How to Choose a Pram or Pushchair: A First-Time Parent's Guide
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How to Choose a Pram or Pushchair: A First-Time Parent’s Guide
Choosing your first pram or pushchair can feel strangely complicated. There are carrycots, travel systems, compact folds, all-terrain wheels and enough accessories to make a simple walk sound like a technical exercise.
The best pram for you is not necessarily the most expensive or the one with the longest feature list. It is one that is suitable for your baby, safe to use and genuinely practical for your everyday life.
Start with four questions: Is it suitable for a newborn? Will it fit where you need to store and transport it? Is it comfortable for you to push and fold? Does it suit the places you actually walk?
Once you know those answers, comparing prams becomes much easier.
Pram, pushchair, buggy or travel system: what is the difference?
Baby transport terminology can be confusing because the words are often used interchangeably.
A pram traditionally refers to a model designed for a young baby to lie flat, often in a carrycot.
A pushchair usually has a seat that can be adjusted as a child grows. Some pushchairs are suitable from birth because they include a completely lie-flat option or compatible carrycot, while others are intended for older babies.
A buggy or stroller usually refers to a lighter pushchair, although manufacturers use these terms differently.
A travel system generally combines a pushchair with compatible components, such as a carrycot and infant car seat.
Do not rely on the product name alone. Read the manufacturer’s instructions and check exactly how and from what stage each configuration is intended to be used.
Start with newborn suitability
If you want to use your pram from birth, newborn suitability should be one of your first checks.
The Lullaby Trust advises that babies are safest sleeping flat and on their backs. It advises against babies sleeping in a seated or inclined position, including in pushchairs and buggies. If there is no other option, its guidance says a baby needs to be in a completely lie-flat position when sleeping, rather than simply reclined.
This is why it is worth looking carefully at what a manufacturer means by terms such as “from birth”, “recline” and “lie-flat”.
A carrycot can be a practical option for the early months, particularly if you expect your baby to nap while you are out. Check the manufacturer’s guidance for the specific carrycot and pushchair you are considering.
If anything about newborn positioning is unclear, ask the retailer or manufacturer rather than assuming two similar-looking models work in the same way.
Think about your real daily routine
A beautiful pram can quickly become frustrating if it does not suit your lifestyle.
Imagine an ordinary week rather than an idealised day out.
Ask yourself:
- Do you mainly walk, drive or use public transport?
- Do you regularly use buses or trains?
- Will you need to carry the pushchair up stairs?
- Do you live in a flat?
- Is there a lift?
- How wide are your front door and hallway?
- Where will you store the pram?
- Will it need to fit into a small car boot?
- Do you mostly walk on pavements or rougher paths?
- Do you often shop on foot?
- Will more than one adult regularly push it?
A large pushchair may feel wonderfully sturdy outdoors but awkward in a small hallway. A very compact stroller might be convenient on public transport but offer fewer of the features you want for longer walks.
There is no universally correct balance. Your normal routine should decide which compromises are worth making.
Measure before you buy
Prams often look smaller in a spacious shop than they do in your hallway or car boot.
Before choosing one, measure the spaces that matter.
That might include:
- Your car boot opening
- Available boot space
- Your front door
- Hallways
- Lift doors
- The place where you intend to store the folded pushchair
- Any particularly narrow entrances you use regularly
Check both folded and unfolded dimensions.
If you drive, think about what else normally needs to fit into the boot. A pushchair technically fitting is less useful if it leaves no practical room for shopping, luggage or anything else you regularly carry.
Also consider whether you need to remove the wheels or seat every time you put it away. That may be perfectly manageable occasionally but annoying twice a day.
Test the fold yourself
A demonstration can make almost any folding mechanism look effortless.
Try it yourself.
Ideally, test whether you can:
- Fold the pushchair without struggling
- Unfold it easily
- Lift it when folded
- Carry it a short distance
- Fit it into your car if the retailer allows a fitting test
- Fold it while holding the things you would normally carry
Some pushchairs have a one-piece fold. Others require the seat or carrycot to be removed first. Some stand independently when folded, which can be useful in a small home.
