There are plenty of things to consider when you’re looking for a new pram which is why to those who have never had to traverse the realms of baby-dom before it can be a daunting place. What with prams, buggies and baby travel systems to compare it’s clear that what every new parent needs is an unbiased view of each of the benefits of these units to help make the choice easier. So here it is a look at what each type of transport offers and in particular I’ll be looking at choices made for babies rather than for toddlers.
So first up the good news. If this is your first time you’ve saved heaps of time and yet more options instantly by just having the one baby to look out for (unless you’re having twins or more!) so that makes things a lot simpler. Newborns need of course the most secure unit possible to keep them safe no matter what so here I’ll be looking at what I consider to be the safest of the lot the travel system.
More of a tank than a pram, the reason for the size of these complete travel systems is that as their name suggests they do more than just one thing so they adapt to baby’s growing needs. While a few years ago a travel system was bigger and heavier than their latest incarnations, it’s great to know that the same infrastructure is still in place across the board and the same very essential adaptability features are featured in just about every system eg the ability to lie a newborn flat and to turn into a buggy once your baby wants to sit up and look out on the world.
There are two main types of travel system the first having its own carrycot -perfect for newborns once more- and the second having its own car seat. This second type is a brilliant means of saving money in the short term as you can still use the car seat as a carrycot (albeit a very heavy one) and you will be able to put baby straight in the car as soon as it’s time to leave.
It’s worth noting that which of theses types of travel system you choose you will have to buy a different car seat once the baby reaches a certain weight so don’t let this one factor determine your choice, it’s just something to bear in mind.
The other main type of transport for baby is the cheap pram. These are traditionally lie flat all in one units with a hood and big wheels. While there are still some styles that follow this tradition on the market you’ll find that a lot of modern prams again will grow with your baby and eventually turn face outward so that your toddler can see what’s going on around them.
So how do we choose between these two main units? Well the first thing to consider is your lifestyle. If you live in a city and use a lot of public transport, the travel system may not be right for you after all no one in the capital has the patience to wait behind someone trying to put down a bulky bit of kit once the train’s on the platform. In this case I would suggest looking at one of the lightweight prams that can be adapted to outward facing buggy in the long term. Clearly if you’re facing lots of stairs in stations or having to hop on and off buses all day the lighter the pram the better and there are heaps out there that not only fold down in one easy movement but that also don’t take up lots of space which once again makes life a bit easier on the number 52.
If however you use a car a lot it’s worth thinking about your boot space. Something that’s always in short supply for families, having room in the back of the car can make a huge difference to your shopping trips, days out and in the future to playdates so make sure you look at the dimensions of every baby pram or travel system when folded down with this in mind. So many prospective parents think of the pram in terms of it being upright – considering it’s bulkiness in streets and in shops – but few think of where it’s going when it’s not in use. It’s worth measuring your hallway too so you can be sure there’s plenty of room to get to the door while the unit’s in the house. After all whichever type of transport you choose you could be facing up to three years pushing past it every time you go out or worse still having to buy another one rather than be irritated by an overly large obstacle every day.
As you can see there are plenty of things to think about before you choose baby’s wheels but you can rest assured that as long as you stick to a unit that has a lie down feature your baby will be safe from the outset. Good luck with your shopping and one last top tip make sure there’s plenty of room underneath your pram for your own shopping as well as for baby’s things!