do I need a pram? could I wait and just use a pushchair?

[buttershy]

Hi all,

I have a question regarding prams/pushchairs and safety. Please be nice :)

I'm on a tight budget as I'm a PhD student and not entitled to statutory maternity pay so I'm having to think very carefully about the big baby expenses.

I'm wondering whether a pram that converts into pushchair is really necessary for me..what do you think? I have a soft fabric sling and a more structured baby carrier for walking that have been recommended to me by a baby wearing group that I will use for around the house and for getting out for a walk each day. The village I live in doesn't have anything close by that I could walk to with a pram, we would have to go in the car so I would be taking her in her car seat.

So I'm wondering whether the expense of having a travel system (pram&pushchair) is worth it when potentially we would only actually use the flat lie down pram section for a stroll round town a couple of times a month. Additionally I could probably only use it as a pram at the weekend as my car is three door with a tiny boot.

How quick would she grow out of it?

Does anyone know of any pushchairs that come with or can be purchased with the baby nest type things and so accommodate a slightly smaller/younger baby?

Also, we have managed to acquire a cot bed, Moses basket and a bed side co-sleeper so definitely wouldn't use the pram for another sleep option for indoors.

Any thoughts?

Baby jogger city mini. Can put car seat on top if you really want. I love ours and it is one hand fold which is very useful

If you are sure baby wearing is going to work for the first 6 months then this plan will be fine. Any pram or travel system suitable for under 6 months is likely to be more expensive as the baby needs to lie as close to flat as possible so cheap umbrella fold options are no good. Baby wearing can be brilliant but remember you also need to carry a bag of changes of clothes, nappies, some water for you (important to keep hydrated) and goodness knows what other bumph so look for a bag that isn't going to interfere with the comfort of the slings.

I don't know anyone who's managed without a buggy. I couldn't have done. Not all babies like slings - mine didn't - and are more comfortable in a buggy. Also if baby's in a sling there's nowhere to put them down. I'd get a second hand buggy.

I would go for some kind of mclaren. I know some of them are suitable from birth and I think you can buy a nest to go in them. I've had 4dc and all of them have ended up in a mclaren by one so much easier than the faff of dismantling and re building the bloody bugaboo every time I get out of the car.
The only thing I found really useful about a travel system was being able to clip the car seat on the top I'm continuously in and out of the car so having to get a sleeping baby out of a car seat to put in a sling would not have been good.

Before 12 months I barely used my pram, I used a caboo until he got too heavy & transferred him to an ergo carrier so it is doable without pram as I bloody hated it!

You could see how you get on without it, I just found it handy for shoving shopping in but I constantly crashed into things.

Carriers are a lot easier & babies settle quicker in them. I found it easier to feed him as well.

Look on eBay or a Facebook selling group for a second hand travel system?

I'm selling a mothercare xpedior system for £40 and it's suitable from newborn up until toddler age. Keep an eye out, you will find bargains!
I absolutely 100% could not have done without a pram

Thanks for the pushchair recommendation!

Fishwithabycycle what bag would you recommend, this is something I've been thinking about so it's really interesting you've mentioned it as like you say a handbag won't cut it but a back pack will need to work over the straps of the fabric carrier.

Obviously I can't be sure how she will respond to the carrier but since I'm desperate to breastfeed if it works out for us I'm thinking she will be quite used to being close to my body. Since we're not living in a town or city we won't be accessing baby groups every day so although I'll be wearing her I'm not sure whether it would be a full on baby wearing commitment, does that make sense? Just to get to the local shop, the village hall and on short walks to get me moving again, and to do some chores around the house.

You're plan is absolutely fine. I had a hugely expensive travel system with DD1. All singing, all dancing, complete with pram attachment. Hardly used the damn thing. DD hated the pram bit and it weighed a ton and took up so much space. We ditched the travel system when DD was less than a year old in favour of a Baby Jogger City Mini. If I had my time again, I'd get a BJCM from the start. You can attach the car seat if you want, they lie flat for a newborn and they are a brilliant lightweight stroller for a toddler and preschooler.

I echo MsWhicher - I had a BJ City Versa but if I had my time again I'd also get a BJCM! Bloody marvellous contraption.

Thanks everyone lots of useful experiences shared!

I also forgot to mention I have dyspraxia so I'm extremely clumsy and have terrible special awareness. I love pushing my sisters pram on a walk but I know navigating a shopping centre or a closed space I'd be dreadful but the point about the shopping basket for shopping and general baby bumf is a very good one..hmm.

I look every day online for second hand prams (almost everything we've had has been from gumtree and nearly new sales - I'm no snob!) but I've actually found them still quite expensive and in really bad condition (lots of food stains) and I'm loathe to part with hundreds and not even have a warrantee.

We barely used our pram before one year, as our baby preferred the sling, and we found it much easier for our lifestyle.

I would wait and see- after baby is born of you thunk a pram would be helpful you can buy one.

I was carrying my baby two week after a caesarean in a soft structured carrier and found this fine (until then DH carried her as on paternity leave).

I used a rucksack for my belongings.

Main difficulty was trying to keep baby cool but covered from the sun during Summer.

With DS I got Bugaboo Bee brand new and he had the cocoon for newborns and was happy in that for 5 mo (and fit him which was bonus as he is huge).

