35 year old pram

57 replies

Deanthescream · 30/03/2025 17:23

Is anyone else struggling with parents / in laws trying to hand down the items that they used, from when they had children, over 30 years ago?

My mum has a pram that is 35 years old, and has been in the loft for 29 years, which she is suggesting she will use for my newborn when we come and visit. It will “save us from lugging ours around”.

I am so grateful for second hand items, that’s not the problem. Almost all of our newborns clothes have been second hand and we are so grateful. But a pram that is so old and has sat in the loft for so long screams unsafe to me.

Am I in the wrong? I keep saying no and it’s falling on deaf ears.

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triballeader · 01/04/2025 08:34

I used the solid coach built pram that my grandma had used for my mum.
It was kept wrapped in a dry loft and checked every three years and was very easy to clean, all it needed was a new mattress.I am so grateful she kept it as I walked miles in all weathers and it protected new babies from my eldest sons actions as he could not get at them (DS severely disabled with ASD) There was no way I could have bought a brand new coach built pram like it as it was the only way to keep his younger siblings safe from him downstairs.

Ask to have a look at the thing. How robust is it. Is it cleanable and in good condition. do the brakes and safety catches all work. Is the fabric and fittings unripped and free from mould. Does it have an adjustable harness. Can the mattress be replaced. If you are unsure present it to your mum as a safety standards have changed just as they have for car seats thing.

Giulia8 · 01/04/2025 08:35

OptimisticRealist2024 · 01/04/2025 08:13

@Deanthescream My MIL is trying to get me to take a Moses basket which has been in the attic for decades. It is dusty but very pretty.

I already have extreme anxiety without thinking about mice/the cat that used to sleep in it/mould/dust. Apart from that, they had their house treated for woodworm last year and I don't want to bring woodworm into our already knackered house via ye olde wooden base.

I've said "that's very kind, thank you, but we'll be using this other cot". No reason given, discussion over. Her other grandchildren can use it for dolls or teddies if they like, but I don't feel comfortable putting my baby in it.

(By way of an olive branch, I've accepted the 88953216800653 itchy blankets she wanted to give me. She's had the last laugh because the blankets take up much more space...🫠)

Edited

Don’t blame you when it comes to something they’ll sleep in!

Thre3isthemagicnumber · 01/04/2025 08:38

Absolutely no way would I use an ancient pram. Sounds like a health hazard to me. The ones that are around now are much safer, lighter and easier to fold up.

northerneast · 01/04/2025 08:40

There is absolutely no way I would have my newborn sleep in a 35 year old pram.

Fictionreader100 · 01/04/2025 08:41

If you know for sure there has been rats up in the loft , then I'd be stamping a very heavy foot down to say no way is your baby being placed in a cot that's been stored around rats !
It's a hill I'd be prepared to die on . A Great Big Fat NO !

MeridaBrave · 01/04/2025 08:59

If it’s an old fashioned pram it needs a new mattress. And anything that can’t be wiped needs to go in washing machine. Otherwise check the brakes work and why wouldn’t it be safe. Let them enjoy using it.

My mum loved putting my kids in her massive old fashioned rocking pram she kept. It stayed at my parents house and when they downsized they realised they had to part with it. I did not want it in my house. She pushed it to the park near her house when we went to visit. However, it did not easily fit in the car so of course when we went anywhere by car we used our buggy.

I refused to use the 60 year old cot though as the bars were too far apart.

SockQueen · 01/04/2025 10:37

My parents kept the huge Silver Cross contraption they had used for my sister and me, and I think they'd got it second hand when I was born. I was 32 when DS1 was born, so it had probably been in the attic a similar length of time to yours. They cleaned it all up and bought a new mattress for it. We used it a grand total of once with DS1, took him out for a walk and they quickly realised how unwieldy it was compared with our new one - no steering, bumping up and down kerbs etc. Off it went to the tip after such a long time in storage!

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