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Original poster

Do people still use big prams ?

32 replies

Rubyupbeat · 24/01/2022 22:51

Just that really, totally out of interest.
I don't see them any more. When I had my babies 30 odd years ago, I had a big silver cross carriage pram, and then a seat on it when my second baby was born.
Most people had proper prams, maybe as we walked a lot more. I suppose they aren't practical anymore.
I just remember the baby being so cosy in there, whatever the weather and the suspension being lovely and bouncy.
I did also have a silver cross wayfarer pushchair for the car.

OP posts:
SarahAndQuack · 24/01/2022 22:55

They have become very trendy - style over substance! I did look at those big prams when DD was born, but you realise if you walk a lot, they are great for the baby but a bit of a pain for the person pushing - you take up so much of the pavement, and it's a bugger going through doors inside a building.

DueyCheatemAndHow · 24/01/2022 22:58

To my mind it's a case that more practical products have been created. I had a big sturdy Uppababy which had a bassinet for newborns and then a big spacious seat. Trying to get a coach pram in and out of shops, into the house etc looks a nightmare. I'd love one for just being able to have it and coo though!

JugglingJanuary · 24/01/2022 23:00

There's a woman near me has one, it takes me back... mum had one for me, then my brother, I remember walking miles with her & regular shopping at the little parade of shops.

We used to be able to take the various neighbours babies out for a walk in theirs too (from very young ourselves!!)

& I had a mini version as a dolls pram.

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SarahAndQuack · 24/01/2022 23:02

@DueyCheatemAndHow

To my mind it's a case that more practical products have been created. I had a big sturdy Uppababy which had a bassinet for newborns and then a big spacious seat. Trying to get a coach pram in and out of shops, into the house etc looks a nightmare. I'd love one for just being able to have it and coo though!
I think that's exactly it!

I can well believe those big prams were comfier for babies.

RandomMess · 24/01/2022 23:06

Mine are teens now and I had one for them, I loved it. My babies were huge and they fitted it in much longer than any modern pram.

Was heartbroken when I had to sell it on.

They slept in downstairs a lot instead of a Moses basket or anything else.

RedCandyApple · 24/01/2022 23:13

There’s a woman at our school that has one, I love it!

Yotrotro · 24/01/2022 23:15

They look decent for the baby but aren't really practical these days. My priority when choosing a pram was a)sturdy but not too heavy to lift. B) size -easy for in and out of shops, car, house etc. C) good for off-road as we also have a dog D) features -car seat compatible, good basket/sunshade etc E) price....the vintage style silver cross were some of the most expensive but without all the other stuff! The new silver cross had all the bells and whistles for modern life but cost even more! They are only still around because of brand nostalgia I think.

17to35 · 24/01/2022 23:17

In those days babies were left outside shops in the big pram. Practicality comes first now.

RogerDodger · 24/01/2022 23:20

Do they still make them?

InTheNightWeWillWish · 24/01/2022 23:25

I don’t think it’s necessarily that people walked more 30 years ago. I have dogs so I wanted a pram that could cope with walking miles, cope with mud and bouncy tracks. However, I also needed a pram that fit in half the boot (dogs), was narrow enough to get down the narrow pavement outside my house and turned in a tight space (we don’t have much space getting into our house because of where the stairs are, it’s an old house by the way). I also wanted a travel system with a car seat adapter so that I don’t have to take the big bassinet when I’m just nipping to Tesco for a load of bread. The big, old style pram is completely impractical for our life and how we need to use it.

Changechangychange · 24/01/2022 23:27

SIL has one, but she doesn’t go many places with DNephew (partly because of the pandemic, partly personal preference - she likes knitting, sewing etc at home).

I had a bassinet for our CityMini, but honestly I used the sling 99% of the time because it was just so much more practical for hopping on and off trains, buses, going up stairs etc. DSIL doesn’t do any of that, so the big pram is fine for her.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 24/01/2022 23:29

Come to scandanavia. Kids have all their naps outside in them until they are 3.

NannyGythaOgg · 24/01/2022 23:34

I had one 40 plus years ago.

Baby was left outside the small shops I used on a regular basis.

Babies travelled in a loose carrycot on the back seat of the car.

