To not buy a pram for baby?

[starsshineinthecountry]

I know it seems to be on the list of essentials but I have a lovely sling and a wrap and don't really see me pushing a pram much. I have hardly any space, like walking in areas where pushing a pram would be difficult and want to keep costs down.

Is it worth buying one or can I get away without using one?

Yanbu.

I used a skig and a rucksack exclusively for the first 9-ish months of dd's life, then got a cheap umbrella stroller when she was big enough to sit in it. I loved using the sling, though we also used cloth nappies so the bag was a bit too heavy at times. I tended to cram half the house in my nappy bags when going out, though.

Skig? Sling!

yanbu. We shouldn't have bought one.

I haven't used a pram/pushchair since DS1 (now 6.5yo) was about 6mo-ish. Didn't buy one for DS2 (now almost 4.5yo) or DS3 (6.5mo). We just use slings, and it's quite lovely.

Thank you, it seems to be all anyone's asked about!

You'll feel differently if you end up having a cs, or when you're tired, or you want to do a long walk without being exhausted. It's worth even getting a second hand one that folds up. We got our icandy for £200 as opposed to £1100 - I felt the same as you, but after an emergency cs, I couldn't have done without it. Now I have an 18 month old bolter, and I need it to keep him still!!

prams are handy for hanging the shopping on. Also when they wont sleep and you can go for a walk then sneak inside, park them somwhere quiet and put the kettle on,

Having said that, wearing dd was so useful and easy.

You can likely manage without. Might be worth doing some research, though, in case you do suddenly decide you need one (eg if someone else is taking the baby out and can't/won't use the along). You don't want to be running round in a panic and buy something unsuitable. I'd do some reading to see roughly what you would buy if you had to, and then at least you know where to start.

YANBU but don't be fixed on ideas.
You may see things very differently when the little one arrives

What about when you need to carry groceries, or do you have a car for that?

Depends on your baby a bit I guess. But I think YANBU not to get one before the baby comes. My ds doesn't much like slings... He's ok for about 30 minutes but after that it's like having an angry octopus strapped to me chest! But he'll happily go to sleep or play in his pram.

I do have a car, yes.

I think you're right Bishops and I wouldn't be against buying one, I just don't want to buy one and discover I never use it if you see what I mean! :)

Indeed - some babies don't like being in slings. A friend of mine was an avid babywearer with her older children, but her current baby isn't fussed and mostly prefers the buggy. She doesn't bother with slings as much with him.

I don't see a problem with waiting until baby is born before deciding on a pram, though. No rush.

Too true. But if you get a squirmy one that hates being stuck next to a hot body in the summer like my middle one

I say it about all aspects of expecting a baby. Keep an open mind, the baby quite often changes the best laid plans anyway (just to be awkward).

Why not just buy a cheap from birth stroller? That way you have the option but it's not an expensive buy if you don't use it much

I think the PP advice to research first is good though. You probably won't want to be doing research while sleep deprived.

I also remember that I had infected stitches for about a month after ds was born and couldn't have carried him much as I could barely walk so the pram was a life saver!

at angry octopus though!

I had a moby wrap for my youngest and she actually preferred it. They're all so different.

We mostly use slings-different ones suit different stages so I recommend a library rather than buying outright.

But we still bought a lie flat (suitable from birth) umbrella fold buggy. It's light and easy to get in/out car and works for the times when the sling isn't great eg eating out/clothes shopping.

Thank you. I have a mei tai a friend gave me, and I'd love to go to a sling library, it sounds a nice way of meeting other mums as well as the opportunity to try some slings out.

You should definitely do some research, in case things change and you need one at short notice! I had grand plans to use a sling but ended up with an EMCS and have had no end of back problems since then. There's no way I could have used a sling in the early weeks and it took a few sling library trips before I found one I could use occasionally without feeling crippled (a Manduca, if anyone is in a similar situation).

If you're short on space, you could look at lie-flat strollers, which wouldn't require all the extra bits that travel systems come with. We have an iCandy Raspberry, which takes up minimal space when folded.

The pram would have to live in the car boot, really

Prams are great.
I've had compost, wood chip, bark chips and sawdust in ours. I get a few looks pushing an empty pram around B&Q but sod em. Very handy and foldable trolleys.

As for putting kids in? Do what you like.

I have a pram but can't fit it in the car at the same time as the children.

(Do not get a C1 when expecting DC3!)

So we use a sling the vast majority of the time unless walking from home. The things I find tricky are helping DD2 on and off toilets with baby in the sling - she is 2.9 and the fact that my bag gets very heavy if trying to take coats for all three, nappies, packed lunch and I'm good at travelling light!

For a first baby go for it.

I certainly regretted spending so much on a pram. A big, unweildy thing that barely fit in my house! I ended up getting rid of it and getting a cheap McClaren's buggy when Dd was old enough, way better.

Don't think I'd have wanted to carry her everywhere all the time though. Babies get massively heavy and I sometimes just wanted a little physical space! Entirely up to you though.