Pramspreading - anyone noticed it recently?

[TinyTear]

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?

I did it with our daughter's first pram, as the handles were too low and I banged my shins. No coffee, or phone and not in crowded places.

I've got a back injury and being leant over forwards is about the worst thing for it.

My partner does this and it winds me up soooo much! Winds me up so much when I’m with him I end up pushing the pram!!! He very rarely pushes it when I’m with him but when he does I take over as it’s embarrassing 😂

I’m 6’4” and a former pram pusher and, yes, pram spreader, for the simple reason that I cannot walk normally while pushing a pram from behind, because of my big beautiful man legs and the manly stride they entitle me to.
So, sorry (not sorry) @TinyTear , but I’ll add that the separate but equally distasteful phenomenon of “pram blasting” (ie “here comes my massive pram, gtfo my way”) seems to be a speciality of diminutive women, so, horses for courses.

While I’m here, let me recommend my book;
“Pram Rage, discourses on power structures, consumer status and class in 21st century public discourse” (self published & printed), £12.99, available by mail order.

(Shit. Tries to sound clever, uses “discourses” twice in title of pretend book)

DP does it because otherwise he’s hunched over the pram, or kicking into the buggy board. The baby zen yo-yo has very low handles which are fine for me, 5’2”, but not for him at 5’11”. Can’t say people doing it bothers me, but they generally move out of the way, so.

No I've not noticed but I will look out for it 😂

I'm tall and struggle to hold a buggy one-handed from behind, let alone at the side! Me, pram/child and coffee would be all over the floor if I tried it

I like it! is there a sequel?

Pram Rage: Envy of a sleeping baby that kept you awake all night?

My SIL and I both had to do this with buggy boards. Her because her legs were too long and my because my arms were too short

My ex did this until I pointed out that by doing this he was making me walk behind him like I were a child who didn't want to go. He tried it one more time so I barged across into him and forced him to walk behind the pram (it had an adjustable handle so there wasn't a height issue)

Oh and he was 6'7" tall with correspondingly long arms too.

Haha saw a man in Tesco doing this this morning!

I see it round here a lot. Pushing the pushchair out to the side with one hand cannot be comfortable surely?! But yes, it’s definitely a thing.

Ha yes I've seen it, definitely a thing, it feels like the difference is usually a woman is getting from a to b with the pram, or on a purposeful walk, whereas these men somehow want to make more of a feature of the occasion. I can't quite express what I mean, but there's a definite self satisfied sort of air to it!!

Never seen anyone do this! DH is 6ft 4inch and he's never had trouble walking with a pushchair like a normal person

DH does this with the travel pram. It doesn't have adjustable handles so it's too short for him, and the stupid bastarding brake is in the middle, so if he walks behind it he trips it by mistake every 30 seconds and once nearly launched poor baby out with the sudden stop while still pushing.

He tends to avoid using that pram except when necessary and uses the behemoth instead. But that's not always practical.

Of course if the pavement was busy and crowded he'd shuffle behind it like an OAP, but when it's clear he does the side-along walk.

My husband does this! Pushes the pram kind of to the side rather than standing behind it. He often bangs the pram into street furniture. Makes no sense at all!!

Yes, I've seen this phenomenon a few times. I reckon it is due to pram manufacturers making the handles too low for tall people to walk behind and push without stooping over.

Seems like there is an opportunity for more adjustable prams then!

You mean like that special way they have of holding handbags where they might as well be holding a sign saying "My wife/girlfriend made me wait here with her bag, it is ABSOLUTELY NOT MINE AND I AM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT THIS ENTIRE SITUATION AND AM CONCERNED IT MAY BITE ME"?

Not noticed that, but I have seen various people trying to manoeuvre huge Silver Cross style prams around the very narrow aisles of Sainsburys locals. Causing bottlenecks and jamming up whole shops.

Also saw a pram which had an appendage on the side to hold your bags. Like a motorbike side car. It was too narrow for another seat so was definayely for bags. It took up almost .all the pavement. Obviously the couple pushing it towards me expected me to walk on the muddy grass verge so they could continue to walk 2 abreast. They were most put out when I refused to move off the pavement.

I do it with my little one's wheelchair because if I don't I end up kicking the brake bar. It's not comfortable and I wish manufacturers would make allowances for people who are taller or shorter than average.

That's the one!

Ha ha, I know it well, bag held at arms length with a pained expression on my face.

I also like to stand outside Lush on the high street with a pained expression on my face while my family shop for items such as “bath bombs” because I know if I step inside all the smells will instantly turn me gay.

I've seen 'younger' dads doing it, the older dads seem to push the pram properly so the baby doesn't constantly talk to them because they are shattered from the lack of sleep and don't spring back with lack of sleep like the younger ones.....: lighthearted before y'all come for me

I thought it was going to be about a group of people all walking with side by side double buggies refusing to move for folks coming the opposite way, or for anyone walking behind them wishing to get passed.