Weight matters too, but the number on the specification sheet does not tell the whole story. A pushchair’s shape, handle position and folded size can affect how manageable it feels to lift.
Check how it feels to push
You may use your pushchair almost every day, so comfort matters.
Walk around with it before buying if possible. Try turning corners, reversing, manoeuvring through a narrow space and operating the brake.
Pay attention to:
- Handle height and adjustment
- Steering
- Wheel size
- Suspension
- Brake position
- Overall stability
- How easy it is to manoeuvre with one hand
- Whether your feet hit the frame or basket while walking
If two parents or carers are very different heights, an adjustable handle can be particularly useful.
Your usual terrain matters as well. Someone walking mainly around shopping centres and smooth pavements may value a compact, manoeuvrable frame. Someone regularly walking on uneven paths may prefer larger wheels and stronger suspension.
Look carefully at the harness and brakes
Safety features deserve more attention than cup holders and matching changing bags.
The NHS advises using a five-point harness to secure a baby in a pram or pushchair. RoSPA also recommends keeping children harnessed while using a buggy or pushchair.
When testing a model, look at how easily the harness fastens and adjusts. A secure harness that is straightforward to use is more practical than one you find frustrating every day.
Test the brake too. RoSPA recommends checking that the brakes work and that the pushchair is correctly unfolded and locked before use.
It is also sensible to check the manufacturer’s instructions so you understand the folding locks, brakes, harness and any restrictions on accessories.
Check the safety standard
For a new or second-hand pushchair, look for evidence that the product complies with an appropriate safety standard.
RoSPA currently advises looking for a reference to BS EN 1888-1:2018+A1:2022 or BS 7409:1996 when buying a pushchair or buggy.
A reputable retailer should be able to provide information about the product’s applicable safety standard.
Do not assume that a product is suitable simply because it is available online. If the safety information is unclear, ask before buying.
Decide how much storage you really need
Under-seat baskets vary enormously.
If you usually walk to the supermarket, a generous basket may be one of your most-used features. If you mostly drive and use the pram for shorter trips, it may matter less.
Check the basket’s stated weight limit and accessibility in different configurations. A basket that looks large can become difficult to reach when a carrycot or seat is fitted.
Avoid treating the handle as extra shopping storage. RoSPA warns that hanging bags from pushchair handles can affect stability and potentially cause the pushchair to tip.
If you know you regularly carry a changing bag, shopping or coats, choose storage designed to accommodate them rather than relying on the handle.
Consider a parent-facing and world-facing seat
Some pushchairs allow the main seat to face either the person pushing or forwards. Others only face one direction.
A reversible seat can be useful if you like having both options, but it is not essential for every family.
Look at how easy the seat is to reverse and whether it must be removed before folding. Also check whether the pushchair’s folded size changes depending on which direction the seat faces.
This is a good example of a feature that sounds important on a specification list but may or may not matter in your everyday routine.
Think carefully about travel systems
A travel system can be convenient because compatible components connect to the same pushchair frame.
If you want one, check:
- Exactly which car seats are compatible
- Whether adapters are required
- Whether adapters are included
- How easily the car seat attaches and releases
- Whether the pushchair still folds conveniently
- Whether the car seat itself is suitable for your child and vehicle
The ability to attach a car seat to a pushchair does not make the pushchair and car seat interchangeable as sleep spaces.
The Lullaby Trust states that car seats are essential for travelling safely in a vehicle but are not designed to be a baby’s main sleeping place. Its safer sleep guidance recommends a clear, firm and flat sleep surface.
UK car seat requirements are separate from pushchair requirements. GOV.UK provides current rules on approved child car seats and how they must be used.
Do you need a carrycot?
A carrycot is often included in larger pram packages, but sometimes it is an additional purchase.
If you expect to use your pram regularly from birth, a carrycot may be particularly useful because it provides a flat space for your baby while you are out.
