Parenting / 10 April, 2017 / My Baba

The Absolute Beginner’s Guide To Buying Your First Pram

With literally hundreds of prams to choose from, finding the right one for you can understandably be a challenge – especially when you’re not sure what you should be looking for. The pram you choose is going to directly affect your mobility, and it goes without saying that you want the vehicle from which your child will experience the world to be safe, efficient, and comfortable for both driver (you) and passenger (your baby). We asked the pram experts at Prams.net about the key things to consider when purchasing your first pushchair. Here are the two things you must always keep in mind:

1. Your Baby’s Needs

Age is key in deciding which pram you should opt for. A newborn is going to need different things from a toddler so the features of your chosen pram should reflect this:

0-6 Months

The first six months are a time of adjustment for your baby. They are experiencing this bright, loud, and rather huge world for the first time. ‘Sensory overload’ is probably an understatement!

What to look for:

• A seat which allows your baby to lie flat: during the first six months, babies cannot support the weight of their heads, so lying flat promotes healthy spinal development and assists with their breathing.
• A parent-facing seat: allowing them to face you whilst you’re out and about in this new and unfamiliar world will put them at ease.
• A travel system: this includes a car seat and/or carrycot. Both can be attached to the frame of the pram, ensuring that your baby can lie flat. Car seats are a great addition, as they are safe and allow you to transition your baby from pram to car hassle-free.

Safety Consideration:

NEVER use these features as a substitute for a crib. We know how tempting it is to just leave your sleeping baby in the carrycot/car seat, but only a crib has been designed specifically for unobserved sleeping.

6+ Months

By six months, the curiosity that we mentioned in the first six months will have well and truly come out of its shell and you’ll have a little explorer on your hands.

This is when your pram will see the most action. You will be taking longer trips away from home with your adventurous toddler so it’s vital that you have the right pram by your side to meet your every need.

What to look for:

• A lightweight and compact pram: From here on out, your little one is going to become more and more active. Having a pram that can be manoeuvred with one hand will free up your other hand to hold onto your toddler.
• A good pram seat: it must be roomy, adjustable, and comfortable so that it will accommodate those rapidly growing limbs!
• A forward and backward facing seat: whilst curiosity may often mean that your child will want to look around them, giving them the option to sit facing you is also a good idea.
• A 5-point safety harness: this will keep your little explorer grounded whilst you navigate through a crowd.

The Cybex range

2. Your Lifestyle

The pram you choose must fit in with your lifestyle. Consider how much you can afford to spend; how much storage space you have at home; and where you’re going to be using your pram. These factors will alter the kind of pram you’ll be looking for.

The Urban Pram:

You’ll need a nimble and flexible pram that’s easy to manoeuvre through tightly packed streets and busy supermarket aisles. It’s also important for the pram to be lightweight and compact. If it’s easy to fold, manoeuvre and lift, then it will make tackling stairs and public transport so much easier.

The Rural Pram:

Air tyres, flexible front wheels, and great suspension will ensure that this pram can tackle all different types of terrain. It’s also worth thinking about the size. If it can fold compactly and fit in the boot of your car then you’ll be able to take it with you to find a new beauty spot.

The Travel Pram:

Lightweight is going to be key if you want to travel with your pram. It also needs to be easy to maneouver and fold so that getting on and off a plane will be no hassle at all.

One final tip

The most important thing you need to consider is that your baby will need a safe and comfortable pram to ensure that your adventures outside of the home are exciting and stress-free. Make sure you take the time to find out which type of pram is going to be best for you.

With that final tip, we say bring on the prams! We’re pretty sure that you can take them on and come out the other side victorious now.

The Baby Jogger range

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