What type of pram is right for my lifestyle?

There are several different styles of baby vehicle and each is quite distinct from the rest. Think about which kind would best fit in with your particular lifestyle. Some of the popular options are:

Lightweight buggy
If you're accustomed to travelling on public transport the lightweight collapsible strollers could be the best choice. These types of buggies don't normally have much padding and are often aimed at babies aged over three months or more as they don’t lie completely flat. If you need to be able to fold it up easily with one hand before getting on a bus, train or plane, this is the choice for you. They also don't take up much space in the boot of the car.

Check:

• The handle height is suitable for you or is adjustable
• Your feet don't knock the bar as you walk
• You’ll need a raincover if it is not included, to protect baby from wind and rain.

Travel system
Travel system pushchairs have become very popular, combining a pushchair and a first stage car seat. The pushchairs are often more substantial than lightweight buggies, though they don’t usually fold up as small as a result. The convenience of being able to lift baby in a car seat out of the car and click onto a pushchair or wheels can’t be overestimated, though you do need to ensure the baby doesn’t spend too long in the car seat. Most travel systems include a footmuff for the pushchair and a raincover, but do check. Some travel systems include a carrycot for the first few months, to ensure the newborn baby can lie flat.

3 wheel
Three wheeler baby buggies are becoming more and more popular. These are all-terrain, smart-looking, easy to use baby buggies that make you stand out from the crowd! They have tyres filled with air so beware they could puncture, but this gives a much smoother ride for baby, and they are easy to manoeuvre on all sorts of ground surfaces. Some threewheelers have carrycots that clip in. Most will include a raincover and footmuff, but again, check.

Separate carrycot
Think about whether you need the expense of a separate carrycot. If baby is going to be transported by sling or carrier for the first few months, and you have a Moses basket at home, you may not need one. If your pushchair is suitable from birth then you may also not need one. However it can be invaluable for those first few months to ensure you are getting out and about, so think about your lifestyle and plans.

Finally
Think about where the pram will go when you return to the house. A lightweight buggy can stay in the boot of the car or be folded in a cloakroom but a larger pram will need a space where you can wheel it into the house – or it will end up in the cold garage!
For many mums, the weight of the buggy is an important factor, but whichever the product you decide on, check what age and weight the prams are suitable for, and make safety and comfort for baby your priorities.

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