In short: A pushchair footmuff is warmer and safer than a blanket because it stays in place and can't slip under the wheels. Choose one with openings for a 3- or 5-point harness, a water-repellent shell and a zip for venting. A standard pushchair footmuff does not belong in a car seat: buckle your baby in thin layers and only then cover them with a blanket.
Author: Eva Birsa, mum and co-founder of Evitas · Updated: 27 Sept 2026
Footmuff or blanket: which is better for a pushchair?
A blanket works for a quick walk, but it tends to slide off, catch in the wheels or end up on the pavement. A footmuff (also called a cosytoes) is held on the seat by the harness straps that run through its openings, so it wraps your child on all sides and stays put even when they kick. Good footmuffs have a water-repellent shell that keeps out wind and wet, plus zips to adjust warmth quickly.
Important: don't drape a blanket or muslin over the whole pushchair, as it restricts airflow. Protect your child from wind and rain with the footmuff, the hood and a rain cover instead.
How to choose a pushchair footmuff
1. Harness compatibility (3- or 5-point)
The footmuff needs harness openings that match your pushchair. Most seat units have a 5-point harness (two shoulder straps, two hip straps and a crotch strap). Check that the straps pass through without twisting and that you can still tighten them snugly against your child once the footmuff is fitted. An anti-slip back helps it stay in place on the seat.
2. Carrycot or seat unit
In a carrycot your baby lies flat, so in the first months a blanket or the carrycot apron supplied by the pushchair brand is often enough. A footmuff is most useful in the seat unit, once your child sits or reclines. Some footmuffs are listed by the manufacturer as suitable from birth (e.g. KikkaBoo footmuffs from 0+), so they can go in a carrycot if they fit. Measure the length and width of the seat and compare with the footmuff dimensions.
3. Warmth and clothing layers
There is no single rating for footmuffs like the TOG used for sleeping bags, and most models don't state a TOG at all. So dress for the weather: under the footmuff, use several thin layers (bodysuit, trousers, jumper or fleece, hat) rather than one very thick snowsuit. That makes it easy to remove a layer when you pop into a shop or onto the bus.
4. Signs of overheating
Babies' hands and feet often feel cool, so don't judge by their hands. The Lullaby Trust advises checking the chest or the back of the neck. If the skin is sweaty or clammy, your child is too hot: open the footmuff zip, take off the hat or a layer. When you go into a warm shop or home, open the footmuff straight away, even if your baby is asleep.
5. Practical features
- Washing: pick a machine-washable footmuff; you'll be glad after muddy walks.
- Zips: a two-way or all-round zip lets you vent and open it quickly.
- Removable top: on milder days use just the bottom part as a seat liner.
- Visibility: reflective details help on dark winter afternoons.
- Pushchair mittens: keep your own hands warm too, see our pushchair mittens.
Done by Deer vs KikkaBoo: footmuff comparison
Details are taken from the product descriptions in our shop and the official Done by Deer website.
| Done by Deer winter footmuff | KikkaBoo footmuff | |
|---|---|---|
| Use | pram, pushchair, cargo bike | standard pushchairs |
| Harness openings | universal openings | for 3- or 5-point harness |
| Shell | water-repellent, wind-resistant and breathable, waterproof zips | water-resistant mélange fabric (100% polyester) |
| Lining and insulation | thick padded insulation, soft jersey | soft, warm fleece lining |
| Age and temperature | not stated | from 0+; manufacturer states protection down to −30 °C |
| Size and weight | not stated | 98 × 40 cm, 0.8 kg |
| Features | two-way zip, removable or fold-down front (hook and loop), one-hand front pocket, anti-slip back, reflective label, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 | all-round zip and detachable foot cover, elastic loops for height, detachable fur detail, quilted look |
| Care | machine washable, tumble dry safe | not stated in the description |
| Colours | Black, Green, Taupe | Urban Beige, Luxury Secret Garden Beige |
Done by Deer suits parents who walk a lot and want easy care (machine wash and tumble dry) with Scandinavian minimalism; it also fits cargo bikes. It is also available as a set with matching mittens, see footmuffs and pushchair mittens. Read more about the brand in Why mums love Done by Deer.
KikkaBoo offers a warm fleece lining and openings for 3- or 5-point harnesses, and the manufacturer lists it as suitable from birth. The quilted look with a fur detail pairs nicely with KikkaBoo pushchairs.
