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Original poster

Are these really suitable for newborns?

68 replies

oddsocks123 · 04/08/2019 10:09

Photos have hopefully attached, but are strollers from birth with no carrycot or cocoon really going to be suitable for a newborn? I want one pram from birth to done, so many prams have tiny seats so looking at these.
Thank you.

Are these really suitable for newborns?
Are these really suitable for newborns?
OP posts:
Wenttoseainasieve · 04/08/2019 10:16

I think no. They do recline, but not really to completely flat. I think a small newborn would not be comfortable or secure in it, and they also won't be able to see you, which could well upset them. These prams are ok from about six months, I'd say.

LeeScoresbysBalloon · 04/08/2019 10:20

Definitely not. We didn’t put DS in one like this until he was 6 months. Tiny babies need to be completely flat on their backs in a carrycot, with a cover over it to keep the warmth in.

StrongerThanIThought76 · 04/08/2019 11:08

My ds is now 15. I appreciate that both times and advice change over the years. But..

Most babies 15 years ago went into a bog standard travel system- car seat that clipped to pushchair, only a carrycot for the parents lucky enough to afford them.

If the pushchair in the pic truly does lie flat I'd say go for it. I'm sure it will be easier, less hassle to transport in the car/public transport and probably cheaper than a massive system with all the extra bits you'll discard fairly quickly anyway due to the faff for a half hour trip out (which I promise you will happen much more frequently than a full day jaunt where your baby should be completely flat).

Can you get a rear-facing one so that baby can see you instead of gazing out into the wonderful wide world?

Anyway - they've been scrunched up into a tiny ball for at least the last few months on the inside, why is it so important to lie them so flat once they're born?

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MissRabbitNeedsAHoliday · 04/08/2019 11:10

I wouldn't say so, I have the first one for DD but only started using it after she was one and I wanted something less bulky than my travel system. I wouldn't say a newborn would be secure enough in it, or that it goes flat enough for them.

MissRabbitNeedsAHoliday · 04/08/2019 11:11

Also agree with pp that rear facing would be better, I wouldn't like my newborn facing away from me.

piglet81 · 04/08/2019 11:14

Anyway - they've been scrunched up into a tiny ball for at least the last few months on the inside, why is it so important to lie them so flat once they're born?

I think it's because young babies' airways can become compromised easily when they're scrunched up (so same reason for avoiding keeping them in a car seat for long periods). In the womb they're not breathing air so it's different.

SkydivingKittyCat · 04/08/2019 11:25

We did what a lot of people do - buy the all singing all dancing travel system (glad I did for a newborn) and we're about to sell it on and get a lighter weight stroller now DS is bigger.

hsegfiugseskufh · 04/08/2019 11:29

What about a cosatto to and fro? Its a stroller but you can have tiny babys flat and facing you.

You can buy cocoon type things to put in prams which are sort of like a soft sided carry cot.

You could go for something like a mamas and papas sola which lays flat and would be fine with a cocoon for tinies. And would last.

My number 1 advice would be dont bother buying new!

Seeline · 04/08/2019 11:32

I agree with stronger My youngest is 15, and this is what we had for ours. No one had prams or carrycots - they were considered very old fashioned! My 2 were perfectly happy with that set up, and have become perfectly healthy teens.

Sunday38 · 04/08/2019 11:37

I've had a lie flat stroller from birth for both my children as I didn't want an expensive bulky travel system and I used a sling a lot too when newborn. Small babies tend to sleep in the pram anyway for the first few months so it not being rear facing didn't bother me.

As it happens, both children had severe reflux so were unable to lay completely flat anyway so our pushchair was wonderful as it had several positions to prop slightly upright. Cost £80 in the sale and has done 2 children from birth to walking Grin

Sunday38 · 04/08/2019 11:39

I find carrycots make me nervous anyway, it's seems odd that the baby isn't strapped in at all!

PixieLumos · 04/08/2019 11:41

No, absolutely not. They need to be lying down in a carrycot or you can use a car seat attachment. They’ll have no support at all on one of those, their heads and probably whole bodies will just be dropping to one side.

Caspianberg · 04/08/2019 11:52

i don't think the one listed would be suitable really as rattling around and not very comfy. However you dont have to go with a whole carrycot option either.

