Are prams necessary?

[waitingimpatiently]

Sorry but I didn't know where else to post this.

DPs mum is meant to be buying us the pram and the other day she asked him if we really needed one?
I thought this was a silly question but he seems to be taking her side. He said that we could just lug baby around in the car seat (which I know I couldn't do) or in a baby carrier (which I don't really fancy either).
She has the money for it, I think she's just being funny.

DP and I are not going to be out together often so if I went out on my own with baby I don't think I could cope without a pram. To be honest, it was the one thing I was looking forward to getting new because everything else is pretty much second hand.

I was just wondering if anyone else had managed without one? And how difficult / easy it was?

Thanks guys

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[Habbibu]

Well, I used one a lot with dd, but not v much with ds - he was in a wrap sling most of the time, which was fab. Lugging around in the car seat is a PITA, and not good for newborns, but wrap slings are fab. That said, I liked pram with dd, and now that ds is bigger I use it more - it's handy for shopping, and for longer naps.

Having said all that I do have a huge Silver Cross coachbuilt thing that I adore, as do dcs, but I'm not going to tell anyone that's a necessity!

[NormalityBites]

I never had a pram or a buggy/pushchair, or anything on wheels at all, so no, prams are not necessary.

If you want one though, get one.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Only had dd for 5 weeks but DP and I had decided not buy a pram, because they are flipping expensive and a PITA.

PITA for using public transport etc where there is limited bnfuggy spaces, space to store in our v small flat, and fitting into our v small car...

I love the sling its so easy and hassle free (I have an Ergo).

However MIL has asked how she is meant to take DD out as sling would not be suitable for her to use. So may have to reconsider.

[izzybiz]

They might not be necessary, but my Dd hated being in a sling, she was a summer baby and used to get far too hot and bothered, Ds1 loved it, Ds2 was nearly 11lb born and to be honest I'd had enough of carrying him!
He got very big very quickly I don't think I could have possibly carried him around constantly!

I love having a nice pram anyway!

[SqueezyB]

I know some people get by without one in the first few months, but I'd still say it's pretty much an essential! I mean, I loved the sling when DD was tiny, but only for short trips really. If you do a lot of walking, or even just going round the shops, it's essential really - otherwise where do you put the change bag/shopping etc? Babies don't stay newborn size for long and walking round with a 6-month-old strapped to your front and a change bag slung over your back isn't ideal for more than a short trip. Plus if you get the right one it will last for 2-3 years at least, and by then you may be having no.2.

And your DH's comment about carrying the car seat around is just silly - they don't stay tiny for long, and even with a newborn the carseat is still pretty heavy!

[ANTagony]

I have a bit of a buggy fettish. I've been through a few. Three were new the others second hand.

I think it very much depends on how you see yourself using the pram.

The first one I brought was an all singing all dancing off roading, suspension thing with pram, seat that flipped in both directions fancy sun/ wind rain covers, removable pram, cosy toes, toddler foot rest etc. It was gorgeous in the showroom and brought by MIL. However, it took up a big chunk of the lounge in our little house, barely fitted through a standard doorway with all its bells and whistles, was heavy to put up and down, filled the boot of the car we had (a Saab 9-3) so not a small car. It was great off road but then I really needed it to have its own garage and cleaning station for after use. Buggy no.2 was probably my best ever buy in contrast to no.1 its a very basic 3months plus with slight recline option, light but robust mothercare own brand, about £25 from memory. You can put it up and down with one hand, it can be left not filling the boot and has lasted for about 6 years through both my boys. It cost less than 10% of buggy one. So onto buggy 3. Buggy 2 didn't offroad and 1 was bulky so I brought a microlight to take offroading and on the beach on holiday. It was great, light easy to push again lasted fairly well - the only slight negative was lack of recline for the long grizzly child who can't settle walks that worked really well for son no.1.

Buggy 4 was a varient of buggy 2 (brought for son2) but had a two button recline that was annoyingly fiddly, buggys 5 and 6 where doubles from the car boot but got us through the not quite happy walking/ newborn stage. Then an offroader that could take a step behind as the microlite couldn't.

So in summary - if you can avoid the 0-3 months phase of pushchairs (when you need a full recline) you have a lot more choice. Slings are fantastic at this stage and for my lifestyle my going out was generally into peoples houses (in the car seat) or being carried when at the shops/ supermarket.

Have you thought about the situations you see yourself out with the pram?

[NormalityBites]

I got by without one for the whole first four years (to date) but like I said, if you want one (and don't use public transport) have at it!

[bronze]

Squeezy -I walk a lot as I don't drive and ds3 has never been in a pushchair. My goodness looking back how I wish I hadn't bothered when I had the others. when I'm not walking I have him in a bike trailer, Helps keep me fitter too

Pushchairs are a bloody nightmare when out shopping and I'm perfectly capable of carrying bags. Ds is 14 months now and I still carry him and as my sling is fitted well it doesn't hurt or make me ache. I'll carry him till he walks everywhere which if he's like my others will be for about another year.
But to the op its entirely down to you. There is no right or wrong way

[Trikken]

I couldn't have managed to be without one. DD will not go into a sling and will scream if anywhere near it. and DS never really liked it either. I dont think I could have coped with carrying ds everywhere.

