Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Pramsuits?

31 replies

Jsnb9319 · 09/11/2019 05:10

Hi all

I'm due in early Feb with my first and I have to say the world of pramsuits is completely alien to me.

Should I buy one for newborn for leaving hospital etc? And then one for when he is a bit bigger or just one suitable up to 3 months straight away and not bother with one for a newborn?

Thank you

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
harrypotterfan1604 · 09/11/2019 05:15

I found pram suits to be one of the most pointless things ever. Baby can’t go in the car seat in them they’re far too bulky which makes it dangerous in the car seat so def Adobe buy one for going home. Dress baby in a vest, a sleepsuit a knitted cardigan a hat and wrap cover them with a blanket for the journey home.
I used my pram suit twice (January baby) once in the sling on a cold day when we walked our dogs and once in the pram both times she hated it, I think because they’re a bit like a straight jacket and baby couldn’t really move in it. Never used it again after that. Always just put extra layers on and used blankets instead

Preggosaurus9 · 09/11/2019 05:15

I never used pramsuits as really disliked how they restricted baby's arms and legs. Layering up with blankets and a hat meant I could add and remove layers more easily too e.g. going into a shop or cafe. It's dangerous for baby to overheat. Seeing babies in pramsuits in shops is not good.

Bear in mind when you put baby in a car seat they cannot be wearing any padded clothing or coats etc. You have to have the straps against baby's body. So they can wear a onesie and then you have to strap them in and layer a blanket over the top. Strapping a baby in a pramsuit into a car seat would be really dangerous. Plus the risk of overheating as the car warms up.

Original poster
Jsnb9319 · 09/11/2019 05:21

Thanks so much! I knew they couldn't wear in the car seat so wasn't entirely sure about them anyway. I won't bother, one less thing to buy!

Thank you!!

OP posts:
Hayls17 · 09/11/2019 05:46

We hardly used pram suits with our first, they were cute but not at all practical! With this baby I have bought a Tuppence and Crumble Starsnug to layer up, which is safe to use in the car seat.

BringMeThatHorizon · 09/11/2019 05:52

We walked everywhere when mine was a newborn. I didn't use one of those thick bulky padded pram suits but did use a thinner fleecy one every day. I think it was from the White Company? It didn't restrict movement but did keep DS nice and toasty and could easily be unzipped without waking him up if we went inside.

DryHeave · 09/11/2019 06:07

I used a pram suit every day - but my baby was born in December and I was out and about with the pram and sling A LOT so was the best way to ensure he was snug. It worked best for us.

biscuitsnap · 09/11/2019 06:09

Get a soft star suit like the ones Tuppence and Crumble do. They can go in the car too and can be easily layered up.
I've used them all the time with my 2.

notmytea · 09/11/2019 06:10

Another fan of a starsnug here

NoParticularPattern · 09/11/2019 06:11

I never used one with my daughter and didn’t even consider one for my son. They can’t be worn in car seats, they are very bulky and affect the way baby sits in a sling plus I generally find them a bit OTT for UK winters where an extra layer or two plus hat is usually plenty

saltandvinegar1 · 09/11/2019 06:12

I'm due in January
I've just bought a nod pod blanket which a baby would be able to use in a car seat. Check it out they look really good. And would last much longer

Brown76 · 09/11/2019 06:15

Star snug is amazing

GrumpyHoonMain · 09/11/2019 07:55

Soft ones are more useful. I personally would get 0-3 months because in most shops newborn only goes up to 7 pounds

user1493413286 · 09/11/2019 08:00

I think it depends what you use it for; with DD I did a lot of walking and getting the train places so I used a pram suit a lot but with the baby I’m due at the end of feb it’ll be mostly in and out of the car so I’ll just get a coat and use blankets when we’re at the park etc. If you do get one I’d go straight for a 0-3 month one ad newborn stuff can be outgrown so quickly

welshweasel · 09/11/2019 08:02

As others have said they’re a bit useless! I had two January babies and never used one. Can’t use in car seat or sling. In the pram we just used blankets and a hat - means that once you’ve got them to sleep you can go into shops/for a coffee and take the blankets off rather than have to take them out of the pramsuit (therefore waking them).

MeanMrMustardSeed · 09/11/2019 08:10

Like almost anything to do with babies / children, it’s to do with lifestyle. My newborn wears one every day as we have a 2.5 school run every morning in the park and the same in the afternoon. For the shorter midday preschool pick up, I usually put him in the T&C star snug as we haven’t hit the freezing weather yet.
If you’re car based, first child and pick and chose when you leave the house, or just not much of a walker / outdoor person, then you won’t need a prom suit.

MeanMrMustardSeed · 09/11/2019 08:10

*2.5 mile school run in the pram!

Bol87 · 09/11/2019 08:16

100% depending on your life. If you are very car based, you most likely don’t need one. But if out walking every day a lot, they can be useful! I had a May baby so no need obviously but I did get one for the Autumn/Winter when she was 6/7 months as we walked everywhere & it was the year we had a lot of snow up in Yorkshire! Kept her warm & dry! These things can be bought once baby arrives & you have a better understanding of what you need!

getthroughthisgrrrrr · 09/11/2019 08:44

Great if you walk. I always thought the not putting in the snow suit or peak suit in the car was due to over heating issues once the car warms up.

I have seen stuff about older children coming out of coats in car seats, so I don't put my DS in a puffy coat in the car. But then if it's a 5 minute journey and the car is frozen it's cold without a coat on.

OopsieDaisyB · 09/11/2019 09:15

My daughter is 4 months old and we have used one for her since September. Her current one is a soft furry rabbit one though not a padded "snow suit." I personally love them, I don't drive and DP and I love to go on long walks/ being outdoors so they work well for us. Totally depends on lifestyle I guess!

Selfsettlingat3 · 09/11/2019 09:43

Pram suits are not recommended for use in slings. Definitely get a tuppance and crumble wrap.

OopsieDaisyB · 09/11/2019 10:30

Selfsettling, I never knew that. Heard most baby saftey things due to working in nurseries but that's a new one! I've read up on it now so thanks for the heads up! 👍

Autumntoowet · 09/11/2019 10:34

I didn’t bother. You can’t use them in car seat or sling.
Another layer to remove for nappies.
I got some adult socks for legs when in sling and blanket for car seat.

You can use a cosy muff or blanket in pram

Plus baby could easily be late anyway (EDDs are useless) and then weather might have changed.

mistermagpie · 09/11/2019 11:57

I've had two children and never used a pramsuit. They are a pointless faff in my opinion. I just whacked a couple of blankets over the baby in the pram. I didn't drive with the other two but for this baby I have bought a morrck car seat blanket which seems like a good compromise of cosines and safety.

DappledThings · 09/11/2019 20:29

I used pramsuits for both mine. But find snowsuits are pointless and I was bought one that was never used.

Pramsuits were good for us with tiny babies in the dead of winter. Both DC went in one as well as a blanket in the pram. When they were really tiny I didn't bother putting the arms in the sleeves, just zipped up round them.

drogon1 · 09/11/2019 20:35

I had a few bought as gifts for my baby. You really only need one and only in the colder months. I don't drive so I did a lot of walking to kill the boredom on my mat leave so I used one frequently. By the time she was in size 3-6 months and more wriggly I stopped using them and started layering up with jumpers and blankets instead but the weather was getting milder by then. Now she's just turned 1 I've been using 1 again and it doesn't have feet so she seems to like it better. I was given it though and probably wouldn't have bought another if not.