When you are expecting a baby, it is quite easy to become a little confused when you go shopping. You would think it was easy to pick up a baby prams stroller as there is so much choice available. But herein lies the problem. With so many different brands, styles and price ranges it can be difficult to know which one to choose.
The first thing I would suggest is you check that the model you are interested in buying will fit easily into your car. For instance when friends had their first baby they chose a Mamas and Papas all in one system. They paid for it in full and took it away with them. The problem was that it wouldn't fit in the trunk of their car. It is pointless having a travel system that doesn't fit your car because you can't walk everywhere. Thankfully the shop understood and allowed them to browse the strollers and exchange it for another one.
What other features should you look for in babies prams?
You will want the ability for babies to lie flat if it is to be used for a newborn. This is extremely important; if the one you really like doesn't have this feature, pick another one.
One that is easy to put up and fold is also essential. You may be holding baby with one hand and trying to fold the stroller with the other, so flexibility is key. Some models have a one hand release system which comes in rather handy. It should have an adjustable handle height so that you can arrange the stroller at the most comfortable height for you when out walking. You need to decide if you want the baby seat facing towards you or away from you. Some models offer a reversible option i.e. you can have the seat facing whichever way you prefer. This is preferable because forward facing works best for some babies and reverse facing for others.
New baby prams strollers should have good suspension and lockable front swivel wheels. This will make it a lot easier to maneuver round the store. Depending on how often you go walking you may prefer a model like the baby jogger city which is designed with those active mums in mind. Most strollers will come with the option to purchase a matching diaper bag and other accessories if you like that idea.
You may decide to purchase a tried and tested brand name such as Maclaren babies prams or the Peg Perego baby pram stroller. The benefit of buying a brand name is that should something go wrong, you should be able to benefit from good customer service. This is important as sometimes a wheel can fall off or split. It is much easier to replace a part than to have to pay for an entire new travel system.
Finally, we have assumed that you are only having one baby but if you are lucky enough to be having multiple babies you will probably need to be looking at the choice of double baby prams strollers on offer.
