Do you need a buggy?

[Skinnywhippet]

Just a thought, but with a newborn up to say 3 months can you get away with just having a really good sling? I was thinking it might be easiest for someone like me who doesn't drive to have a sling (babybjorn or similar) instead of a pushchair and then buy the pushchair after the baby is born to see what type would suit us best to save wasting lots of money. Is this an unwise move?

[Notsoyummymummy1]

Up to you but pushchairs are handy for getting them off to sleep and for sheltering them from rain and sun - see how you get on but I think they are useful.

[Nicknamegrief]

I have only used a buggy when running and once mine were about 18months plus for big days out.

So no I think you'll be fine. I would start with a moby wrap first though. Personally I hate the baby Bjorn. I now have three slings (my moby which is my favourite, a mai tai and a storchweige).

[Nicknamegrief]

I have four children if that helps.

[Schooldidi]

I think you'd be fine. in fact I wish I'd nit had a pram fir dd2 as she hated it and would scream the whole time she was in it. I'd go for a wrap or ring sling rather than a baby Bjorn.

[ShowOfHands]

Don't get a baby bjorn. It isn't good for you or the baby.

I didn't drive when ds was born and had a 4yo who needed to get to school every day. I walked 2 miles and caught a bus too. I used a sling exclusively and not only did it keep the baby warm/dry/close/within bf reach at all times, it kept me really fit. I found an umbrella and a coat big enough to go over the both of us were all we needed in bad weather. In good weather, my sunhat shaded us both. When really small I used a wrap or a coorie and as he grew, used my ergo.

Never bothered with a pushchair.

[Cies]

My dd is now nearly five months old and we're only just starting to use the pushchair. Before that it was Moby wrap all the way. It suits me much better , but most people think I'm mad

[maybunny]

I had a baby bjorn for both my dc and found after a few weeks they were just too heavy and gave me back ache. But other carriers obv could be better. I personally would want a buggy for encouraging naps, to give me a break etc. but you may be ok without.
Even after baby is born you might not know which buggy is best as it really is a case of try it and see!
Good luck!

[stowsettler]

DD is 10 weeks old and has been in her buggy a grand total of 3 times in her life. She loves her sling and I'm hopeful of using it right up until she can walk (I like to think I have strong back muscles ).
Incidentally we're currently using a baby bjorn with DD facing outward - really didn't get along with the ring sling. We are waiting for a Rose & Rebellion sling to be delivered though, much better for DD's legs/hips.

[waterrat]

I didn't use a buggy much in the first three months - BUT...there are some reasons you might want one for ocassional use. although newborns are not heavy, you may well want to do something else while they sleep! I look back and think I got myself really tired by carrying DS for all his naps - and at that age they are unlikely to conveniently nap for you in their cot/ moses basket. In a similar vein, you might be out having lunch with friends and want to put the baby down - a buggy means the baby is'nt asleep on top of you - that might seem a little thing but it matters when you are knackered! and they often dont like it when you sit down and they arein the sling, so you end up standing and walking about when you would rather sit down!

[meandtheboys]

I think you'll be fine with a sling to begin with. DS1 actually hated his pushchair from day one and didn't really warm to it until he was about 12 months so I ALWAYS used a sling with him. I had a KariMe wrap sling and I loved it. So comfy and can hold the baby in whichever position they prefer.

I think it's best to use a sling as much as possible really because it can help with bonding and strengthens the babies muscles whiclst being able to be close to you.

DS2 was in the sling for the first few months too but actually didn't mind the buggy too much so if I was going shopping I'd use the buggy to hang shopping on! Other than that he was in the sling til about 4 months.

I think people often rush into buying enormous, fancy, travel systems in pregnancy (I did this with DS1!) which actually after having a baby and seeing what they like, whether they want to face towards or away from you, how small/ lightweight you want it to be, where you go with your baby etc you realise it's all but useless!

[lola88]

IMO If you don't drive I think you really need a buggy for going anywhere for more than a couple of hours unless you want to carry the baby plus a massive bag full of all the things you need. I used to use the sling to pop round to my mums but anywhere else I found it easier to use the buggy. I didn't really like wearing a sling much it got in my way DS was a terrible sleeper and would get annoyed all crushed in it he likes to sleep starfish like in the buggy. I found it really tiring carrying him and the bag for any longer than maybe a 20 min walk.

If you do get a buggy just make sure you get one you can fold one handed, lift one handed and has a good rain cover. I have a mama and papa's pushchair I have used from DS was 7 weeks (when I gave up the monster silver cross) I have to say if there was a fire in the house I would be saving the buggy!

