A stroller sunshade keeps the sun off your baby in the stroller. It starts with the canopy the stroller comes with (also called the hood). When the canopy stops short, you add more shade: a fabric extension on its edge, a small parasol on a clip, a sheet of sun fabric over the top, or a mesh cover around the whole seat.
Shade matters most in the first 6 months, when babies stay out of direct sun and shade comes before sunscreen.
- For ages0–4years
- You'll need1
- Use it fromUV 3
Do you need one?
Probably, if you walk in sunny months. A canopy covers your baby from above and behind. When the sun is low, or in front of your baby, it shines in under the edge, onto the legs, the feet or the face.
You may not need one if your canopy comes far down at the front, or most of your walks are under trees. Many canopies pull out further, or have a visor that folds out, so try yours fully forward on a sunny walk before you buy anything.
Types of sunshade
They differ in how far they reach, and in how much air they leave.
Canopy extension
A fabric panel that clips or ties onto the front edge of the canopy and reaches further forward, like a long visor (also sold as a hood extender). It is enough when your canopy stops just short.
- Good: Costs little
- Good: Folds small for the bag
- Not good: Shades the front only
Clip-on parasol
A small umbrella on a bendy arm that clamps to the stroller frame. It is the one for low morning and evening sun, and for babies who hate being closed in.
- Good: Tilts toward low sun
- Good: Air on every side
- Not good: Re-aim it at every turn
- Not good: Moves in the wind
Sun sail
A sheet of sun fabric strapped over the canopy and down to the bar in front of your baby (the bumper bar), with the sides left open. Shops also sell it as a universal sun shade. It suits long walks at midday.
- Good: Covers legs and feet too
- Good: Packs into a small pouch
- Not good: Sides flap in the wind
Full mesh cover
Fine mesh that wraps the whole seat down to the footrest, with a zip at the front. Many double as a nap cover, because they make the seat darker. A carrycot cover (for the flat bed young babies lie in) will not fit a seat, and the other way round.
- Good: Shade from every side
- Good: Keeps insects out
- Not good: Less air than open sides
- Not good: Harder to see your baby
How to choose a stroller sunshade
1. It fits your stroller
A shade made for your stroller fits best. A universal one has to fit your frame and stay clear of the brake, the recline and the fold. If the seat turns round, try it both ways.
- Good: Your stroller on its list
- Good: Firm grip, no wobble
- Not good: Blocks the fold or brake
2. It moves with the sun
A parasol's arm should bend easily, then stay where you set it. An extension or a sun sail should roll up and down, so you can pull it down for low sun.
- Good: Bends with one hand
- Good: Stays put over bumps
- Not good: Arm that sags back
3. Air at the sides
Air needs a way into the seat, or heat builds up. A good shade leaves the sides open, or has mesh panels where it comes down.
- Good: Gap at both sides
- Good: Daylight through the mesh
- Not good: Solid fabric to the footrest
4. Fabric that blocks UV
UPF on the label tells you how much of the sun's UV a fabric blocks: the higher the number, the less gets through. Thin or loosely woven fabric lets more through.
- Good: UPF 50+ on the label
- Good: Dense, tight weave
- Not good: Thin, see-through fabric
How to use it
1. Canopy forward first
Pull the stroller's own canopy all the way out. Then set the sunshade between the sun and your baby, and keep the sides open to the air.
2. Move it as you walk
A turn into a new street puts the sun somewhere else. Step round to the front now and then. If sun reaches the face, the legs or the feet, move the shade.
Questions parents ask
How do I keep the sun out of my baby's eyes in the stroller?
A sun hat with a brim keeps low sun off the face. If the seat turns round, turn your baby's back to the sun. A parasol tilted low on the sun's side helps with the rest.
Is it safe to cover the stroller with a blanket?
No. A blanket or muslin over the opening traps heat in the seat, so use a parasol or sunshade instead. The guide on covering a stroller with a blanket explains why.
Are stroller sunshades and covers safe?
A shade above the seat with open sides, yes. A full cover is different: a covered pram gets less air and an overheating baby is harder to spot, so a tree or an umbrella makes better shade. If you use a mesh cover for a nap, keep your baby in sight, open the zip often, and feel the back of the neck now and then.
Is there a universal sunshade that fits any stroller?
No single one fits every stroller. Universal parasols, extensions and sun sails fasten with a clamp or straps, so check the size or model list against yours, and against the carrycot if you use one. Your stroller's maker may also sell one made for it.
Can I drape a UPF or SPF blanket over the stroller?
No, not over the opening. UPF says how much sun gets through a fabric, not how much air does, so a UPF blanket holds heat in like any other. For UV protection, choose a sunshade in UPF 50+ fabric: every kind above comes in one.
How do I keep my baby cool in the stroller?
Keep the shade above the seat with the sides open, dress your baby in light clothes, and walk outside the hottest hours. A stroller fan moves air under the shade, but choose one whose blades small fingers cannot reach. The hot weather guide has the rest.
Is shade enough for a baby under 6 months?
Shade does most of the work. Add a sun hat and light clothes that cover the arms and legs, because some UV still reaches your baby, reflected off pavement, sand and water. If you know you'll be somewhere with no shade at all, ask your pediatrician beforehand about a dab of sunscreen on the face and the backs of the hands.
How do I clean a stroller canopy or sunshade?
Check its label first. Canopies and sunshades usually do not go in the washing machine: sponge them with mild soap and water, then let them air dry.
