Prams
Buying a pram can be one of the trickiest parts of preparing for a new arrival - there are so many to choose from and with no experience you have no idea which one will be the most practical. But there are some basic considerations to be made before you choose, and if you know what you want from a pram then you should be able to pick one by process of elimination. Think about where you are most likely to go with your pram and how it will fit into your lifestyle. Here are some questions that are worth asking yourself to narrow down the options you have:
- Where will the pram live when you're not using it?
- How long are you expecting to use the pram for?
- Will it be your main mode of transport for your baby or will you have another pram or pushchair?
- Will you need to get the pram onto trains or buses or into your car?
- How will the pram be used – are you going to spend more time squeezing through shop doorways or bumping over dirt tracks?
These things are all worth considering - the practicalities of a pram go way beyond the look of it, so try not to be swayed by one which looks nice if it doesn't have everything you're looking for. Keeping your baby safe and comfortable will be your main priority, so ask your friends, read reviews and try out as many as you can before making your decision.
Pushchairs
Purchasing a pushchair is a big decision as not only can it be a major financial commitment, but it will also be a major part of your routine when you are out and about with your baby. Parents used to have little choice in pushchairs, but now the number available can seem overwhelming so you need to decide what you want from a pushchair and then find one that fits the bill. You want to make sure it's easy to use for every situation so don't just test it out on smooth surfaces in the shop, have a feel of the weight for when you will need to carry it and try folding and unfolding it as well to ensure you will be able to do it on your own. Once upon a time you had to choose between forward or back-facing seats, and conventional wisdom said that babies prefer to see their parents, but toddlers are more interested in looking out at the world. However there are now push chairs which can be switched to face either direction so you can have the best of both worlds and this is the kind of thing to think about before you make your purchase as you will not want to be stuck with a decision made in haste only to discover you could have had it all the first time round. One of the best things you can do is to learn from experience - ask friends for their opinions, taking into account how their lifestyles differ from yours, and even ask if you can have go so you can get a feel for what is comfortable and manageable.