Browse every model in our pushchair footmuffs collection and on the Done by Deer and KikkaBoo brand pages.
Footmuffs and car seats: what is safe
In a car seat a different rule applies: the harness must sit directly against your child's body. A thick coat, snowsuit or padded footmuff under the straps compresses in a crash, the harness becomes loose and your child could slip out. That's why RoSPA does not recommend thick jackets or all-in-one suits in a car seat, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and NHTSA advise thin layers under the harness, and the German motoring club ADAC showed in a 16 km/h crash test that the belt does not sit correctly on a child wearing a winter jacket.
What this means for footmuffs
- A pushchair footmuff does not belong in a car seat. The Done by Deer and KikkaBoo footmuffs are designed for pushchairs (Done by Deer also for cargo bikes), not car seats.
- In a car seat, only use a footmuff or wrap made specifically for car seats, with harness openings and only a thin layer behind your child's back. Nothing bulky should be between your child and the straps.
- Check your car seat manual. Some manufacturers advise against accessories that haven't been tested with their seat. The AAP warns that a product isn't safe just because it's on sale.
- The simplest option: buckle your child in thin clothing, then tuck a blanket over the fastened harness, for example the Jollein car seat wrap blanket.
5 steps for winter car journeys
- Warm up the car first if you can.
- Take off your child's coat or lift them out of the pushchair footmuff.
- Buckle up and tighten the harness. Pinch test: if you can pinch a fold in the strap, tighten it more.
- Place a blanket or their coat back-to-front (arms through the front) over the buckled harness.
- Once the car is warm, pull the blanket back and check the back of the neck to make sure they're not too hot.
An infant car seat clicked onto the pushchair frame is handy for short errands, but for longer walks move your baby into the carrycot or seat unit with a footmuff. Find out more in our guide How to choose a car seat and the 40–87 cm infant car seats collection.
What to use where
| Where | What to use | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Carrycot | blanket or carrycot apron; a footmuff if listed from birth | baby lies flat, head and face uncovered |
| Seat unit | pushchair footmuff | straps through the openings and tight; thin layers underneath |
| Cargo bike | a footmuff the manufacturer lists for bikes (e.g. Done by Deer) | bike seat straps through the openings |
| Infant carrier and car seat | thin clothing + blanket over the buckled harness, or a car-seat-specific product | nothing bulky under the straps; pinch test |
FAQs
From what age can you use a pushchair footmuff?
It depends on the model. KikkaBoo lists its footmuffs from 0+, while Done by Deer does not state an age. They are most useful in the seat unit once your child sits or reclines.
Can a baby sleep in a footmuff?
A supervised nap in the pushchair during a walk is normal. A footmuff is not a replacement for a sleeping bag in the cot, so at home move your baby to the cot and choose a sleeping bag by TOG rating and room temperature.
Can I use a pushchair footmuff in a car seat?
No. A thick footmuff under the straps reduces the car seat's protection. Only use a product made for car seats and allowed by your seat's manual, or cover your child with a blanket over the buckled harness.
How do I know if my baby is too hot?
Feel the chest or the back of the neck. Sweaty, clammy or hot skin means you should open the footmuff or remove a layer.
How do I wash a footmuff?
Follow the care label. The Done by Deer footmuff is machine washable and tumble dry safe. Close zips and hook-and-loop fasteners before washing.
What's the difference between a footmuff and a sleeping bag?
A footmuff is for outdoor use in a pushchair, with harness openings and a water-repellent shell. A sleeping bag is for sleeping in a cot and has a TOG rating for room temperature.
Read also
- How to choose a pushchair: types, sizes and tips
- How to choose a car seat: i-Size guide
- Baby sleeping bag TOG chart by room temperature
- KikkaBoo pushchairs compared
- Anti-sweat car seat and pushchair liner
Sources
- AAP HealthyChildren – Winter Car Seat Safety Tips
- NHTSA – Keep your little ones warm and safe in their car seats
- ADAC – Autofahren mit Winterjacke
- RoSPA Child Car Seats – FAQs
- The Lullaby Trust – Cold weather
- Done by Deer – Footmuff winter
Product details are taken from product descriptions and the manufacturer's official website. This content is for information only and does not replace the instructions for your pushchair and car seat.
