How you bed your child, that's how it lies: The pram guide

Raphael Knecht

18.5.2018

Translation: machine translated

I'm not (yet) in a situation that explicitly calls for a pram. But when the age, environment and partner are right, such thoughts and fictitious shopping lists are sometimes unavoidable. So I did some research to find out what to look out for when buying.

At Galaxus, there's almost everything for almost everyone. Accordingly, everyday office conversations revolve around all sorts of things. From the "baby" corner, for example, I hear terms like pram, buggy or jogger. What's the difference between a buggy and a "normal" pram, I ask myself. And joggers? They run in the forest, with neon-coloured trainers and all that. Questions upon questions. Reason enough for me to investigate and write a pram guide.

I prepare myself for my experiment: I close my eyes and imagine that I have just become a father. A sweet and sour nappy smell creeps into my nose, baby cries from afar get louder and louder and I suddenly feel incredibly tired. Quick, open your eyes, open your eyes! Take a deep breath, sit down and set off in search of the pram of my dreams. I make a resolution for this guide to choose an imaginary pram for my imaginary brat....

Spoiler alert, right at the start (and a warning to future mums and dads): Not all prams are the same.

Darling, there are just too many

Also up front: When I see the range of pushchairs at Galaxus, my breath catches and I have to swallow empty. Okay, all right, let's forget about having children and family planning. I have no time (and even less desire) to go through the models. Where is it going to end when the pram issue is already taking on unimaginable proportions?

Making decisions is my thing - but not when it comes to pushchairs. I wonder what must have happened in the last 30 years. Those were the days when a pushchair was a simple baby transporter on four wheels.

Buggy, jogger, shopper: nomen est omen

I overcome my low and motivate myself anew. But it's all worth it, because I fall flat on my face at the first hurdle - the bloody nomenclature. It goes without saying that English terms are even used for prams. After all, it's cool, hip and modern. Whether and how I can cope with it is my problem. Well, it'll all work out, I think to myself, and get to work on the different pram types.

First-time pushchair
First things first: The classic amongst pushchairs - this is what we talk about when someone like me, for example, talks about pushchairs. As the name suggests, it is designed for newborns. Even I have realised that. The first-time pushchair has a full-length lying surface and should be used in this position until your child can sit upright independently. After that, it can be converted into a pushchair that you can use for up to three years. De Foifer und s'Weggli, awesome shit.

To protect your baby, I recommend opting for a model with a hard infant car seat and high sides. By the way: These pushchairs are supplied with a carrycot. You will need this until your baby is six months old. During this time, it must be transported lying flat in the pushchair - in the carrycot.

Some first-time pushchairs, often referred to as combi pushchairs, consist of a three-part system in addition to the basic frame: an infant car seat, a carrycot and a pushchair seat. They are then called travel system pushchairs: With them, you are ideally equipped for travelling in the car, can lift your child out of their pushchair, including the infant car seat, and easily transfer them into your own. The versatile application options are a clear advantage here. However, depending on the model and system, the assembly, conversion and disassembly can be quite a lot of work. Because not everything always works straight away. Nerves of steel are required, especially with two left hands.

Sibling pushchair
Now we're bringing out the big guns in the pushchair sector. Ideal if you have twins or more than one child who are still dependent on the pushchair. It is often referred to as a double pushchair - double trouble. There are various versions available: whether you need two reclining areas, one reclining area and one seat or two seats - you will find what you are looking for in the twin pushchairs.

Some models are even flexible and allow all the transport positions just mentioned. Depending on the model, the children can sit next to or behind each other. You decide which you prefer. Some pushchairs are also compatible with sports seats or carrycots. A little tip on the side: these pushchairs are also very suitable for shopping - with one child - as you can transport your shopping in the other part. Will my new QLED TV fit in there?

