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Original poster

Prams as a status symbol/pram snobbery

182 replies

Mamamooligans · 08/08/2019 17:58

So today I was looking at prams and overheard a woman telling who I assume was her mother 'we're only looking at the icandys and bugaboos, I wouldn't be caught dead with anything else.'

Is this a common attitude? To be honest I don't really like the look of most icandys and bugaboos, I think the bucket seats look uncomfy. I don't get why anyone would rule out other brands, surely you want whats comfiest for baby and suits your lifestyle best? Not just based on brand or cost?

Do people choose prams as a status symbol? Do you judge people based on what pram they have?

OP posts:

JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 08/08/2019 18:00

I don’t see why not. There are people who choose, cars, clothes, houses, handbags, holidays as status symbols. I imagine the same people choose prams as status symbols too. A fool and their money are easy parted.

ParrotsForLife · 08/08/2019 18:01

I don’t know any mum friends who choose that way, well not obviously so anyway. But those are two fairly well regarded brands so maybe she likes those over others and expressed it in a way which you took as snobby?

user1493413286 · 08/08/2019 18:05

Well yes to certain people; in the same way that some people can be like that with cars, clothes and handbags. Unless you’re friends with people who judge based on those things then I wouldn’t really worry.

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ScreamingValenta · 08/08/2019 18:06

An expensive pram will only be recognisable as a status symbol to others who are up to date with which prams are expensive - i.e. current or fairly recent parents of pram-sized children - so it will pass over many people's heads, even those who would be impressed by more universally known status symbols.

ballsdeep · 08/08/2019 18:07

It's definitely a thing. I loved my uppababy and my friend told me it's out of fashion now for the egg 🙄 It could be 200 years out of fashion.... But have you seen the basket? Love it.
People I know love to spend upwards of £1000 on a pram, only to get a buggy after 6 mobths

OccasionalNachos · 08/08/2019 18:08

I’m pregnant with my first & so am looking at prams at the moment - despite being overwhelmed by choice I do find myself drawn to the gorgeous leather & fabric Silver Cross ones for no reason other than they look so good Hopefully when it’s purchase time, I’ll make the right choice rather than be distracted by the prettiest one! On the flip side though, it does have to be something you like the look of as you’ll be pushing it around for several years, potentially longer if you have multiple DC...

eurochick · 08/08/2019 18:09

It's insane. They are all ugly imho. Just get one that is functional.

SarahTancredi · 08/08/2019 18:10

Ha, one trip on a bus and they will end up with a maclaren with breadsticks crushed in like everyone else

So glad my buggy days are long over...

Camomila · 08/08/2019 18:10

Of course, it's like with anything else.

IRL the only person I know with a bugaboo got it as a gift from grandparents. Most people I know seemed to choose according to need eg, I had a nice travel system because I don't drive and walked lots/got busses. Other friend lives rurally (so has to drive everywhere) got a cheaper Maclaren because she doesn't use it much.

Henlie · 08/08/2019 18:13

When we were looking at prams, a very good friend of ours said ‘don’t spend too much money on the pram as DC will be in it for a limited time. It’s the stroller that you need to spend more money on as that’ll take a beating. It’ll need to be robust as child will be bigger and it’ll mostly likely be going on planes, trains and automobiles.’

She was spot on. DD was out of the pram System at around 12months. Meanwhile other others had bought Bugaboo...Stokke etc -cost a fortune. A fair few of them regretted spending so much as again their DC was also out of them and into a stroller at 12months.

Don’t get sucked into all the branding nonsense Op....keep your money for other things 😊.

LolaSmiles · 08/08/2019 18:14

It is status for some. I was looking at 2 iCandy ones and couldn't tell the difference (wasn't impressed with either). The shop assistant told me there was no difference other than one has been fabric and some orange paint on the frame because it's the Landrover iCandy and it's £500 more.
Half a grand more to say you have a Landrover pram? Definitely one for the image conscious types who navigate status symbol 4x4s round suburban areas with their expensive prams

ballsdeep That's me out of the cool mum tribe. Uppbaby is one of my front runners for bump's pushchair.

gamerchick · 08/08/2019 18:15

It's nuts imo, they look bloody ridiculous and uncomfortable to sit in. Why anyone wants to push one of those around is beyond me.