[lola88]

remember as well (which I didn't) most pushchairs go from birth and though a lot of people say they don't look comfy for tiny babies and the don't lie flat, they will only use the laying flat baby bit for a small amount of time by 6 weeks DS wanted to sit up so think long term.

A big pram or travel system isn't needed

[Brownowlahi]

I carried third dc in a sling pretty much all the time until she was six months. But I did have a buggy too, partly for other dc, but also to put the bags in. Babies need quite a lot of stuff, I was bf but just nappies, wipes etc plus any shopping you may buy could get quite heavy. But I guess you could manage if you could find a sling that worked with some kind of rucksack that went on your back for all the 'stuff'.

[Knittingnovice]

I wanted to sling DD2 (now 4 weeks) for the school run etc, however I have tried it twice in my wrap sling and my back is not sufficiently recovered from being pregnant to be able to do it.

Being able to sling her would make tea time much less stressful.

I see so many posts saying 'get a sling'. It might not work for you if you have DH back problems during pregnancy o in the past.

[stowsettler]

Agree with lola88 actually - the times she's not in her sling she's in her car seat, so if you don't drive you won't have that option.

[ChunkyPickle]

We didn't bother with a buggy until he was 1 and the grand parents wanted to take him out (actually, he could walk quite a way by then, but it's killer on the back going very far with one that short - not to mention the worry of them escaping!).

Didn't have a car either - so it was walking or buses - but we lived in a city so that was fine.

By a year he was heavy enough that it wasn't much fun carrying him too far.

With the next one it'll be the same (although we have a car now). DP and I'll use the mei-tai, grandparents will use a buggy of some sort.

[ChunkyPickle]

I didn't find I needed a massive bag either - if I was only going to be out for an hour or two, then a couple of nappies, wipes and my purse and keys - I could actually stuff most of it in the mei-tai with her/in a little shoulder bag.

[TattyBoomBoom]

Lots of good replies here. We don't have a car and the buggy is useful for all the shopping space underneath. Also when out on your own you might find it useful to have the pram so you have somewhere to actually put the baby while you eat. And if anyone wants to take the baby off your hands for an hour or two while you get some rest then they will probably prefer a pram (thinking of grandparents!).

[youmaycallmeSSP]

I used my buggy a lot with DC1 but have hardly ever used it with DC2. It lives in my car boot and is used for:

• whizzing into shops to pick up a pint of milk without the rigmarole of taking DD out of the carseat;
  
• Buggyfit;
  
• hot days when I want DD to be in the shade;
  
• family days out when I'm carrying a lot of stuff.
  

Yup, I use a £600 buggy as a glorified shopping basket and sunshade

[TiredyCustards]

I carried both of mine in the sling most of the time until they were 8 months. After that they got a bit too heavy.

I had a close wrap until ds was 4 months, which was great BUT I couldn't transfer him if he fell asleep as his feet got stuck. By the end he was too heavy for it.

Now I have an ergo which is fab, easy on my back, can easily transfer ds for naps.

[mummysmellsofsick]

I didn't use a buggy much for the first 15 months. I have a beco sling which is v comfy. When I did use a buggy I normally regretted it. You can go anywhere with a sling. But do not buy a baby bjorn and look up the guidelines about safe baby wearing if you haven't already. I've finally started using a buggy for some trips now DS huge (18 months) but lots of people carry them till they can walk everywhere themselves. Woven wrap slings are the comfiest if you can be bothered to navigate reams of fabric

[Gilberte]

I carried mine around in sling (moby) for about 8 months until they got too wriggly. I then introduced a lightweight pushchair slowly though they didn't like it much at first!

[mummysmellsofsick]

Times you might want a buggy:

If you shop a lot on foot. Although someone I know just carries baby in sling and uses a granny trolley for shopping.

In extreme heat, I sometimes just boil over.

If your baby decides to bite you a lot while carrying

However rain is no problem just use a brolly. And stairs, buses and trains are so easy. Plus you get to kiss your dc's head all day

[CreatureRetorts]

Get a decent sling not a bjorn. Say a manduca or ergo.

I didn't use a pushchair or pram with either of mine until 4/5 months and they could be upright - they didn't lie flat.

However a pushchair is easier especially in hot weather and if you go shopping (I didn't drive for my first).

[nextphase]

The only thing I really couldn't do with the sling on was try on clothes!
However, how do you do the food shopping? If your thinking of carrying baby and the weeks shopping, it can be quite hard going.
Y, y, y to wrap sling rather than baby borjn.
Stow - doesn't it wreck your back also carrying ff?