AIBU to think I can get away without a pram for the first 3 months?

[SenoritaViva]

Last time we had DD we used a very second hand pram which finally died a sad death. We bought a Maclaren for DD which in the end she didn't use much, but it is from 3 months only. Should I get a pram for a newborn or can I get away with a Baby Bjorn for 3 months? We're not balls to the wall broke so could probably fork out if we had to but have to get quite a lot of stuff as we lived abroad until DD was 2.

Am I being overly frugal?

I wouldn't. I couldn't do without a pram though, it's hard to do a shop with 2 two year olds, and newborn and no car when you don't have a pram!

If you don't manage you could always look on ebay for a second hand one rather than forking out a fortune. Then sell it on again when you have finished with it!

By three months my DS was 18 lbs 6oz, I don't think I could have managed to get around without a buggy with him.

However, DD was smaller and in a cloth sling most of the time.

I'd think try it and see, if not get a pram quickly online with overnight delivery.

Yanbu. I wouldn't use a bjorn (uncomfy, prefer woven wraps) but we didn't use a pram with dd for months, and still rarely use it at 15 months.

If you use the car a lot I reckon you probably can get away with it.

If it's only for a few months you might have a friend who would lend you one if it came to it - I would if I wasn't using ours, so might be worth making the odd enquiry with friends.

My son was in a Wilkinet baby carrier for about 6 months before we started using a pushchair

I'd say sling. We got another pram for the 2nd and barely used it. Also a prem baby!

Definitely look at slings other than the baby bjorn. I have a beco butterfly and it is brilliant. The baby bjorn was back breaking.

I used the pram alot from the start, but i dont drive so it was mainly because of the distance i had to walk (i think i would have been tired carrying even a small baby that far) and also i couldnt carry my shopping plus a baby in a sling plus hold a toddlers hand.

I could have managed without a pram for my second, but my first swiftly over-heated in a sling. It was winter and so huge changes between indoors and outdoors. In a pram I could easily put extra covers on and off, in a sling he would last 10 minutes or so indoors (from being rugged up outdoors) before he started screaming.

DS was 9lb 4oz and we used a baby bjorn for the first 3 months. But it was not great - really dug in after an hour or so. Plus I had a rough birth (3rd degree tear) so struggled once DH went back to work so did on occasion use the pram (eg for shopping).

We're expecting DC2 and don't have a suitable pushchair for both or a newborn. We're going to see how we fare as it'll be over Xmas and buy one if we need to. We have done our research so won't be doing it in a sleep deprived state. Have also bought a decent sling (a manduca which is like an ergo) plus have a soft one (close baby carrier).

So have a look now so if you do change your mind once baby is here, you can buy one quickly.

YANBU. Our buggy just sat gathering dust for first few months, I used a baby carrier or sling with both dc. Didn't have a car at that time though so got through a fair few buggies later on.

I have a Beco Gemini which is great, a clippy one but much better in shape for the baby and comfier. I've also used a Manduca and an Ergo which are similar. Or try a Mei Tai. Personally I use wovens and had a stretchy when she was little.

Try and find a local sling library or meet, or have a look at sites like Natural Mamas which can offer advice and you can buy/sell wraps and carriers.

depends, DS2 was such a fatty and my back is so pathetic that I couldn't carry him after 3 weeks for any length of time

I've managed fine without, but I used a wrap rather than a Bjorn. The positioning in a Bjorn isn't ideal for a newborn (and puts more stress on your back) so it would depend on how long you intended to have the baby in it for and how often.

If you do get a sling, I'd try a mei tai or the like. The weight distributes so evenly your back doesn't suffer and it feels so much more secure.

I loved my pram and couldnt wait both times to get baby out for a very long walk in it, though when DD1 was born we had no car, and with DD2 it didnt get as much use as her car seat did.

But it really depends what suits you, I couldnt imagine lugging baby about in a sling all the time, but I can understand it might work for some people.

We hardly used the slings tbh.

Get something better (for both of you) than a Baby Bjorn and it should be no problem. DS lived in a Close carrier for the first 5/6 months.

If you're going to use it a lot though it is worth getting a comfy sling - one you can wear for hours.

I love my pram and so does DS - he's 3 months and I have taken him out in it nearly every day. So I couldn't have done without it (I do a lot of grocery shopping on foot).

I had a second hand pram for DS, which he occasionally slept in in the sitting room/back garden. For going out and about I used a stretchy wrap sling which was brilliant. DS never cried, it was comfortable and kept him upright which helped with his tummy! I also had a baby bjorn which DH preferred, personally I found it gave me back ache (also as a previous poster said it's not meant to be great for their hips when really little).
Now DS is 19months and DC2 is due in Jan I have a woven (non-stretchy sling) which is more supportive now he is heavier. I also can carry him comfortably whilst pregnant. I do have a mclaren pushchair which lives in the car and gets used mainly when out with DM (she likes to push!) or DH.
So you probably don't need a pram, and you can always buy one later.

Never had a pram. Just as well, would have struggle to get it up the steps of my house/up the step that all the local shops have (pushchair was bad enough) - and they're tiny once you're in. And buses are so much easier with slings than prams. Say no to prams!

You clearly are NBU. For anyone else studying this thread, I do have one use for a pram that might suit some people's lifestyles. The granny and grampa can take the baby out in the pram, don't you know, while you catch up on a bit of kip. In fact, my PIL's had mine out in the pram before I'd had a go!

YANBU but do get several different types of sling. If your baby dislikes one of them, try another. I had a Moby wrap, and I made a ring sling and a long wrap out of woven polyester - I got the rings from here:

www.bigmamaslings.co.uk/zen-cart/make-your-own-sling-c-18.html

At various times my baby (and me) preferred one or other of the wraps, for no particular reason. The amazing thing about the ringsling was it packed so small into my pocket and I would whip it out and be carrying the baby in it in seconds. So handy when you have to jump out of the car for a minute or too and don't want to be lugging a huge babyseat.

Yes, I have a ring sling, a p sling (expensive ring sling), some wovens in different blends, the Beco clippy one and a stretchy for littlies. I use/have used them all at various points, and still use one daily.

I'd recommend trying some second hand, the low to mid price ones tend to hold their value well so you can sell on and try something new if you don't get on with it.

You'll be FINE with just a sling OP! DD2 is 16 months and still in her BabyBjorn!

DD1 was exclusively in her BB until she was a year old, and only switched to a buggy then because I went to work and my mother looked after her. Life is so much easier without a pram/buggy!

Dd2 is 8 weeks & has been in the (fully reclining) pushchair once. I find it so much easier to keep her in the Moby wrap. & like another poster it means their lovely baby head is right under your nose for kisses!