Well it is usual to start with the Pram and the cot as these tend to be the most important and the most expensive but where to begin?
If you've read my 'Guide to Buying a Pushchair, Pram or Buggy'then you may recall that I suggest working out your budget and considering your lifestyle, this is particularly important when choosing a Pram.
This guide is intended to give you an 'Overview of a Pram' other guides include 'Overview of a Pushchair', 'Overview of a Buggy' and 'Overview of a Travel System'.
Prams were the first modern mode of transport for getting babies around and they are still an extremely popular choice for many mothers particularly with young babies.
The Victorians were particularly fond of their prams. I’m sure you can conjure up images of the old basinet style prams with the 4 big wheels and the large hood which covered about half the pram. Indeed Queen Victoria herself did a lot to popularize the traditional pram.
The traditional coach style pram is a very comfortable option for your baby and is one sturdy piece of kit. It’s also great for keeping baby snug and warm and safe from the elements. On the down side it’s very bulky to store particularly if you live in a modern house where there is little storage and it’s not the kind of thing you can just pop in the boot or get easily on and off public transport but it does have a certain appeal.
The more modern pram may also be referred to as a pushchair (yes I know it can get confusing) is more compact than the traditional coach pram and more storage friendly as well.. It comes in a host of shapes and sizes. The most common being Singles, 2 in 1’s and 3 in 1’s. There is also the option of Complete Travel Systems which is covered on another page.
With a pram you’re baby is facing in towards you which can be reassuring for you and baby, although as with all things it doesn’t always work that way. My daughter was very alert even as a tiny baby and did not relish being put into a pram where the only thing to look at was me. It wasn’t till a friend suggested I try her in an outward facing pushchair with a reclining seat that I managed to get my daughter out for fresh air without her screaming the place down. Fortunately the pram had been a hand me down from my Sister-in-law so I only had the expense of a pushchair, but it just goes to prove that you can spend forever and a fortune picking what you think is best for baby but in the end it’s they who’ll decide if you made the right choice or not.
So to conclude, the Pro’s of choosing a Pram are:
Faces inwards towards you
Sturdy
Safe
Comfortable
Ideal for nap times
Cons of a Pram are:
Can be bulkier than Pushchairs and Buggies
Can be Pricey
May not suit all babies
Your child can outgrow it fairly quickly
Will probably find yourself buying a lighter weight buggy for taking out and about.
Mari Gallagher