Pushchairs Mumsnet Guide

Things to consider when choosing a pushchair
Some of these may seem obvious, but it's worth really thinking about your needs and lifestyle before you buy. If you regularly use public transport or live up or down stairs, weight, portability and folding mechanisms will probably be key for you. If you think you'll need to hop on and off a bus, think hard before investing in anything that doesn't fold and/or can't be lifted with one hand and fit into a decidedly stingy space. If you walk a lot you'll be doing a lot of shopping with your pushchair, so look out for a model which scores highly on the shopping basket category. If you drive at all, you need a pushchair that fits easily in the boot of your car. A large but unwieldy pram may be perfect for you if you never use public transport and have no steps to your house or garden - your baby will be in the height of comfort while you shop and you can leave her to sleep in peace on your return. If you're an outdoor type, forever visiting countryside and beach, with a large car boot and lots of storage space, then a 3-wheeler or all-terrain pushchair is probably right up your street. And they look really cool too (if that matters). New babies need to be able to lie flat for about the first 3 months and until they can support their heads fully (around 6 months) they won't be fantastically comfortable being bolt upright. Either you need a pushchair that adapts with the child (i.e. think seat positions) or a different pushchair for each stage. Every from birth pushchair we feature has a lie back facility.

Pushchair types

Forward facing pushchair. Can have lie back facility suitable for newborn. 4 wheels, lightweight and manoeuvrable, though some are lighter and more manoeuvrable than others.
Two-in-one. Can be used as an upright buggy or lie flat like a pram. Some give you the option of having your child facing you (which is a bonus, but not essential, in the first few months).
Three-in-one. As above, but with a separate detachable carrycot.
Travel System. The latest thing in baby transportation. Essentially a regular pram/pushchair, sometimes with carrycot option, but also with a clip-on car seat. Great for keeping a baby asleep when transferring from car or walk to house - but watch out for weight, portability, manoeuvrability and cost.
Three wheeler/jogger. Looks cool and great if you live near countryside or the beach. Easy to steer with one hand. Not usually recommended from birth - although attachments are available to overcome this - and may be heavy and too bulky for some car boots when folded. Do let us know if you meet anyone other than Tom Cruise who actually jogs with one of these.
Old fashioned upright pram. Comfy for baby and keeps the grandparents happy - but how long before your child outgrows it (as early as 3 months babies are very keen to look out and about) and where the heck are you going to store it?
The Stroller or Buggy. Lightweight and robust, many of them are not suitable from birth, but a few are. The best ones have easy one-hand fold mechanisms. Watch out for tiny, inaccessible, or no shopping baskets and lack of comfort - suspension and padding - particularly for winter babies.

Extras. These include hoods, rain covers, cosytoes (sleeping bag-type things that attach to the pushchair straps and stay on better than blankets), additional shopping baskets, matching changing bags. Extras that aren't included can push up the price considerably and according to mumsnet reviewers some are more worthwhile than others. A cosytoes for a winter baby seems to be a must, as is a raincover that's easy to attach/detach (summer or winter babies I'm afraid). We have our doubts about the necessity of a changing bag that matches the pram cover - but you might feel differently.

Suitability for different age groups is covered in the descriptions of the pushchairs. Where experience contradicts manufacturers claims - i.e. a pushchair that claims it will service a two year old, but is too cramped for a child of 11 months - it will show up in the 'in a nutshell' comment.

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