meant to put her coffee? I didn’t realise how much of an essential I considered this feature until I realised the Raffi didn’t offer it. Perhaps an idea for inclusion on a future 3.0 model…

How easy is it to switch between the seat and the carrycot on the Bababing Raffi 2.0 pushchair?

Switching between carrycot and pushchair attachments, or switching the pushchair from rear- to front-facing, is easy, although typically this is not something you’re likely to switch back and forth between often. I’ve always moved from carrycot to rear-facing pushchair at around 6 months old and then on to forward-facing shortly afterwards, and never looked back after moving on from each stage.

What’s in the box?

• Bababing Raffi 2.0 frame with storage basket
• Sleep safe carrycot
• Forward- and rear-facing seat unit
• Carrycot risers
• Car seat adapters
• Footmuff
• Raincover

Is the Bababing Raffi 2.0 pushchair worth the money?

Yes, I think it’s worth the money. It offers a similar level of quality to most competitors in the same price bracket, and some that exceed it, in particular the anti-reflux incline, the collapsible carrycot and the ability to use your own car seat with the frame.

What are the sustainability features of the pushchair?

The Bababing Raffi 2.0 is made from 100% recycled materials, and most parts can be replaced if necessary. The packaging was minimal – it all came in one large, recyclable cardboard box, which was surprisingly streamlined given the large parts included.

Where can I buy the Bababing Raffi 2.0 pushchair?

It is available from Kiddies' Kingdom, John Lewis and Bababing.

MadeForMums verdict:

The Raffi 2.0 is a solid, attractively designed pushchair which is as effective on all terrains and neither too large nor too small for your average outing. It’s the only pushchair you’re likely to need for one child, and it has some excellent features for particular problems, such as helping a reflux baby travel comfortably and keeping baby cool in warmer weather.

The one let-down for me is the lack of extra storage, such as a cupholder or the inclusion of any pockets or pouches, but if you’re happy with the colour range and those things don’t bother you, you can’t go far wrong with the Raffi.