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Pushchairs

Join our Pram forum for pram advice. Plus read our round up of the best pushchairs currently available.

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Original poster

Do we really need a pram from birth??

36 replies

ThreeWheelsGood · 10/09/2012 17:52

We live in a first floor flat, and we were going to get the Uppababy Vista travel system which has a pram suitable from birth (also good for overnight sleeping) and then a parent-facing seat for when baby's older. I don't have any friends with kids but a few friends have suggested we need not have a pram from birth, especially as the pram/bassinet part will be heavy to carry upstairs from the front door whenever we get home. One friend said her mum just made do with a sling and got a buggy when her children were bigger. Now we're totally unsure what to do! Does anyone have any advice or experience of this?

OP posts:

Sossiges · 10/09/2012 17:58

Pram very useful for getting baby off to sleep & as you say, overnight sleeping, too. My DD had plenty of choices for sleeping: pram, bed, cot, moses basket, but spent most of her time sleeping in the pram until she got too big for it.
You might not get on with a sling, everyone's different.

SecretCermonials · 10/09/2012 18:02

Its a tricky one, do you drive? If not you'd need it for travel? If you mean do you need a pram attachment at all, i think it depends on the pushchair, some look more padded than others, thats why we are going for a system with travel cot.
Im Pg with DS2 and planning on getting the giggle, but its a pre order atm, i'm planning on buying it in dec despite knowing DS2 will be delivered in Dec but Me and my Dp both drive and we have a carseat so the buggy / pram isn't a huge issue, dont know if i could use a sling long term

StrawberrytallCAKE · 10/09/2012 18:10

Was it your friends without kids suggesting this? I used the pram constantly from birth with dc1 and am planning to use one with dc2. I'm also planning to use a sling for short journeys but for going into town and having a wander a pram is excellent as babies tend to fall asleep and we can have a peaceful lunch together.

Original poster

ThreeWheelsGood · 10/09/2012 18:14

Thanks for replies - yes, this was friends without kids planting doubts! We don't have a car. We live in a city so I'd be getting buses and trains (mostly walking actually).

OP posts:

Bunbaker · 10/09/2012 18:16

Newborn babies need to lie flat. Being scrunched up in travel systems isn't good for them. I am unfamiliar with what is available these days, but make sure whatever you buy allows your baby to lie completely flat.

googietheegg · 10/09/2012 18:17

They are talking shit. You will need a pram!

Original poster

ThreeWheelsGood · 10/09/2012 18:20

Bunbaker - the Uppababy Vista is suitable from birth, it has a 'bassinet' i.e. pram attachment which allows newborn to lie flat. It's a 'travel system' as the bassinet can be swapped out easily for the buggy or carseat.

OP posts:

DoubleYew · 10/09/2012 18:21

We used a sling - second floor flat. Got a lie flat pushchair but he hated it til about 8 months so very glad we didn't get a pram. Friends wasted 100 quid on the carrycot bit that their dd screamed in everytime they tried her in it. Some babies don't fall peacefully asleep in their prams but you won't know til you try.

Do what you feel comfortable with, not what anyone else thinks.

Original poster

ThreeWheelsGood · 10/09/2012 18:24

"Do what you feel comfortable with, not what anyone else thinks." - I really want to, but how can we be sure before we spend the money on the pram? I feel like we're in a no win situation!

OP posts:

Indith · 10/09/2012 18:29

If you are unsure then I'd probably buy it. If you use it and like it then all fine. If you end up using a sling more and odn't use the pram then sell it. Most travel systems retain fairly good resale value and even if you use it almost everyone ends up swapping for a Maclaren something lighter after a few months.

Personally I found a good sling far better, especailly when living in a flat, but have always used both pushchairs and slings.

Bunbaker · 10/09/2012 18:31

It sounds like the Uppababy will be fine then. We had a traditional pram because it was given to us. It was very useful moving an asleep DD from the living room to the kitchen without waking her up. We used to detach the carrycot and put it into her cot at bed time.

Just get what works for you and ignore advice from childless people.

milk · 10/09/2012 18:33

The problem is, until you have the child you have no idea what you are going to want/need.

My advice: Find a cheap stroller you can use from birth (that lies flat) on ebay/second hand shop for around £10-20 (I recommend the Chicco Liteway) and get a sling. See which one you use more, then if you find you are using the stroller more, go and order the expensive pram.

mumtocuddlebundle · 10/09/2012 19:01

Mine hated prams and loved sling, so prams were a waste of money. But some babies live prams. As others have said you wont know til baby arrives. A lie flat stroller is good compromise if u don't want to risk wasting money. even if they don't like it as a baby, They should get use out of a stroller when 6months+.

minipie · 10/09/2012 19:16

How strong and fit are you and how much do you expect to walk?

I thought about not getting a pram and just using a sling for the first months. However I then realised I am a bit of a weakling and I am intending to walk a lot (I don't like driving). Realistically if I try carrying the baby + all the inevitable baby kit + my handbag everywhere, I will be constantly knackered and have a sore back.

Bear in mind also that if you have a c section carrying stuff will be particularly difficult for the first weeks.

