Advice on Prams Needed

Hi ladies,

DH and are and getting organized for our first bub due in early August and we're looking for a good and affordable pram. Can you please tell me which pram you recommend for us to buy and why... Thanks smile

Hi I've been looking at big w and the most suitable pram I've found is vee bee brand one it's light weight 7.5kg and has all the things fancy ones seem to have it's about $208 and is suitable for birth to about 18kg it has the underneath storage basket and a little tray for the baby I like it because it's got 1 button to collapse it and if you are holding the baby it's easy to do it 1 handed smile hope this helps

Thanks for your reply, I will look into that one. Much appreciated smile

What you can do is go to your local baby shop and try out different prams and see what range they have. Ask the sales assistant to show you how they fold down and if they're easy to push or lift to pick up to put in the boot of the car. And if you want one with the option of a capsule that can attach to it for the first couple of months. and maybe you can put it on layby if that's an option. I found that with my first baby mil bought me a pram and I hated it cause I didn't get to test it for my self it was bulky and barely fit in the boot and hard to fold down. So your best bet is to try out as many as you can and see what you like best smile hope this helps

What you can do is go to your local baby shop and try out different prams and see what range they have. Ask the sales assistant to show you how they fold down and if they're easy to push or lift to pick up to put in the boot of the car. And if you want one with the option of a capsule that can attach to it for the first couple of months. and maybe you can put it on layby if that's an option. I found that with my first baby mil bought me a pram and I hated it cause I didn't get to test it for my self it was bulky and barely fit in the boot and hard to fold down. So your best bet is to try out as many as you can and see what you like best smile hope this helps

Ok that's a good idea, I think we might. Thanks for your reply smile

Look online or instore and list all the different options, then work out whats important to you. eg, running pram/compact stroller, big basket, adjustable height of handle (If you or hubby are tall or short), ease of recline etc, car boot size, use on public transport, shade/rain covers etc.

Also if you plan on having another bub within 3 years i would reccommend getting a pram with a toddler seat option to use later on to save getting a new one. That way its not so bad if you spend alot.


We have 3 kids. DD1 6years, DD2 2years, DS 9mths.

My first pram was a large 3 wheeler -no toddler seat. Hubby talked me out of toddler seat and wish I hadnt listened.

When DD1 was 8 months old we went on holidays and got an umbrella fold stroller that reclined as it was smaller.

When DD2 came along 4 years later we got a Steelcraft Profile stroller to use with the capsule. Very small basket which you cant get into when reclined but a great stroller otherwise. Still use this often.

We also purchased a Phil and Teds Sport. We go this as it holds 25kg in the main seat. At 6 years our slim DD1 still is under the weight limit. It is awkward to use in toddler/baby mode, but we got around that by using as a travel system with capsule for DS and putting DD2 in the toddler seat below. Love that it converts from a single to double pram easily. Toddler seat below is also a great basket extension when shopping if you only have one bub with you.

If you end up with a P&T definately get the lazy Ted - turns toddler seat into a bouncer - loved this so much with DS we threw out the other bouncer - only problem was I always forgot the toddler seat when we went out smile If you dont mind spending a bit on a bouncer, would reccommend it even if not getting the pram. Nice recline and bounce motion. We also have the extra toddler seat sunhood on it which sheilded bub a bit from the light and action.Great item- bub spent hours asleep in it!

Hi,
I also didn't really know much when we bought our first pram for first baby, and I got it so wrong!!! You have to think ahead a little and work out what you want to be able to do with your pram beyond the first few months of newborn. I originally bought a steelcraft reverse handle pram which was light and easily folded (Acclaim). I thought it was good until I started to see people who could clip a baby capsule in theirs, mine couldn't. Steelcraft do sell ones that do though I just didn't realised. Anyway, the Acclaim was good with a newborn but then I discovered it didn't quite fit out what I wanted to do once I got used to having a baby. I wanted to get out & about on a bit more vigorous walks and jogs and the one I had bought was not suitable for this.
Then we had another baby and had to buy a whole new pram that suited a baby and a toddler, as my toddler was not old enough to walk all the time. I bought a steelcraft strider plus for this. I liked that you could put a baby capsule in it, very handy, plus having the 2nd toddler seat. It was very big and heavy though so reasonably hard work in shopping centres.
However, this also was not a good outdoors pram, and my final double pram has been a double side-by-side pram with great big wheels for jogging!!

So my tips:
* get a "travel system" pram, ie pram & baby capsule, and therefore you can clip the baby capsule in to the pram. So much easier keeping newborn baby in capsule and clip it in to pram rather than having to wake & disturb baby getting in and out of car.
* Think whether you are going to have number 2 any time soon. A toddler who is 3 or below will still need to get in a pram when legs get tired, so a pram that can then turn in to a double is a good option. Some of these that are quite deluxe and have a proper toddler seat, often reclining etc, are Baby Jogger City Select, Steelcraft STrider Plus, Phil & Teds. Some other smaller and more basic prams (and cheaper) also can fit a bucket toddler seat. Check out brands like mothercare, valco, Steelcraft for these.
* work out what you will be using the pram for. If you plan to get outside with it, make sure it's got the right sort of wheels, that's is easy to push etc. Some brands cater so much better for this, like Baby Jogger brand, Phil & Ted's, Mountain Buggy, Bob Gear. The heavy, standard prams with their small wheels don't really do the job very well.

Hope that helps!

And a tip for later on when you have a baby who can sit and a toddler - the Joovy caboose or the Babylove Sit'N'Stand - VERY useful. Great one for in the car. It has a baby seat on front and a standing area & seat on back. One of my useful pram purchases ever.

Good luck, Peta R.