Do you even need a pushchair?

[JamDad]

Hi all,

Baby is still a bump, so I’m just trying to determine what we really need.

A car seat is essential.

We don’t really go shopping and buy most things online, so we’re mainly going to be between car and people’s houses, with a bit of strolling in the park.

Can we carry a tiny one in one of those papooses and not need a push chair?

Or maybe we just need a car seat and a very lightweight stroller?

What do people think?

[Starlight345]

Never even considered pushchair not essential.

[cholka]

You need one IMHO. You may find your baby hates the car and screams like a banshee whenever you try to load them up.
You could probably manage without for a few months with a sling and car seat, but eventually you’ll want to give them fresh air and get them to sleep by walking. If you get by for a few months you could go for a foldable one that says it’s suitable from newborn, but they face away so you won’t be able to see the baby as you walk which sometimes makes them cry!

[lpchill]

I found I needed to get out daily with my little one and as great as a carrier/ wrap is I would have been literally carrying my babe all of the time when she was little.

You could just see how you get on with out one then if you find you want/ need it then buy it? Still go out and do the research on which one you want but from newborn they can go into a lie flat buggy as long as you wrap them up. We went for an all in one hobby which done us fantastically until it died. Chico active 3.

[Pissedoffdotcom]

Depends on the baby i think. DD hated the sling. We tried lots of different ones. No chance. And carrying her in arms as she got bigger left me feeling like an overstretched elastic band.

[Dobbythesockelf]

It doesn't have to be expensive or big. My ds was born this summer it was way to warm to carry him in the sling, I tried it a few times and I felt like I was in the pits of hell. My dd wouldnt sleep in a sling past 2/3 months so without the pram I would have had a very overtired baby. I would say keep an open mind cause you just don't know what your baby will be like or how you will feel. Prams are great if they sleep in them cause it gives you half an hour of free time to have a drink or whatever in peace.

[NerrSnerr]

I would have found it difficult not to have a pushchair. We used a sling but found the pram useful at times too. I used to struggle with walking to the shops with the sling as I had to carry the shopping as well as the baby (and what's needed for baby). Pram was also useful for day trips when carrying picnic, blanket, coats etc.

[scaredofthecity]

Definitely essential for us. My DD doesn't like her sling, and they do get heavy after a while.

You may not go waking about much now but I'm sure you will when the baby comes.

Plus they don't have to be expensive.

[Goingonandonandon]

it's fab to have a pushchair. Sometimes you will feel like you need a bit of space between you and baby and many babies enjoy the movement of the pushchair and fall asleep quite well in it. You might also find that birth doesn't exactly go to plan and you will end up in pain but still want to go out for little strolls. You don't need an expensive pushchair, but one that reclines flat and is suitable for under 3 months old.

[flumpybear]

Wow we used our constantly for 7 years and two children - wore out the tyres and everything !

Slings are ok but they get heavy quickly and I had a section then bad back so really struggled

Many a night my husband was pounding the streets with the pushchair and screaming child to get them to sleep, they often snoozed there too when we were out - I don't think for a moment we would have coped without a pushchair

[daisyrosegem]

A sling is fine if your baby likes it, but i doubt you'd want to use it all the time. There will be times when you head out for the day and you'll have loads of stuff to carry around like nappies, bottle, food (as they get older) and toys etc. And it'll be tough carrying it all without anywhere to put them down.

[Cachailleacha]

Some babies hate slings in which case you will need buggy of some sort.
Some babies hate buggies in which case you will need sling of some sort.

I used a lightweight stroller alongside an Ergo carrier between 1 and 2 years, I didn't need a pram in the first year. You don't know what will work for you and your baby so I would wait to see if you need one.

[Jent13c]

I used mine very sparingly but I would still say it’s a requirement. My pram is suitable from birth as lies flat but I still bought the carrycot..that was a bit of a waste of money. My son was in the sling at least once every time we were out but the pram was good to shove all my stuff in. Once baby is older and a bit heavier you can have them sleep in pram too which is handy.

If I could do it again I would buy a second hand pram which folds flat, either has carry cot or suitable from birth and has air in the tyres (mine doesn’t and it annoys me).

[Shapecutter]

It was an essential for me, I spent many hours pushing sleeping babies around and enjoying a coffee in peace. Wouldn't have felt comfortable doing that with a sling.

Could you get a sling and a pushchair just incase? It doesn't need to be big or expensive.

[Pooshy]

I would say you don't need the travel system type with the big pram, but def need some sort of push chair as they use it up to age 3/4

[Pooshy]

I can't recommend the baby zen yo yo enough - it's tiny and brilliant

[heartofgold]

you never walk anywhere?

[NellMangel]

Essential in my opinion. Once baby comes along you may find you go out for strolls more, just to break up the day. Great for carrying stuff (and baby) when you do venture out. Plus friends and family might help out and not want to carry papoose.

[randomsabreuse]

Had pram, used twice because it was there. Once for smear test - could have used car seat and once to see if she'd go in it. Have pushchair, used maybe 10 times, mostly by grandparents.

We live in a town with a river valley running through the middle of it. Old town, cobbled streets, steps quickest way to get anywhere (or shortcut by cliff railway) when running late. None of which were exactly pram friendly. Tried pushchair once, halfway up hill got baby out of chair into sling because it was so much easier than pushing her in it. Downhill was worse.

2nd child due soon, the only wheeled transport I want is a running buggy after 6 months so I can do parkrun with both kids if DH is working. So for leisure rather than transport purposes!

[pastabest]

I hardly ever use our pushchair but when I do it's because only the pushchair will do in those particular circumstances.

I maybe only use it once every 2-3 weeks but would never get rid of it until the children are too old to need it.

[albert92]

I defiantly think they are essential, I don't think it's good to use a sling all the time as it gets used to baby being on you all the time which could cause clingey behavior. A pram is a life saver even going up the shops most babies fall asleep in the pram quickly, I'm intended to walk most places once I have baby so my pram is a must ! You need to get out and about a lot with babies

[strumpetblowingatrumpet]

Gosh I couldn't be without my pushchair. My baby is very large and very heavy and I have quite a weak back so I love having my pushchair. I love being able to hang my bag on the handle and put shopping in the basket underneath. I found baby wearing too hot in the summer months and now I unfortunately find him too heavy. It was fine on mild days! I do like my sling but I also really like my pushchair.

[Nellyelora]

It was essential for me as my back was shot after giving birth and couldn't carry dd in a sling for longer than 15 mins, I also don't drive. However, I know a couple of people who never had one.

[fruityb]

I couldn’t have managed without one. Using a sling weirdly gave me a headache, it seemed to pinch something in my shoulder, and I also ended up far too hot carrying him in it. Plus a pushchair at least gave me a break and him somewhere to sleep if we went anywhere. I did have a carrycot attachment but it wasn’t used past four months really - he did sleep in that a lot though.

Still have our armadillo flip xt and have a fold down cheap one from mothercare that was £40 I think.

To me it was absolutely essential. Even if it just let me get out for a walk in the day time.