[waitingimpatiently]

Thanks guys, really helpful responses.

I took my nephew out the other day and it was an absolute nightmare with no pram. To be fair, he is 2 and jumps around like a nutter when you hold his hand. I have him reasonably frequently and the pram I want has a toddler step which would be a massive help with him!

I go shopping a lot and go out walking a lot with the dog so I think maybe a pram is the best idea really. I'm hardly super fit so I think lugging a sling around would be really hard, it's alright for DP who is quite strong and has stamina.

We drive, but still walk an awful lot, and when DP is at work I have to get the bus.

I think I'm trying to justify the fact that I want a pram aren't I? I think I will have to use my persuasive techniques.
Thanks so much for your views and ideas. If anyone has any more feel free to post.

[helmethead]

Prams are very useful to carry the shopping in. I had c-sections both times round and I am short and have huge babies and they used to kick me on the c-section scar if I put them in the sling. DD hated the sling, DS was fine . If you are tall and fit with tiny babies it may work. Also if you go out for the day - you will have to carry the rucksack full of nappies etc... Prams are useful for that stuff. Prams are great for carrying the shopping in

[lovingpickles]

A pram is essential IME! Baby carriers/slings are handy for newborns but can be a hassle as you have to carry a changing bag too. Once my baby was 8 weeks he was too heavy for me to carry in the carrier for any length of time (he is average size!). Ditto for carseat (and you should not have a baby in a carseat for longer than 2 hours at a time anyway). Plus, prams are very handy to take baby for walks to get them to sleep, and carry your shopping at the bottom.

[NormalityBites]

Now come on, choosing a pram/pushchair/sling or combo is all well and good and a matter of individual choice, but you can't say that slings are only good for newborns when there are many many people out there happily slinging babies, toddlers and preschoolers daily My 3.8 year old goes in a sling regularly I know that's not what this thread is about, but I can't let those comments slide.

[ANTagony]

As a general rule 4 wheels are more stable than 3 when it comes to attaching toddler steps and potentially having a dog pulling in a different direction.

[BalloonSlayer]

Are you sure she didn't mean "Do you really need a pram, can you not manage with a buggy that lies flat and is suitable for newborns so will last you for years?"

I have never had a pram for any of my three, just a pushchair that is suitable from birth. I do think prams are a bit of a waste of money, you only use them for a few months before baby wants to sit up and look around. We had a Mamas and Papas one but those must be super-naff now.

[AliGrylls]

Not sure about other people but as a first time mum I couldn't have done without my pram. I used it all the time (and actually need it more now that he is 1). Even if you don't use it a lot you will probably appreciate having the option.

[waitingimpatiently]

Well the one we would like is the pliko pramette which goes from a pram to a pushchair.
We've even explained that she doesn't have to pay it all, it is expensive and we are prepared to pay our share. It's just she said she'd pay for it and now she's backing out.

[Disenchanted3]

Of course you need a pram!

Might be OK, carrying a 3 week old in a sling, but when you need to walk a long way with an unwilling 15 month old you will be begging for one!

Its so fun choosing too!

[TubbyDuffs]

Think prams are really handy at times; especially if you want to sit down and have a brew somewhere and don't want baby to be in a sling on you (I fear scalding the baby with said brew).

I used a baby carrier a lot, as where I live there aren't many shopping trolleys with baby seats in them, but have to admit that she is now pretty damn heavy to lug around and I do use the pram more.

[Wigeon]

I think you could easily do without a proper pram, and use a sling for the first months, then a cheaper pushchair once the baby doesn't need to lie flat (eg Maclaren). But I wouldn't have wanted to be without some kind of contraption with wheels.

We had the Pliko pramette from birth, and I did use it, but we got a Maclaren when DD was 12 months and stopped using the Pliko as the Maclaren is just so much lighter and more portable. And easier to manoeuvure round shops etc.

You DH is crazy if he thinks you (or he) are going to be carrying the baby around in the car seat for anything other than the distance between the car and the house!

I am impressed that people are still routinely carrying their todders around in a sling - I used a wrap sling all the time for the first 6 months and loved it, but then decided DD was getting a bit heavy, especially if I was trying to carry other things (change bag, shopping) at the same time .

You could just get a sling, and then see how you go, and if you decide that a pram would be useful then it's pretty easy to go and buy a Pliko later on.

[scottishmummy]

pram essential,for walking,baby sleeping,shopping/nappies in basket.and humphing a child around isnt much joy

[lovechoc]

Like others on this thread, I felt a pram was a necessity and I couldn't have done without one tbh. It was a lifesaver in the early days when I could put DS to sleep in it when visiting friends or out shopping.

I have a silver cross so not a great one for the car. Anyway, regardless of the make and model, any pram is ideal in the early days IME.