Buying Guide
What Buggy Accessories Do You Actually Need?
An honest guide to help new parents cut through the noise and figure out which accessories are essential, which are nice-to-have, and which you can honestly skip.
When you're a new parent, the pushchair accessory aisle can feel overwhelming. There's gear for every scenario, every season, every possible problem you might never have. This guide cuts through the sales talk and gives you the real story: which accessories actually make your life easier, which are genuinely worth the money, and which ones you can safely pass on.
We've tested dozens of accessories and talked to hundreds of parents. Here's what we learned.
Start Here: The Essential Starter Kit
If you're buying your first accessories for a new buggy, here's what actually matters:
The 3 Accessories Every Parent Should Buy
- Rain cover — Keeps your baby dry in drizzle or downpours. Essential if you live anywhere in the UK.
- Sun shade — Protects your baby from strong sun and glare. If your walks happen between March and September, this is a must.
- Storage bag — A decent bag clips to your buggy frame and actually saves you from carrying an overstuffed rucksack everywhere.
Budget: £30–60 total for all three.
Should You Buy It? Category by Category
☔ Rain Covers
✓ ESSENTIAL — If you walk regularly in the UK, a rain cover is non-negotiable.
A rain cover is the difference between a ruined outing and carrying on. It protects your baby from rain, shields them from wind spray, and most models fold small enough to live in your changing bag.
Rain covers designed for your specific buggy model fit better and don't leave gaps. Universal ones work in a pinch but often bunch awkwardly or trap moisture inside.
Where to find them: Read our rain cover reviews and product recommendations.
☀️ Sun Shades
✓ ESSENTIAL (Summer) — Buy one if your baby arrives in spring or you walk in direct sun.
A sun shade protects delicate newborn skin from UV rays and prevents that glazed look babies get from staring into bright glare. Most modern shades are easy to clip on and fold out of the way when you don't need them.
Winter babies might get away with a raincover's built-in hood for shade on occasional sunny days. But if you're walking in summer, a dedicated sun shade is worth every penny.
Where to find them: Browse sun shade reviews and top picks.
🦶 Footmuffs
✓ ESSENTIAL (Seasonal) — Buy one if your baby will be in the pushchair during cold months.
A good footmuff keeps your baby warm without adding bulk to the buggy. Winter babies especially need one — blankets slip off and don't secure your baby safely in the seat.
The best footmuffs have mitten cuffs that protect tiny hands and a footbox that opens out so you can easily get your baby in and out. Some models unzip completely so you can use them as a play mat.
If you only push in summer, skip this. If your baby is due in autumn or winter, get one before they arrive.
Where to find them: Check our footmuff reviews and recommendations.
🛹 Buggy Boards
⚠ SITUATIONAL — Only if you have a toddler and need them to ride along.
A buggy board lets an older sibling hitch a ride on your new baby's pushchair. It's a game-changer if you're managing a toddler and a newborn, but honestly? Pointless if you don't have another little one in tow.
Quality matters here. Wobbly boards that flip up accidentally aren't safe. Look for reviews from parents with toddlers who've actually tried the board under pressure.
Many boards are universal and work with most buggy types, but check compatibility with yours before buying.
Where to find them: Read our buggy board reviews.
☕ Cup Holders
🤔 NICE-TO-HAVE — Convenient but not essential.
A cup holder keeps your water bottle or coffee secure and within reach. It's genuinely helpful on long walks, especially if you breastfeed and need hydration nearby.
Most work fine, but check that your favourite water bottle or coffee cup actually fits before buying. Some holders are too narrow or too deep.
Where to find them: Browse cup holder options.
🎒 Storage Bags
✓ WORTH BUYING — Saves your back on every walk.
A storage bag clips to your buggy frame and holds nappies, wipes, snacks, and other essentials without you having to carry a massive changing bag on your shoulders. It's one of those "why didn't I buy this first?" purchases.
Look for one with a secure attachment system and enough depth that things don't fall out when you tilt the buggy. Some bags unclip quickly, which is useful for getting in and out of the car.
Where to find them: See our storage bag reviews.
🔗 Hooks & Clips
✓ WORTH BUYING — Small, cheap, and genuinely useful every walk.
A buggy hook turns your pushchair handle from a single-purpose grip into a hanging point for your changing bag, shopping bag, or coat. At under £15 for two, it's one of the cheapest accessories you can buy that makes a noticeable difference.
