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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not buy a pram for baby?

190 replies

starsshineinthecountry · 04/01/2016 22:04

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?

OP posts:
silverstreak · 04/01/2016 22:28

Also felt the same way with DD, who also hatred these buggy add much as I did - we went everywhere with the sling! When she was about 14 months old I got a small, light umbrella stroller with a shoulder strap for the exact reason a pp had made - we started going out for the day more often (it was summer too) & she could have a snooze or a snack in the buggy without us being on top of each other! Soon after, I fell pregnant with DS and we (almost simultaneously) moved to a coastal town where I didn't need to use the car or buses hardly at all, so I ditched the umbrella buggy and bought an awesome 3 wheeler with suspension and oodles of bag space - an amazing off-road Mountain Buggy, about the only buggy I felt really represented me Grin - so we could do all the shopping and still go to the beach on the way home Grin and I've basically never looked back! Am a true buggy convert now, especially with 2 kids as it means you can take everything for any eventuality in virtually all weather And it will be a great adventure.... Am in the most of purchasing my newest project, a side by side 3 wheeler which will go anywhere while giving DD & DS a bit of company in each other... Can't wait!

NinaSimoneful · 04/01/2016 22:31

When pregnant with DD -our first- I loved the idea of not using a pram and instead carrying her in a sling. Unfortunately I couldn't settle her safely in the sling and also found that babies need a surprising amount of stuff! Spare nappies, wipes, cream, some clean clothes in case of blowout - too much to carry as well as carrying my own essentials (phone, wallet, keys) and safely carrying a wriggly baby.

So I would say proceed with the sling, as you may find it does work for you, but keep money aside to buy a pram in case you change your mind after a few months. Something to consider; your child won't be walking until (generally) after a year and when they start walking will only be able to manage a short distance at first. Carrying a one year old will get laborious after a while!

geekaMaxima · 04/01/2016 22:34

We (my dp and I) used a sling for ds for the first 7 months, no pram or pushchair at all. After finally getting a pushchair when he started getting heavier, I still used the sling a lot until he was about 12 months old.

I could catch a bus or train, get in and out of shops, go for a walk in the woods, navigate an airport or ferry, etc. all much more easily with ds in the sling than in a pushchair.

Most of my family were bewildered and almost horrified that we didn't tuck ds in a pram. I much preferred the sling!

JasperDamerel · 04/01/2016 22:34

I picked out an umbrella stroller that was suitable from birth, and bought a sling. The first sling I got was terrible, but I got a better one, and then, during heavy ice and snow when DD was 3 months old, I got the pushchair because I was afraid of falling on the ice. So YANBU, but a bit of research into possible prams/pushchairs is probably no bad thing.

KP86 · 04/01/2016 22:35

DS hated his carrier, and it hurt my back a lot to baby wear. I loved the idea but didn't work out for us.

See how you go, but also keep an eye on gumtree or similar in case a small but suitable pram comes up.

icclemunchy · 04/01/2016 22:35

We don't have one for DD2 we have a doona car seat that I use for super quick trips out of the car (nip into tescos for bread kinda trips) other than that I use a woven wrap. She's almost 1 now and haven't missed it at all, wish we hadn't spent the £600 odd on DD1s pushchair that never got used because it was such a faff lol

writingonthewall · 04/01/2016 22:37

Get a bog standard maclaren like the techno - it goes flat and will be the only buggy you ever need. You'll need it later anyway.

Griphook · 04/01/2016 22:37

The pram would have to live in the car boot, really do all Parma live in the boot?
Honestly though where will you put all the bags

queenofthepirates · 04/01/2016 22:38

Ummmm if you don't have a buggy, where are you supposed to put the gin and chocolate? They're staples for playgroups and the forecourt of hades that is soft play. Just sayin n'all.

hibbleddible · 04/01/2016 22:38

I loved having dd1 in a sling, but after about 9 months she was just too heavy. You could get a cheap maclaren then though, and they fold very easily.

ConesOfDunshire · 04/01/2016 22:38

YANBU, and if you change your mind then most shops offer next-day delivery.

TracyBarlow · 04/01/2016 22:44

My first two children hated the £700 FFS pram. Screamed blue murder in it and wouldn't even sit in it, never mind go to sleep. My third will sit in it but has never slept in it yet. I don't know why my children are like this. So no, you don't need a pram. I've had them all in a sling from birth to aged 3-ish. Totally against my will, and with my lovely, lovely pram sitting in the garage.

