To purchase a buggy that doesn’t parent face

I see. So because you've seen a five second snapshot of someone's day as a parent, you feel somehow qualified to make a decision on their parenting and on their development?

This patent could have spent all morning singing, reading and talking to their child. They could be on their way to a music or story baby group. Maybe they've had a really difficult morning and need some time on their phone to decompress? Maybe they just want a minute to themselves? Maybe they are on their phone arranging playdates or speaking to their own friends or doing important admin.

There are lots of opportunities throughout a day for babies to be engaged to and learn language. Furthermore more babies don't need a continual narrative 24/7. Quiet time to absorb things is beneficial to them.

I think it is quite child dependent - they have their own preferences that you cannot predict!

My DC1 absolutely hated the bassinet and would scream his head off every time I put him in it, so I used the sling for him. He was then absolutely fine in the pram once he could sit up, but only if it was parent-facing - he was very needy and just wanted to be able to see me.

My DC2 was also a bassinet hater but then much preferred being world-facing in the pram.

I didn’t really consider it before buying the pram but was really grateful to have the option - fortunately we had one that could easily swap in both directions. One of my friends had a yo-yo which can only world-face from 6 months and her child didn’t like it either, so she ended up having to get a second pram.

Second hand prams are cheap and usually loads available in good condition so you don’t necessarily need to make final decision now. People often end up with more than one pram for different circumstances.

I still remember how sad I was when my "not nephews" stopped carer facing in the pushchair. They were about two when they got turned around. We had loads of fun outings with me chatting nonsense to them. They are now lovely young adults and I still talk nonsense to (?at) them but mostly via WhatsApp. Even more impressively I usually get a reply. So don't discount the joy that parent facing can bring.

Also a cautionary tale - one of my friends had a running buggy (out'n'about nipper) it was a total pig to push in town because of the fixed front wheel compared to the bugaboos that most others had (I spent a lot of time with friends and their kids in my early thirties pushing various buggies). So do think about how you are going to use it. We all lived in an urban area and predominantly walked within the local area to shops, toddler groups, the park etc so the buggy was the main mode of transport.

I got both mine on eBay so didn't feel too bad about getting a second. First one I replaced because it didn't parent face and DS definitely likes to see me and chat. 13mo and he's still very happy facing me with our Bugaboo cameleon, though it switches round at least.

And I agree that you don't have to coo at your baby constantly, often they're in the pram because you want them to nap there.

I had my first in lockdown so most of her daytime naps were also my daily walk. A totally waterproof cover is also very useful, we did our daily pram nap in all weathers even driving rain.

They don't get bounced around, they have big air-filled tyres and suspension.

In my opinion the most important consideration is weight. You'll have to lift it on and off curbs and onto buses and so on. The second most important consideration is cost. Some are just bonkers expensive. I think we got our Oyster Zero "system" for something like 390 which I thought was a lot but some pram/buggy systems are like a grand which is just not worth it. Ours could be folded and unfolded with one hand which is really useful (bonus that you can do it with a flourish like the guy in the deckchair meme).

Would you believe it was a hand-me-down? Then did both of mine. Yeah, 3-wheeler of kings is right enough.

Yanbu. I never had a parent facing 3 wheeler. I used to talk to them and point things out.
The hour they spent facing the world was more interesting than watching tired mummy trying to remember the shopping list. So many people spoke with them too, it gave them more chances to be social.

Awrite I still miss my Urban Detour 20 years on 😂. 3 wheeler of Kings. I even had the double for one summer.

They need to see the world around them. They see your face enough at home.

I can't imagine a running buggy. Poor DC getting bounced around. Not engagement with either parent or surroundings

Parent facing all the time. They could be in this a few years and therefore lots of opportunity to chat and interact with your DC for both you and anyone else pushing the buggy.

Agree with previous poster who suggested mountain buggy terrain, does everything you need! We’ve used ours for 3 kids on daily dog walks, runs etc and it’s still going strong 💪

Mine were never in parent facing. I actually didn't realise they were meant to be. I had an urban detour buggy and I absolutely loved it.

This was over 20 years ago.

Just go with the one you prefer.

I’m a bit confused why this state is being worried about yet, surely the first 5-6 months they are in the bassinet pram so it’s not born and straight into a buggy

It's amazing how your unequalled parenting skills enable you to judge people, how they interact with their children and the impact on the kids 5 years later, all based on a 30 seconds snapshot of their life from your window.

Pat on the back, "Best Mum Ever".

I don't think the parent facing or not matters that much, but personally i wouldn't like having a running buggy for everyday use.

It's a very personal choice though, and honestly you won't know until you've started using it. So you're probably better off starting with the running buggy, and then if you need you can always buy a 4 wheeler second hand a few weeks/months later.

Maybe those mums spend all day engaging with their children, reading to them, taking them to rhyme time and singing songs and just want a few minutes of peace while their DC is looking out at the world? Maybe (like my eldest) their DC won't nap anywhere except the buggy and they are deliberately not engaing with them so they can get some much needed sleep? Maybe they are on their way to a local park or farm or wood to experience the "glories of spring" which you think are so important. Parents don't need to spend every waking hour jabbering on to their DC just to satisfy some old busybody like you. Your casual observations are massively judgemental and its comments like this that really effect the mental health of parents who are just trying to get through the day.

If you don't have parent facing PLEASE do not wander about with your phone in one hand and your buggy in the other! My office desk faces the window and we are on a popular walking route from the nearby estates. I see so many parents doing this and completely missing the opportunity to chat to their baby/child as they go for a walk, they're silently glued to their phone and frankly missing the glories of spring! We have sheep, cows, horses rabbits, deer, loads of different birds, lots of trees and bluebells primroses, violets etc in the woods, all stuff that can be conversational topics. You can hear all the different birds, the train in the distance, you can smell the bluebells right now, so very many opportunities to interact with baby, instead they're pushed in silence while the parent pushes eyes glued to the phone.
I do wonder if this is why teachers say kids come to school at 5 with little language....

I guess you wont know until baby is here how you'll feel re parent facing or not. My child is 18 months and still parent faces, for us walks are a time to chat, I show him things and we go through his animal noises and words etc. I do talk to him at home but walks are uninterrupted, we are doing and seeing the same things and its easy to chat to him, to point out dogs and trees. Im not some wanky performative parent, i just really enjoy that time. He can still see plenty while parent facing, especially as now our walks are a mixture of him walking and also going in the pram.

Just to add, we do have a trike too where he faces forward and we have a second forward facing buggy we take on holiday.

I had my twins years ago and parent facing was a massive thing but twin buggies just didn’t parent-face. I loved my out and about nipper (it was better than my single buggy for dd1 for ease of pushing and comfy for them). They are well developed teens now and I realise the advice is for parents who ignore their dc.

They will see plenty of your face. Let them see the world too and keep your life simple.

I dont think having a child parent facing is a particularly important factor. I had a few different pushchairs because i don't think having one that does everything is necessarily the best choice. I had a big all terrain, 3 wheeler with suspension and soft tyres for off road/beach, a slimline umbrella buggy for going round the shops and folding up with one hand to get on the bus and a couple of other ones over the years. All faced out to the world because its more interesting for them and who wants to travel backwards, really?

Neither of my two were particularly fussed to look at me past about 4 months. They wanted to look at the world go by! I wouldn’t bother with a parent facing one if the others suit your needs better.