The Stroller Switch That Made Toddler Life Feel Much Easier
The beautiful newborn pram phase doesn’t last forever. One mum shares why the Joolz hub2 made far more sense once toddler life began.
One of the less talked-about milestones of parenthood? The moment you realise the beautiful newborn pram you once obsessed over — and probably spent a small fortune on — has quietly become more of a hindrance than a help. What once felt luxurious suddenly feels oversized, heavy and slightly impractical for the reality of toddler life.
Because once babies become toddlers, everything speeds up. Nursery runs. Quick errands. Busy cafés. Holidays. Constantly folding and unfolding a buggy while holding snacks, bags and a child who now wants to walk for exactly 14 seconds before demanding to be carried.
That’s exactly where London-based mum Ralu found herself when her daughter Theia reached around 14 months old.
“We originally had the Bugaboo Fox and I absolutely loved it during the newborn stage,” says Ralu, who works in marketing and lives in Tower Hill with fiancé Jay and now-16-month-old Theia. “At that point it felt perfect for long walks and slower days. But once nursery started and Theia became more active, it suddenly felt really heavy and clunky for everyday life.”
Between cafés, shops, travel and nursery drop-offs, she found herself wanting something lighter, easier to manoeuvre and better suited to this new stage — without sacrificing aesthetics.
That search led her to the Joolz Hub2.
"The biggest thing immediately was just how easy it made everything feel," says Ralu. "You don't realise how much mental energy goes into dealing with a bigger buggy until you stop doing it. I can fold it really quickly while holding Theia or carrying bags, which makes such a difference when you're rushing around."
Although noticeably lighter than the Bugaboo Fox she'd been using before, what surprised Ralu most was that the Hub2 never felt like a compromise.
"I was slightly worried moving away from a bigger travel system would mean compromising on comfort or stability, but it still feels really smooth to push and manoeuvre. It's easy enough to steer one-handed too, which means I can carry my completely non-negotiable flat white without feeling like I'm performing a complex upper-body workout."
Even Jay is impressed. "He can fold it instantly," she laughs. "With our old buggy there was definitely more faffing."
That practicality extends beyond getting out of the house. "Our old buggy basically took over the hallway," says Ralu. "The Hub2 folds down really neatly and doesn't dominate the space, which genuinely makes a difference in a smaller London property."
Designed specifically for city living, the Hub2 balances comfort with practicality, combining a smooth ride, a one-hand fold and a full lie-flat seat — all details that start to matter far more once parenting becomes less about newborn logistics and more about flexibility.
For Ralu, travel was still a major part of the appeal. Her family live abroad and they fly regularly throughout the year, so having a stroller that's easier to fold, transport and navigate through airports felt like a natural next step.
"We actually haven't taken it on a flight yet, but I already know it's going to make travelling so much easier this summer when we visit my parents," she says. "The idea of not having to wrestle with a huge bulky buggy through the airport honestly feels amazing."
For Ralu though, the appeal is ultimately simpler than specifications."It feels like one of those products that suddenly makes sense the moment your baby becomes a toddler and life gets much faster," she says. "You still absolutely need a buggy, but you don't want something huge anymore. It just makes everything easier."
The Joolz Hub2 is priced from £670 and is available from retailers including Joolz UK, John Lewis and Natural Baby Shower.