53rdAndBird · 04/01/2016 22:49

We used a sling for the first 6 months. Wasn't the plan but DD haaaaaated the pram carrycot, so sling it was. (She was fine once old enough to sit facing forward in buggy.)

Was great, used to walk miles with her. No problem carting baby stuff around - we just took less of it than we would have if we'd had a pram, but you don't actually need to take half the house with you when going out with a baby anyway. Family thought it was fairly odd but, oh well.

HairForNow · 04/01/2016 22:55

Surely it's easier grocery shopping ouryve with a sling? Hands free to push trolley, load bags into trolley, bags into the car.
Also don't faff with a typical changing bag, just get a normal supportive rucksack and a few wash bags if you want bits inside. Can walk miles then. Better for baby not to be transferred in car seat and stay in it for hours.

stargirl1701 · 04/01/2016 22:57

YANBU. Sling and then stroller from 6 months as an option. Job done.

JasperDamerel · 04/01/2016 23:10

Rucksack and granny trolley for groceries/carrying stuff. Otherwise you have to find somewhere to leave the pushchair while you push a trolley, and the pushchair overbalanced from the weight of the shopping.

GinIsTheBestChristmasSpirit · 04/01/2016 23:13

If you have a car with car seat and sling you may never need one. I have a friend who never used a pram at all. I used both. I had a maclaren techno xt. Suitable from birth but is umbrella fold. Bloody awesome pram. We had naff all space. I kept it in my car boot mostly!

Boosiehs · 04/01/2016 23:18

Loved the sling, but DS was a fucking enormous bonny baby and ruined my back carrying him. So we used the pram (baby style oyster. Nice and small).

This time we'll use the pram again as I have flipping awful PGP and an ELCS. DH likes the sling so we'll use the caboo to start with.

ShamefulPlaceMarker · 04/01/2016 23:21

Research prams and slings. Don't bother buying a pram until you think you need one, but you should have an idea of what you want.
The only time my dc have gone in a pram is when they were over 18months old and needed to nap. I'd push them round the block, they'd fall asleep and we'd go home and I'd have a quiet cuppa :)..... You can avoid having to do this by having a good nap routine I guess, but too much like hard work for me and my boob hungry babies! :)

ShamefulPlaceMarker · 04/01/2016 23:23

Fwiw... My youngest is 27months and carried in a sling every day.
Sooo much easier when they want to walk, as you have free hands :)

memyselfandaye · 04/01/2016 23:37

toobreathless I almost bought a c1 5 years ago when my son was a couple of months old, when my old car went off to the scapyard.

The Citroen dealership had a good offer, 6k, brand new, interest free finance, loved the car until I saw the boot space, I've had bigger handbags!

Definitely designed by a childfree person.

I ended up panic buying a used c3.

Crazypetlady · 05/01/2016 00:43

We live in North Wales by the mountains and awful weather sometimes it is too bad to use a sling and I have to leave the house regardless so ds pram is useful.I use it a lot he is a fussy baby and hates to nap but will in the pram.

I don't drive so weather is more relevant but its worth keeping in mind. DS is also a big lump and he hurts my back in the carrier especially since I live uphill!

BuggerLumpsAnnoyed · 05/01/2016 00:53

DS2 is 5 weeks old and we didn't sort a pram or anything (had giant clunky travel system for DS1 that's a bit broken) however, DH doesn't feel comfortable having the baby on a sling (is uncomfortable and worried he might fall) and also, not having a pram has been a bit awkward when going for lunch etc as one of us has had to balance holding him. Bought a from birth push chair from Amazon for about £70 (is from birth as it can lie flat). Haven't used it yet but can see me doing so when he's a bit bigger.

I wouldn't panic about getting a pushchair. You can just see how you get on. but it's perfectly realistic to not use one.

Plateofcrumbs · 05/01/2016 01:09

My recommendation would to be buy a 2nd hand one on eBay. We bought a whole travel system for £70, used it for a year and then put it back on eBay and got £70 for it, so it cost us nothing - at that point we traded for a lightweight stroller. If you want to buy secondhand it's easier to do so before the baby arrives as you have time to track down the right bargain.

I used a sling almost 100% of the time in the early months as DS was a buggy hater, but this gave way to a stage where the only reliable way to get him to nap was pushing him around in the buggy. Fickle creatures, babies!

charlieandthechocolatecake · 05/01/2016 01:20

For what it's worth I've only had cesareans and I only used slings for both my DC's. I used ellaroo wraps and ergos.

Hth.

Charlie x

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