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10 best footmuffs: Keep your baby warm and cosy

<p>It needs to be soft, durbale and of course, washable </p> (The Independent)

It needs to be soft, durbale and of course, washable

(The Independent)

There's something so precious about strolls with your baby, particularly when there's a chill in the air and you're safe in the knowledge that your bundle of joy is toasty while being pushed around the park – doesn't sound too shabby, hey?

Many pushchair models offer their own branded footmuffs, but there's a whole host of universally fitting footmuffs which you may find more appealing. We tested a whole range of universal footmuffs on a Joolz Geo, but these should fit on most models of pushchair or stroller.

A footmuff is generally used once your baby has moved out of the carrycot and into the infant seat, once they're sitting unaided at around five or six months old. Not only will they keep your baby protected against the elements, they're also a great way to protect your pushchair from wear and tear.

Read more: 15 best pushchairs, prams and buggies

But what do you need to look out for when buying one? We tested a range of universally fitting footmuffs. First up, we looked at the pre-cut holes, which allow you to feed through your pushchair's harness straps. Some pushchairs have three-point harnesses but many have five, so all those tested offered five.

It's a plus if there are larger holes or multi-position harness holes (look out for two at the top and two lower down) as your pushchair straps will move as your baby grows – meaning you can reposition your footmuff too for the best fit.

Material is also key, while you want it to keep your baby cosy, you also want protection against wind and rain, but like any piece of kit that's going to get up close and personal with a baby you'll certainly want to give it a run through the washer, so we've kept that in mind too. Extra features such as dual zips, make it easier to place or lift out a sleeping baby, while pull-in hoods have extra snug appeal.

As you're only likely to use this part of the year, price is certainly important too, so that has also come into consideration. Equally, it's likely you've spent a large chunk on your pushchair, so you want your footmuff to look the part too.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.i

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Mamas & Papas cold weather plus footmuff, skyline grey

You can always rely on baby specialists Mama & Papas to make you coo, even with something as practical as a footmuff. And you'll get practicality in abundance with its cold weather plus footmuff – once you've stopped admiring the padded brushed fleeced and cosy jersey-like liner, this isn't just about style. Unlike the other footmuffs tested there's elastic at the bottom to attach it to the pushchair's seat, that means there's no battle with the hood as all the fixing is with this and by lacing the straps through the pre-cut holes – which has three sets at the top.

It's suitable to use from birth and the larger padded sides means its just as at home in a carrycot as it is in an infant chair. The two way zipper is helpful when you're placing your baby into the footmuff, or lifting out, particularly when they're dozing. This also means this can double up as a pram liner by simply unzipping the front. The magnetic poppers are a nice touch, saves faffing with poppers. It claims to be water, wind and dirt resistant, and while we found it performed well in Blighty's beloved drizzle, it was reassuring to hear it can be washed at 30 degrees. We love how understated this footmuff is, while keeping baby wonderfully toasty, cosy and looking oh-so-chic.

Buy now £95.00, Mamas & Papas

Kaiser natura universal sheepskin footmuff

If you want to give your pushchair a luxe upgrade then look to German brand Kaiser. Just one stroke of the premium lambskin – which of course only comes from Germany's finest woollies – and you'll want to jump in this yourself. Certified by OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Class – a well regarded textile certification to ensure every component has been tested for harmless substances – the lambskin is sustainable and ecological. We were also taken by the outer material, which is available in black, grey and two blends of blue, it's water resistant and windproof so ready for adventurous strolling. There's also a wooden toggle at the top of the footmuff to draw in the edges, which mimics baby's own hood – which adds extra snug factor and protection from the elements.

It's easy to attach to a wide range of pushchairs, and we immediately noticed how secure it felt, even without a baby's weight. This model is actually the most compact of Kaiser's range making it a good choice for smaller framed pushchairs, such as the BabyZen YoYo or Bugaboo Bee, but we're confident you won't find any sagging with the secure fit. The pre-cut vertical holes, suit both five point and three point harnesses and are large enough to easily feed through straps, and there are two heights meaning you get use beyond the baby days, with the product recommending use up to two and half years.

We like that the all-round zip fasteners means the cover can be removed completely but baby can still benefit from a snuggly pramliner – this also makes it easier to zip in a wriggly baby, and also performs. While made from sheepskin, parents can relish in its washing capabilities, you'll just need to buy specialist lanolin shampoo.

