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?

Strollers for older children are cheaper than the travel system ones so if the baby is getting to be a pain to carry around you could get one then maybe.

We barely used ours for the first four months - DD was always in the sling - but since then it's become really invaluable. Not what we have, but I've been impressed by the YoYo and would consider it if I had my time again.

We have a maclaren xt which lays flat and I used to push ds1 to sleep in it most days because he would not sleep. I also felt quite relieved to not be pregnant and have to carry him iyswim. But I would have used a sling if I had one.
With Ds2 he was in an ergo baby carrier most of the time because ds1 was in the buggy, or I was chasing after him in the park. I really enjoyed having him close. Ds2 does now go in it at 2.5yo for the school run.
I would suggest researching buggy options and where you can get the one you might use, but maybe wait and see after baby is born.
Maybe pop along to a sling library, although difficult to test whilst pg.
Also really recommend the ergo baby carrier.

If you don't walk anywhere then it would be a bit pointless. Having said that your lifestyle will change after the birth and you may end up walking more than you used to. I suppose try and do without and buy one if you start needing one? We had literally only bought a cot and a car seat before the birth of our child and just bought things, toys, furniture as and when needed afterwards. It's not as if it's difficult to click on a button online to get something.

Not essential. We bought one but the baby hated it, so was in a sling for most of the first 6 months (including as a newborn after my c-section). We didn’t have a car and walked lots, and a sling was much easier to manage on public transport anyway.

After the first months the baby was a lot happier to go in a forward-facing buggy, but by then we’d got so used to the usefulness of a sling that we still didn’t use it all that much. Was handy to have a lightweight buggy around as an option with a bigger baby/toddler though.

You will get a lot of and “you can’t NOT have a PRAM!” comments though!

“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.”

Please don’t do this. Car seats are for the car only. Newborns aren’t meant to be in car seats for more than 1 hour maximum (recent research suggests as little as 30 minutes) because it affects their airways). When not in a car, newborns should be in a sling/carrier or in a lie flat carrycot or pushchair.

You don’t need a travel system but if you’re going to get a pushchair to use from birth it does need to be lie flat.

Wow so many different opinions!

We’ll be walking about in the nearby forest, but that’s not pushchair terrain, so I’ll most likely have baby in a sling for that. I could still have a rucksack, and my wife can still carry another bag too.

If we go to a restaurant etc... it would make sense to have somewhere for them to nod off.

Also the valid point of being too hot in summer, and if they don’t like the sling.

My wife really doesn’t want a bulky pushchair to lug about. Some of the lightweight small ones some of you suggested look to have potential.

Actually here’s a point I don’t quite get.

I understand newborns need to stay flat in the pushchair and maybe a special lay flat car seat for long journeys.

What are the rules on slings as they’re not going to be flat?

I'd say some sort of wheels would be essential, but you could just get a lightweight stroller.

Things buggy are needed for,

naps if you're out when one is required
Securing older baby whilst you pee, find purse, wash hands after nappy change, doctors appointments, hairdressers, eating/drinking, trying on clothes.
Sometimes baby will battle you to take a nap and the solution is to rock in pushchair/walk around the block, then you can leave baby in buggy in the hall to carry on napping.
Baby also will come with stuff you need to carry, nappies/wipes/changing mat/spare clothes/bottles/dummy/blanket/favourite toy/calpol/coat/hat/sun cream. If you're carrying a large baby plus the stuff plus your purse/keys/phone/lip gloss it all adds up.

There'll also be trips out when it's just one of you (especially maternity/ parental leave however you're doing it). I often met up with friends from baby groups at the park or places in the week.

I barely used it from the time she outgrew the flat carrycot bit, as I discovered slings about then and found it infinitely easier to have my hands free.

“What are the rules on slings as they’re not going to be flat?”
As long as the sling is correctly fitted, the baby will be supported and in a safe position that won’t restrict the airway. Google safe baby-wearing and you will find tips on it. You can also get advice from a sling library and there are basic instructions that come with a sling/carrier when you buy it.

Standard infant car seats (ie not lie flat ones) and any kind of seat like a pushchair or bouncer will mean they are slightly slumped/hunched so the airway is a bit restricted. Obviously as they develop and can support themselves more when sitting it becomes less of an issue.

