How To Choose A Pram That Suits Your Lifestyle
Wednesday, December 06, 2017
For many parents-in-waiting, the choice of a stroller or pram is often based upon aesthetic appeal. Fast forward a few months and that pram can become an expensive white elephant - unfit for purpose and a downright pain. In this article, we explore how to choose a pram that not only looks the part but also fits into your lifestyle.
How To Choose A Pram That Suits Your Lifestyle
For many parents-in-waiting, knowing how to choose a pram that suits your lifestyle is quite often impossible until you make the mistake of buying the wrong one! Therefore, we often find that parents choose a pram based upon aesthetic appeal alone and without consideration for their lifestyle. Fast forward a few months and that pram can become an expensive white elephant - unfit for purpose and a downright pain. To fully appreciate this, consider the contrasting requirements of a grandmother looking for a large, limousine pram for taking baby on long strolls in the park, compared to a working parent who must catch a bus everyday to childcare.
In short, the selection of a practical, useful pram or stroller, which will last through every stage of a baby’s life, requires serious contemplation to ensure it meets yours and your baby’s needs through every phase of infancy.
At Baby Train, we strive to match every family with their perfect pram - understanding that everyone’s needs are unique and everyone's lifestyle is different. To fully understand how to choose the best pram for your family, we've compiled a shortlist of common lifestyles to help you to make the right decision.
1. The Traveller
For those needing to transport their baby in a car on a regular basis, top priority should be a prams ability to quickly and easily fold into a size which will slide into the back of you car - preferably with single-handed operation. It should also be light enough to lift but sturdy, secure and built to last. As anyone who has had to wake a sleeping baby from a car seat to transfer it to a pram can verify, having a car seat which is compatible with a pram is a godsend and makes transferring a sleeping baby a seamless (and painless) process. If you're unsure on how to choose a pram for your travelling lifestyle, speak with one of our experts today.
2. THE EXERCISER
If you intend to incorporate your exercise routine into your daily baby airing, a good option for you would be a baby jogger pram; especially for newborns. The rugged movement of the pram can cause dangerous jarring movements and only prams which have been purpose built can absorb excessive vibration. Joggers can also be folded up for easy transportation or taken on shopping excursions all while furnishing baby with a smooth, comfortable ride.
When selecting the ideal jogging pram, look for accessories which will make the process safer and more comfortable for both yourself and your baby, such as:
- Wrist straps to keep pram securely within your grasp at all times.
- Drink holders to allow you to hydrate regularly.
- Multi-position canopy to keep the sun out of baby’s eyes.
- Rain canopy.
- Adequate storage.
3. THE DOUBLE UP
For those blessed with twins or a newborn and toddler, double prams come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including:
- Side by side
- Tandem - one in front of the other
- Top and bottom
Parents with newborns often lean towards a side by side pram as they offer good access to babies, allowing you to keep an eye on them at all times. Contemporary prams are now designed with a narrower body, to allow them to move more freely through tight access areas. Tandem prams are best suited to an infant/toddler or two toddlers, configuration. Their narrower body makes tight access points easier to navigate. Modern compact designs have reduced the footprint of these prams, making them far more versatile and user-friendly.
Another marvellous innovation in double prams has been the ‘top and bottom’ style pram which provides the versatility to add or remove a second seat whilst combining the smaller footprint and centre of gravity of a single pram. For those with an older child, prams with the capacity to attach a rollerboard alongside, are the perfect option for keeping little ones close by and amused.
4. THE Public transporter
Prams and strollers which are regularly taken onboard trains, trams or buses, must be lightweight, narrow and easily manipulated in small spaces. For this reason, fully reclinable strollers such as the Baby Monster Fast pram, can be the ideal combination for the task. Even in the tightest of spaces, when combined with a carrier sling, strollers can be simply folded and stored to avoid interfering with other passengers.
A modern pram should be designed to adapt to the rigours of modern parenting, providing both parents and babies with a safe and comfortable ride experience. At Baby Train, we stock the most reputable pram brands on the market along with a wide variety of accessories, sun shades and weather protection.
Visit our online store or drop into one of our handy locations and discover our exceptionally versatile and affordable range of quality prams, strollers and accessories.
