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Parenting

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Original poster

Do I really need a pushchair/pram/buggy for a newborn?

54 replies

YanknbeforetheCockcrows · 04/04/2009 23:31

Frankly, we don't have tons of money, and I'm really starting to wonder if I need to be shelling out for a pushchair from birth.

It will be nearly September when the baby comes, and it will be grim and rainy a lot of the time--I don't foresee a lot of walks through the park TBH. I drive, so obviously will have a carseat/baby carrier thing. I was thinking I/DH could use a sling if taking the baby somewhere/out walking.

I do my food shopping online, and frankly hate other types of shopping. If I went somewhere with the baby, I'd most likely be driving.

Geez, I sound like a complete recluse, but am imagining my life will pretty much consist of being stuck on the sofa breastfeeding for a few months!

I do think we'll get a pushchair later on, but what I want to know is, how long can I get away with not having one? Is it realistic to wait? How much did you actually use your pram/pushchair during the first few months?

----------------------

Hello,

We've noticed this thread is quite old and some of the products mentioned on this thread aren't available any more. If you decide that using a pushchair is the right option for you, you'll want to make sure you choose the right one. We've spent weeks speaking to parents and testing prams and pushchairs, from lightweight easy folding prams to all terrain buggies, we've seen them all.

Here's our round up of the best baby pushchairs on the market right now.

Hope that helps!

MNHQ

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beepbeep · 05/04/2009 09:11

For DC1 I used the buggy quite a lot, she was a Nov baby, but used to just go for a wander for my own sanity and also to meet up with other Mums. DC2 I used the sling a lot, found it easier to deal with DC1 (she was only 19m) when DC2 was in sling. HOWEVER, the downside of the sling is, if you stop for a drink with friends or go anywhere with them in it, you have nowhere for you to put them down (if you feel the need).

If you can get a secondhand pram I think it would be great to have that option as well as sling (not baby carrier for newborn - I had CLOSE sling and was great). Now pregnant with #3 and plan on using sling for first few months again, but then i would never plan on doing that without option of pramas well.

SamJamsmum · 05/04/2009 09:11

I used a sling for the first 12 months. Lo#2 was in a pram literally twice so older brother could have fun on buggyboard wasn't used at all apart from then.

I bought a pram at around 12 months as she was getting a bit heavy on long shopping trips but with more babywearing knowledge I probably could have gone on longer.

If for some reason you do need a buggy you could get hold of one very quickly if it's needed.

foxytocin · 05/04/2009 09:22

I totally agree: carrying a baby in a sling also forces you to bend to pick up things properly which means strengthening your core muscles instead of causing damage to your back when you have to go down low for something.

in addition, it makes you walk in a more upright posture too hence making your standing posture and walking better.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Baby & toddler products Families General parenting

GreenMonkies · 05/04/2009 09:32

Another vote for a sling, a PROPER sling not a baby bjorn style carrier. Try eBay for bargains, search for "ring slings". As someone else has said, a small rucksack is the best "chang bag" to use with a sling. You will find the car seat very heavy and awkward to carry, and I find the way babies get bounced around in them quite horrifying! But it is easy to take them out the carseat and stick them in the sling, and much easier to negotiate shops, steps, lifts etc, not to mention being able to feed baby as and when on the move.

A quick point to think about when it comes to getting a pram/pushchair/buggy; babies and small children like to be able to see the person pushing them rather than face forward and see a sea of strange faces and legs. Also, a rear facing pushchair gives more protection from the elements, rain is not the only issue, sun in eyes and cold wind on face/hands are not a a problem when baby is facing you.

unclefluffy · 05/04/2009 09:38

I'm with Beehive. After an emergency C/S, I was advised not to use the pram and to sling instead. I was pretty surprised, but actually it made a lot of sense. I live up a hill and I think that influenced the midwives' advice. My baby was average weight and I carried her easily. We pushed her home from the hospital in the pram, but after that it didn't get used until mid-January, and I certainly didn't NEED to use it then. The pram's more useful now she's getting heavier and more active (5 months) but I really couldn't do without the sling. If you find a sling you like, it will change your life!

GreenMonkies · 05/04/2009 09:38

Oh, forgot to add, there's nothing to stop you using a sling from day one after a c-section, as long as it is positioned high enough to not rest on or bump the wound it shouldn't be a problem at all. Pushing, folding and lifting a pram or carrying a car seat is far heavier and harder than tucking your newborn in a sling.

GreenMonkies · 05/04/2009 09:40

Ha! X-posted with uncle fluffy!

unclefluffy · 05/04/2009 09:40

Should have said she was born mid-November.

Also, I use a Kozy Carry mei tai sling and it's lovely! I couldn't feed in it at first, but I can now. And it kept her warm and close to me all through the winter.

unclefluffy · 05/04/2009 09:42

Hooray! I love agreeing with people!

naomi83 · 05/04/2009 09:44

We have a mamas and papas travel system with bassinet, car seat and buggy. next time I would get a baby bjorn active, maclaren quest and maxi cosi car seat. you can sell both the bjorn and quest on after you've used them, but they would also see you through another couple of kids no bother.

heather1980 · 05/04/2009 09:52

i have 2 children and didn't bother with a double pram. dd is 2.5 and ds 5 months. dd is of an age where she wants to walk and i have a wrap sling for ds.
i have a huge travel system that i hate and a mclaren xlr. my mclaren is pink so don't often use it for ds but i have when i've needed to. he much prefers the sling as he is a very clingy baby and he can sleep in it too.
ds was 9lb 5oz at birth and quickly got too heavy to carry in the car seat, he's 20lb now and i can't carry him far so that's something to think about

AddictedtoCrunchies · 05/04/2009 10:10

I had a pram which I borrowed off of a friend and it was invaluable as I literally walked miles every day for the first thre months. DS had colic, and I had pnd and it seemed the only way to keep us both sane.

