Do I really need a pram?

[P0llyP0cketR0cket]

So, I'm preggo with #1. I live in the middle of nowhere and lead a very countrysidey life. I'm wondering if I really need to spend loads on a pram. On a day to day basis, I'll be walking the dogs (through grass & mud, so baby will be in a sling.) I might go to the village, but not many pavements, so sling again I suppose or maybe a buggy? I go food shopping once a week, but can I do that with a buggy too? I'll obviously buy a good car seat, but do I really need a pram too? Am I being naive thinking I don't need a pram? Anyone else cope without? Thanks!

I couldn't manage without mine. But we are all different. Why not start without and get one later if you change your mind. If you can wait till baby is around 6 months you have the option of all the pushchairs that are suitable "from 6 months".

Little people can't go in most buggies, as they need to lie flat til 4-6 months, depending on the country you live in (4 in a lot of Europe, 6 in UK!).

I'd suggest looking into the Maclaran that lies flat (techno??) or any other small fold that does lie flat.

Food shopping - baby needs to go in the trolly seat. Juggling a buggy and a trolly makes for bruised shins!

If you have a big baby he/she may be too heavy for you to carry in a sling after a couple of months!

Also if you have a c section you won't be able to life him/her at first.

Your options are:
Do some weight training to sling carry til 2 and buy a backpack style baby carrier

Get an off road style pram/buggy. Some are good at rough terrains.

Get a lie flat/suitable from birth buggy/stroller. This is what I'm going to get. (3rd baby/hated pram last time)

I never had a pram or buggy for DD, and never wished I did. We got on just fine with slings - it is so much easier.

Babies get bigger, a sling won't cut it for long! Get a pram or buggy that can go flat. Congratulations!

With the right sling or carrier, you can easily carry for ages. I can sling my 2 year old comfortably.

Avoid high street carriers. Get some proper advice from a sling library or sling consultant. You can borrow from sling libraries to see what suits you.

I barely used my pram. I think for the day to day life you're suggesting then no, you probably don't need one. Baby in a sling or carrier for walks, baby in the trolley for food shopping.

I had a lie-flat Maclaren (Techno XLR, like this though I think these aren't made any more and it might be the XT that's their new top model) and it's been amazing. We moved DD over at 3m, and with all the padding and headrests it provides she was incredibly snug in it, even sitting reasonably upright. 3 years on and it's still going strong and we still use it.

I would have a look around at prams, though, and find a cheaper range one that you like so that if you do decide you need a pram, you've got one chosen and can just order it to be delivered in a day or so.

My LO is now almost 2 and I still carry her in a sling most of the time. It's just easier for me. That being said, the pram has been useful at times too so I'd say either take a hand-me-down pram from a pram or buy something sturdy like a McLaren second hand and use whatever you need to at the time.

In your position I would just wrap/sling

I was a pushchair addict

But I could have managed probably more easily with a sling ESP Tula ones, in a toddler tula at 2.5 DS is still comfy for me to carry and he's a chunk

The buggy was just what I hung the shopping off, carried stuff around on. If you shop with a car - not really a need for one

DS is now 13m and selling the pram as we just don't use it. Never have. Sling has always been easier and quicker, then when he got heavy a littlelife backpack has proved brilliant.

Second what Bubbles has said about the pram being for carrying shopping LOL. I don't have a car, so yes, that's exactly what I use it for.

I was able to carry ds in the sling until he was 4, and he's no lightweight at all (diff slings as he got older!).

Started off with a ring sling, then an Ergo (which I didn't like) then meitais, and finally a hybrid meitai (buckle waist)

Sling was a lifesaver after CS! I was advised not to push a pram for 6 weeks but to use a sling with back support to take weight away from my abdomen. I never really used the pram after that (also rural). Even afer he was too heavy to sling I mostky used a backpack until he was 2 and I was pg again.

Haha PannaDoll

DS was at nursery the other morning and I still took the buggy while I went shopping, never even occurred to me till I was walking home that without DS with me that's actually kinda crazy - but it saved my arms

My youngest is 18 months and has never been in a pushchair/pram. I've used a boba3g since birth.

I'm now 8 months pregnant with number three and can comfortable carry either of my sons in it (eldest is nearly 4). Where I live is very rural 2 and I have 2 dogs to walk.

So you want to get a stroller type pram rather than big, heavy travel system type pram? I got confused reading your OP because I call them all prams, but that's just me

I had a stroller (almost) from birth for DS. There's plenty around that are suitable from birth because they lie flat. I had a mclaren xlr with a small carrycot attached but the carrycot only lasted 5 weeks. So at 5 weeks he was in a lie flat stroller. I don't know if iI'd recommend it though because I always wish he could have faced me.

I bought a very expensive pram which is sat under the stairs gathering dust. I agree that most of the high street slings are awful, the best money I spent (£20) was on a private appointment at a sling library. If there's one near you its def worth a visit.
Someone said you can't use a sling if you've had a c section, my midwife was much happier with me having DD in a sling than using a pram. If you're carrying the baby, you're just carrying the baby. If you're using a pram you're lifting it & all its weight up & down every curb & step.
I started with a victoria sling lady stretchy than moved on to a variety of mei tais.
Is there anyone you could borrow a pram from for a week or two to see if you like using it or not?

You don't neeeed a pram in the first week, and even in the middle of nowhere they can be delivered in a day or so.

I would see how you go.

I think you could easily manage without a pram in the early weeks/months, but you might find you wanted one later on when your child gets heavier or if it's very hot. You could just see how you go, and get a pram at a later date if you feel you need one.

Supermarket shopping the baby could stay in the sling, or go in the trolley.
Do you have a sling meet near you?
The Natural Mamas forum is full of babywearing and often non-pram owning parents so may be worth a look.

Yeah....I thought I'd use a sling everywhere.....until DD developed reflux and vomited down my cleavage every time I put her in the sling.

But give it a go. You can always get a buggie later if you find you need it.

I live rurally and would be fine 99% of the time with just a sling the times I did need a pram/stroller were when I needed to head into the city doing clothes shopping, christmas shopping things like that.

Be open minded, two of mine hated being in a sling as newborns. I tried different types but they just didn't enjoy it, funnily enough they both hated being swaddled too.
There are prams that cope well with mud/grass/woodland. I have a nipper at the moment that seems to manage anything.
I don't drive so a pram is essential for carry shopping and the crap 4 DC need to ferry around. I certainly couldn't have managed without one. I used mine inside as well for naps during the day.

There's more than just traditional prams and buggies. Some brilliant pushchairs either lie flat or take a carrycot.

We had a lie flat buggy for both of ours, it worked fine and was loads cheaper.

Oh yes don't assume all slings are the same, definitely go to a sling library. What is comfy for one won't be for someone else, there are a few good sling sites on facebook where you can get tons of advice on different kinds and different ways to wrap, plus they usually ban the ones with safety issues from being sold so you know which ones are crap quite quickly and the guide to carrying safely (ticks?) I forget now.

It's the same with prams/pushchairs hence why I was an addict - pretty silver cross that DS outgrew the lie flat facing me option by 8 weeks, then lovely Britax where DS faced me but was too wide for buses, so stroller buggy for buses that faced me, but was hopeless on the wheels and uncomfy handles then Maclaren stroller where he couldn't face me anymore but easier to push... Oh had an iCandy somewhere along the line too as I thought it was so pretty - DS hated how it reclined and the fabric seemed really scratchy so despite its prettiness we didn't get on.