The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?
These tried and tested cocoons will keep your baby as snug as a bug
Thanks to the unpredictable British weather, a chill in the air is never too far away, meaning you’ll get your money’s worth from any cosy baby essentials.
The ultimate snuggly upgrade for a pushchair has to be the addition of a footmuff, which simply attaches to a pushchair or stroller’s seat, keeping your bundle of joy toasty while they’re being pushed around the park. Doesn’t sound too shabby, hey?
Footmuffs, often also referred to as cosytoes, are generally used once your baby has moved out of the carrycot and into the infant seat, and once they’re sitting unaided at around five or six months old.
Not only will the cosy warmers in this round-up keep your baby protected against the elements, they’re also a great way to protect your pushchair from wear and tear.
Many pushchair models offer their own branded footmuffs, but there’s a whole host of universal options designed to fit a wide range of buggies, which you may find more appealing. Here, we round up the best on the market.
We tested a whole range of universal footmuffs on our trusty Joolz geo (£1,079, Joolz.com), but they are suitable for any pushchair or stroller with the commonly used five-point safety harness.
We considered ease of attachment, looking at the pre-cut holes that allow you to feed through your pushchair’s harness straps. We gave kudos to those with larger or multi-position harness holes (look out for two at the top and two lower down) for longevity of use. We also considered whether they could double up as a pram liner, the materials used, how they looked on our pushchair and – most importantly – how snug they made our baby tester.
Inject some head-turning leopard print into your pushchair, while keeping your little one cosy, with this cool piece of kit from Tiba + Marl.
Looks aside, there’s a lot to love about this footmuff – from the two-way zipper that enables you to remove the front cover and create a fleece liner, to the magnetic buttons, which mean you can fold the cosy fleece lining over the bumper bar.
Another highlight has to be the built-in slimline fold-over hood feature, which you can hook over the top of the seat. We found this was great for a secure fit, coupled with the three different height openings at the top. In fact, this footmuff fitted our pushchair wonderfully.
Protecting against the elements, it’s the ultimate cosy upgrade for your pushchair. The water-resistant outer material has been crafted from 100 per cent Global Recycled Standard certified polyester, while the fleece lining and adequate filling kept our little tester toasty. High quality, good looking and practical, what’s not to love?
Much to parents’ delight, Red Kite makes award-winning baby products at affordable prices, and this footmuff is a prime example. Unlike others we tested, there’s a zip down the middle, much like a coat, and it’s a welcome feature, as it makes strapping in a baby (or taking them out) a doddle, particularly if they’re sleeping. It does also mean this doesn’t double up as a pram liner but, given the price tag, we didn’t expect it to.
You also have the option to unzip the bottom of this footmuff, which comes in handy if you have a pair of muddy boots in cargo. Sensibly, the last section of material is all made from a wipe-free material, for that very reason. The footmuff is generously sized, which makes it a great option for toddlers or larger babies, but it still felt snug, thanks to the cosy fleece lining. It’s lightweight but can handle the odd shower, and we praise it for its wipe-free credentials.
While there’s only two harness slots at the top, there are built-in textured patches at the back, to keep the footmuff in place, and we had no problems attaching it, finding it a good universal fit. It also comes with a handy storage bag, which is great for stowing away at the bottom of the pushchair.
Founded in Stockholm, Elodie Details is a brand known for stylish, everyday baby paraphernalia and durable fashion accessories – and this convertible footmuff is no exception.
You can give baby a duvet day every day with this plush footmuff. The filling is superlative, feeling much like a sleeping bag, whereas the liner section feels much sturdier than the others we tested, mimicking the feeling of a memory foam liner. It features a lovely cotton jersey lining, and you can wrap it around the bumper bar, thanks to the elasticated top.
It carries a bionic-finish eco label, which means the premium fabrics used reproduce Mother Nature’s work to protect us from water. While we were sceptical, due to the amount of padding, we found this footmuff flourished in damp, soggy conditions, keeping baby dry and snug.
The universal fit has been well considered, with three height-variable openings at the top, and two at the bottom, to home the buckle. There are also two additional fabric ties, which may help with securing it, depending on your stroller or pushchair.
Given that we use the Joolz geo pushchair, we wanted to give the Joolz footmuff a go. A brand known for its stylish wheeled goods, the same can be said for its accessories. Obviously, the fit was perfect but, equally, this would fit any five-point harness pushchair or stroller, thanks to a large opening for the top straps and the buckle.
In terms of the snug-factor, the cosy fleece lining kept our little tester toasty, and we have to applaud the top toggles, which allow the footmuff to scrunch up around baby’s face, which is great on a windy day. We found this footmuff pretty hardy, even handling a flash downpour. In fact, the materials are designed to regulate heat on both warmer and colder days.
You’re able to strip off the top layer of the footmuff, using the zips, and you then have yourself a soft pram liner. The bottom anti-mud section is great, too, for those that choose to have a muddy walk mid pushchair stroll.
The subtle magnets will keep the footmuff in place over the bumper bar, and another highlight for us has to be the discreet pocket at the top – a godsend when it comes to storing a dummy or small teether.
Childrenswear designer Rachel Riley is best known for her Royal-approved kids’ outfits, but she’s now also beautifying pushchairs with a range of footmuffs.
Made in collaboration with award-winning British nursery specialist Clair de Lune, this bunny print footmuff fitted our pushchair like a glove, despite only having two top openings and one for the buckle. The sweet bunnies illustration got a lot of attention from passers-by, however, the ivory colour is perhaps not the most practical colour with a baby.
