Guide To Summer Pram Accessories

Quick Answer

The most useful summer pushchair accessories are those that provide shade, maintain airflow and make changing weather easier to manage. A well-positioned parasol or compatible sun screen can help keep your child out of direct sunlight, while a safely attached pram fan may add air movement on warm days. Accessories should support good hot-weather habits rather than replace them: babies under six months should be kept out of direct sunlight, lightweight clothing is important and a pram should never be covered with a blanket or muslin to create shade.

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Summer advice reviewed against current NHS guidance The NHS recommends keeping babies under six months out of direct sunlight, using a parasol or sunshade on the pushchair and never covering a pram with a blanket because this can contribute to overheating. Read the NHS baby sun-safety guidance .

Summer outings can be some of the loveliest moments of family life, but a bright, warm day can also change how you use your pushchair.

The best summer accessories aren't about adding as much as possible. They're about choosing a few useful pieces that help create shade, preserve airflow and make it easier to respond as the temperature and conditions change.

Here's our guide to what we consider genuinely useful for summer pushchair journeys, how to use each accessory and what shouldn't be used as a shortcut for keeping a baby cool.

Priority 01 Keep baby out of direct sunlight

Priority 02 Maintain airflow around the pushchair

Never Cover the pram with a blanket or muslin

Check regularly Baby's chest or back of neck

Parent using an iCandy pushchair with a parasol on a sunny day

Before choosing accessories

What actually helps keep a baby comfortable in a pushchair in summer?

Accessories can help, but they work best alongside three simple principles: shade, airflow and appropriate clothing.

01 Prioritise shade Keep babies out of direct sunlight wherever possible, particularly babies under six months. Plan walks around shaded routes and use the pushchair canopy, parasol or compatible screen where appropriate.

02 Keep air moving Keep built-in ventilation panels, mesh areas and openings clear. Never block the child space with improvised covers in an attempt to create more shade.

03 Dress for the temperature Choose lightweight clothing and avoid unnecessary layers. Check your baby's chest or the back of their neck regularly and adjust clothing if they feel hot, sweaty or clammy.

The summer shortlist

Which pram accessories are most useful in summer?

Not every family needs every accessory. We recommend choosing around where you'll be walking, the age of your child and the pushchair you already own.

Shade Parasol A flexible parasol gives you adjustable shade as the position of the sun changes. Our Universal iCandy Parasols use sun-smart SPF 50 fabric and attach to compatible iCandy pushchairs using the appropriate clamp. Explore iCandy Parasols

Shade + airflow iCandy Screen The Screen combines protective fabric with mesh to offer shade, reduce glare and maintain ventilation while also helping provide a barrier against insects. Explore The Screen

Compact travel Pip Screen Pip has its own dedicated Screen, combining UPF 50+ protective fabric with breathable mesh to reduce glare, support airflow and help keep insects away. Explore Pip Screen

Air movement Pram fan A safely positioned third-party pram fan may provide additional air movement on warm days. It should be securely fitted, kept out of your child's reach and never treated as a substitute for shade or cooler surroundings.

Summer showers Raincover British summer can still mean sudden rain. Keep the correct model-specific raincover with you, but remove it once it's no longer needed and never use a plastic raincover as a sunshade. Explore Raincovers

Everyday convenience Cup holder A compatible cup holder gives parents an easy place to keep a drink accessible during longer summer walks. Always fit it using the correct attachment for your pushchair. Explore Pram Accessories

Summer essential

Is a pram parasol worth it?

For families spending plenty of time outdoors, a parasol can be one of the simplest ways to create adjustable shade without enclosing the pushchair.

Adjustable shade The flexible arm on our Universal Parasol lets you reposition the shade as the direction of the sun changes during your walk.

SPF 50 fabric Our current Universal Parasols use sun-smart fabric rated SPF 50 to provide additional protection from direct sunlight.

Open airflow Unlike improvising with a blanket or muslin, a correctly positioned parasol provides shade while leaving the pushchair environment open to normal airflow.

Explore iCandy Parasols

An alternative to a parasol

What is the difference between an iCandy Screen and a parasol?

Both provide sun protection, but they approach it differently. A parasol creates a repositionable area of shade, while our Screens combine protective fabric with breathable mesh around more of the child space.

The Screen For most iCandy pushchairs The Screen uses protective SPF 50+ fabric alongside a mesh window designed to maintain ventilation, reduce glare and help keep insects away. It also packs into its own storage bag. View The Screen

Pip Screen Designed specifically for Pip Pip has a dedicated version with UPF 50+ protective fabric and breathable mesh. This is the option to choose rather than relying on the standard Screen for your Pip. View Pip Screen

Optional extra

Are pram fans useful in hot weather?

A small pram fan can increase air movement around the pushchair and may make warm conditions feel more comfortable. We would treat it as an optional extra rather than the main way of managing heat.

Attach it securely

Use a fan designed to attach securely and follow the manufacturer's fitting instructions. Check the clamp or fixing before every journey.

Keep it out of reach

Position the fan so your child cannot touch the blades, controls, cable, battery compartment or attachment mechanism.

Don't rely on it for cooling

A fan does not make direct sun safe and doesn't replace shade, lightweight clothing or moving somewhere cooler if your baby is becoming too warm.

