Prams/pushchairs article in the Guardian

[Jbr]

I read this article by our very own Justine, but I have to take issue (as ever!) with the notion that traditional prams are "posh" in some way. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, Silvercross were about the only decent prams you can get and were quite normal.

Jbr - I agree. I rememeber we had a silvercross pram for several of my siblings, but I thought the stripy fold-up buggy thing was incredibly sophisticated!

I don't know if fairground people are following a set tradition, but when we go to the fair, I always see those big Silver Cross prams - brand new-looking - parked by stalls and rides.

Is Justine's article in today's Guardian? will check it out.

The Silver Cross factory is only a few miles away from me and it was on the local news the other night that they were being investigated for irregularities in their accounts (or something like that). I always wanted a big Silver X but couldn't afford one new and didn't have room in the house for one anyway so I had to settle for a wayfarer which is now still going strong 3 children and 9 years later even though it is now less than fashionable. It would be a real shame if Silver Cross did cease trading because they have been the name in prams for decades (I was brought up in one). Did anyone see the BBC2 documentary about them a few years ago? I think it was part of the 'Trouble at the Top' series and was about the family that took over when the original company went into receivership.

I hope I don't upset anyone here, but I find that at fair grounds (mostly organised by gypys - am I allowed to use that word) they always have the most outrageous prams with the most hideous "over the top" blankets - full of lace, ribbons, etc.

Hope I haven't upset anyone but the children in them are usually over the age of about 18 months and are covered in gold - large gold hoop ear-rings (and not only the girls), bangles on wrists and rings on fingers.

I am really going for it now - the children (girls especially) always seem to be wearing "bonnets" and socks that are so over the top - trimmed with so much lace and ribbons I wonder how the toddlers manage to walk.

Haven't they heard the saying that sometimes "less is more".

Sorry!

Somebody lent me an old Silver Cross when I had dd, but we had to give it back as it reminded me of Rosemary's Baby/The Omen.

Bumblelion, I saw a pram and baby just as you describe in 'New Look' the other day, the crowning glory was an embroidered white heart dangling from the handles with (I presume) the baby's name embroidered on it - the name was 'Kray'. Nice.

I am not going to get onto names as I find it can all get a bit personal, but "Kray", please!!! Think of the poor child. What an image to have to live up to.

Good job the baby wasn't one of twins (joke - don't shout at me)

Bumblelion, IKWYM! Those babies are what we know as Fisher-babies, because the trawler fishing families in the NE of Scotland dress their babies in frills and furbelows. They have crocheted bonnets with lace, swansdown, ribbons, ribbon roses, velvet, pompoms, pearl beads and anything else that catches their fancy. I'm surprised the babies ever learn to hold their heads up, they must be so heavy!

Here's the article from the Guardian www.guardian.co.uk/parents/story/0,3605,793991,00.html (it won't make a proper link, sorry)

I still have a coach built pram which I've used for all mine - it's 27 yrs old now! Big prams were great in the days when few women had access to cars, walked everywhere and had to bring the shopping home on the pram. They are wonderful to push and big and roomy for the baby but unless you live in a mansion and drive a furniture van they are very impractical nowadays for most people. I had a Mammas and Pappas for the car for my last baby.