Guide to Buying a Pushchair

The pushchair market is a bit of a minefield for first-time parents. Even the more experienced can be forgiven for getting confused. From 3 wheelers, to travel systems, umbrella fold or tandem, the choice is pretty big. We have put together a guide to help you when buying a pushchair. Going through each type of pushchair on the market. Plus a couple of pointers on what to look for when buying second hand.

3 Wheelers:

These are very good to steer and are usually lightweight. They are great if you do a lot of walking, as they offer a bit more comfort for your child. They tend to be more durable, so if you are looking to hand it down, or keep for another child, the extra expense may be worth it in the long run. They are bigger than some pushchairs, so if you are intending to put it in your car, you will need to ensure it fits into the boot. They are probably not a practical choice if you are going to be using public transport, but if you are looking to pound uneven pavements or go on country walks, then this is an ideal choice for you. You may see some described as all-terrain, these are only necessary if you will be doing a lot of off-road walking.

Travel Systems:

A travel system is a pushchair chassis into which you can clip a car seat and/or a carrycot. This is a great option if you are in and out the car a lot, as you do not need to disturb baby, you simply take the car seat out of the car and clip it directly into your chassis. The carrycot option is good, as it allows baby to lie flat, which is ideal if baby will spend a lot of time in the pushchair. Be aware that some of the pushchair seats are only suitable from 6mths onwards, so you will need to purchase the carrycot if you intend to use it from birth. Whilst the outlay for the travel systems is quite high, you will need to work out what you would spend on a separate pushchair and car seat and decide if it is a viable option for you.

Umbrella Fold/Strollers:

These tend to be the most lightweight. They are easy to fold up and very useful if you travel on public transport a lot. However, do check with manufacturer’s advice as some of these are not suitable for children under 6mths old. Depending on the model, some may not recline and even if they do, they will not recline fully. They often do not have as much padding as other styles. They are not as easy to push as some of the other pushchairs, but if you are looking for one to pop up and down quickly, these are ideal. They tend to be used for slightly older children and are ideal for toddlers. Do take note of the size of the shopping basket as they are usually quite small.

Double/Tandem Buggies:

There are a couple of options when it comes to double buggies. One type is where the seats are next to each other (Twin Buggy), another type where one baby is behind the other (Tandem Buggy), and then the ‘Phil & Teds’ variety where the main frame is a single pushchair, with a second seat/space underneath the main chair. Many people prefer the twin style for the reason that it allows the children to interact with each other and prevent arguments when they are older as to who gets to sit in the front seat! They can also be lighter than tandem pushchairs. However they can also be challenging to get through narrow doorways, and difficult to steer on narrow pavements. You may also find the seats to be quite narrow, especially if you have a big baby, or an older toddler.

A tandem pushchair is more suited to people who have a baby as well as a toddler who still need use of a pushchair. You will find one seat more upright and this is suited for toddlers. The second seat is usually padded and will fully recline. The ‘cons’ to this type of pushchair are that they are less stable than the twin pushchair and can be heavy and difficult to steer. They also tend to be bulky when folded and may not fit in some cars. The popular Phil & Teds variety is another option to consider. The main seat can be used for your toddler, whilst the space underneath can be used with their carrycot style ‘bag’, for popping the baby in. As the children get older, you can use the additional seat underneath, and this will carry quite a decent sized toddler. However, some parents do not like the fact that one child is underneath the other one, but this is a personal choice. This style of double buggy is easy to steer and not much bigger than a standard 3 wheeler.

The more expensive pushchairs do lose a lot of money, if this is something that concerns you then think about buying second hand. A £350 travel system for example, can be picked up on the second hand market for £50-£250. Also it is better for the planet to buy second hand and start your parenting journey the sustainable way.

Here are a few pointers for buying second hand:

• Do your research beforehand, to know which type of pushchair you want. You need to ensure it will fit in your car, that you are comfortable with how it steers, that it has the right sized shopping basket for your needs etc. If need be, go and look around the shops to see which one you like so you are confident in which one to look for second hand.
• Ask if it comes with accessories such as a raincover and footmuff. If it doesn’t, make sure that accessories are still readily available and are cheap to buy. You may pick up what you think is a bargain pushchair, only to find that it doesn’t come with a raincover. If that model is no longer made, then you may not be able to find a cover that fits.
• Check that there are two locking mechanisms to release before the pushchair will fold down, and make sure they both work.
• Ensure pushchairs are labelled as complying with British Standard Marks. It is also useful if the seller can give you the original instructions for the buggy.
• Check the wheels to make sure they are not wobbly, corroded or badly worn. This is particularly important for the tyres on 3 wheelers as these may be expensive to replace.
• Ensure that it has a 5 point harness on it and that all the straps and fixing points are intact.
• Check over the frame for corrosion, sharp edges or broken parts.
• Ensure the brakes lock on and off efficiently
• Check the material on the seat and ensure all the seams are intact

Second-hand pushchairs will save you a huge chunk of expense, but buy wisely! Pop along to one of our nearly new sales to see what pushchairs you can find