This time I decided I wanted carrycot I could clip off so got Bugaboo Cameleon second hand. But DD only wanted to be worn in sling for first 3/4 months then had few weeks in carrycot before going in seat as she was trying to sit up and look around.

So I wouldn't bother personally. But all babies are different.

The Bugaboo Bee cocoon was really good and I've seen it used in other pushchairs.

I would definitely look at going second hand.

You're not going to miss the only opportunity to buy a pram - they'll still be for sale after you've had the baby :)

6 month old baby snoozing beside me has never yet seen the inside of a pram or buggy; we kept telling people we'd buy one when we needed it, but so far it's been easy taking him everywhere in a sling. I use an old backpack as a change bag. You really don't need to carry that much around with you either - portable change mat, nappies, wipes, muslins, bottle of water, emergency change of clothes, emergency tshirt for me, sun hat and woolly hat (ah, Britain), keys, purse, phone. Maybe a book. That's still a mostly empty bag!

Another word of caution, DS (breastfed until 15 months) HATED the sling as a baby (loves it now at 18 months though). He loved his carrycot though as he liked spreading out.

Definitely look out for a bargain. If anything, prams etc are handy to have for grandparents etc as they often won't feel comfortable baby wearing.

We bought a stupidly expensive pram/travel system (second hand, but still). It has been used unsuccessfully 5 times in the 4 months we've had DS. I use a sling all the time- easier, quicker and he MUCH prefers it.

You can definitely do without a pram!

I had a a bugaboo for my first, all the kit- it was great. However for number 2 I've mostly just used my Ergobaby and it's actually been marvellous. The only thing is that a pram is really useful for loading with stuff when you are out shopping. But a MacLaren would be just as good I think.

We have a Britax Affinity. We got it as a travel system so included car seat that clips onto pram.
It lies flat and has a fleecy nest insert for newborns.

I wouldn't have managed without it. DS is almost two and it's now an upright pram, he isn't going to grow out of it anytime soon.

The main benefit was being able to push him to sleep. ( he wouldn't nap in a cot) and then park him up and be able to do jobs or whatever.

Also if he was asleep in car seat I could clip him onto pram still asleep and get on with shopping or get a hot drink in a cafe etc without waking him up.

He was a bad sleeper so anything that helped to not disturb him was worth it!

I wouldn't rule out a pram but you could buy it when ur baby arrives if you find a sling isn't flexible enough.

Hi there! I had my DS in Bangkok, the most imhospitable pram/pushchair environment going... I didn't have a car and getting in & out of cabs with a pram or pushchair was a challenge! So, I like most mums there, used a sling.

I had a section so couldn't use it at first but once I'd started to heal I used my sling every day. When DS was 8 months I had a trip to the uk and bought a second hand ergo, Kari-me wrap sling and a ring sling... Now expecting #2 back in the uk my newborn shop list includes a wrap sling (I found it more comfy than a baby Bjorn) as a priority, we will probably get a second hand pram but I prefer baby wearing to pushing a pram... As for change bag, I just used a messenger bag rather than anything expensive, I had no issues negotiating shoulder straps with my sling and, as I used cloth nappies too, I had a lot to carry lol!

After having 2 other prams we got this one, suitable from birth, faces both ways and you can use it just a chassis for your car seat. I loved it. And it's on sale!
http://m.johnlewis.com/mt/www.johnlewis.com/maxi-cosi-elea-pushchair-raspberry-red/p2369307?sku=235014322&kpid=235014322&skenid=7e4aa8e2-a356-d848-7aec-000007597e9f&sskwcid=403x2459915&tmad=c&tmcampid=73#pageloaded

I have only ever had a buggy for running and am now on baby number 5 (4 sections) and use slings.

I picked up my running buggy for £50 second hand.

And you can get a matching plain black bag that hangs on the handle freeing up the basket underneath for shopping.

I exclusively used a sling/carrier for the first 8-9 months with both my babies. You don't need a pram if you don't want one.

Be aware though that you might need to try a few different carriers before you find one which suits both you and your baby. DD loved the stretchy wrap whilst DS hated it, but was very happy in an Ergo carrier (which was also better for my back).

Agree with softsheen that you might need to try a few different carriers but a sling library is great for this. We had a plan, I used it twice and baby hated it. I'm due again in September so going to sling again as much as possible then have a buggy board on our bugaboo bee for when I need to push them both about I also Brest fed and found the slings great for doing that on the go....used to do my tea is shopping feeding the little one and no one was the wiser

I would also reccommend the baby jogger city mini, I absolutely loved mine! - or any stroller that lies flat like a Maclaren techno.

a lie-flat stroller is suitable from birth, so might be handy to have on "stand by" even if you don't plan to use it straight away. The only downside is that they are forward facing so not so easy for baby/adult to engage with each other.

You can easily use a sling exclusively especially the first few months as lightweight.
If you want a pram just get a regular baby pushchair that says suitable from birth, if you look on say John Lewis it would give you some ideas of what's around. It basically just need to have the main seat lie 180 degrees flat. Many do.

Car seats on prams aren't a good idea as evidence shows after 20-30 mins only oxygen levels of baby already have dropped when in car seat so should only be used in car when needed to reduce.