Prams, strollers, buggies and travel systems
Choosing the correct pram or travel system for your child
Having gone through the issues of purchasing a new pram for our son, I thought I would share with you some of the key decisions in buying the traveling arrangements for your child. It is a big and scary world out there of baby consumer choice and trying to work out which pram you need can be difficult. Below are just some of the points to consider as well as what some of the terminology means and who some of the big buggy manufacturers are.
As well as the list of pram, strollers, buggies and travel systems you can add in car seats, carry cots and pushchairs to the list of bewildering terms that new parents must get used to. All of these have one basic aim in mind to get your small person from A to B without difficulty and without causing you a hernia from carrying them. Which reminds me you can add baby carrier to the list as well. The name of the website was meant to reflect the bewildering new jargon that new dads have to get used to. As we buy and road test more equipment then I will add in more categories.
Your Pram and your needs
There is one fundamental point to bear in mind though, a baby will change your life in lots of ways, but you should question whether they will fundamentally change your lifestyle choices. If you are quite happy staying in and using your playstation and you are a city person at heart, it is unlikely that a new baby will transform you into an outdoor adventure type that really does need that three wheel all terrain pushchair for those early morning jogs through the woods that you will be sharing together! Buy for you now.
Type of pram or pushchair
The main types of pram or pushchair terminology that you may come across are listed below.
- Pram - It is thought that newborn babies should not sit up right, as they don't have strong enough muscles. Thus they should be laid flat in a pram, some prams can convert into pushchairs.
- Pushchairs have the ability to change the angle that your child can lie, also look out for if it can change the direction that they face, since some research suggest that the child does better if facing you to start off with. Also they are probably easier to fold than a pram.
- Buggies/strollers are lightweight vehicles that you will probably be trying to get your child into as soon as possible. Buggies are the most easily comp actable of the designs and the lightest. Maclaren were one of the leaders in this field.
- Travel System - this is a hybrid animal which tries to meet most of the criteria that you may need from an early age. Usually they will try to accommodate a pram/carry cot, car seat and pushchair in one model. Remember if collecting from hospital in a car you will need an infant car seat. The basic chassis will remain the same and you will change the main component that goes on top. The main issues are that they are quite heavy and they may be ok at everything but master at none.
- Double riders - there is now an increased range of double riders and buggies so that you can have son no. 1 and son no.2 say on the same vehicle. Ease of mobility versus size is probably the key here.
Technology and kit
There has been an explosion in the amount of three wheel prams, pushchairs etc. on the market and many are trumpeted as all-terrain vehicles. Three wheels can have a greater turning circle, but are not necessarily lighter than four wheels. Other things to look out for disc brakes and things like that. These will tend to appeal to the male member of the buying crew. Practical issues like the size of the shopping basket attached will be on the agenda of the female side.
The Key criteria for choosing a travel system or pram
There are I believe two key elements when choosing the right pram pushcahir or travel system, those are weight and does it fit in the car (if you don't have a car, then can I get it on the bus or train).
If the kit is too heavy you will hate using it and want to change as soon as possible.
If the travel system doesn't fit in the boot of the car (remember all the other stuff you have as well) then it won't work and you will want to change.
With a travel system this is further complicated by the car seat issue which must be able to fit correctly in your car.
Colour of your pushchair
But at the end of the day we are all only human, and all the sensible reasons may disappear because you just like the colour or it is the right brand name.
