Questions about prams for first time mum

[dancingtren]

hi
am just wanting to get some opinions/advice on what people think was the best option for a pram. im a first time mum and completely overwhelmed with the choice out there.
i would like one that i can use for 2 children if we are lucky enough to have them close together, and one that i can walk round the streets and the park with. other than that, i have no real other specifications.
so.... what do you use and what are the pro's/cons. what about the travel type systems with the basinette or capsules that click onto the prams, worth it or not???

[grugwashere]

I went into a baby shop and asked the shop assistant, I had no idea, I was baffled by strollers vs prams as well.

In the end I chose a lay back stroller, she told me that they can be used from new born if they have an insert like mine did. My priorities when choosing a pram was size, I have a hatchback car and I am also very short so a small pram was def what I wanted.

I did look into the prams that have the clip in capsules as little babys dont like to be moved alot so that would be useful, unfortunately they were out of our price range.

Best advice is to just pop into a baby shop and ask, its their job to give you advice. The one I went to even folded the pram and put it in my car so i could make sure it fit so that may be an idea also.

Good luck

[LadyLou]

Hi,

I have had so many prams its not funny!

My best advice would be to go for a smaller model. I have had the big ones (Valco 3 Wheeler with Basinette etc) and found that once my bub grew a bit and started to toddle I hardly used it. Plus it woudn't fit through some of the shopping aisles - which is most annoying in a busy shop/supermarket. It was handy having the basinette when we went to QLD for a holiday when DD was 8 weeks old as it was her bed and a pram in one - however bulky. My 3 wheeler also had a tendancy to tip over if gutters were not negotiated correctly. It was easy to push and a smooth ride, but SOO BIG!

Once both the kids could walk they sometimes wanted to get out of the pram and walk when out and about so it was just silly pushing a huge pram that they only sat in for some of the time, so I just used a stroller that could layback. Plus the huge one took lots of boot space.

For #3 I have gone and purchased a new pram, it's a layback stroller that has a compaible car seat (the car seat clicks into it and can be used for a child up to 12kg) the pram goes up to about 18kg I think. I did this because I figure I'll need my hands free when doing the school and preschool drop off in the mornings and afternoons and didn't really want to have to wake baby getting in and out of car 9am and 3pm each day. I figure this stroller will last all through to toddlerhood... its an umbrella fold so its nice and compact and lightweight.

Only negative so far is that it doesn't have an option for DD, however we have a trolley step that we are going to attach so if she gets tired she can catch a ride. And it doesn't have a parent tray... I love the parent trays they come in handy. Going to purchase a $20 jolly jumper one and put it on. Also noticed that jolly jumper does a kiddy tray that can be attached to front of pram for kids too - so may invest in one of those too - handy for keeping bub quiet with snacks and activities while mummy doing the boring shopping!! All up the new system of pram and carseat cost $400 from Target, which I thought was a bargain considering the cost of the other travel systems that I have seen.

There is soo much choice out there, I would suggest doing a bit of research and making a list of the things you think you want and seeing what is out there that matches your wants. Its hard to know until you start using it! But you can have some very basic ideas to begin with such as size and adaptability for toddlers etc....

Good luck!!!

[BabyPaparazzi]

Depends on a few things, your budget, car size, where you will be going with it etc.

Strollers are generally smaller, more compact and collapse better than prams. But if you want to load up a stroller with bags and stuff, some tend to tip easily.

Make sure they are layback though for newborns, when you have a play with them check to make sure they manouvere easily, are steady, and how heavy they feel to you.

I had a babylove travel system and stroller and I absolutely loved being able to move DD from car to pram etc.

If you are looking at having children really close together I would suggest one of the larger prams that have additional seats for older children. Alot of people I know either love the Phil and Teds or the Steelcraft Strider Plus. I wish they had the Strider Plus when I bought our first pram, as it comes with the capsule option, we are thinking of upgrading to it now.

The Pramwarehouse is a really good place to go look at prams.

[Kait]

I was going to suggest the Strider Plus. It depends on how much you want to spend too. It's a little pricey but I think it's worth it. It has the capsule that clicks into the frame and the bassinet. The seat that clips onto the back also lies flat so a newborn can go in there too.

You're probably best looking around and asking the sales assistants at the shops and researching on the internet. There's a website www.productreview.com.au where there's heaps of reviews on all different prams. Pros/cons etc.

[Kait]

Oh and make sure it fits into the boot of your car.

[Pinkzy]

I was going to suggest the Strider Plus. It depends on how much you want to spend too. It's a little pricey but I think it's worth it. It has the capsule that clicks into the frame and the bassinet. The seat that clips onto the back also lies flat so a newborn can go in there too.

You're probably best looking around and asking the sales assistants at the shops and researching on the internet. There's a website www.productreview.com.au where there's heaps of reviews on all different prams. Pros/cons etc.

I bought the Strider (without the capsule as I won't be having another child until this little one is at least 5 years old). It's a fantastic pram and we got it on sale for $500 - the price had been heavily reduced.

[Guest]

I have a city mini Jogger. I love it, it's very light, easy to manouver and folds and unfolds with one hand. I had no problems with him as a newborn, I just layed it right back, we took him everywhere in it including resteraunts and he slept so well. But before you know it, they'll be sitting up, time goes so quick

[RHJ]

We have had a number of prams over the years. Personally i hated propper prams, and much preffered the stroller. Much lighter and easier when shopping etc. I don't do much park walking, and when i do, i don't go off the tracks, so a stroller was fine for us. My all time favourite has been the Quick smart. I found when i had the 2nd that i purchased a nice cheapish ($150) double stroller, and that was it. And once my 1st and then my 2nd were walking i went back to the stroller.

It really does depend what you are using it for though, and how big your car is etc.