Buy now £169.00, Baa Baby

Voksi urban sleeping bag

Designed in Scandinavia to face even the harshest of winters, the Voksi urban sleeping bag is ready for the wettest adventures, and is sure to keep baby toasty along the way. As you'd hope at £219 it delivers on many fronts, including repelling water and dirt and is certified by Oeco-Tex standard 100 class to ensure every component has been tested for harmless substances. It uses only the best natural materials; the upper part of the sleeping bag is made of down and feathers, which as we know is one of the best fillings for bedding, and the undercover is filled with wool. Thanks to the wool’s great breathability and ventilation, it has the ability to wick sweat away from baby while the air trapped inside the down acts as a thermal insulator, allowing your little one to regulate their temperature while cocooned in the footmuff.

Hiding inside the hood you'll find a sweet soft fleece penguin pillow for baby to snooze on, and we like that you can pull the hood in closer for extra snugness – the faux fur trim can also be removed using a zip. There are several pre-cut holes in the back so that it is suitable for an older toddler too, and three non-slip strips to keep it place. Additionally to this, you can secure the footmuff to the pushchair's handlebars, but that does mean you aren't able to fold the pushchair with it attached, but you can defeat this by untying beforehand. There's a dual zip for easy access, and if you'd rather you can have your little one's feet poking out the bottom as there's a separate zip for that. It's also machine washable to keep it look tip top.

While there's no denying this is a considered purchase, this product is designed to see you way past the blurry baby days. Alongside the footmuff you'll receive an extension to transform this into a sleeping bag, which can be used until your child is around four or five years old.

Buy now £219.00, Uber Kids

Kuling patterned brown dots footmuff

Swedish brand Kuling knows a thing or two about seasonal dressing, and that includes your pushchair too. We think this nature-inspired footmuff is sure to be a head turner for all the right reasons. It's also kind to nature too, being made from recycled materials. Boasting a Bionic-finish Eco label, it's a pretty robust piece of kit using an ecological coating which is designed to repel not just water but dirt too.

This has certainly been designed to perform in super cold temperatures, with 200g of padding at the top and 250g at the bottom, a cosy fleece lining and a gorgeous faux fur trim which can be removed by undoing the buttons – but personally we think it's a great finishing touch.

There's a large flap at the top of the footmuff which fits over the seat, if your pushchair's hood uses zips you'll have to simply place in or remove the hood. We found once the baby is in place the footmuff stays where it should. There are also three rubberised textured strips at the back to help keep it in place. The dual zip closure is also handy for getting baby in and out. There are two pre-cut holes at the top, and two at the bottom (plus one on each side) which makes it a universal fit, and means it can comfortably house toddlers too.

This is by far the most water– or snow – proof of all the footmuffs we tested, and can withstand up to 15000mm and has taped seams. Fear not, it's also washing machine friendly too for when things get extra messy.

Buy now £92.00, Alex and Alexa

Dooky footmuff

Dutch brand Dooky design practical products for babies and that's well demonstrated in 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 by far our favourite of all the footmuffs we tried, and baby's seem to love stroking that soft tactile layer too, and you can fold this over using the poppers which contrasts 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 them back in their stroller. The stylish star pattern looks great when on the pushchair, and the fabric is water and wind-resistant, plus you can shove it in the washing machine too. It's suitable for those aged six to 36 months, but there's also a smaller size in the range.

Buy now £52.50, Kidly

Heitmann lambskin cosy toes footmuff, grey melange

This footmuff from German brand Heitmann is so inviting, we wish we could hunker down in there ourselves. In fact the brand's whole range is perfect for a snuggly baby, and parents can be assured that it uses only premium quality sheepskin products that are all safe and certified by Oeko-tex standard 100 class. And what better way to pair lambskin than with a cool grey melange (is that colour-way ever tiring, we hope not)? The outer is wind and water resistant, made from durable oxford polyester. The footmuff is quite weighty due to its quality, which means it sits in the pushchair well, we did find the harness holes a bit of a squeeze but it just took some wriggling.

Just by touching it you know this is a luxury product, and we appreciate the fine details such as the zip cover to keep this piece of kit looking ultra polished. While we're giddy for the style of this footmuff, if you're looking to fold your pushchair with your footmuff attached we did find a potential stumbling block. As you tie this footmuff to the pushchair's handlebars, it means they are restricted, but to overcome this you'd just need to untie before folding so it's not a deal breaker for us. You are able to wash using specialist lambskin shampoo. Again, the dual zip is handy for placing a sleepy baby, and it also means by taking the top layer off you've got yourself a chic lambskin pram liner.

