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Mothercare Nanu Stroller review

If you're after a basic buggy that's not only affordable but is comfortable and offers good longevity, the Mothercare Nanu Stroller is a must-buy. While it may not have all the frills that a more pricey pushchair has, it is stylish, bright and bold and is ideal to take on family holidays. We tested the Little Bird design by Jools Oliver.

By Mumsnet HQ | Last updated Jul 30, 2021

Littlebird Nanu stroller

Verdict in 10 seconds

  • Exceptionally cheap and easy to clean

  • A basic, no frills buggy with a simple umbrella fold

  • More suitable for toddlers than newborns and has a fairly short usage time, handling a weight of up to 15kg

  • Vibrant and bold design

Pros

  • No assembly required

  • Can be used from birth

  • Super easy to recline

  • Affordable

  • Stunning retro-inspired Little Bird design

Cons

  • Basic buggy with no extras

  • Sunshade has no UPF

  • Struggles on bumpier ground/grass

  • Handles are foam and not extendable

What are the key features of the Mothercare Nanu Stroller?

  • Lightweight and compact

  • Lockable swivel front wheels

  • Multi-position seat unit with one-hand adjust

  • Five-point safety harness

  • Adjustable calf rest

  • Compact umbrella fold

  • Comes with rain cover

  • Iconic Little Bird print

What are the specs?

  • Suitable from: Birth – 15kg (approximately three years old)

  • Weight: 7kg

  • Folded dimensions: 31 × 30 × 106cm

  • RRP: £59 at time of review

  • Estimated resale value: £15+ at time of review

What’s in the box?

The Mothercare Little Bird Nanu Stroller that needs no assembly, plus a small hood, rain cover and shopping basket.

How does the Mothercare Nanu Stroller handle?

This lightweight buggy is comfortable and very easy to push, and handled well on all pavements, roads and smooth ground.

Our tester found that it struggled on bumpier ground, especially on grass, which is a common complaint for all umbrella strollers due to their design. The harness is a secure five-pointer that is easy to clip and unclip. Compared with pricier buggies, this model didn’t feel cheap.

The recline is simple and can be accomplished one-handed. You simply use the lever on the back to lower or raise the back rest. Our tester found it very impressive and much easier than some of the more expensive models she tested.

The Nanu Stroller also manoeuvres and steers well. While it may not be as smooth to steer as other buggies, she was still very impressed with its overall performance considering how affordable this buggy is.

As for the brake, it is a bar that you lift or press down. It might not be as sensitive as the brakes on other models tested, but it does do an adequate job.

mothercare nanu stroller

What is the weight limit on the Mothercare Nanu Stroller?

The Mothercare Nanu Stroller is suitable from birth to 15kg (approximately three years old), offering good longevity to parents. Its seat is cushioned and the straps are secure enough for a newborn, but we think it’s probably best used when your child is six months or older as the ride isn't as comfortable as we'd like it to be.

The weight limit isn’t as high as some of the buggies we tested, but we still feel it’s a great buggy that will grow with your child and keep them safe and secure.

Any extra features?

Sadly no, however, as this buggy costs less than £60, you can't really expect much more.

We were delighted to see that that this brilliant little pushchair comes with a good rain cover as standard and that the basket, for this kind of stroller, is a reasonable size.

Can I buy any extras?

No matching extras are currently available, however you can buy a universal standard footmuff from Mothercare if needed.

We also suggest that, if you intend to use it for holidays, you consider buying a standard parasol to offer more sun protection in hot climates.

I used to have an umbrella stroller very similar to this which was three to four times the price yet found that this buggy performed just as well as that model, if not better. It's an absolute bargain.

Is there much storage?

Our tester found that the amount of storage was reasonable for a small shopping trip or for running errands and that it can just about hold a standard sized changing bag – it passed the changing bag test with flying colours with our tester’s toddler sat in the seat, but was a little wobbly without a passenger. For this model, we think that most parents would probably find it easier hanging the changing bag over the handles of the buggy to free up the basket.

How easy is the fold?

The Mothercare Nanu Stroller collapses well. It’s certainly not the easiest fold we tested, but for its price it does more than an adequate job.

As with many buggies, there is a bit of knack to getting it right, but once our tester figured it out, she soon found the collapse to be easy and quick.

When folded, the buggy is compact and easy to lift, although we would recommend that it is propped up against a wall to make sure it’s safely stowed away.

How much space does it take up?

As an umbrella stroller, it stands tall when compact, so is a great option for those parents looking for something slimmer or for those who need to store a buggy in a small area such as a hallway.

How does it look?

The design of this buggy is one of the reasons why it scored so highly, because, aesthetically, it’s very much a head-turner thanks to the iconic Little Bird design – an established favourite with many parents.

Bright, bold and colourful, the buggy is absolutely lovely to look at, simple but stylish, and is ideal for those parents who like the vintage or retro aesthetic or are already a fan of the popular Mothercare range. Apart from the design of the fabric and the colour of the frame (yellow), the Little Bird Nanu is the same as all other pushchairs in the Nanu range.

Our tester received many compliments from people when using it and loved how it looked.

Can I get the Mothercare Nanu stroller in different colours?

The Mothercare Nanu is available in a number of other colours and designs (although the Little Bird print is our favourite).

Is it easy to clean?

Our tester found that the Mothercare Nanu buggy was easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth or wet wipe.

Is it good value for money?

Absolutely! We believe that the Mothercare Nanu Stroller is amazing value for money and the best buggy available for under £75 to £100.

This buggy was one of the cheapest we put to the test but, overall, was one of the best, receiving impressive scores in all categories from our experienced tester.

For less than £60, this lovely little buggy performs well, looks fantastic, is easy to clean and has everything you require from a simple buggy.

It doesn’t have many features so if you’re looking for something fancier or with ‘more bells and whistles’ than this probably isn’t the one for you. However if all you need is a basic buggy, then, trust us, you won’t really go wrong with this.

We think it’s the perfect buggy to take on holiday, use day-to-day for simple trips like the school run or even have as a grandparents' spare.

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All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.