Pushchair Reviews: Bababing Raffi
LBP RATINGS
Fold/unfold: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Push: 4/5
Durability: 4/5
Cost: 5/5
Name and age of baby:
Freya, eight months old.
Where did you test the pushchair?
We tested the Bababing Raffi on pavements, fields and hills in Warwickshire as well as when visiting family in the Cotswolds.
First Impressions:
The Raffi took very little time to assemble as most of it is done for you, which is really handy especially if this is your first pushchair!
Both the seat unit and carry cot fabrics have a ribbed, textured design which look good and differ slightly to the norm, plus they are made of 100% recycled material. The overall appearance of the pushchair looks sturdy with a strong and robust chassis and the colour of ours, Vapour Grey, looks lovely (one of four colour ways available).
How easy is it to push and use?
The Raffi is closer to the heavier end of the pushchair scales, weighing in at 12.5kg. However, this doesn’t seem to really impact how it pushes. It coped well when we went across fields and it manoeuvred well down narrow country paths. On day to day use I would say the only time it seemed to be require a little more effort is going up or down kerbs, where it felt like it needed just a bit of flex.
Using the Raffi is really intuitive, there isn’t really any room for error with the functions as there are no fiddly or complicated elements.
What is the seat unit like?
The seat unit appears to be quite deep so I felt Freya was really safe inside of it; I think this is aided by the domed shape and material of the seat itself. It is suitable for use from six months old up to 15kg, so for Freya there is plenty of growing room.
It has three good recline positions, which is easily adjusted using the button on the back of the seat unit. The adjustable footrest is wonderful for sleeping on the go, in fact we pretty much left it in the extended position most of the time.
You can have the seat either parent or world facing and again this function is so straight forward to change between, Bababing have really made life easy when using this pushchair!
The bumper bar is easy to secure and remove; we made good use of it by securing toys in place. This feature, along with the handle bar, are covered in a smart leatherette.
The standard bundle comes with the carry cot which makes it suitable for use from birth. Freya falls outside of their recommended age limit for the carry cot (up to six months) but we still set it up and got a feel for it without putting her in it.
I really liked how the mattress felt and how it also has a climate system to help with airflow. One brilliant function I noted was the incline/recline of which Bababing say helps babies with reflux.
There are a number of infant carriers compatible with the Raffi (with the use of adaptors), which is useful for quick trips whilst your little one is still using this stage car seat.
How easy is it to fold and carry?
For this size pushchair I was pleasantly surprised with the fold function. The mechanism means you can collapse it with just one hand and despite the afore mentioned weight of the pushchair, getting it in and out of the car was absolutely fine.
How compact is it when folded?
When folded the Raffi is relatively compact. We have been able to fit it comfortably in the boot of a Nissan Qashqai and an Audi TTS.
Is the handle height-adjustable?
The handle is height adjustable and the highest setting is 108cm. Simply press the button in the middle of the handle and move it up/down to adjust.
What is the harness like?
The 5-point harness is good; it feels secure and is easy to fix into place. Tightening the straps is a bit fiddly and I do think the harness pads aren’t hugely thick, however this didn’t seem to bother Freya so they must have provided some comfort.
What is the hood like? Is it extendable?
The hood is great with a small extension at the front which folds out, as well as a larger extension which unzips from the rear. The peekaboo window in the hood is so handy for checking on your little one (especially in world facing mode) as well as providing additional airflow if you’re using the large hood extension.
The fabrics in general, which include the hood, feel light and soft. Bababing describe them as ‘easy-clean’ too.
What did you think of the wheels? Are they swivel?
The front wheels have a swivel/lock function and measure 7”, whilst the rear ones are slightly bigger at 10”. They aren’t the largest ones on the market, that said they coped well with standard terrains such as pavements and grass.
The quick release of the wheels means you can easily remove them if you want to give them a clean. Taking them off and rinsing them is the most straightforward way before popping them back on.
Is the basket easy to reach and does it have enough storage space?
The basket is easily accessed and has built in pockets for things like the rain cover. We were able to fit our large changing bag into the basket or a decent amount of shopping.
How easy are the brakes to use?
The brake sits in the middle of the rear wheels so it’s super accessible. It is a lever-style brake which is pedicure friendly and it didn’t ever feel like it was in the way.
What we love:
We loved just how easy the system is to use, the deep seat unit, the fact that the fabrics are made from 100% recycled materials and it comes with a 2-in-1 rain cover as well as a foot muff – both are part of the standard bundle (with other accessories available such as a changing bag)!
What could be improved:
The maximum weight limit (15kg) isn’t as high as some of its competitors, so there will be other pushchairs that offer a greater longevity due to taking more weight.
It would also be nice to see thicker padding on the harness straps.
Would you recommend it to a friend and is it worth the money?
We would recommend the Bababing Raffi, it’s really good value for money and just so easy to use. It looks great, Freya was always comfortable and it feels really sturdy.