After 3-4 months, I bought a Chicco buggy for £60 from Mothercare and used it constantly (including taking it on a plane) until I won a brang new Graco Kleo in a Mother & baby comp in Nov.

Now keep the Kleo in the house (as I can't fold it without getting very sweaty and swearing a lot) and keep the smaller one in the car boot. Job done.

TaurielTest · 05/04/2009 10:19

No you really don't need one, OP. I just used a Moby sling for the first few months, we got a cheap (3 months +) Maclaren after that but I still mostly use the sling instead. This saved us a lot of money in not shelling out for a from-birth travel system, it was def the right choice for us anyway. DP was also happy to use the sling for the first bit, though now he prefers the buggy. You've had some good advice here about finding the right sling for you!

ShortBlack · 05/04/2009 10:21

DS is 4 months old and never been in a pram/buggy. I have him in a wrap sling, and DD (2.7) in the buggy for long journeys or walking for short trips. I don't drive.

Helen31 · 05/04/2009 10:29

Had a EMCS almost 4 weeks ago, and I have found my pram invaluable to get out. I haven't tried slings yet, as I have BabyBjorn style and baby is still too small for it .

However, I have had absolutely no problems with folding and using my pram from the get-go - I have a Bebeconfort LoolaUp, which I find very easy to fold. With the Windoo carrycot, it is heavy to lift (but I'm only ever bumping it up and down doorsteps and pavements), but light to push. For about a tenner you can get adaptors to fit the MaxiCosi carseat on it.

Suggest you look into what you can get from charity shops/freecycle by way of a pram.

babyphat · 05/04/2009 10:49

i really wish i hadn't shelled out for a from birth system - i ended up getting on much better with a sling and really like the freedom it gives me for getting around. especially as i live on the first floor, and carrying the pram upstairs is a pain.

i would see how you get on with a sling and then buy a pushchair if you decide you need one - cheaper way round to do it than buying a pushchair and leaving it to get dusty like i have.

and even if you do buy a pram/pushchair to use out and about, a sling is a useful thing to have around the house eg if baby won't settle

DownyEmerald · 06/04/2009 15:32

Didn't buy one till dd was 3 month old. Slung her a lot - she really appreciated it (or seemed to!). Still carry her now in preference to pushchair - but we like to go places that are difficult for pushchairs - stiles, kissing gates etc.

And I did spend a lot of time sitting on the sofa feeding. Occasionally out in car (which I found really hard work) - we live in village so limited opportunities for shopping in walking distance.

screamingabdab · 06/04/2009 15:41

Well, I wish I had had all this advice 8 years ago after the CS birth of DS1 - maybe if I had used a sling i would have stomach muscles now .........

I would still have used a buggy, though, because I walked a lot and the weather was bad

Pannacotta · 06/04/2009 15:44

I'd recommend either a very comfy sling (Huggababy etc) or a carrycot type system such as Windoo/Loola where the baby faces you in the carrycot and you can replaced it in time with just the buggy seat.
I personally dont think its great for small babies to face away from parents in eg a Maclaren Techno and as GM says, a pram which faces in also protects from wind/rain etc and so much nicer to be able to see your baby...
Why not try and get both second hand so you have both options covered?
Lots of used slings/prams etc on the For Sale section on MN.

CherryChoc · 06/04/2009 17:24

Just curious now, sorry for thread hijack, but how does a parent facing pushchair protect more against elements etc?

Am a fan of rearfacing but hadn't heard this before.

bigbang · 06/04/2009 17:50

I only used the pushchair 2 or 3 times in the first 6 months, and every time I did I regretted it as the sling was much easier.

We only bought one when ds was about 2 weeks old because of pressure from family, they kept going on about how we must have a pushchair etc etc. They offered to pay for it though. You really don't need one for the first few months if you are open to slinging. The baby is light at this stage and if you get a good one (would highly recommend a moby wrap) you barely feel their weight and they are safe and snug- perfect for autumn. I live in London and we didn't have a car when he was born btw, so walking/public transport everywhere.

Ds was out of the carrycot bit every hour or so anyway to feed so each time I took it out it was such a faff. He slept much better in the sling. If you wait till 3/6 months then you won't need one with a carrycot/cocoon so you can save a few bob and go straight for a stroller or something.

If you find yourself desperate for one you can always go and buy something when the baby is there

Original poster

YanknbeforetheCockcrows · 06/04/2009 18:00

Just a quick word to say thanks so much for all the responses. It's given me and DH a lot to think about!

OP posts:

TaurielTest · 06/04/2009 20:22

Welcome! Let us know what you go for in the end and how it works out for you.

MarianneM · 06/04/2009 21:15

I had a section and used a sling from the beginning. We have a BabyBjorn and it's the best thing ever! You can go anywhere with it and my daughter (now four months old) loves being in it. I plan to use it for as long as I possibly can and don't want to buy a pushchair if I can manage without one. A sling is also great when you need to cook or do housework. Babies like to be carried close to you!

Vamonos · 07/04/2009 15:21

Yankn - I think it would be fair to say that your thread title may have encouraged more sling-fans than buggy-fans to post, so just something to bear in mind.

I'm personally WAY too lazy to want to carry anything more than I absolutely have to (though I don't mind walking) - and a baby, a changing bag and your shopping is quite a lot to load yourself up with for any time or distance, especially if you're not 100% fit. But if you are fit and you don't mind carrying things it can be easier than eg trying to get a pram on a bus.

I can see that a wraparound sling would be nice, and good for your muscles, especially when the baby is tiny. I have only used a Babybjorn carrier, which as others have said isn't the same as a sling and I didn't really get on with it either (DH liked it though).

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