Whether you’re pounding the pavements to get your newborn baby to sleep, mad dashing on a soggy school run for other members of the brood or simply enjoying a crisp winter stroll with your baby cocooned in its pushchair, it’s safe to say that we pay much more attention to what our baby is wearing, than how we’re wrapping ourselves.
Any parent will attest that with your new role as chief carer, your hands go through the mill; from constantly picking up and cradling your baby to changing nappies and cleaning bottles, it’s relentless. And during the winter months, combined that with the harsh cold weather, our hands really take a battering.
When it’s cold, while our body does its best to get blood circulation to our vital organs, in the process, it changes the amount of blood circulating in our hands. Butif you’ve ever fumbled around to take your gloves off to tend to your baby’s needs while out on a crisp winter’s walk, you won’t be the first parent to neglect your own needs and at the risk of faff, or not bother wearing them at all.
But there is an answer. Allow us to introduce pram gloves, which come in the shape of a hand muff, gloves or mittens, which attach to your pushchair’s handlebar and are, quite simply, a godsend. Once attached, they’re there for the taking, adding a touch of luxury to any stroll.
This invention means parents’ hands can be free at the drop of a dummy, beloved toy, or on-the-go snack, while simultaneously keeping hard-working hands toasty and free to push. And to top it all off, there’s a multitude of stylish options on the market giving your pushchair the ultimate winter accessory, check out our round-up below.
How we tested
Alongside our trusty Joolz Aer (£359, Mamasandpapas.com)– however these should fit on most models of pushchairs or strollers – we wrapped ourselves and pushchairs up and faced the elements to test a range of handmuffs, mittens and gloves which attach to the handlebar.
While the concept is wonderfully simple, we weighed up how easy the products were to attach, how secure they felt and how happy the materials made our hands. Like all accessories, style comes into play and given your pushchair is likely to have set you back a few pounds, price came into consideration too.
The best pram mitts for 2024 are:
Hudoma Greenwich green pram gloves
After living in New York over two cold winters, back in the UK mum-of-two Jennifer Reay created her fashion-forward brand Hudoma in 2021. And these are hands down, or should we say hands in, the softest we tested, thanks to the warming faux-fur lining, which is present all the way down to your knuckles. With a cool wet-look design, the luxe outer fabric is both wind and water-resistant and is a stylish addition to any pushchair.
A doddle to attach and boasting a universal design, there are two discreet strips of Velcro on the outer section which don’t come into contact with your hands. The “pusher” still has hold of the pushchair’s handlebar, all the while keeping you cosy but in control. A generous length (28cm), they’re now available in blue, silver, green and beige, but classic black is still our favourite.
Buy now £40.00, Hudoma.com
JoJo Maman Bebe stroller mittens
Simple in design with a practical black colourway exterior, these mittens from JoJo do exactly what they say on the tin. With a weatherproof finish, you’ll be kept dry and toasty against the elements, and we were pleased to hear these can be machine-washed at 30°C.
They feel plush to the touch, with generous padding, and we found the Velcro tabs a doddle to attach and very secure. With change from a £20 note, you can’t go wrong.
Buy now £19.00, Jojomamanbebe.co.uk
Hudoma Chelsea black pram gloves
After living in New York over two cold winters, back in the UK mum-of-two Jennifer Reay created her fashion-forward brand Hudoma in 2021. The Chelsea black pram gloves are undeniably stylish and, without a doubt, the softest we tested, thanks to the warming faux-fur lining, which is present all the way down to your knuckles. With a cool wet-look design, the luxe outer fabric is both wind and water-resistant and is a stylish addition to any pushchair.
A doddle to attach and boasting a universal design, there are two discreet strips of Velcro on the outer section. The “pusher” still has hold of the pushchair’s handlebar, all the while keeping you cosy but in control. A generous length (28cm), they’re also available in blue and silver.
Buy now £45.00, Hudoma.com
Kaiser big double pram handwarmers in grey
If you want to give your pushchair and neglected paws a luxe upgrade, then look to German brand Kaiser. Just one stroke of the premium sheepskin – which is predominantly sourced from Germany’s finest woollies – and you know winter pram strolls will never be the same again.
Certified by Oeko-Tex standard 100 class – a well-regarded textile certification to ensure every component has been tested for harmless substances – the sheepskin is sustainable and ecological. We were also taken by the outer material (we opted for grey but it’s also available in black and blue), which is water resistant and windproof, so it’s ready for whatever the British weather can throw at it.
By the packaging, we were concerned that it may be a little cumbersome once attached, but it was surprisingly compact and could be tightly fixed, thanks to the adjustable Velcro fastenings.
One unit opposed to separate gloves, it feels just as cosy, as there’s a Velcro tab in the middle to create a snug fit around each hand. And the fixture couldn’t be easier, wrapping around the handlebar, meaning you’ll still have a full grip for steering.
Buy now £70.69, Amazon.co.uk
Elodie stroller mittens
Founded in Stockholm, Elodie is a brand known for stylish everyday baby paraphernalia and durable fashion accessories and these stroller mittens are no exception. The rebel green colourway has a smart sheen to it, and is made from a water and wind resistant nylon, while the cosy faux fur interior in a contrasting fawn colour keeps hands toasty.
