Things to consider when choosing a pram (How to choose a pram, pushchair or buggy)

Member Name: zerub

Product:	How to choose a pram, pushchair or buggy
Date:	22/10/08 (264 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Well, they all have good points

Disadvantages: and bad points

This is a collection of things to consider when choosing a pram.

Travel system or not
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When the baby is under 5 months or so, leaving them in their carseat is occasionally useful. After that, they can sit up, they like to look forward, and they are too flipping heavy when in their carseat.
You're not supposed to leave a small (<2 months) baby in one for too long (> hour or so) because they can get "oxygen desaturation" (squished lungs). Older babies also need to lie flat a lot of the time (spine development and not getting a flat head). So you probably don't want to use a car-seat+chassis as your only pram.
In theory, a travel system is nice as you can move baby from house to car to pram without waking them. BUT there are 2 types of baby - those that sleep well, and those that don't. If you get a good sleeper, they probably won't wake when you get them out of the car, and you won't care if they do because you'll know they'll go off to sleep again when they're ready. If you get a bad sleeper, they'll probably wake even if you get the car-seat out of the car with them in it (and you won't care because you'll be too knackered).

How it steers
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3 wheels are easier to manoeuvre (as long as the front one is a 360 swivel one - goes all the way round). 4 wheels are more stable.

One handle is easier to push (you can do it one-handed as well). Two handles are better for hanging your shopping from.

If you want to go for a walk along a country footpath or a gravel path, you need biggish wheels. But they get in the way when you are in the shops and take up more room in the boot of your car.

Seat recline
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You need fully-flat (or nearly so) until they are about 5 months. After that, a seat that reclines is useful for when you want the baby to sleep in the pram; e.g. if you go out for a whole day.
Watch out for seats where the whole unit just tilts back, leaving the child in the sitting position but staring at the sky. You'd need the carrycot for a little baby.

Forward, back, carrycot ...
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Rear-facing is nice when they are small. From about 5 months on they want to face forwards. A carrycot top is good for little babies. You can wrap them up in a blanket and put them in the pram and put the straps over the blanket. Its just easier to keep them warm and cosy. Plus you can then walk along gazing adoringly down at your baby - I think its worth spending money to have this! It does mean you have to take the carrycot off the pram chassis to fold it, and you have two bits to put in the car.
A "2-in-1" is a pram with a hood and a bit that goes over their legs so you zip it all together and you have a sort of carrycot (except it doesn't come off).

Folding it
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Does it fold in one piece? Can you do it easily? Maybe with one hand? Does it stand up when folded (this may be useful for storage in your house).
Is it going to live in the boot of your car, or in your house? Are you going to be folding it a lot, or not?
What does it weigh? Can you lift it into your boot?

Siblings
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Think about the next baby. If you're planning a gap of less than about 2.5 years, you'll probably need a double buggy so it doesn't matter what you get now (although there is the Phil and Ted). If you want a bigger gap, you might need to use this pram with a buggyboard on, so check if the buggyboard will fit.

Sooner or later...
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You are probably going to buy a cheap, tiny, lightweight basic pushchair. Because you need to take it on an aeroplane or a bus, or you're going on holiday and your boot is full, or you're fed up with manoeuvring your pram around the shops, or you need to push the buggy with one hand and have room on the pavement next to you for your toddler to walk (half the way). Lots of people end up using the cheap basic pushchair for much longer than they used the big expensive pram.

Summary: Have fun choosing!