Buy now £125.00, Natural Baby Shower

Cybex Snøgga

It's unusual for pushchair brands to launch a footmuff which fits on anything other than its own product, but well known German pushchair and car seat brand Cybex has gone against the grain by introducing the Snøgga footmuff. At first glance it's like a little coat all packed away in a matching bag, once you take it out it does puff out a little but it's exceedingly compact and lightweight. That's not to discredit its performance though, as it's certainly small but mighty. The warm and breathable TOG 4 Thinsulate filling is known to have a better performance than down when wet, which helps your little one keep toasty in temperatures from 10c to -10c. And we can certainly vouch for its battle against unexpected showers.

There's a large Velcro panel at the back to feed through the harness, which is easy to use. There are a couple of poppers at the top but you can also create an opening much like a collar at the top with additional poppers for brighter days. The zip runs down the middle, which isn't as user friendly as some of the others we tested, particularly if you've a wriggly child on your hands. You can tighten the toggles around the hood to give a tighter fit around baby's head, and we love the variety of colours available. It's machine washable, and the material is easy to wipe clean too. However because of the slippy nature of this fabric it is prone to slipping down the seat if there's no baby weight on it.

Buy now £59.50, Baby Planet

BundleBean go

If you're one of those parents whose car boot resembles an overloaded charity shop, then you might want to consider a more portable option, or a multifunctional product... well, we've found something that can do both. Looking more like a “pac a mac”, say hello to outdoor adventures with the BundleBean go. This is essentially an attachable blanket which can attach to pushchairs, car seats, slings and carriers and bike seats, and it'll cost you less than £35.

Once you know how, this is an incredibly easy footmuff to add to your stroller. To attach you simply zip up the sides, which will cause them 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, but we'd recommend checking out the brand's YouTube instructions first as it'll save a lot of quandary. After a few attempts we can now fit it in less than a minute, and without disturbing a sleeping baby.

You can also extend by adjusting the zips which is great if you're pushing around an older child, meaning you can use this for up to four years of age, or however long their pins allow. You can choose from five patterns – our favourite is the particularly apt lightning – plus, you can pop it in the washing machine too.

Of course this isn't as plush as the other footmuffs we tested, as it's simply providing a shell for your pushchair, however it's incredibly lightweight and still waterproof, the fleece lined layer does provide a cosy feel, and the fleece-lined pocket is handy for storing small toys, or emergency snacks.

Buy now £34.99, BundleBean

Clair de Lune cocoon pushchair footmuff

Since 1943 British brand Clair de Lune has been providing baby essentials, so you and your little one are certainly in safe hands. We tested out the Cocoon Pushchair Footmuff, which was the cheapest of all those we reviewed. And you actually get a whole lot for your £25; fleece lined it's certainly cosy enough when there's a chill in the air.

We like the toggles at the top of the footmuff so you can create a bit of a hood around baby's face, which helps on a windy day. There are six pre-cut holes, suitable for a five point harness, unlike the more luxe options you only attach this with the pushchair straps as there's no additional attachments, but once your baby is in place that's enough weight to keep it in place but it does sag a little when it's not occupied. The long central zip actually makes it really easy access to your baby, and while it wasn't useful for us you can also zip off the bottom section of the footmuff for longer legs, or muddy boots.

Water resistant and available in black and grey, we believe this is a sleek addition to a pushchair – and to keep it looking stylish you can pop it on a 30 degree wash when required.

Buy now £24.99, Clair de Lune

Baby Elegance delux footmuff charcoal

This footmuff from Baby Elegance is a compact option, but unlike others we tested its shape reflects a pushchair seat and the result of this means it fits particularly well. This alleviates the need for any additional attachments such as elasticated strap which makes it feel less bulky than many footmuffs, as it's a secure fit just using the straps. There are two large pre-cut holes at the top, and three at the bottom for either a three-point or five-point harness – we did find the side holes a bit tight, but they just take a little more brute force. The velour like lining is super smooth to the touch, and while the cream colour may fill you with fear it is washing machine friendly. The inner material changes three quarters of the way down to avoid getting muddy boots on the lovely off-white lining.

On this footmuff you have two separate zips, which isn't quite as convenient as a dual zip, particularly if you're trying to lift out a sleeping baby. However you can still remove the top layer using these zips, then hey presto you've got yourself a cosy pram liner.

Buy now £60.00, Baby Elegance

The verdict: Footmuffs

We have to applaud baby specialist Mamas & Papas on its cold weather plus footmuff, it looks stylish and provides plenty of warmth and protection without a sky high price tag. If you can afford to splurge, then the Kaiser natura universal sheepskin footmuff is a real treat that your baby and pushchair will love.