Different buggies for different needs: How to buy the right buggy for you

When we’re pregnant for the first time, we all fantasize about what motherhood will look like for us. The love, the closeness of our relationship with baby, what our partners will be like as a parent – it’s such an exciting time. We envision the adorable baby clothes, the Moses basket, the pretty pram – and that’s where there’s a pitfall.

The image of motherhood is beautiful – us, well-dressed and relaxed, pushing our adorable, sleeping baby through the park in an old-timey pram, complete with shining silver and leather handles and frilled hooded carriage.

And I’m here to tell you why that image isn't necessarily realistic or the best option.

It’s important to bear in mind that every parent’s needs will be different, so I can’t speak for everyone’s situation. Different needs and life issues will factor into your buggy choice – whether you live in the country or somewhere more urban, how active your lifestyle is, how many kid you already have – these all will influence what you choose.

But I worked in a nursery shop for over a year and I can’t tell you how many mothers came in looking for the traditional pram with the pretty carrycot and all its accessories. I don’t blame them – they’re beautiful and really fit in with this peaceful motherhood image we have in our heads. But the reality of it is that the image won’t matter to you as much down the line. You’ll want function, ease and mobility – and won’t particularly care what it looks like.

These ‘travel system’ buggies are the most popular choice with parents, the ones that come with the carrycot, the car seat and the seat unit. It looks like you’re getting a great deal – and in some ways you are, especially if it’s a double buggy and you have another child still in the buggy phase. You are getting everything you need to transport baby and then some.  But really, very few babies actually need the carrycot addition, which is usually a few hundred extra. Baby will usually get three to six months use of it before they outgrow it and move onto the seat option, as by then they’re starting to sit up and look out at the world.

So for six months, you’re storing and juggling between the car seat add on, the carrycot add on, the seat unit, the nappy bag, the cooler bag with your formula or breastmilk and any other potential children in tow while trying to get from place to place, never mind trying to deal with putting up and down the actual chassis of the buggy itself with all its buttons and slotting and pedals.

Essentially what I’m saying is that it's important to consider what you need as a parent when chosing your pram system, not just what the product looks like. For example, the three-wheeler ‘Out ‘n’ About Nipper’ or the ‘Joie Lite Jogger’ don’t look like your traditional prams and generally aren’t as popular with mums on first sight. But it’s always important to ask for a demonstration when buying a buggy and to then try out the buggy for yourself in store.

The travel system buggy will have slots on the side to remove and dismantle whatever seat, carrycot or car seat option you have attached at the time and will also require you to know how to fold up the chassis itself. The chassis is the buggy’s frame.

Whereas with most three seaters – as is so with the Out ‘N’ About option – your seat unit is attached to the chassis, so there’s no extra step in folding down your buggy – it all folds in together. This may not seem like a big deal now, but when you’re battling with the food shop, your handbag, your nappy bag and trying to put baby into a car seat, the absolute last thing you want to do is have extra steps to getting your buggy in the boot – unless thos eextras are essential to your parenitng needs.

The ‘Out ‘N’ About’ model’s seat unit doubles up as your seat and carry cot. The seat itself reclines to create a flat surface for new babies, so parents get all the benefits of the carry cot, without actually having to invest in one and find the storage space for it. Three wheelers are also great for mobility, so if you’re out walking country roads or the beach a lot, these buggies are ideal to give you and baby maximum motion to explore the world around you.

At the end of day, everyone has different preferences and requirements from their buggy. What’s important going into your nursery shop is to know what those requirements and needs are. It can get overwhelming when you’re in there so have a list of what is yours and you’re your partner’s priorities. Try out all the different buggies, how they move, how easy they are to fold up and also to assemble, how much storage they have and ask the shop assistants any questions or concerns you have so that they can find the right buggy for you and your little one.