With a mind-boggling array of buggies and pushchairs on the market, it can be hard to decide which type to go for to suit you and your baby’s needs.

The majority of buggies today are forward-facing, with the baby facing away from the parent and towards the direction of travel. There are definite advantages to using this type of buggy, but a recent study suggests that babies benefit from being able to see the face of their parent or carer when travelling in their pushchair.

Forward-facing pros and cons

• They are usually the cheapest models on the market. Buggies do vary enormously in price, but forward-facing buggies offer the most choice on a budget.
• Children are able to see more of the world around them, which may make forward-facing pushchairs a good option for toddlers or young children.
• Some are very light-weight and compact, making them ideal for storing in car boots, taking on public transport, or for if you have limited storage space at home.
• Research suggests that young babies could feel stressed or abandoned because they cannot see their parent or carer and tend to have less communication with them in a forward-facing pushchair.

Rear-facing pros and cons

• Babies often find it comforting to be able to see the face of their parent at all times whilst being pushed in a pushchair. This is especially helpful for younger babies, who have not yet learnt that people and things continue to exist even when they cannot be seen.
• Infants are more likely to be talking, laughing and interacting with mummy or daddy in a rear or parent-facing buggy. However, the study also showed that they were more likely to be crying in a rear-facing model.
• Parents are able to see their baby’s face at all times. This is particularly reassuring for baby and parent in crowded or noisy places.
• These models can be quite expensive compared to some forward-facing models. Rear-facing buggies tend to start at around £200.

So which type is best?

Well, the study (by Dr Suzanne Zeedyk of the University of Dundee) does favour rear-facing buggies over the more popular forward-facing ones.

The report found that parents were two times more likely to talk to their children in a face-to-face pushchair than in a forward-facing one. It even says that babies’ heart rates tend to be faster in a forward-facing buggy, and suggests that this could be a sign of stress.

But, medical experts have pointed out that a child’s heart rate can change for a variety of reasons, including through pleasure or excitement, so this is not really a good way of measuring a child’s stress levels.

So don’t worry if you already have a forward-facing buggy. There is no need to rush out and buy a new one! Bear in mind that there have not been any studies into the advantages of a child being able to see the world around them.

The research showed that children chatted away to themselves just as much in both types of pushchair.

A forward-facing pushchair may be better for toddlers and older children, who need less constant face-to-face interaction and reassurance from their parents and could benefit from being able to see more of what is going on around them.

Another factor to consider is how much time your child is likely to be spending in their buggy. If you think they will be using their buggy very regularly from a very early age, then perhaps a rear-facing model might be the best choice.

Child psychologists advise parents to minimise the amount of time a child spends in their buggy in noisy or crowded places as this could be stressful. Walks in quiet parks or in the countryside are ideal for longer trips. That way children can hear their parent’s voice and feel connected to what is going on around them no matter what type of buggy they are in.

Can you have the best of both worlds?

Yes! There are now a number of reversible pushchairs on the market, which can be adjusted to face forwards or backwards. They are amongst the more expensive models, but these might be a good investment if you plan to get a lot of use out of your buggy. This way baby can enjoy smiling and chatting with mum or dad, or get the benefit of watching the world go by.