Do you even need a pushchair?

[JamDad]

Hi all,

Baby is still a bump, so I’m just trying to determine what we really need.

A car seat is essential.

We don’t really go shopping and buy most things online, so we’re mainly going to be between car and people’s houses, with a bit of strolling in the park.

Can we carry a tiny one in one of those papooses and not need a push chair?

Or maybe we just need a car seat and a very lightweight stroller?

What do people think?

Another option is, if baby is happy in a sling for the first few months, you could get a cheap stroller when they are a bit older. No point spending a fortune if you aren't going to use it much.

I much prefer a pushchair. A ing when the baby is young is great but I like the buggy for hanging shopping and things on. Why don't you put some money aside and leave it until the baby gets here, then if you think a pushchair would come I handy get one but right now if you don't think you need one there's no point wasting the money.

I second @Pooshy
We have the yoyo and it's fab. From birth upwards and doesn't cost the earth. Fits in my C1 boot with space to spare. Has adaptors for a car seat for quick trips into shops or what have you.

Not essential at all, a sling is fine, I don’t think I used a pushchair at all until ds1 was 18 months old and I was very pregnant, but some people find they prefer a pram.

I love slings but wouldn't be without a buggy. You can park it wherever the child falls asleep and are free to move... take all the stuff and shopping too... you can make eye contact with the baby and they can play with a toy... you can have a cup of tea and not worry about spilling it over the child. And remember it need not be new!

Of course you do. Slings are lovely but babies get older and heavier and don't walk until they are at least one . Even then not very far.

I have used a carrier (Ergobaby Adapt) and a pushchair (Armadillo Flip XT) and found them both very useful.

For me the pushchair is essential for the following reasons... My son has always been heavy so it wasn’t comfortable to carry him for long periods, and as soon as he was able to sit upright he loved sitting in the pushchair and looking around. Plus if/when he falls asleep in the pushchair I am then free to do whatever. If we go shopping in town, there’s no way I can carry him in the Ergo plus changing bag plus shopping, and if I want to try on any clothes (rare but it happens ) it’s obviously possible with him a pushchair whereas it wouldn’t be with him in the Ergo.

The Ergo is absolutely brilliant when they are little though, for things like going around the the supermarket (although bending over to get things from low shelves is tricky!) and for travelling - nice and easy for trains, tubes, buses and planes - you can get on and off, go up and down steps and stairs without faffing with a pushchair.

FWIW I’m still using the pushchair but don’t use the Ergo any more, he’s 18 months and hates it now, plus he’s too heavy.

Personally I find a sling terrible for my posture, I counterbalance the babies weight by pushing my hips and tummy out, fine for dog walks but more than that would drive me mad. Also bear in mind if you breastfeed you will be holding tension in your neck and shoulders and combined with sling wearing it’s a blessed relief to put your baby down. Also without a pram you will have to carry a changing bag/coat etc so you might feel like a pack horse.

Honestly I love my baby but it is annoying holding/carrying her for prolonged periods, a pushchair is a life saver.

Sling was fine for my posture - but I got a Manduca which has a very structured waist - and was quite used to carrying a decent rucksack with weight around waist rather than shoulders. Change bag was rucksack on back.

Back carried once she got too long - and that's still possible at 3 if she's willing...

Slings are lovely but babies get older and heavier and don't walk until they are at least one. Even then not very far.

My DC1 must have missed that memo! I agree with the sentiment but DC1 walked at 8.5 months and was running at 10months. We needed the pushchair to contain her to stop her from escaping rather than because she couldn't walk.

My pushchair is a lifesaver in public places. I can safely keep a eye on my wayward but typically developing little girl and her twin brother both at the same time. Plus it means we can go places as a family.

I don't think it's good to use a sling all the time as it gets used to baby being on you all the time which could cause clingey behavior.
I disagree. Close contact promotes secure attachment. Children who who have formed secure bonds will become more independent when biologically appropriate.

So you never ever plan on going for a walk or popping to the park or the corner shop. And you just plan on taking the car everywhere?

I walk every day and the pushchair is essential for us. 1yr old is comfy, can see things, have a snack/play etc and sibling walks or uses the buggy board (my tip is to buy a buggy that can accommodate a growing family if you think that you may have more at some point - also big wheels to make it manoeuvrable). A friend of mine doesn’t have a buggy, but her baby doesn’t have a sibling and they tend to go out as a family so one parent can carry changing bag etc. She is really happy with her decision, but I couldn’t be without the buggy! I used a sling at first, but really like that newborn would sleep in the buggy and then I could have an hour or so not holding her constantly so I could take a shower/cook/nap! Don’t worry too much about it though, slings are pretty reasonable so you can always order a pushchair online when you get to the point that you think you need one. You might have a better idea about your requirements for the pushchair too then as you’ll know if you’ll be using it for long walks, naptime, quick pop to the shops for milk. They can be a big purchase so getting the right one (if you decide to get one) is important.

I am really pro baby wearing but realistically you need a pram too.

Reasons I use the pram over my lovely sling which I prefer:

I'm going shopping and need a way to carry baby + bags.
I'm going shopping and need to try things on.
I'm tired or under the weather.
It's pouring with rain.
My parents or other relatives want to take the baby out for a stroll to give me a break.
It's a very hot day and my tiny baby will either overheat or get sunburnt in the sling.

Have you considered the doona. Then you’d have a car seat which is essential plus the added option of a pushchair.

I’m a huge advocate of using a sling and used it almost exclusively for the first 6 months but the few times I did use the pushchair it would have been a nightmare not to have it - around shopping centre or walking for coffee when I knew baby would be sleeping and I could relax, when grandparents were willing to help but not used to slinging.

And now DD is 1 I’m defaulting to buggy more as she weights more.

But I got a second hand uppababy vista for £60 with all the features, not need to buy new.

Also, if you’re planning on slinging a lot you need a good ergonomic sling and ideally a baby wearing coat. These two could cost the same as a mid range buggy new!

I think you need to think of a pram or pushchair less as transportation and more as a mobile cot.
My experience was tht the only way to get a nice coffee break or lunch or early dinner with friends or dh was to get ds asleep in the pram/pushchair. Even going to friends houses it was ideal.

I can’t inagine getting through mat leave or the first two years without one.

Pushchairs are very useful when they get too big for slings (have dodgy back so never used sling when DD was a toddler). Also very useful if you go out for a meal - somewhere for the baby / toddler to sleep whilst you eat. Saves a lot of messing out when shopping as well.
If money is an issue - you can pick up bargains at second hand baby equipment sales

My DD is 14 months. Way too hefty and active for a sling (and my back is wrecked from living her up). Not walking well enough to forego pushchair. If we didn't have one we'd never leave the house.

I wish I had had this thought. We did not need a pushchair. We have used a sling for both of ours and ii wish we had not spent so much on a big, expensive, bulky piece of equipment!

The sling means nowhere is off limits, the boot isn’t filled with buggy, the babies both love the attachment and slings are much cheaper! Slings mean I have my hands free and are fine with a backpack.

We now do have a very cheap (ok it was free!) stroller but we rarely use it.

*lifting

Yes.
You might not walk now but your routine will change with a baby.
Get a second hand buggy so you have options.

Do you walk anywhere? Then yes, I would say you need one.

I had two c-sections and two large babies. A sling/baby carrier was not an option when they were new born. And neither was a car for the first six weeks! I also did a lot of walking when they were both little.

But it all depends on your own lifestyle. If you're buying a car seat, you can usually buy a travel system for it to fit on/frame to use it as a pram for not much more money.