The key things to check: weight rating (2.5–5kg per hook), one-handed operation, and compatibility with your pushchair frame diameter. The BuggyPal Universal Carabiner is our top pick — reliable gate, 360° swivel, and silicone grip so it doesn't slide along the handlebar.
Where to find them: Read our hooks & clips reviews.
🧥 Liners
🤔 NICE-TO-HAVE — Practical but not a priority.
A padded liner makes your buggy seat more comfortable and adds an extra layer of insulation in cold weather. Some parents find them useful; others think they're an unnecessary expense.
Most buggies already have reasonable padding, and you can achieve similar warmth by adding layers to your baby's clothing. Skip this unless your buggy seat feels particularly hard or thin.
Where to find them: Browse buggy liner options.
🧸 Pram Toys
🤔 NICE-TO-HAVE — Not essential from day one, but genuinely useful from 2–3 months onwards.
Pram toys keep babies entertained on longer walks and help with sensory development. Clip-on arches, spiral toys, and hanging rattles all work well — but you don't need them from birth. Newborns sleep most of the time and have limited visual range.
From around 2–3 months, high-contrast black-and-white toys start to genuinely engage babies. By 4–6 months, they'll be batting at hanging elements and reaching for rattles. That's when a good pram toy earns its place.
The key quality check: does it clip on securely? A toy that falls off every 5 minutes is useless. Look for adjustable clips that fit your specific pram bar diameter.
Where to find them: Browse pram toy reviews.
🌸 Buggy Blankets
⚠ SITUATIONAL — A good winter footmuff often replaces this, but blankets are useful for transitional weather.
A buggy blanket fills the gap between a light cardigan and a full footmuff. They're ideal in UK spring and autumn when it's cool but not cold enough to justify a full footmuff.
Safety note: Never drape a blanket loosely over the pram hood — NHS and FSID guidelines warn this creates dangerous overheating. Look for harness-compatible designs with holes for straps, or breathable wrap blankets that secure properly around the baby.
If your baby is in the pushchair through winter, a footmuff is usually the better purchase — they're warmer and can't be kicked off. But a light cellular cotton blanket is still worth keeping for summer evenings and indoor-to-outdoor transitions.
Where to find them: Browse buggy blanket reviews.
📱 Phone Holders
✓ WORTH BUYING — Hands-free navigation is safer and less stressful on every walk.
A phone holder turns your handlebar into a navigation console. Trying to check a map with one hand on the pushchair is neither safe nor practical — a mounted phone solves this for under £15.
The main thing to check is handlebar compatibility: most standard pushchairs have tubes between 19mm and 35mm diameter, and most clamp-style holders cover this range. For curved or oval handlebars on umbrella-fold buggies, a silicone strap mount is the reliable option.
2-in-1 units that combine a phone holder and cup holder in one clamp are worth considering if your handlebar is already fitted with other accessories — they keep clutter minimal.
Where to find them: Read our pushchair phone holder reviews.
✈️ Travel Bags
🤔 SITUATIONAL — Only if you travel regularly by plane or car.
A travel bag protects your buggy from damage when flying or driving long distances. If you push around town most of the time, you probably don't need one.
If you're taking multiple flights, planning road trips, or driving to far-flung family, a travel bag prevents scuffs, protects the seat from stains, and makes packing easier. But be honest about whether you'll actually use it.
Where to find them: Check travel accessory options.
Money-Saving Tips
- Buy brand-specific covers first. A rain cover made for your exact buggy model fits better and costs about the same as a universal one.
- Skip the expensive storage bag. A cheap clip-on organizer does the job just as well as a premium brand.
- Don't buy everything at once. Wait a week into parenting and you'll know exactly what you actually need.
- Check Facebook groups. Second-hand accessories are often barely used. Rain covers and storage bags hold up well to resale.
- Seasonal timing. Buy footmuffs and rain covers off-season and you'll find them half-price.
The Bottom Line
A rain cover, sun shade, and storage bag are the holy trinity of buggy accessories. They solve real problems that come up on every walk. Everything else depends on your lifestyle, the weather where you live, and what siblings are involved.
Don't let fancy marketing convince you otherwise. Test a few essentials, see what your daily routine actually requires, and build from there. Your back — and your wallet — will thank you.
Read Our In-Depth Reviews
Each guide covers our top picks in detail — products tested, pros and cons, and our honest verdict.