Newbie Parents Guide to Buying a Pram or Pushchair/Stroller

Purchasing a pushchair or pram is one of the most important decisions you need to consider for your new baby. There are so many different brands, shapes and sizes available in the market, which can make this very important task even more daunting. So to assist parents we have put together a few tips on what to consider before purchasing a pushchair.

The first and most important step to consider is your lifestyle. How will the pushchair fit into your lifestyle?

• In South Africa the majority of people drive cars and as a result it is very important to consider whether the pushchair will fit into your car boot by checking the dimensions of the folded pram/pushchair. Also if you regularly use a car you should possibly consider a travel system that comes with both an infant car seat as well as a pushchair in one.

Ensure your stroller fits into your car boot

• Do you regularly use public transport or live in a complex/flat upstairs or downstairs. If so, weight and portability will be key criteria for you to consider when looking at different pushchair options.
• If you live in a small flat and/or need to store your pushchair away without it lying on the floor, you should look at pushchairs that offer a free-standing folded option such as the Supa and Supa Dupa Strollers from Cosatto.

 


Free-Standing Folded Stroller

 

• If you plan to walk a lot with your baby, then you should consider a sturdy pushchair with lockable wheels as they make handling easier over rough surfaces. Many pushchair models come with both swivel wheels for easy manoeuvrability and lockable wheels for rougher terrain.
• If you will be doing a lot of shopping with your pushchair you should also look out for a roomy and sturdy shopping basket.
• If you plan to go outdoors a lot with your pushchair you should also look at strollers with a decent sun-protected hood as well as a raincover and it’s also worth considering a duo-directional pushchair seat. Some strollers like Cosatto’s Supa strollers have an extendable UV protected hood, which is ideal for keeping your child protected from the sun and being a UK brand it is not surprising that all the Cosatto range of prams and strollers come with a raincover. A duo-directional seat is also a great feature to consider as this allows you to change the way your child faces – either forward facing towards the world or backward facing towards you – which means you can ensure the sun never shines into your child’s eyes.   

Planning on using your stroller outdoors? 

• Do you want to exercise with your baby? If so, you will need to look at a jogging stroller as most standard prams and strollers are not suitable to exercise with. Please note you should only consider a jogging stroller if your child is 6 months or older. For some good tips on jogging strollers, please visit this useful blog http://joggingstrolleronline.com/your-guide-to-jogging-with-a-stroller/

Once you have considered your lifestyle needs, you should also think about the following factors: 

How long do you want your pushchair to last? How many children are you planning on having?

• The majority of pushchairs are designed from birth until 15kg, which is around 4 years old.
• If you are purchasing for a newborn you must ensure that the pushchair has a lie-flat option because it is important for the baby to lie flat for at least the first six months until they are able to support their own heads fully. With this in mind, many travel systems like the Cosatto Giggle Travel System come with a carry cot, which attaches to the chassis so the baby can lie in a flat position until it is old enough to use the pushchair seat unit from around 6 months old. 

  

  Carry cots are ideal for newborns

• If you are planning on having more than one child it is probably worth purchasing a really good quality pushchair or travel system to ensure it will last many years. 

Is the pushchair suitable for both parents?

• It is very important for all mom’s to consider the weight of the pushchair as dad won’t always be around to lug it around, fold it and put it in your car boot and/or lift it up or down stairs. Look out for whether the pushchair has a carry handle as this will also make it easier to carry the stroller.
• You should also consider the handle height and make sure it is comfortable for both parents. Many pushchairs such as the Cosatto Supa Strollers come with height adjustable handles.
• Does the pushchair fold easily? There are various fold options from one-handed compact folds to umbrella folds so it is vital that you test them out for yourself (and not just watch the sales representative’s demonstration) to ensure you are able to collapse the pushchair easily as well as open it up again smoothly.  

Make sure the pushchair folds easily and smoothly.

How comfortable and safe is the pushchair for your baby?

• Does the pushchair have an adjustable 5-point safety harness system and is it easy to clip in and out? Also check that the seatbelts are well-padded to ensure it will be comfortable for your baby.
• Check that the braking system locks the back wheels and is not accessible to the child whilst strapped into the pushchair.
• You also need to look at how well-padded the pushchair seat is for your child as the more comfortable it is the more likely your baby will fall asleep and a toddler will be less restless. If the pushchair also has multiple recline positions this will allow you to make the backrest of the seat more comfortable for the child. Some strollers also come with a calf support, which also improves comfort levels such as the Cosatto Swift Lite Supa Stroller.
• A footrest is also an important feature which will prevent your child from dragging its feet or getting them caught in a wheel.
• A bumper bar can also be a useful item to have as this provides the child with something to hold onto, acts as a safety feature and allows you to attach toys to entertain your child.

Finally, once you have done all your homework on the main features of the pushchair you can start to consider any extra accessories you get with your stroller (but check that these are not sold separately as this can increase the price of the pushchair dramatically). Here are a few examples of useful accessories for your pushchair:

• Footmuff or Cosy Toes – basically a warm sleeping bag that you can easily attach to the pushchair by threading it through the harness, which will stay on better than a blanket.
• Headhugger – cushions your baby’s head in the pushchair, which is ideal for newborn babies.
• Drink holders/Cup holders
• Nappy changing bag

Examples of accessories for pushchairs

      We hope that this blog post was able to provide you with valuable advice so you can find the most suitable pushchair for you and your munchkin.

We hope you have many happy years with your pushchair! 

Information sources:

The beginner's guide to buying a pushchair - from birth

http://www.mumsnet.com/guides/pushchairs-from-birth

Tried & Tested: Prams and strollers

http://www.yourparenting.co.za/tools/tried-tested/travel/purchasing-a-pram-or-stroller