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How to Choose a Pushchair, Buggy or Stroller

What an exciting time this is with the pleasure of a new baby arriving! You probably have plenty of things to think about and items that you'll need to buy, but a pram or pushchair is one of the most important items you'll need when your baby is born.

Don't leave buying your pushchair too late as some brands of pushchairs don't have immediate delivery dates. Do some research before you buy a pushchair, to make sure that you get the best deal.

A pushchair is one of the most costliest items you'll need to buy for your baby but if you choose the right one, it will last at least until baby is three or four years old, so the right pushchair can be an excellent investment.

The following guide to choosing and buying a pushchair highlights some of things you'll need to consider when buying a pushchair.

Choosing a Pushchair - Types of Pushchair

Think carefully about what you and baby need before you choose which pushchair to buy. The choice of brands of pushchair and types of pushchair is huge and includes 3-in-1s, 2-in-1s, strollers, forward facing buggies, travel systems, 2-seaters, 3-seaters, 3-wheelers and carry cots.

Choosing a Pushchair - Your Family's Needs

Think about your family's needs before you choose a pushchair - are you and baby going to need to travel in the car a lot? If so, you will need to think about the car you have and weigh up the pros and cons of whether your choice of pushchair is going to result in you having to change your car. Some of the double buggies and 2 seater pushchairs are too big for the smaller car boot. If you're a two car family try the chosen pushchair out in the smaller car first.

Are you more likely to be using public transport? In the city or town you might find that choosing a buggy that can easily be folded for travel on a bus or can be lifted onto the tube is your best option.

Do you want to walk on a mixture of terrains or will you mainly be using your pushchair for shopping trips? If you live in the country with a new baby, you might want to buy a more robust three wheeler pushchair that can cope with rougher surfaces. Some 3 wheelers pushchairs also have compatible infant seats which mean you can easily move your baby from car to 3 wheeler and toddle off, hopefully with a sleeping baby undisturbed.

If you live in the town or somewhere a little more urban, you may decide to buy a 2 in 1 pushchair - one that looks like a more traditional pram that converts into a pushchair when baby is big enough to sit up. Some strollers are also robust enough to deal with the needs of a newborn baby.

An important point to consider when choosing a pushchair is whether or not the pushchair you are looking at is designed to fit through standard doorways, as there's nothing more frustrating than not being able to get into the shop you need to visit because your buggy is too wide. Also check to see that the pushchair you are considering has enough storage room for your needs.

If you live in a flat without a lift, you might want to think about how you're going to get the pushchair up and down the stairs. Some pushchairs are extremely lightweight and some are specifically designed to be easily maneuvered in tight spaces.

Think too about whether you want to see your baby when you're walking around - some models are both forward and rear facing giving you the advantage of pulling faces at your young baby as you walk along and then turning them around as they get older so that they can see more of their surroundings.

Choosing a Pushchair - Your Baby's Needs

When choosing which pushchair to buy, you need to consider whether your chosen pushchair is suitable for the needs of your brand new baby. A newborn baby needs to lie completely flat so your pushchair needs to have a lie back position. Some families choose carrycots which fit onto a pushchair to form a pram.

Although some families do use carry cots in the car to transport baby, others prefer to use purpose-built baby car seats that can be used until baby is 13kg (28lb). Others use a baby car seat that clips into a pushchair frame, so baby can continue to sleep as you move from car to pushchair.

Whatever you do, choose a pushchair that is sturdy enough and padded enough to ensure baby is not uncomfortable. For stormy weather make sure baby is also completely watertight.

Toddlers and babies have different needs but most pushchair systems grow as your baby grows to cater for these evolving needs.

Choosing a Pushchair - Other Things to Think About

Pushchair and stroller manufacturers have created pretty versatile baby travel solutions for the modern family so it can be mind-blowing trying to work your way through the pram specifications of hundreds and hundreds of excellent buggy brands. To help you choose which pushchair to buy, look at the following in greater detail, when you are confronted with your choice.

Ease and Convenience

It is a good idea to try out all the pushchairs on your shortlist - you never know how they're going to operate until you try them. A buggy that looks supercool online may actually need a bit of practice to use before baby arrives. Try going into your local pushchair shop and practicing with the model you like the look of. Push it around the shop floor. Add on all the buggy accessories - especially if you're buying a system that grows with your baby. Ask the shop assistants to help you fit the 3-in-1 compatible car seat in your car and then try to fit it again on your own.

Put the brake on and off and try and open and close it a few times following the manufacturer's one-handed mechanism guidelines to make sure it's as easy as it says. It's likely you'll be using the pushchair every day so make sure you're happy that you can work the mechanisms on your own.

Take note of how much room you'll need in a car park or parking in the road when unfolding the pushchair and think about when you use elevators - will your chosen pushchair fit?

Good suspension and large wheels will give baby a more comfortable ride, which is particularly important if you are going to walk a lot with your pushchair. Having front wheels that can swivel and lock make all the difference if you are negotiating the pushchair in difficult conditions.

When you've tried out the pushchair in the shop and you're certain that it's the right one for you, take a look at the deals available online from different top pushchair sites, as you may well be able to save money or get a better package.

How Heavy is the Pushchair?

Pushchairs vary tremendously in weight and when you choose a pushchair you need to ask yourself how often you are going to be carrying it folded along with baby and also possibly a changing bag or shopping.

If you're going to travel with baby on airplanes, buses or trains, you might consider buying a second lightweight stroller to get by on holiday so that you can leave your more robust travel system at home. If you've ever had back problems you might also consider buying a lighter option.

How Comfortable is the Pushchair?

Think about how you feel sitting in the car for a couple of hours and then think about how baby will feel in your choice of pushchair. Baby needs to feel comfortable and snug if he or she is going to spend a few hours a day being pushed around.

Look for the different features the pushchair has:

• Adjustable seat positions - does it have up to four or five, including a lie-back facility for newborns?
• How robust is it - can it deal with the likes of gravel, grass or mud as well as tarmac?
• Is it well padded all round and is it made of weatherproof material?

Value for Money

Check out what else is included in the price of the pushchair - some pushchairs include cosytoes/footmuffs, changing bags and pushchair and car seat raincovers. Others accessories are only offered as add-ons that can stretch the price. For convenience, you will need a cosytoe/footmuff and a raincover.

Pushchair Guarantees

Check out pushchair guarantees - how long is the guarantee? One year or more would be good. Think about when the guarantee starts from, the day you buy the pushchair or the date that baby is due.

Regulations

Always check that your pushchair complies with current UK regulations.

Buying a Pushchair

One of the best ways to buy a pushchair, once you have tested it out, is online. Sometimes you can get much better deals buying pushchairs online than you can in the shops, and it also means that your pushchair will be delivered to your door, so you don't have the hassle of carrying it home.

To find some great deals on pushchairs and details of where you can buy a pushchair, visit our Top Sites section or our Most Popular Pushchair models section.

To find out more about the different types of pushchairs that are available then visit our Types of Pushchair section.

To see what different manufacturers offer and the specification of different models, visit our pushchair Brands section.

To find out more about the types of accessories you can get for your pushchair visit our Pushchair Accessories section.