Once out of that, we had one car seat that was an absolute nightmare to use as there were no seatbelts on the back seat. The most modern cars were fitted with anchor points.

Once the kids got to about 2 they were loose on the the back seat of the car. (Luckily we had a car where there was room for them to sit on the floor between front and back for long journeys)

There are many ways in which I think kids today are over protected - car safety is not one of them

musicalfrog · 24/01/2022 23:35

I think people have a wider range now and need to be able to get the pram/ buggy in the bus or in the car boot.

If your whole world is in walking distance then great, but for most people it's not.

WaitinginVain · 24/01/2022 23:36

I had (have!) one and used it for all my 3. It wasn't my only pram for obvious reasons but did have an awful lot of use walking locally and could still use it when they were sitting up. As RandomMess says, it was great for downstairs sleeping and for rocking them to sleep. It was one of the first things I bought when I found out I was pregnant and one of the best I think.

NannyGythaOgg · 24/01/2022 23:38

Sorry - I went a bit off topic. I loved my Silvercross carriage pram. I think todays are much more practical and safer in conversion for car safety

QueenOfHiraeth · 24/01/2022 23:46

I have one that I use for my grandchildren and have seen quite a few other Nana's around here with them.

StillMedusa · 24/01/2022 23:47

I had a huge Silvercross coach pram for mine nearly 30 years ago.. it was brilliant, and when no 2 came along, no1 sat on a little seat on top. It was huge, super comfy and we walked everywhere.
But you couldn't put it in the car, so had a silver cross wayfarer for that.

I feel a bit sorry for today's babies in the 'city' buggies like Babyzen yoyos.. they are practical but just don't compare for comfort and a lovely high vantage point!

Original poster
Rubyupbeat · 25/01/2022 07:43

Yes, life is totally different now. I do remember car safety was , as a pp said, the baby in a carry cot on back seats (there were straps, but probably not that secure )and the car seats had to be anchored at somewhere like halfords, if you had anchor points and I think there was only one type of car seat?
I remember the prams outside the shops too.
I would love to buy one.....if I ever have a grandchild, to take them out in, nostalgia, eh?
Oh, yes also to a pp they do still make them.

OP posts:
Fupoffyagrasshole · 25/01/2022 07:48

Meh I’m a big fan of the yo-yo - I walked absolutely everywhere and my baby looked fairly cosy in there all wrapped up!

It’s tiny too so I could get it on and off buses and up and down stairs by myself and it takes up no space in coffee shops and stuff - I certainly don’t feel sorry for her or that she’s missing out - she was forward facing by 6 months 😂

potentialdogowner · 25/01/2022 07:54

@InTheNightWeWillWish

I don’t think it’s necessarily that people walked more 30 years ago. I have dogs so I wanted a pram that could cope with walking miles, cope with mud and bouncy tracks. However, I also needed a pram that fit in half the boot (dogs), was narrow enough to get down the narrow pavement outside my house and turned in a tight space (we don’t have much space getting into our house because of where the stairs are, it’s an old house by the way). I also wanted a travel system with a car seat adapter so that I don’t have to take the big bassinet when I’m just nipping to Tesco for a load of bread. The big, old style pram is completely impractical for our life and how we need to use it.
This sounds exactly like what I need! Can I please ask which pram it was?
Shiningpath · 25/01/2022 07:54

Very popular with travellers near where I live. I always wonder about the practicality of fitting them in a caravan.

reluctantbrit · 25/01/2022 08:05

When I was pregnant 15 years ago we looked at prams and Mamas&Papas had one of those. Looks lovely but I just found it totally impractial.

We have an estate and I think I would have issues getting it in the boot. Not really suitable for anything more than normal pavement.,

I shudder the idea of going into a Boots or a smaller supermarket with it, no way it would fit in the aisles.

I think life has changed so much that these big ones are just not practical on a daily basis.

TriciaMcMillan · 25/01/2022 08:29

Good to know they are still available at a range of price points though...

www.harrods.com/en-gb/shopping/fendi-kids-ff-pram-16179157

ShockWink

Oldraver · 25/01/2022 08:53

OH had a Silver Cross Balmoral and we have taken DS out in it when he was around 3/4

It's now used as a wash basket

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