Protect airflow around the pushchair

Keep ventilation areas open rather than placing a fan inside an enclosed or heavily covered child space.

The most important summer rule

Never cover a pushchair with a blanket or muslin to create shade.

It may seem like an easy way to block bright sunlight, but placing a blanket, muslin or similar fabric over the opening of a pram or pushchair can restrict airflow and contribute to overheating.

Use the canopy, a properly fitted parasol or a compatible breathable screen instead, and continue to check your baby regularly.

Summer isn't one type of weather

Which accessory should you use in different conditions?

The best setup changes with the weather, so it's useful to think in terms of conditions rather than simply “summer”.

Bright sunshine

Shade first

Keep your child out of direct sun and use the pushchair canopy, parasol or compatible Screen to provide shade while preserving airflow.

Hot & still

Prioritise cooler surroundings

Choose shaded routes, lighter clothing and good airflow. A securely fitted fan may add air movement, but move somewhere cooler if your baby becomes hot.

Sudden shower

Use the raincover temporarily

Fit the correct raincover for wet weather, then remove it when the rain has passed rather than leaving a plastic cover fitted in warm conditions.

Accessories can't replace hot-weather basics

What should summer pram accessories not be used for?

Don't use shade accessories to justify staying in direct sun Babies under six months should still be kept out of direct sunlight, and older babies should also spend as much time as possible in the shade when the sun is strong.

Don't seal the pushchair to make it darker The child space should retain airflow. Never add extra blankets, cloths or improvised covers over the pushchair opening.

Don't treat a fan as temperature control Air movement can improve comfort, but it doesn't mean a baby can safely remain somewhere that is too hot.

Don't leave a raincover on for shade Plastic raincovers are designed for wet weather. They should not be used as summer sun protection.

Before heading out

A simple summer pushchair checklist

Check the weather and UV Conditions can change quickly. Consider the temperature, sunshine and UV level rather than deciding what to take based only on the season.

Pack your shade option Take the correct parasol or Screen if you're likely to be outdoors for longer periods.

Keep baby lightly dressed Avoid unnecessary layers and check your baby's chest or the back of their neck during the outing.

Leave the ventilation clear Before setting off, make sure mesh panels, canopy vents and any other airflow features remain unobstructed.

Common questions

Summer Pram Accessories FAQs

What are the best summer accessories for a pram?

The most useful accessories are those that provide appropriate shade and preserve airflow. A compatible parasol or breathable sun screen is a strong starting point. A securely fitted pram fan can be a useful optional extra, while a model-specific raincover is helpful for sudden summer showers.

Is a parasol better than covering a pram with a muslin?

Yes. A parasol creates shade while leaving the pushchair open to normal airflow. The NHS advises not to cover a baby's pushchair or pram with a blanket because this can contribute to overheating.

Can I use an iCandy parasol on any iCandy pushchair?

Our current Universal Parasols are designed for attachment to iCandy pushchairs, but the appropriate clamp is sold separately. Always check the attachment required for your exact pushchair before fitting.

What is The iCandy Screen?

The Screen combines protective SPF 50+ fabric with mesh. The fabric provides sun coverage, while the mesh is designed to reduce glare, maintain airflow and help keep insects away. The standard Screen is designed for most iCandy pushchairs, while Pip has its own dedicated Pip Screen .

Do pram fans keep babies cool?

A pram fan can provide additional air movement and may make warm conditions feel more comfortable, but it should not be relied upon to prevent overheating. Shade, appropriate clothing, airflow and avoiding excessive heat remain more important.

Where should I attach a pram fan?

Follow the manufacturer's instructions and attach it securely somewhere your child cannot reach it. The fan, blades, controls, clamp and battery compartment should all remain safely out of reach, and it should not obstruct your view or the pushchair's ventilation.

Can I put a blanket over a pram in summer?

No. Do not place a blanket, muslin or similar cover over a pram to create shade. It can restrict airflow and contribute to overheating. Use a parasol, pushchair canopy or compatible breathable screen instead.

What should a baby wear in a pram in summer?

Choose lightweight clothing appropriate to the actual temperature and avoid unnecessary layers. Check your baby's chest or the back of their neck rather than judging temperature from their hands or feet. For more detail, read our guide to dressing a baby in a pram for every season .

Can babies use sunscreen?

NHS guidance says babies under six months should be kept out of direct sunlight and sunscreen is not recommended for them. For babies aged six months and over, the NHS advises using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 alongside shade and suitable clothing.

Where can I find more advice for hot weather?

Read our guide to keeping your baby cool in hot weather for more guidance on shade, clothing, pushchair airflow and safer sleep during warmer conditions.

Summer, made simpler

Think shade and airflow before accessories.

A parasol, breathable Screen or carefully positioned fan can all make summer outings more comfortable, but the most important decisions are still the simplest ones: avoid direct sun, dress your baby for the temperature and keep the pushchair well ventilated.

Choose accessories that are compatible with your pushchair and use them for the job they were designed to do. That way, they become useful additions to summer family life rather than a substitute for good hot-weather habits.

Explore Summer Accessories Read Our Hot Weather Guide