Buying a pram - tips and advice

A pram can be a tricky purchase – they are often fairly expensive and will likely be something you use often, and for a long time – so it’s important to get it right. A good place to begin is by considering your lifestyle and what you’re going to need from your pram. First, you need to understand the differences between the various models. We’ve got a list below, and added a few helpful considerations. If you’re getting stressed already, don’t worry: you can actually rent a pram, either by the day or for longer periods – so if you can’t make up your mind, you do have options.

Types of prams

• A convertible pram has a bassinet and a seat, but the same chassis. You start with the bassinet on the pram for a newborn, but do take a good look at the function of the seat, because that’s what the baby will spend most of their time in. You will switch to the seat around the time the baby can sit up on their own, around six months.
• A 2-in-1 pram can be adjusted between a seated and reclining position. As an accessory, there is an insert that is easy to remove from the pram. This is a good area to do your research, so that you don’t deprioritise features that are important to you.
• Double or tandem pushchairs have seats for two children. Often, one can lie down while the other is seated. If you want the option, check that the double pushchair can have both children facing you. If your older child is right on the border in terms of age, then you might want to consider how long both children will be able to ride together, or whether it might work just as well to have a buggy board.
• A stroller, umbrella stroller, or travel stroller is a smaller and simpler seated pushchair in which the child faces forward. These models are easy to carry and collapsible, but nine times out of ten, they don’t perform well on terrain. They are often terrible to push on bad surfaces like rough gravel roads. But they can be a good complement for travel, or when the baby is a little older and you want an easy pushchair for going to and from nursery school. Here, it’s good to look up how far back they can recline, given that baby will want to rest sometimes.
• Pushchairs are slightly more robust than strollers and might be a good investment later on, if the baby grows out of their 2-in-1 pram, but you still need to walk longer distances, or on surfaces that a stroller can’t handle.
• Running or cycling buggies, as the name suggests, are for exercise. They can be used from about 8–9 months old, which may vary by model. These buggies have bigger wheels, roll smoothly, and are built to handle higher speeds. Some can even be used on ski trails. They might vary in complexity: some are designed for a certain type of activity; others can be used for skiing, running, and cycling. Many options can hold two children, which is practical when you have siblings in the family.

Whichever style you choose, your pram should meet all applicable safety requirements.

Buying a used pram

Buying a used pram can be great for your budget and for the environment. When we asked our followers on social media, the majority would consider buying a used stroller. If you’re in a hurry to get ahold of a pram, it might also be the only option, since new pushchairs can have long waits for delivery. Another advantage is being able to test-drive them in a natural environment, and not just on the shop floor. You might not need to kick the tires, like you would on a car, but there are some things that can be good to check when buying a used pram.

• Safety is crucial: The tires should be stable and sturdy, and the brake should be easy to apply (but a little harder to release, to avoid accidentally unlocking on its own). Check that the folding mechanism and latch still work, so that the stroller doesn’t accidentally collapse. The seat or bassinet should lock into the chassis automatically when you put it in place. You should also make sure there are latches you have to unlock to remove the seat/bassinet from the chassis.
• Check that you can still fold up the stroller.
• Do you want to be able to complain if something doesn’t work? Look up any applicable warranties, or sign a separate contract with the seller.
• How new is the model and who is the manufacturer? This is important information for getting ahold of spare parts and accessories, if needed.
• Is the pram from a smoke-free home?
• Can the fabric be removed and washed?
• Are any accessories included, such as a stroller sleeping bag, rain cover, mosquito net and diaper bag?

Is the stroller forward or rear-facing?

Most infants ride facing the driver. Being able to see their parents makes babies feel safe, and it’s easier to interact when you can see each other. It’s also pretty nice to be able to have an eye on what your baby is doing in the stroller. That said, it’s good to be able to turn the seat around later, or buy a forward-facing stroller. The time to do that is generally when the baby starts to become impatient and wants to climb out of the stroller. At that point, a forward-facing option can be a super exciting way to explore the world as a little one.

Tips for pram shopping

It might not always be easy to know exactly what your needs will be when you haven’t even had your baby yet. So to help you out, we asked other parents on our social media channels what they think you should keep in mind when buying a pram.
Here’s what they said:

• Make sure the seat and bassinet cover the baby’s needs – whether you choose a 2-in-1, convertible, or double pushchair. Newborns need to be able to recline fully, and slightly older babies often need a resting position. It’s a good seat if you can turn it both ways; otherwise, another option is to combine it with a forward-facing stroller later – but you might have to store two different strollers during a transitional period.
• The stroller dimensions are important to know if you need to fit inside a lift or other tight quarters. Some strollers have articulated handles, which can be crucial for pushing the stroller into the lift.
• What kind of chassis does the stroller have and how small is it when it’s folded up? If you have a car, it’s important to check that it fits in the boot.
• What kind of surface will you be on the most? If you’re going to walk in the woods or on rough gravel roads, then slightly bigger all-terrain wheels with good tread are recommended. If you’ll mostly be in the city and plan to go into shops and other small spaces, then strollers with wheels that swivel feel like the invention of the century.
• How important is the general feel? Does the stroller feel good to walk with? How smoothly does it turn? The easiest way to get a feel here is to test drive a few different prams, but remember that different surfaces and seasons will have an impact. A walk on slushy November snow will be different from a stroll down a gravel lane on a warm summer’s day.
• Will you have to carry the stroller? In that case, find out the total weight and choose one you can handle – and remember, there might be times when you have to add a baby balanced on one hip into the equation!
• How tall are the people who will push the stroller? It isn’t fun to have to walk hunched over for years on end, so be sure your handles are adjustable.
• How far down does the hood go? It should go down far enough to protect baby from wind and weather in winter and from the sun in summer. You can often add a hood, but make sure air can always get in. Never shade the baby by covering the pram with a blanket or scarf, as this could be life-threatening – read more about that here.
• The colour actually matters for functionality: black and dark-coloured prams will be hotter than light-coloured ones.
• How comfortable will it be for baby?
• What kind of storage space does the pram have? A basket at the bottom is heartily recommended if you want to bring things with you. It can be priceless if you’re running into the shop for a litre of milk on your way home. If the pram doesn’t have one, you might want to be able to hang a diaper bag on the handle.
• Can the fabric be washed? Babies are lovely, but will have a tendency to poo, pee and maybe vomit in the pram.
• If you ride in a car often, some car seat models can be attached directly to the pram, which is nice if you don’t want to wake up a sleeping baby.
• How do the brakes and folding mechanism feel? Can you collapse it easily? We know: you might feel like you need a manual the first few times, but after that it should be a quick and easy process. Take a look to make sure it can be properly locked and secured.
• There are loads of reviews and lists of the best pram models online – go ahead and check them out! But don’t forget, the most important thing is to consider which pram will suit you and your needs.

Pram accessories

There are lots of accessories for prams, from cupholders to baby stroller rockers and buggy boards for older siblings. It’s quite common to get a little eager and buy too much stuff that you later realise you didn’t really need. So one tip is to shop as you realise you need something. A rain cover and stroller sleeping bag for the season are what we recommend having from the start.

Which pram is best for me?

Whether it’s a hypermodern pram with a lightweight steel construction, or the hand-me-down pram that you were in as a baby yourself, the most important thing is that you like it. Your pram should meet your needs. And remember: it’s not a major issue if your pram isn’t ready to go when your baby comes. Newborn babies tend to be more interested in being close to someone, rather than having to be all by themselves in a pram. So being closely carried in your arms, or in a baby carrier, might be exactly how baby wants to experience the big world beyond home for the first time.

Please note that all information above is based on Swedish recommendations.