Ickle Bubba Cosmo pushchair review

At £329 it’s very competitively priced, and even comes with a raincover, footmuff and changing bag and mat. The pram unit can be purchased on its own or as part of an all-in-one i-Size travel system with car seat and ISOFIX base at a great price of £499 or rotating car seat for £429.

What were your first impressions?

Delivered in a smaller box than you might expect, Ickle Bubba fit an amazing amount in a small space, which makes actually getting to the pram parts the first challenge faced! Once out of the box the pram appeared a little plasticky but very solid. The leatherette elements are a nice design touch and jump out at you straight away.

How easy is it to build the Ickle Bubba Cosmo pushchair?

Ickle Bubba appears to have taken a leaf out of the Ikea book of instructions, meaning that at times it feels like you need an engineering degree to understand how to put this pram together. The instructions are all present but are not the clearest, which meant it took 2 adults over an hour to put this together. One stage of the instructions that is not clear is how to unfold the handle and lift the pram unit into standing – there is a lock towards the bottom right of the pram which you will need to pull quite hard to the side in order to achieve this.

What’s the Ickle Bubba Cosmo carrycot like?

With the majority of our testing done using my 3-month-old son as the guinea pig, the carrycot was one area of this pram which I feel could use some improvement. The fabric and support of the mattress area could be softer and more supportive as it is a little board-like for total comfort. It is also not that breathable so could get quite hot for baby during the summer and it’s not suitable for overnight sleeping.

That said, there is plenty of room in the unit and I liked that the harness could either be used or removed in this mode. It is also incredibly lightweight, making removal and storage easy. You can easily remove the carrycot by pressing the buttons either side of the handle area and lift, however you do have to press both buttons at once so you cannot remove one handed. I do think it's clever how the carrycot converts into the seat unit though, which says space.

How easy is it to fold and unfold the Ickle Bubba Cosmo?

Once you’ve worked out the knack for it, the folding and unfolding of the Cosmo is easy. Just push the button on the right handle and lift the sliding mechanism on both sides, and the pram does most of the work for you. You do have to remove the seat unit first which, whilst it will go flat, does not easily fold to the same small size as the main pram unit.

Unfolding the buggy is a little trickier due to the lock being quite stiff when new. This eases off with use but for the first week or so involved quite a lot of brute force.

How compact is the Ickle Bubba Cosmo pushchair?

Once folded the main pram unit is very neat and compact, measuring L110cm x W60.5cm x H36cm, so could easily fit in a small car boot – the wheels can be removed if necessary. It is also nice and light at 9kg. Once removed from the chassis, the seat unit folds flat, but you do need to leave enough room in your boot for the full length of the seat (80cm).

How good is the Ickle Bubba Cosmo pushchair to push and steer?

The Cosmo moves smoothly on flat ground, and the adjustable height handle meant even our 3 year old had a good go at pushing her little brother around. The pram handled the weight of my 3 year old well and was not much harder to push and steer with her on board than her brother. Occasionally though, when you turn 180° the front wheels lock a little and you have to pull backwards before regaining a smooth ride forward.

How well does the Ickle Bubba Cosmo tackle different terrains?

On standard urban surfaces this pram is very easy to push and steer, and mounting kerbs is easy as the Cosmo is very solid and sturdy. For rougher surfaces, such as cobblestones and gravel, the Cosmo struggles a little – a lack of suspension means that not only do you have to push quite hard to achieve the desired motion, it is also rather bumpy for the little passenger.

Country paths were also a bit too much of a challenge for this pram as very muddy ground caused the wheels to become very sticky. We had to give up and lift the pram fairly frequently on country walks.

What’s the chassis like?

At first the Cosmo's frame appears quite plastic, and I had doubts about its durability, but upon further testing I was impressed and found it both strong, sturdy and robust. It didn’t scratch easily, and the matte finish remained smart.

How do you rate the handle on the Ickle Bubba Cosmo?

The adjustable pushchair handle offers 3 heights, making the Cosmo suitable for a range of users. It is easy to adjust, and the leatherette finish is a nice touch. However, even the tallest height on offer (113cm) was a little short for my 6ft 4in husband who found he had to stoop a little to use the pram.

What do you think of the seat unit on the Ickle Bubba Cosmo pushchair?

The Cosmo’s seat unit is converted from the carrycot and would be suitable up to an average of age 4 (22kg). It can be both world- and parent-facing and offers a range of reclines from far upright for the older toddler to almost flat for a younger baby to nap in. I found it easy enough to recline, but when a larger toddler is in the pram it is much more difficult, and I found I had to remove her before adjusting. The seat unit is relatively roomy but a little narrow for a chunkier toddler. The fabric easily wipes clean, which is always a bonus.

What’s the hood like?

Not great. The hood for the Cosmo is a little flimsy; the material cannot really handle any extreme English weather and is not very waterproof, although it does offer UPF50+ protection. It is easy to use and remains in place but does not come down very far, letting a lot of light and wind in.

What are the Ickle Bubba Cosmo's wheels like?

The wheels are large, solid and sturdy and are easy to fix and unfix. However, they are more designed for city living due to a lack of suspension and a tendency to gather mud on country walks.

How good are the brakes?

The Cosmo’s brakes are situated on the bar linking the rear wheels and are very easy to put on and off with your foot whilst not getting in the way whilst walking. They hold quite well even when faced with an icy hill.

How do you rate the basket on the Ickle Bubba Cosmo pushchair?

Really spacious. The basket is a generous size with plenty of room for all your baby essentials and some shopping., although it can be a little tricky to take larger items in and out the basket when the pram is in pushchair mode.

What’s in the box?

• Cosmo pushchair
• Raincover
• Changing bag and mat
• Privacy panel for the carrycot
• Footmuff
• Car seat adapters (for use with the Ickle Bubba Stratus car seat)

What additional accessories can you buy?

• Stratus i-Size car seat, £199
• Stratus Isofix car seat base, £119

Now you’ve tested it, what would you have wanted to know before purchasing the Ickle Bubba Cosmo pushchair?

Whilst the Cosmo is a good solid pram and good value for the money spent, it is definitely most suitable for urban living. It may be fairly basic, but it does everything you need it to in a town/city.

Where can I buy the Ickle Bubba Cosmo 2-in-1 pushchair set?

Available Ickle Bubba, Baby Planet and Baby Snooze.

MadeForMums verdict

Overall I was pleasantly surprised by how well the Cosmo handled most things that I threw at it during testing. At £329 it’s good value for money, especially as there’s no need to buy an additional carrycot to use from birth. If I were an urban mum on a budget looking for a pram to last a number of years, I would be pretty happy with my purchase.