Some very common questions (and answers).


What should I look for when choosing a pram?

The most important thing is to get a pram that suits the purpose that it will most often be used for. If you plan to do lots of outdoor walking with your pram, then choose one with large wheels that will handle uneven pavement well. If you think you will most often use your pram at the shops then a more compact stroller with smaller wheels will be more suitable.

A couple of things to keep in mind are:

You will most likely use the pram with a toddler in it for much longer than you will with a young baby. Make sure you look for features that will be practical in the long term unless you plan on buying another pram as your child grows up. Think about buying second hand or borrowing a larger carriage type pram to use while your baby is very small and then investing in a good quality stroller that will last you for several years.

Features such as cup holders and storage pockets are great but not if they're on a terrible pram. Many of these accessories can be purchased separately so don't put them too high on your list of requirements.

Make sure the pram fits in your car before you buy it. Some prams will only fit with the wheels removed. Whilst some people happily do this for the life of the pram most find this a very irritating action to repeat day after day.

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Should I get a pram with a bassinet option?

Bassinets that attach to the pram frame are a great option if you can afford it. They provide a secure space in which the tiniest of babies can lie without the need for a harness. As well as being able to sleep in the bassinet when out with the pram, the bassinet can also be used as a portable bed when out visiting. Bassinets attached to some prams enable you to have your baby facing you for the first few months.

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How heavy is too heavy?

This is a matter of personal choice. Some people will happily lift 18kg of pram into and out of their car on a daily basis. These people, however, tend to be more the exception than the rule. For most people the novelty of lifting such a huge weight soon wears off.

If you have your eye on a bulky or heavy pram then consider you may need to get a lightweight stroller for the car at some time in the future. You should also consider the size the pram folds down to. Sometimes it is not so much the weight but the bulk of the pram that makes it so awkward to lift into the car.

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Should I be concerned with how wide a pram is?

The major concern with prams that have a very wide wheel base is that they do not fit through a standard checkout at the supermarket. Most supermarkets have a register designed for disabled access and they will open this for you if it is not already open. Many people find this a constant source of frustration however and you should consider how this might affect you before purchasing any pram wider than 60cm or 24in.

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Should I get a pram with a reversible handle or seat?

Being able to face your baby is a priority for many people when choosing a pram. It is true that it is lovely being able to watch your new baby as you push him or her around. Unfortnately this feature often comes at some cost to the overall functioning of the pram.

If you are looking at a pram with swivel wheels and a reversible handle make sure that all four wheels can swivel. Prams with only two sets of swivel wheels are nearly impossible to steer once the handle is reversed.

If the pram has fixed wheels make sure you test it out with a child in it to make sure it is easy to tip and steer once the handle is reversed. The balance of a fixed wheel pram is integral to its steering and reversing the handle can throw this right out of whack.

A pram with a reversible seat rather than a reversible handle is less likely to suffer from the above steering problems, however a child will need to be taken out of the seat to reverse its direction.

The other thing to look out for is how much weight is added to the pram for this feature. It might be nice to be able to watch your newborn sleep but remember you may be litfing the extra weight daily well after your child has decided that they prefer to face where they're going.

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Why do so many people have two prams?

Many people find that it is impossible to find a pram that does everything they want. The best way around this is to buy two (or more!) separate prams that are specifically designed for a particular set of conditions.

Probably the most common mix of prams people own is a pram with large tyres for outdoor use and a lightweight pram for the car. An advantage of this setup is that one is not constantly dragging a pram in and out of the car in order to go for a walk around the neighbouhood. The selection of prams for outdoor use is also greatly expanded when size and weight are taken out of the equation.

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