The best cheap strollers under £100

Cheap strollers are everywhere, and are a light and compact single pushchair without all the bells and whistles that you'll find on more versatile and expensive models. Strollers generally weigh more than lightweight pushchairs, so this probably isn't the one to pick for travel use – it's more robust and substantial than that.

Think of a stroller as a great value budget buy – the no-frills of the pushchair world. Cheap strollers are easy to pick up from all manner of retailers, including Amazon, Argos and Boots.

The best strollers are good and serve many purposes: they are versatile and compact, make travelling easier for parents, and can also be passed on to your pregnant friends to use for their babies in the future.

For any parent, a stroller helps carry those baby essentials - while taking your baby outside. With so much storage space to space, a stroller assists with literally everything.

Best cheap strollers at a glance:

If you already have an all-singing-and-dancing pushchair or pram, but now you need something really manoeuvrable for quick trips into town with your tot, a stroller is a great with investment. Here are eight of our favourite cheap strollers you can buy today.

Best cheap strollers to buy

Seven things to ask yourself…

Is it good value for money?

Strollers are inexpensive, but choose one that's robust and durable too. It will need to withstand the weight of a growing toddler.

Do you drive or use public transport?

If you rely on public transport to get around, go for a compact stroller that won't seem cumbersome if space is limited, and that's quick and easy to fold. But, if you drive, it's more useful to have the option of attaching your baby's car seat to the pushchair chassis, so a stroller that converts to a travel system is a better choice.

How much storage space do you have?

Think about where you'll keep the pushchair when it's not in use. A pushchair that's freestanding when folded is super-useful if you'll be storing it in your hallway, as it's less likely to topple over and bash you in the shins every time you walk past. Look at the strollers with an ultra-compact fold if you're seriously pushed for storage space.

Will you use it from birth?

Some strollers are only suitable for use from six months, but there's usually an accessory you can buy separately to adapt it for use before six months – and you'll have to factor this into your budget. Or choose one designed for use from birth instead.

How long do you plan to use it for?

Strollers are generally cheaper, but they can be a false economy if you buy one that doesn't live up to the demands of carrying a heavy toddler But perhaps you'd prefer to pay less and buy another with a different print in a couple of years?

Will you use it on rougher ground?

Strollers have small wheels designed to offer good manoeuvrability on city streets (and shiny shop floors!), but if you're likely to use it on rougher ground, look for a model with lockable, swivel wheels.

What are your priorities?

No stroller offers everything, so decide whether it's more important for you to have a generous shopping basket, a good-sized hood, an umbrella, or a decent seat recline for naps on the move. You need to decide if you want a parent-facing stroller or if you want your child to be able to look around at the world in front of them.

Remember, while you are trying to adjust to life life as a new parent - you can easily forget that life does not stop when you have a child.

There are beautiful places that you can still take your little one to, like the cinema (for mothers and babies, the gallery, even the library.

This is where a baby stroller comes in: it gives you the flexibility to move around whether you're taking a walk in your local park or simply want to explore or try new things.

Emily Gilbert is the Features & Reviews Editor for Mother&Baby and has written for the website and previously the magazine for six years. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.