I think the advice of a cheap second hand one is good. Or might you even be able to borrow one from a relative/friend for a few weeks to see how much you use it? If they have an older child and have moved on to a second pushchair they might not mind lending you one for a little while?

trudat · 10/09/2012 19:18

We were given a sling for ds. I was really keen on using one.
He was 9lb 6.5oz and I had a emcs. Sling was used once. By dh.

Kept it for dd. 8lb 8.5 oz and another emcs. Sling never used.

It got slung. Get a pram.

ivykaty44 · 10/09/2012 19:23

I had a large parm and dd loved to lay flat and we walked a lot - I don't think I could have walked so far with her in a sling tbh.

I used the carrycot in the evenings to get her to sleep in tiped slightly at an angle on the wheel frame - this seemed to relieve colic. Then as another poster says - I would take the whole carrycot upstairs to bed.

I used the same system fro my second child. I did use the carrycot for a good 8 months with both of them.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 10/09/2012 19:24

I was going to go without a pram and use a sling. I ended up having a EMCS and was sooooo glad I had the pram. There is no way I could have used a sling for a good few weeks. Are you planning on having a moses basket? If so see if your pram is suitable for overnight sleeping. If it is go without the basket and it won't seem so much of an expense if you find you don't use it a lot.

vallinnapod · 10/09/2012 20:14

I have a Vista and it is great. The pram top will not be too heavy to carry up and downstairs with a newborn in it at all (I am not a hulk and I found it easy!), DS did all his daytime sleeping in it both out and at home.

I do second what people say though, DS was a dream in both the pram and sling but I was without a car, in central London, walked/bused a lot and probably did 80/20 pram/sling. Unfortunately you will have no idea what sort of personality your bub will have until they are here but for remember if you end up with an EMCS and can't sling...you def won't be carrying anything up to a first floor flat for a while either! Carrying a baby in a sling is a breeze. Toting a changing bag full of all the PFB essentials as well is not so easy!

A friend just used a sling for the first few months. Took her bub a while to then get used to a pushchair but it suited them both.

mamij · 10/09/2012 20:20

DD1 loved the sling (we lived in a second floor flat), and never really took to the buggy. My fault really as it was too much hassle getting it in and out of the car (where we stored it), and I found by the time I put her in the sling, there was no need to get the buggy!

DontmindifIdo · 10/09/2012 20:23

I really liked the idea of a sling - we were bought our pram/travel system, but got a sling too. However, my back was completely knackered after i had DS, it hurt too much to carry him more than a mile, which would be fine if I drove everywhere, but I don't and normally walk 5-6 miles a day when not at work, so we got our money's worth out of the pram. IME if you have a pram/buggy, you'll use them. Rear facing is much better, most cheaper buggies people suggest are forward facing. It's just nicer to be able to interact while you're walking along.

Also if you use a sling, remember you will also have to carry the nappy bag.

loveroflife · 10/09/2012 21:14

We're in a flat too and space is a big issue. I went for the Maclaren XLR - www.mumsnet.com/reviews/pushchairs/travel-systems/9464-maclaren-techno-xlr which is designed from birth.

DS was a summer baby so he just laid flat and I packed him in with a blanket either side for some extra padding. You can buy a carrycot and attach that if you have a winter baby or want them to be extra snug, I thought it was a bit of a waste tbh and they grow out of the carrycot very quickly. Newborns have to lie flat, but this buggy is from birth so as long as you recline it you'll be fine - no need for a pram.

In fact friends that spent a small fortune on prams only used them for a couple of months, then got a maclaren and moaned how they wasted a small fortune on a heavy pram that ds/dd grew out of so quickly. They last until they're about 4/5 so really good value for money and very lightweight. I can even pick the buggy up and walk up a flight of steps with ds in it as it is so light. Also fits in the boot of my small car and easy to steer, can't rate it enough.

ilikesweetpeas · 10/09/2012 21:18

Just be aware that the bassinet in the vista is quite small- friends had this and their baby outgrew it v early and they borrowed our silver cross to keep baby flat. Personally I would think you do need a pram from birth but I walk a lot. Great way to get baby to sleep!

AppleAndBlackberry · 10/09/2012 21:21

I had back problems after DD1 and couldn't really use a sling for a few weeks. Also preferred the pram because when they go to sleep in it you can sit down comfortably with a cup of tea. We had a bugaboo bee which was very good.

skandi1 · 10/09/2012 21:27

Not all babies like slings and car seats. Both my two would scream blue murder if put in a sling or baby Bjorn. I tried it from birth with both of them but no joy. And I didn't get to use my car seat adapters for the stroller as both of them hated car seats. Cue more wailing. Both loved their strollers and carrycots.

Rockchick1984 · 11/09/2012 11:23

If you get a sling make sure to get one which is fully supportive rather than a high street carrier like baby bjorn, tomy, stokke etc as these will not be comfortable for long either for you or for baby! Something like an ergo, a ring sling or a moby wrap will last you loads longer and you will be able to carry for longer each use too if that makes sense :)

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