Buggies and Prams

Choosing a buggy or pram for your newborn can be a daunting task, with so many choices, styles and variations of buggy to decide between. Prams and buggies are the kinds of baby products which may take a lot of research to decide which one best suits you. Of course the most important considerations are safety and comfort, but beyond this, your lifestyle and when you most plan to use the buggy will dictate your final choice.

One of the first characteristics you might take into account when purchasing your new pram or buggy are what kind of safety features it has. For example, how stable is the whole pram? You don't want one that will tip over if you hit a bump or cause baby to bounce out. Sturdiness and a pram with a good centre of gravity is best. If you hang a bag on the rear of the pushchair will it make the weight distribution uneven and unbalance the whole pram? Make sure you investigate how well the brakes perform. Always buy a pushchair with good quality brakes so if you need to park the pram on an incline, your mind will be at rest that the brakes will hold the weight of the buggy and baby, plus whatever else you have in the buggy.

Most buggies and strollers come with a seatbelt attached, preventing baby from tipping out or falling off, in the event of an unexpected bump or a particularly steep step. It is advisable to get into the habit of always buckling up your baby, even for those short little trips. You never know when you might have to tip the buggy slightly to navigate the terrain or bounce down a few steps.

One thing you can do is ask around your friends to see what kind of prams or buggies they use and recommend. Go for a walk and give the buggies a test drive, or visit The Baby Shows where you will receive expert advice, and you can try out the baby products. Come and see for yourself all the different ranges of pushchairs and buggies on offer and speak to our experts who will give you on-hand advice and reassurance.

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. For instance, if you're accustomed to travelling on public transport the lightweight collapsible strollers could be the best choice for you. These types of buggies don't normally have much padding and are not really suitable for newborns, but are handy for slightly older babies, and if you need to be able to fold it up easily with one hand before getting on a bus, train or plane. These light weight buggies are also very good because they don't take up much space in the boot of the car. Check to see if the handle height is suitable for you, and that your feet don't knock the bar as you walk. Also ask if the buggy comes with a rain cover or whether it's an item to be bought separately. Protecting your baby from wind and rain is very important and a particular consideration if you're thinking of buying a lightweight collapsible baby buggy as they usually aren't fully defensive against the elements.

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. 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.

© Practical Parenting

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