tips, tricks and guides for parenthood
With a huge range of pushchairs available, it can be difficult to find the right one for you and your baby. It’s important to remember what kind of travel system you need for your little one before you purchase it. Although some pushchairs are also suitable for new-born babies, the majority of them comes with a reclined design made for slightly older children. If you’re really not sure what you’re looking for, keep on reading!
A baby pushchair is a more multi-functional version of a pram. As your baby gets older, their needs will change and what they require will be different to before. Whereas prams are made to just lie flat, pushchairs recline all the way forward and offer the functionality to change the seat to either front facing or rear facing.
Your baby will become more socially aware as they get older so it’s important that they can see what’s going on whilst you’re pushing them around. This is great for brain simulation and their development.
Pushchairs aren’t normally made for new-born babies as they need to lay flat when they’re this young. As the majority of pushchairs come with reclined seats, this is something that you will have to get as they develop rather than straight away. However, there are some pushchairs can offer a lie flat position as well as a reclining seat function. These pushchairs are great as they cover your baby from a new-born and as they grow older.
Prams are commonly used for newborns as they offer a permanent lie-flat position which your baby needs. However, as they get older, they can begin to sit up more often. Pushchairs offer a seated position where your baby can look around at their surroundings whilst you run errands.
It's rare that you will need both a pram and a pushchair at the same time as they both have individual features that offer suitability for different ages. Some parents do go straight to a pushchair as some provide you with a lie-flat and sit up positions that you can change when needed. This gives you a travel system that you can use from when your baby is a newborn up until they are a toddler.
Before you choose the perfect pushchair, you need to work out which one is best for you. You may not know it, but there are many different types of pushchairs to choose from. Take a look at the different options available below to find out what you need.
These pushchairs are suitable for both older babies as well as new-borns. The seat is built to either face towards you or way away from you, depending on what you feel is better for you child. With this, the seat usually reclines which makes it easy to go from new-born to toddler. The pushchairs can normally be folded very easily which makes it simple to put into the boot after you’ve been out and about.
If you love to go on long walks with your baby or don’t have a car, these pushchairs are great. They are designed to be easily pushed on all surfaces with chunky wheels and a good suspension. If you do not have a car to get you to where you need to go, this pushchair is great for taking your baby along with you when you need to go out. You don’t need to worry about getting stuck somewhere or not being able to push your little one!
Buying a travel system can be convenient as you can purchase items all in one go without searching around different stores. These systems usually come with a carry cot and car seat attachment that fits into a pram that you purchase with the collection. These can save you some money but depends on whether you want to purchase everything at the same time. If you’re struggling for money, you may prefer to buy these things second hand and have everything separate. Whilst these are great, as soon as your baby grows out of their car seat or carry cot, the other items are no longer useful.
Double pushchairs are great for if you’re expecting twins. Although this can be very daunting, having a double pushchair can make getting around much easier. However, things to look out for when buying one of these is making sure it isn’t too wide to get into shops.
A travel system is a pushchair that can also be taken apart to be a car seat too. As well as this, some also include a carrycot function. Travel systems can make purchasing these items much easier as they all come together. Not only can this save you some money, travel systems can also save you a lot of hassle. Having all of your items fit together easily makes journeys a lot easier. You can simply take your car seat out of the car and attach it straight onto your pushchair.
Some things to look out for when purchasing a travel system are:
Before you buy your pushchair, you need to think about what you’d like it to come with. It will make your search much easier. We’ve listed some common things that people think about and look for when buying their pushchair:
It’s great to try and look for a pushchair where you can change the direction of the seat. Not only will this last longer, it will also make your baby’s experience much better. When your baby is a new-born, you’ll most likely have them facing towards you to monitor them. However, as they get older, they may want to look around.
Whilst your baby is still developing and growing, you want to protect them as much as possible. Lightweight pushchairs can be a first choice as they’re easy to pick up and put into the car. However, when a pushchair is lighter, it may compromise how smooth the ride is. If you’re more active, you may be better to go with an all-terrain pushchair as these are made for rougher surfaces. However, if you’re only out and about at the shops, a lighter pushchair should suit you perfectly.
Consider your lifestyle before purchasing your pushchair. If you use a car or public transport, you’ll want to be able to fold your pushchair away confidently. Make sure it is easy to do each time as well as making sure it fits into a standard boot. This is very important if your pushchair is bulkier or is a travel system.
It’s important that your pushchair is easy to get around. If you are still pregnant and cannot test your pushchair, ask a friend with a baby to test it for you or get help from a store assistant. The last thing you want is for your pushchair to be difficult to push every day! Try pushing the chair with one hand too as there will definitely be times where you’re on the phone or carrying shopping. Lastly, consider where you’ll be going with your pushchair. If you’ll spend a lot of time in shops, your need something that’s easy to get around corners.
A lot of the time when you’re out and about with your baby, you might be collecting some shopping or just picking up a few bits. Whatever it is, you’re going to want storage to put these things into. Make sure it’s big enough to fit your shopping into and easy enough to take out!
You may not have thought about accessories but things like rain sheets and hoods for the pushchair are essential for weather changes. Check to see if these items come with the pushchair you are buying or if you have to purchase them separately. This can sometimes save you some money and hassle in looking around for them.