Passthecherrycoke · 08/08/2019 18:15

To be honest I can only imagine this attitude from someone who can’t really afford a bugaboo. Why would you give it a second thought otherwise?

MoreSlidingDoors · 08/08/2019 18:17

Really? We bought a stokke and absolutely loved it. Used the carry cot for naps in the house, used the seat attachment as a high chair in pubs and restaurants. DD used all the time till she was about 3. We only ever used our (second hand) maclaren buggy for holidays because I didn’t want the stokke chucked around by baggage handlers.

Bought it for its height but it was so much more than that.

Asta19 · 08/08/2019 18:18

This isn't a new thing. I had my kids in 89/91 and at that time, it was all Mamas and Papas prams. They used to come in really nice designs, I don't know if they still do. I did buy into the hype, I think firstly as I was a young mum and I did fall for a few "image" items. Also I don't drive (never have) so we walked everywhere so I wanted something nice to push around!

JoJoSM2 · 08/08/2019 18:19

When I see someone with a Bugaboo I assume they live in a small flat/house as they’re very compact.

We just picked the buggy that was comfortable for us to push (both very tall and didn’t want to bend over and do our backs in). It also needed to be suitable for off-roading to suit our lifestyle.

IntoValhalla · 08/08/2019 18:19

I know of a couple of these mums
All of them are FTM’s to very young babies (all a few weeks old), and the babies are pretty much a fashion accessory
I guess they will see in time that practicality really is best when it comes to babies/toddlers, rather than spending £££’s on a white, leather pram that will be smeared with snack crumbs and snot in the coming months!
I know buying all the naice baby things is exciting, especially the first time around, but I can’t get my head around being a brand snob/fashion snob when it comes to things like prams

gamerchick · 08/08/2019 18:19

Why would you give it a second thought otherwise?

Because they look so ridiculous, it's a 'wtf is that moment'. Nothing to do with not being able to afford it. Whoever designed them was on mushrooms I'm sure.

Some people have no sense.

Then they whinge about the cost of car seats and want to turn their kids around at the earliest possible opportunity in the cheapest they can find that passes seat. That's where the silly money should go.

The brain boggles.

IntoValhalla · 08/08/2019 18:23

I come bottom of the pecking order when it comes to status symbol/fashion buying for my babies
I rarely used a pram with either of mine as a prefer babywearing, but realised I’d need a double pram for certain occasions....so I bought a second hand iCandy double off eBay for less than half its retail price. It will be carted out again for DC3 when the occasion calls for it! And I have absolutely zero fucks to give that it’s an old model that’s seen better days! It’s practical, fits in my car, and can fit a toddler in the seat, a newborn in the carrycot and a preschooler on a buggy board with very little effort

Camomila · 08/08/2019 18:23

I have a mamas and papas one. I don't know if they are fashionable but it was indestructable. DS is nearly 3.5 but we still use it on long days out and will be using it again for DC2 due in Jan.

Like a pp I only use the buggy for plane holidays.

Passthecherrycoke · 08/08/2019 18:24

Well actually I meant why would the people described in the OP see a pram as a status symbol but at the same time you sound ridiculous suggesting that expensive pram = cheap car seat

Madmarchpear · 08/08/2019 18:24

I've seen other threads on this that suggested it's a bit chav and common to buy have pram snobbery about the brands you named. The coolest most middle class mum I know has a right nail of a buggy so i think there could be something in it.

Bwekfusth · 08/08/2019 18:24

It's a thing. A thing that I don't understand. A pram is a pram. I got a nice travel system for about £200. My boys didn't give a single fuck about what it cost or how it looked (though it was quite nice tbf, I do love a Cosatto) think anyone who spends a grand on a pram needs their head felt.

feelingverylazytoday · 08/08/2019 18:25

Always liked silver cross myself. If I'd lived in a house when I had my first I would have had a silver cross coach pram but I had to turn it down because I lived upstairs. You still see the odd one where I live even though they're not in fashion anymore

Nextphonewontbesamsung · 08/08/2019 18:26

Yes, of course people have prams as a status symbol. I'm surprised you even have to ask. Years ago on Mumsnet we had threads about them! The people who chatted about them incessantly were known as pram huns.

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