You can fully remove the footmuff part and reverse the bottom layer to create a bunny liner, which is a smart touch, giving extra use. We were also impressed with how nicely it wrapped around the pushchair bumper bar, without a popper of magnetic strip in sight.
Although there’s no waterproofing, the lining is a soft fleece inside, which kept our little tester warm and cosy during chilly strolls.
You wouldn’t look out of place strolling in a Scandinavian park with this heavy-duty footmuff from Swedish brand Najell, which you’ll want to show off everywhere. It’s well suited to a multitude of climates and has been made to endure all weather types.
The water-repellent material, thick padding and temperature-regulating features make it a snug space for baby. If you’ve a particularly Baltic trip on the horizon, this footmuff claims to keep baby warm even in -20C.
For more everyday use in the UK, we found it highly practical. There’s an elasticated fold-over hood feature, which goes over the top of the seat, an extra-long opening with Velcro sectioning, and a large buckle hole and side openings. There’s an extra band, which could be secured to some strollers, but didn’t work with our Joolz. The two-way zip also means you can easily convert it to a pram liner.
Water-repellent and machine-washable, all materials here are certified by Oeko-tex class 1, containing minimal amounts of chemicals. There’s even a wipe-free section at the bottom for muddy shoes or boots. The filling is made of sorona, which consists of recycled polyester and maintains fluffiness even after contact with water.
There are several colourways available with variable prints, but we love the practical shade of the design we tested – as leopard print’s popularity shows no signs of waning, it’s undeniably stylish, too.
A collaboration with Mamas & Papas, this eye-catching calcot print from Laura Ashley’s archives has been reimagined in a stunning collection of pushchairs, nursery interiors, accessories and clothing.
In true Laura Ashley style, there’s premium detailing here, from the embossed logo at the front to the chunky zips and impeccable stitching. The fabric is luxurious against baby’s skin, and you’re able to fold it over the bumper bar, using the discreet magnetic fastenings.
We found the footmuff to be a generous size, giving it years of use, and the water-resistant fabric could handle drizzle and light showers. There’s also a section at the bottom for muddy boots – but fear not, as it’s machine washable.
There are three variable height slots when attaching, which we found straightforward to do, and they’re a great fit. You can easily strip off the top layer and use it as a pram liner but, naturally, there’s less of the pretty print to look at. Designed to be passed on for generations, this footmuff oozes quality in an iconic heritage style.
Ickle Bubba has fast become a popular brand for reasonably priced baby gear. We had no issue attaching its discovery footmuff to our Joolz geo, and we found the dark-grey colourway with diamond stitching looked great against our khaki pushchair. You’re also given the option to use the two press-studs to cover the bumper bar.
The velour liner is soft to the touch but is only featured on the liner part, which can be used without the footmuff attachment, using the two zips to remove it. The rest of the fabric does offer some warmth during strolls but it’s quite lightweight in comparison with others we tested. It won’t protect baby in a downpour but can handle the odd shower.
We did find this footmuff generous in length, which makes it a good option for babies and toddlers with longer legs.
Dutch brand Dooky designs practical products for babies, as well demonstrated by this footmuff. The large opening at the back means you'll have no problem connecting it to your pushchair, whatever the brand or model, as it can fit both three- and five-point harnesses.
The velour lining was one of our favourites of all the footmuffs we tried, and our baby tester seemed to love stroking that soft tactile layer, too. You can fold the lining over, using the poppers, contrasting well against the starry pattern. There's also a splash-proof fabric at the bottom, which is useful if your little one jumps back in with damp or muddy feet.
The double zipper means you can transform this footmuff into a seat liner for warmer days, and also helps get your pint-sized passenger back in their stroller. The stylish star pattern looks great on the pushchair, and the fabric is water- and wind-resistant, plus you can shove it in the washing machine. It's suitable for those aged six to 36 months, but there's also a smaller size in the range.
If you're one of those parents whose car boot resembles an overloaded charity shop, you might want to consider a more portable option, or a multifunctional product. Looking more like a “pac a mac”, say hello to outdoor adventures with the BundleBean go. This is essentially an attachable blanket that can be added to pushchairs, car seats, slings, carriers and bike seats.
Before attempting to fit it, we’d recommend checking out the brand’s YouTube instructions, as it’ll save a lot of quandary. However, once you know how, this is an easy footmuff to add to your stroller. To attach it, you zip up the sides, which will cause them to form a ruche, allowing it to fix over the pushchair's footrest. Then it's just a case of attaching the two straps to the handlebars or attach together behind the pushchair seat. After a few attempts, we can now fit it in less than a minute, and that’s without disturbing a sleeping baby.
You can also extend it, by adjusting the zips, which is great if you're pushing around an older child, as you can use this for up to four years of age, or however long their pins allow. You can choose from a range of patterns – our favourite is the particularly apt silver lightning – plus, you can pop it in the washing machine.
Of course, this isn't as plush as the other footmuffs we tested, as it's simply providing a shell for your pushchair. That said, it's incredibly lightweight and still waterproof, while the fleece-lined layer provides a cosy feel, and the fleece-lined pocket is handy for storing small toys or emergency snacks.
We fell in love with Tiba + Marl’s universal footmuff. It’s a real head-turner, provides plenty of warmth and shower protection, and doubles up as a pram liner. Plus, it fits like a glove and comes with a middle-of-the-range price tag. If you can afford to splurge, we also highly recommend Najell’s footmuff, which is super durable and a real treat that you and your baby will love.
Looking for more outdoor essentials? Read our guide to the best parent-approved prams