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Original poster

Pramspreading - anyone noticed it recently?

101 replies

TinyTear · 23/01/2023 09:37

Recently I have been noticing this phenomenon and was wondering if I am the only one. I call it "Pramspreading" and it's 95% done by men... (totally anecdotally)

When a man, showing off his manly long legs and stride takes his child for a stroll... but because of his manly long legs can't possibly walk behind the pram like a normal person... oh nooooo!

The pram goes on his SIDE, while he holds it with a (manly) hand and on the other hand is usually a coffee or the phone...
So this long legged manly man takes over twice as much space on the pavement because of his side pram... Pramspreading...

Is this a phenomenon local to me?

OP posts:
DogsPyjamas · 23/01/2023 10:06

This is my bugbear! All the men trying hard to look cool and nonchalant. I will try and empathise with the low handle issues in future

Worriere · 23/01/2023 10:06

My ex husband used to do it until i showed him how to extend the pram handle 🙄

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 23/01/2023 10:07

Yep,I've noticed it too. I put it down to least contact possible with the baby so they can still pretend to be single 🙄

JenniferBarkley · 23/01/2023 10:08

Yes, definitely a phenomenon. Far too manly to need two hands to push the buggy.

I do try to charitably put it down to leg length. But when they're shorter than DH, pushing the same buggy as him...

VenusClapTrap · 23/01/2023 10:09

Dh found pushing the pram very awkward due to his height, so he rarely did it and just used a sling and then a backpack carrier. He obviously never discovered the side push.

Coolblur · 23/01/2023 10:09

The pram handle height thing; why are people buying prams with handles that are too low for them? When we bought one we made sure we got one with an adjustable handle that both of us could easily use.
Ridiculous excuse for not pushing a pram properly.

OP I always think it's because they don't really want to push a pram at all so are distancing themselves from it. If they're with the child's mother at the time then I think it's so she'll take over because he's doing it in a crap way.

NewNameNigel · 23/01/2023 10:10

I havn seen people do this and always wondered why. I have such short legs it didn't even occur to me that leg length would make it difficult to push a pram!

Ursula82 · 23/01/2023 10:10

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 23/01/2023 10:07

Yep,I've noticed it too. I put it down to least contact possible with the baby so they can still pretend to be single 🙄

Absolutely opposite around where I am in SE commuter town

Every other man in mid to late thirties seems to be wearing a new born baby in a baby carrier!

CatJumperTwat · 23/01/2023 10:10

Yep this is absolutely a thing and ALWAYS men. I think it's a way to distance themselves from the womanly task of pushing a pram, whether consciously or unconciously.

LookItsMeAgain · 23/01/2023 10:13

It's a less extreme version of this:
www.ladbible.com/news/man-drags-pram-busy-road-riding-escooter-20220721
where the man is walking (i.e. not on an escooter) beside the pram and has his hand on the pram, so not walking behind the pram as it was designed.

Walkinginthesand · 23/01/2023 10:15

Notjusta · 23/01/2023 09:52

Agree - or like they aren't taking it that seriously/they think they are very cool.

Show quote history

Yep, my ex used to do this and DD is now over 50. TBF, ex doted on her

TravellingJack · 23/01/2023 10:16

DP does this... Our buggy suits me in terms of height but DP struggles with it even on max extension because he's a lot bigger than me - longer arms as well as legs. He does not 'pramspread' when there's no space/lots of people around though because a) he is not a knob and b) has spatial awareness.

mynameiscalypso · 23/01/2023 10:17

Oh dear, I quite often push DS' pram like that. I find it much easier to have a hand free and also so that I can talk to him more easily.

Cormick · 23/01/2023 10:19

I used to push DC's pram like that sometimes. It was more comfortable.

GreetingsToTheNewBrunette · 23/01/2023 10:23

I see more people thinking they own all the space and pavements with prams more, in fact when I was 16 and working in Primark a woman behind me rammed her pram into me rather than just asking me to move! And then she tutted at me! I didn’t know she was there as she was behind me 🙄

Idontgiveashitanymore · 23/01/2023 10:26

My dh is 6’6 and managed to push our gd ok. It’s a macho bs thing !

Cormick · 23/01/2023 10:27

Idontgiveashitanymore · 23/01/2023 10:26

My dh is 6’6 and managed to push our gd ok. It’s a macho bs thing !

What even when women do it?

LlynTegid · 23/01/2023 10:29

Must be local to you OP. Have passed two men with prams or pushchairs this morning, neither doing that. Mind you, one was with his wife or partner.

StressedToTheMaxxx · 23/01/2023 10:45

msbevvy · 23/01/2023 09:48

I found myself doing this (minus the phone) with a push along shopping trolley the other day. It felt more comfortable as the handle height was too low for me. This might be the case for some of these men.

I think this is it. My ex partner was 6'7 and the handles were far too low for him. He said it was more comfortable pushing it one handed.

That may not be the case for all men but it is for some.

MrsSkylerWhite · 23/01/2023 10:50

I’m only 5’ 8” and the handles on my grandchild’s pram are too low for me. Expect they’re still made according to decades’ old stats.

SomePosters · 23/01/2023 11:01

I do this as a woman, my stride doesn’t fit comfortable behind the buggy and I keep kicking it or having to take awkward short steps
I also had to do it when we moved to a wheelchair or I feel like I’m trying to walk with my legs tied together.

Nothing to do with distancing myself and everything to do with comfort while walking

Seeline · 23/01/2023 11:08

You can still push one-handed and walk behind the pram. I used to do it when having to hold hands with the toddler whilst pushing the baby!

Cormick · 23/01/2023 11:12

As long as they're not putting anyone in danger then why does it matter how someone else chooses to push their pram?

Lockheart · 23/01/2023 11:16

I see it on trains. Parents taking up a whole block of four seats because they don't want to put the pram in the luggage rack or vestibule.

There was a cracking example on the tube yesterday. End carriage, two parents sat at the door-side end of two rows of seats, pram between them blocking the walkway, and eight empty seats between them and the end of the carriage. They'd blocked themselves off a whole little section and seemed most affronted when anyone wanted to sit in the seats.

Gingersay · 23/01/2023 11:16

They usually have a Liam Gallagher swagger too!! DH friend used to do this as he didn't want to get his adidas Spezials dirty!