We were given a pram second hand, which got used once or twice in the early weeks but spent most of its life cluttering up the place. I got on really well with a sling and by contrast that was used daily. My advice would be to borrow or get one second hand until you are sure you need one - and unless you have loads of room don’t underestimate how annoying it will be to have to accommodate one in the house!

Added benefit of using a sling instead of a pram and walking daily carrying the baby: I was slimmer, fitter, and weighed less by the end of maternity leave than I did pre-pregnancy.

My youngest never used a pushchair, ever. I had three very young older children (aged between 2 and 4), and I needed all the hands I could get 😂

By the time I had my third and 4th DC I went for the lightest stroller and the one that took the least amount of space for my boot. Big heavy chunky buggies/prams are a pain unless your only using them for stepping out your front door and heading to the local park. Other than that they are a pain in cafes, restaurants and just getting around. Although I do live in a busy city. I did need one though and they were great abroad when we all tended to be up late with the DC so being able to have the little one in the buggy to drop off to sleep was a life saver.

I like the theory of sling use all the time but wouldn’t have been without a pushchair on a practical level.First baby, I just needed some physical space from occasionally - she was so clingy I just wanted to put her down sometimes.

2nd time round he was poorly and needed the pram rather than sling as he had pain in an upright position. Also, older toddler loved having 1-1 attention when out and second baby is asleep. It’s not the same for them when baby is still strapped to you.

Third time round, baby has always hated slings and by then I’m carrying so much stuff that I couldn’t manage without a sling. Pushchair also useful for that annoying ‘I want to walk but only in the wrong direction’ phase - much easier to strap a tantrumming child into a buggy than get them into a safe backcarry. Get a buggy and a sling, then you have options.

Couldn’t manage without a buggy 3rd time round, that should say.

I hate hate hate strollers with a passion

They never push right and horribly awkward

I could not be without a decent pushchair now.!

With my first I didn’t buy a pushchair til he was 6 months

With my second I didn’t use a pushchair til he was about 10 months and now he’s 13 months I still only use it if I’m walking to the shops or similar, we just always use the sling

I've never used a pushchair for any of my dc, well I did buy one for dc1 but it was used a handful of times. I have 3 under 5 and have just used slings and back carriers. I can't push a pushchair and walk the dogs or keep eldest two under control. Baby (now 15 months) in sling means I have a hand free for each of the others.

You do not need a pram/ stroller.

We have used a sling from birth a stretchy one first like a moby then a woven wrap once they are about 3-5 months depending on the weight/size. Once the baby has good neck strength they can go on your back. They all have had some of their best naps in the sling and we often ate in restaurants with them in the sling.

We also didn't have a car till my first was 11 months. I have a back pack as nappy changing bag so it keeps me hands free if i need to carry something else.

My first 2 were walking from 12 months, take the sling with us when they are first walking and sling them when they are tired so they can build up their speed and confidence.

Your strength increases as their weight increases as pp have said. DD is 3 DD2 is 18mnths and DS is 4mnths so also carried them through pregnancy for naps etc. we tried a pushchair when my 1st was 13months and she didn't like it really refused to get strapped in, i also didn't like not being as close with her when walking i was able to have a good chat with her and show her what i could see the pushchair felt quite disconnected. ( just my opinion)

I am not one for shopping sprees though so wouldn't be going to try lots on, normally just online shopping. I realise we are not the norm to not use pram etc at all but I definitely found that it worked for us.

I couldn't have managed without one. We used the prams for napping downstairs during the day rather than lugging Moses baskets up and downstairs.
I find it interesting how some say they found slings best with having toddlers as well. I found it a nightmare with a newborn in a sling and a toddler for more than a short walk.
My toddler got massively frustrated at the permanent barrier between me and him and I found it as cumbersome as being 9 months pregnant. He couldn't sit on my knee properly, I couldn't pick him up easily if he fell over or go down the slide with him.

Was also going to say it isn't a decision you need to do now definitely research now while you have free time, see whats out there and then buy it if you find you need it.

It depends on the child. but I rarely used the push chair with my daughter; who screamed until she was carried/ slung or walked as soon as she was able.