There are two Velcro pads on the thumb and tip of the mittens, which offer a secure fit. This does mean that you no longer have direct access to your handlebar, but thanks to the tight fit, we still felt in control when pushing. While one size does fit all, if you have larger hands you may find these come up a touch short, but needless to say you’ll be wrapped up in a coat so unlikely to leave any skin exposed to the elements.
Buy now £34.90, Elodiedetails.com
Stokke stroller mittens
Popular Norwegian brand Stokke and its oh-so-stylish stroller mittens have been adorning pushchairs for the best part of a decade, making them rather iconic. For those not owning a Stokke pushchair, fear not, as the design should fit most single handlebar models, as you simply attach them using the Velcro at the tip of the mittens for a secure fit which covers, rather than wraps, around the handlebar.
With genuine fluffy sheepskin cuffs, and padded premium water repellent exterior, made from PFC-free textiles, these mittens are both elegant and adventurous but most importantly, cosy. Sadly, it’s worth noting that the sheepskin only features on the cuffs, however the fleece lining will keep the chill off and is soft on the skin.
Buy now £38.50, Stokke.com
Babyzen yoyo mittens
A compact option, much like the popular Babyzen yoyo pushchair (£370, Babyzen.com), the brand’s mittens will keep hands toasty while out on winter walks. Simple in design with a white cuff and contrasting black exterior, these mittens boast an irresistibly soft teddy bear style lining with a double layer of padding for ultimate comfort. With a water-repellent finish, you’ll be kept dry if the weather turns, and we were pleased to hear these can be machine-washed at 30C.
Again, you don’t need to be a Babyzen owner, as these attach using two discreet Velcro patches. Wrapping around the handlebar, you’ll still have full access but all the while keeping your hands super snug. And once the weather heats up, simply pop these back in the handy travel bag provided, which can attach to the handlebar too.
Buy now £40.00, Stokke.com
Voksi stroller mittens
Designed in Scandinavia to face even the harshest of winters, Voksi’s range of pushchair accessories mean business. And we love the no-fuss approach to these stroller mittens, they’re not trying to be a fashion statement, practically designed to protect your hands from the elements. And they do that well.
Given the rather small Velcro tab, we were impressed how securely these attached to the handlebar. The materials are made of the tough stuff, with a soft fleece lining on the inside and duck and down filling, and a windproof, water-resistant outer layer to protect hands against not only the cold, but wind and the odd shower, too. We like that you can adjust the drawstring at the wrist for an extra snug fit. We like the everyday, sleek black colourway, plus you can pop them in the washing machine.
Buy now £40.00, Pramworld.co.uk
Najell stroller gloves
We felt like we’d look the part walking in the Scandinavian mountains with these stroller gloves from Swedish brand Najell. There are discreet zips on each side of the glove, meaning there are four zips to navigate, which we anticipated being fiddly. But although you wouldn’t want to attach these in a rush, they were pretty straightforward.
We praise these gloves for flexibility, too. You can adjust the cuffs for an extra-snug fit but, rather uniquely, there’s an inside pocket so you can choose between direct contact with the handlebar or placing your hands inside the pocket instead.
Water repellent, the filling is made of Sorona, which consists of recycled polyester and maintains fluffiness even after contact with water. Irrefutably fashionable and super comfy, the only downside is that this light oat beige colourway may not be the most practical with mucky babies and toddlers about, but you can bung them in washing machine.
Buy now £59.00, Najell.com
Astrid eco universal stroller mittens
We raved about this Scandi-inspired brands eco Ana changing bag, and the fashion-led founders of the brand has impressed yet again with its latest parenting accessory, stroller mittens. We approve of the chunky, boxy shape, which is lined with a teddy bear fleeced lining.
These may not be as soft as other that we tested, but we found this material to be hardwearing, and most importantly kept our hands toasty on chillier days. In the interior you’ll also find an additional fleecy flap which avoids your hands from coming in contact with the Velcro in which these simply attach, which is a thoughtful touch. We also have been eying up the matching footmuff, which follows the brand’s stylish credentials.
Buy now £59.00, Finnson.co.uk
Baby Mori faux fur lined buggy mittens
Mums and dads love Mori, a baby brand often praised for its sleep essentials, from sleepsuits and super soft pyjamas to its award-winning sleep bags, we were keen to see how they fare outside of the nursery with their newly-launched buggy mittens. Typically stylish, and plumply padded, we love the khaki green colourway with contrasting cream linings – which was one of the softest we found. We approve of the handy popper to attach these gloves together, which is useful when storing away, but most of all we just loved how cosy these felt when strolling.
Depending on how chunky your handlebar is, you may find your fingers can come into contact with the velcro strips if not placed on the loosest fitting which was our only niggle.
Buy now £25.50, Babymori.com
The verdict: Pram mittens and gloves
We were surprised just how much a simple pram glove transformed our winter pushchair walks, but British brand Hudoma scooped the win for its superlative softness, simple yet chic design and simple attachment, all at a reasonable price.
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