Choosing a Pram for Your Baby

When you have a baby, you’ll need to invest in various pieces of equipment and one of the essentials is a pram. If you’re looking for a pram for your baby, then here are some practical tips and advice on what to look out for and how to choose what’s right for you.

Practical Issues When Choosing a Pram

Before you start looking at the different types of prams available, give some thought to the practical issues that may influence your choice.

For example, if access to your home is tricky, perhaps due to a lot of steps or staircases to your front door, then you’ll need to ensure you buy a pram that is lightweight, easy to carry and manoeuvre up stairs. A compact pram would be more likely to be better suited to these circumstances than a heavy one.

Similarly, if you use public transport a lot, then you’ll also benefit from having a pram that is lightweight, compact and perhaps even folds down, as it will make things a lot easier when taking it on trains, buses or the tube.

If you’re likely to transport the pram with you in the car, then you’ll need to ensure it will fit in your car boot – not all prams will – and that it’s easy to fold down.

Plus, if you’ve got limited space at home, the size of the pram should be a practical consideration, as you’ll have to store it or park it somewhere in your home, or garage, where it doesn’t take up vital space.

It may help to make a list of all the issues that are important to you and use them as a form of checklist to help you compare the different products on the market and work out which may suit your needs.

The Best Pram For Your Baby

Once you’ve considered the practical issues, next it’s time to think about what you need the pram to offer your baby.

Ideally, a pram should offer a comfortable and safe means of transporting your baby when you’re out and about and on the move. Prams can be made to look warm and cosy by the fabrics and padding they’re finished with, but try and look beyond these finishing touches and focus on the design and quality of each model.

Sales people will of course tell you that every model is great, but you may want to do your own research online, or get other people’s views as to which pram models and makes they’ve found good.

Pram Style

Prams vary a lot in style and design, both from a functional point of view and an aesthetic view. If budget or space are key issues for you, and you don’t want to have to buy a separate pushchair, then exploring the range of 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 pram and pushchair combinations may be beneficial.

Although some of the makes can be expensive to purchase, they are more functional as they can be used for a lot longer, so may save you money in the long run. Some of them also have options so that they can be used by both a baby and a toddler, which is great if you go on to have another baby whilst your first child is still young, and means they can travel together.

Finally, you also need to consider whether you want a front facing or forward facing pram. Most babies prefer to lie flat on their backs facing you, so they can see a familiar face when they’re in the pram. But by the time they’re toddlers, they’re far more interested in what’s going on around them, and many prefer to face forwards, or away from you. We've found kiddicare to be a great supplier of prams and pushchairs.

Other useful questions to ask when choosing a pram include:

• Is a demonstration available?
• Does it come with a manual? (Even if you’ve seen it demoed in store, remembering how everything works once you’re home isn’t always so easy).
• Is it easy to fold up? (Some models can even be folded super simply using one hand)
• Does it come with a guarantee? If so, what does it cover?
• Are any other accessories included?
• Are the covers easy to remove and are they washable?
• Are the wheels fixed or can they swivel?

Armed with these tips, hopefully you can find the perfect pram for your baby!