I Put Mamas And Papas' Plushest Pushchair To The Toddler Test – Here's How It Fared

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I’ve got two kids and I’ve been a parenting editor for a while, so it’s safe to say I’ve road-tested my fair share of pushchairs.

From our trusty Nuna (which we’ve had four years now) to a handful of lightweight, travel-friendly options (we’re talking Babyzen’s YOYO2, Baby Jogger’s City Tour 2, Chicco’s Goody Plus stroller, and even a £60 John Lewis stroller), I know what makes a good buggy – and what doesn’t.

So, how does Mamas and Papas’ newest addition, The Vardo, shape up?

I tried the Vardo stroller for a couple of weeks, using it for daily activities that required transporting our one-year-old around – mainly the childcare run, park visits and nipping to the shops. 

The pushchair comes flat-packed however it’s super simple to build, requiring only a handful of steps (popping the wheels onto the frame and removing lots of protective foam) before it’s ready to go.

It also comes with a rain cover, which isn’t always a given with some other pushchairs on the market (despite rain being very much a given in the UK). So, immediate thumbs up for that. 

My first impression is that this is a luxe buggy. The fabric, which the seat and hood is made from, is soft to touch. I love the sage green colour, which is neutral and on-trend. It feels weird to describe a pushchair as chic, but, well, it’s chic. It looks and feels expensive.

My one-year-old looked extremely comfortable every time she sat in it. Our three-year-old also had a go and I have to say, both of them – while different sizes – looked extremely relaxed thanks to the roomy, yet well-padded seat. 

The wheels are a decent size meaning you can take the buggy on a variety of surfaces without too much bumping about for your tiny passenger – I tried it on grass, pavement and bumpy/uneven concrete. I also ran with the pushchair (because I’m usually running late) and it was a surprisingly smooth ride. 

I love the straps – they are extremely cushioned and your little one feels super secure when they’re strapped in thanks to the five-point harness. There’s also a handy bar that sits across the lap area of the pushchair which my toddler loves grabbing onto like she’s on a theme park ride.

The seat itself has two recline settings: one which is midway between upright and horizontal, and the other being fully horizontal.

The hood can be unzipped to offer more coverage which is great for nap time and also sunny days (of which we’ve had plenty these past few weeks!).

There’s also a clear, plastic window so you can keep an eye on your little one without having to peek around the hood, potentially snapping them out of their pre-nap daze. (I’ve made that mistake before. Never again.)

I have to admit, it took me a bit of practice to get the hang of folding the pushchair up and down, but once you’ve mastered it, it’s easy (although I’d argue difficult to do one-handed).

I’m a huge fan of the built-in handle on the folded chassis, so you can easily cart it around.

While the frame is described as lightweight on the Mamas and Papas website, in my experience the pushchair is still heavier than most of the other ‘lightweight’ strollers I’ve tried.

However given the focus on comfort, I’d argue it’s worth it – a lot of the really lightweight pushchairs are nowhere near as comfy, stylish or sturdy. And with toddlers, you really do want sturdy. 

From a storage point of view – because we all want to know whether it can store your jam-packed changing bag – there’s ample space underneath the seat to pop your bags, snacks, drinks, etc.

While the pushchair isn’t cheap (retailing at £599), it’s clear you’re paying for quality here. This is a buggy that should stand the test of time – and (winner, winner) if you buy it as a bundle, you can save up to £400.