Before buying, check:
- Whether it is approved for use from birth
- Whether the mattress is firm and flat
- How it attaches to the frame
- How much it weighs
- Where you will store it
- How long the manufacturer says it can be used
- Whether it is approved for overnight sleep, if that is a feature you specifically need
Do not assume that every carrycot is suitable for overnight sleep. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the exact model.
What about second-hand prams and pushchairs?
Buying second-hand can save a significant amount of money, and RoSPA supports the use of second-hand pushchairs provided appropriate safety checks are made.
RoSPA recommends checking that a second-hand model complies with the relevant safety standard and has not been subject to a product recall.
Inspect it carefully for:
- Working brakes
- A secure harness
- A frame that locks correctly
- Damage or cracks
- Sharp edges
- Torn fabric
- Missing parts
- Damaged wheels
- Signs of significant wear
- The original instructions, where available
Check the manufacturer’s website for the manual and any recall information.
If you cannot identify the model or establish whether important safety components work correctly, walking away may be the sensible option.
Which pram features are actually worth paying for?
This depends entirely on your routine, but some features can make everyday use noticeably easier.
You may value:
- An adjustable handle
- A generous basket
- A compact fold
- A one-piece fold
- A lightweight frame
- Large wheels
- Good suspension
- A reversible seat
- An extendable hood
- A rain cover
- Easily removable, washable fabrics
- A carrycot
- Compatibility with a suitable infant car seat
Rather than asking which pram has the most features, ask which features remove friction from your particular day.
If you live upstairs without a lift, weight and folding may matter more than basket size. If you walk everywhere, wheel performance, storage and weather protection may move higher up your list.
Features you may not need
Baby equipment packages can become expensive because optional extras accumulate quickly.
Before paying more for an accessory, ask how often you expect to use it.
You may not need:
- A matching changing bag
- A cup holder
- A hand muff
- Multiple liners
- A parasol if you prefer another suitable sunshade
- A buggy board before you have an older child who needs one
- Additional adapters with no immediate purpose
Some families use these constantly. Others leave them in a cupboard.
Buying the core pushchair first and adding compatible accessories as genuine needs appear can be a more practical approach.
A simple pram shopping checklist
Before making your final decision, check:
- Is this configuration suitable for my baby?
- Does it provide the positioning I need from birth?
- Does it meet an appropriate safety standard?
- Is the harness secure and easy to adjust?
- Are the brakes straightforward to use?
- Can I comfortably push and steer it?
- Can I fold and unfold it myself?
- Can I lift it if I need to?
- Does it fit through my doors and into my storage space?
- Does it fit in my car alongside the other things I carry?
- Are the basket and storage practical for my routine?
- Are replacement parts and accessories readily available?
- Am I paying for features I will actually use?
- Have I read the manufacturer’s instructions and restrictions?
If you can answer those questions confidently, you are much closer to finding the right pushchair than you would be by comparing brands alone.
Before making the final choice
If possible, shortlist two or three models and test them in person.
Put some weight in the basket if the retailer permits it. Adjust the handle. Try the brake. Fold the frame. Lift it. Check how the seat and carrycot attach. Ask to see the instructions and safety information.
Then think about the least glamorous moments.
Imagine putting it into the boot in the rain. Carrying it up your steps. Squeezing it beside the front door. Getting onto a bus with a changing bag. Buying groceries on foot.
The pram that makes those ordinary situations easier is often a better choice than the one that simply looks best in the showroom.
When to get professional advice
If your baby was born prematurely, has a medical condition, needs additional postural support or you have been given specific positioning advice, ask your baby’s healthcare team about suitable transport before choosing or changing a pram or pushchair.
For general safety questions, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and guidance from recognised organisations such as the NHS, RoSPA and The Lullaby Trust.
If you are unsure whether a particular product or configuration is appropriate for your baby’s needs, speak to your health visitor, midwife, GP or another qualified professional who knows your baby’s circumstances.
Related reading
- Baby Products & Gear
- How to Choose a Baby Car Seat: What Parents Need to Know
- Baby Changing Bag Essentials: What to Pack When You Go Out