Something like the cybex eezy s twist + or quinny zapp flex plus, both are compact, parent face from newborn and would last through toddlers.

EssentialHummus · 04/08/2019 11:56

What about a cosatto to and fro?

This. Or a cocoon thing that you can put in a stroller like this. I think the Maclaren XLR (?? the one that goes from birth until 25 kg) has a cocoon available from the manufacturer. In hindsight I'd have bought that.

troppibambini · 04/08/2019 11:58

I've got four kids and if I had by time again I would buy a second hand travel system and then at six months get a Maclaren (or similar). I think before six months those types of buggies are just too exposed.
I did use one similar for dd2 when she was four months and we went on holiday.
I liked the bugaboo chameleon but I'm sure times have moved in and there are better ones now.
When I think about the thousands I spent on prams and buggies for them all it was just ridiculous

Sexnotgender · 04/08/2019 11:58

I have the Joie skewed lines stroller you have pictured above and it does lie properly flat.

It’s not my everyday pram, I have the Cosatto/Koochi Modhero which is GREAT value for money.

The Joie pram I bought for going on holiday when DS was 5 months old as I wanted an umbrella pram that could lie flat.

Would I put a newborn in it? Probably, but I would honestly get a system with a bassinet.

Sexnotgender · 04/08/2019 12:00

I don’t think this is reclined all the way. Mostly though.

Are these really suitable for newborns?
coffeeturner · 04/08/2019 12:00

I have a Mothercare roll which is an excellent umbrella buggy. Goes completely flat and the hood extension is massive.
I would say look into getting a cocoon or something for it though because I can't imagine having chafing straps on a newborn would be very comfortable for them.

Also I think generally people use umbrella strollers after 7 months/ 1 year old is because the shopping basket is tiny on these, and by a year old or so you don't need to cart so much baby stuff around all the time

Celebelly · 04/08/2019 12:01

Baby Jogger City Mini GT lies flat and is suitable from birth. It's a bloody great pram too. We ended up getting a lie flat car seat and still using that with adaptors on pram six months later though.

Sexnotgender · 04/08/2019 12:03

Also I think generally people use umbrella strollers after 7 months/ 1 year old is because the shopping basket is tiny on these

It’s not just tiny, when the pram is totally flat you can’t get into the basket.

WaitingForAGovernment · 04/08/2019 12:05

I used one of those sort of buggies (s Maclareb) from about three months, and sling before then. I think all the stuff about being cosy and secure is more about the mums than the babies! And I’ve yet to see evidence that lying completely flat is the best position - very curled up can compromise airway but that’s different to saying that not completely flat is a problem.

It’s all lifestyle choice. If you use public transport a lot and walk mostly in pavements, those buggies are great. If you mostly use the car and walk mostly on rough tracks, you need something entirely different.

cookieoclock · 04/08/2019 12:07

No way! We bought one for our holiday for dd who was 1. I was horrified when I used it, how bumpy and unsupportive it was. I can’t believe it suggested it was suitable for a newborn.

PixieLumos · 04/08/2019 12:28

Anyway - they've been scrunched up into a tiny ball for at least the last few months on the inside, why is it so important to lie them so flat once they're born?

Errr because in those months they were getting oxygen via the umbilical not through their airways - which will now be least obstructed when lieing on their backs. Not really rocket science Hmm

shookennotstirred · 04/08/2019 12:43

As another poster has pointed out these aren't a smooth ride, personally I think far too rough and bumpy for a newborn. I love my travel system because it has big rear tyres perfect for bumpy paths, going up and down kerbs/steps, sandy beach etc. I got mine from Tkmaxx very reasonably priced, and all the accessories were reduced as pram was discontinued.

Shantotto · 04/08/2019 12:45

Some definitely are suitable for newborns. We got a silver cross reflex. It parent faces until around 6 months, lies completely flat and comes with a newborn cocoon insert with straps. It was brilliant - only downside is difficult to push with one hand and you can’t fit that much in the basket.

I’m using a borrowed pram with a carry cot at the moment and I don’t like it at all - DD looks swamped by it, and no straps! I’m worry I’ll tip the buggy somehow and she’ll fo crashing to the ground! She slides down when I have to go over kerbs and things. I must get the reflex out of storage!

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