It’s better to try and look for a pushchair that will last your baby longer than just their first year. Pushchairs with reversible seats and reclining seats are great for this. If you’re interested in a travel system, bear in mind that they will outgrow their car seat by about 1 year old. This will make the pram and carry cot useless also. Purchase items that will last you in the long run.
The most important factor of all is how safe your baby’s pushchair is. All pushchairs that you purchase in the UK have to pass strict safety measures to be used. This means that if you purchase from a UK store or UK online seller, your pushchair is safe. However, it’s important to text the brakes and harness when you get it. If you purchase your pushchair from an online seller outside of the UK, make sure you test everything before putting your baby in it as these may not have gone through the same safety measures.
Pushchairs can be found baby centric stores as well as many supermarkets and department stores. It’s great to go inside and have a look and feel of the pushchair before you buy it. Make sure it has everything or nearly everything that you require and that it’s comfortable to push around. Staff members in baby stores are normally trained to show you how to fold the pushchair away as well as put it back up again. This will help massively as there will be no confusion as to how you do it.
If you decide to purchase one online, there are a huge range of sellers who sell pushchairs for each person. To find out if it’s the right one for you, read the description as well as reviews to find out it’s pros and cons (if there are any). Some online sellers will also include a video of the product. Within this, it may show you how to fold the pushchair away. However, if you get the pushchair delivered and it’s not right for you, it’s always an option to send it back and look for another one.
It’s ideal to try and stick to UK based stores as these pushchairs would have had to pass strict safety measures. If you’re buying from aboard, it can be a risk that the product is lower quality or is unsafe. Don’t buy from an unknown seller just because the price is lower, they may send you a low-quality item or nothing at all. Stick to known sellers and get advice from family and friends on where to go.
Your pram goes on many adventures with you and it doesn’t take much for it to begin getting dirty. As well as this, your baby will start to snack on small items as they get older which can lead to a build-up of crumbs inside the pushchair.
We’ve got some simple steps for you to follow to keep your pushchair nice and clean. It may seem like a big chore, but our steps make it easy and quick to complete…
And there you have it, a clean and refreshed pushchair. Remember, use products that are safe for you little one during this process. You should only have to do a deep clean like this monthly if you’re out and about a lot. The wheels are what will get the dirtiest the quickest, these can be hosed down when you get home each time to prevent a build-up.
For some, splashing out on a pushchair can seem like a lot of money, especially if you're worried that you won't use it that much. Whilst they are not necessary, they are useful. If you need to pop out and grab some shopping, a pram provides you with a safe place to lay your baby down as well as some storage to free up your hands.
Some parents choose to use baby slings more often when out and about with their baby. Whilst these are a great way of transporting your baby around safely, they can become a little bit uncomfortable if you're wearing them for long periods of time. As well as this, if your baby is on your front, it can make easy tasks more difficult.
It's important to work out your lifestyle before you choose to have a pushchair or not. If you always go out together and will always have an extra pair of hands, you may be comfortable not using a pram. However, if your partner will be working throughout the day whilst you're at home with your little one, you may need a pushchair just to make life easier for you.
Your first pushchair can be a big investment that you want to make sure is right for your baby. However, finding a cheap pushchair can be difficult and may lead you to think about purchasing a second hand one.
Although this move can save you money, it's important to check that it will not put your baby's life in any danger. When buying a second hand pushchair, make sure that it complies with British Standard BS7409. This will ensure that the model has been subject to safety tests - this applies to new and second hand pushchairs. You should also look to see if the pushchair meets the Furniture and Furnishings Regulations 1988. This ensure s that the fabric has been treated with flame retardant.
Another thing to check is to see if the buggy you are buying has been recalled. If so, you should avoid buying this as it may have things wrong with it that could potentially harm your baby. Other things you should check if you're buying a pushchair in person are:
When your baby is around 6 months old, this is when they can make the move to a pushchair. At this stage, your little one will be more intrigued in what’s going on around them and there are some signs to look for to know it’s time to move:
All children develop and grow at different stages so it’s normal for your child to move to a pushchair either earlier or later than other children. You should not worry about this and do everything in your child’s own time.
When you're out and about, it's very common for your little one to fall asleep in their pushchair. Although they may look content and comfortable in their pram, it's important that you move them to their cot as soon as you can. Pushchairs are not made to support a baby through a whole nights sleep and don't offer the same safety features as a cot does.
With this in mind, it's important that your baby always sleeps in their cot overnight. It's fine to let your little one sleep in their pram whilst you're using it. However, once you get home and if your baby is still asleep, you should transfer them to their cot where they will be much safer.
If you're planning on jetting off, it's important to know if you can take everything your baby needs. If your little one is under two years old, they are entitled to have 10kg of checked baggage, a pushchair and a travel cot or car seat. Both of these items must be checked into the hold and you will get them back once you collect your luggage.
If your child is over two years old, you should check with your airline provider to find out their policy on taking pushchairs onto a flight.
We hope that we have given you some handy information in what to look for when buying your baby pushchair. The most important thing is making sure that whatever one you buy, your little one is secure and safe whilst you run errands. If you’re looking for a pram instead for your new-born baby, you can find our guide about that here.