You seem to have taken a shine to the Roadster from Hauck. Me too, by the way: one of the best-selling pushchairs for siblings completely won me over during my fake online shopping tour. The value for money is terrific. If I had twins, this would definitely be their pushchair. The only thing missing is that the two children are also included. One sibling pushchair with everything, please. [[productlist:5621011]]

Buggy
The buggy is the cool thing when it comes to pushchairs. Your offspring has learnt to sit upright and can now cruise around in a buggy for grown-ups. That's only half the truth, because the offspring is even chauffeured around. Either way, buggies are compact, usually foldable and have a more modern look. They are ideal companions when travelling or in the city, as they fit in the boot or glove compartment of a plane. A comfortable, large seat, adjustable seat belts and a raised seating position (so as not to be at the same height as the exhaust fumes) are the hallmarks of a high-quality pushchair.

Jogger
You've come to the right place if you're a Byte runner and want your child to enjoy their favourite hobby with you. Joggers should be equipped with decent suspension and a responsive braking system, as you tend to be travelling at a brisk pace and on uneven terrain.

Large, wide tyres give the car more grip, stability and safety - just like in professional racing. I recommend air chamber or pneumatic tyres here, as they provide better suspension. However, if you often ride in the city or on gravel paths, you should be aware that pneumatic tyres can suffer a puncture. Yep, punctures also occur on pushchairs. Can you change a tyre? Have fun finding the spare tyre.

Shopper
Sounds logical: lots of space for shopping, little space for the child. No, of course that's just a silly joke. The Shopper is actually a pushchair, but its seat can be shopped downwards. This means that even newborn babies can be transported with the Shopper - a first-time pushchair with the advantages of a buggy. However, caution is advised here: The seat cannot always be set up completely horizontally. The shopper is usually compact, collapsible, lightweight and has a sun canopy. The soft padding and a harness system are further advantages offered by this type of pushchair.

The Zapp from Quinny is the shopper prototype par excellence and therefore your favourite. "Recommended without reservation: Compact, easy to fold and unfold", says Tannera8700. "Great stroller: Good quality, light weight and easy to fold and unfold. Not the lightest or smallest of foldable strollers around but we are happy with its high durability and quality", says Chansee. And M.d.calado states the following: "Super compact. Confortable for bébé (elle a dormi ses siestes dedans sans problème) et légère. It can be travelled on the parents' side or on the road. After not being sure that it fits as a baggage à main in the aircraft...Pas de housse pour la porter lorsque fermée. Et le "toit" a tendance à se rouvrir tout seul.". [[productlist:5765838]]

Asparagus tarzan or sumo wrestler?

The weight of your little one - including full nappies - has a significant influence on your purchase decision. The maximum weight per seat or recliner can be found in the model. Or you can select it yourself using the filter. This is particularly useful if your baby has a little too little - or too much - flab on their ribs. The normal ones should fit in almost every pram. So, watch out! Otherwise you'll have to carry instead of push.

Pushchair lexicon, part XVII

We always speak of an "upgradeable" pushchair when it can be upgraded with a carrycot. Provided it doesn't already have this option. Sounds logical, doesn't it? Some models also offer the option of fitting a second seat. These pushchairs are actually designed for one child, but also offer space for a second child in an emergency.

In the long term, I recommend buying a two-seater - otherwise the load is a bit too high. To keep them in place, the vast majority of pushchairs have stoppers that can be locked using either the foot or hand brake. This way, the stroller won't roll into the next street unnoticed while you're checking the Facebook statuses of other mums. #babysitter

I'm a pram, get me out of here!

A pram can hardly be compared to a screwdriver or a hammer. Because the latter objects must fulfil one purpose alone. They tighten a screw or hammer in a nail. A new pram, however, is an emotional story - it is your newborn's second home, a means of transport and yes, also a design or style object. We don't want your teenager to have to look at photos of themselves in an ugly pram.

So it's not just the functionality that matters, but also that you like the pram. Your child should be safe in it, but it should also feel comfortable. In this guide, I have tried to present the many different models, designs and options to make it easier for you to navigate the pram jungle. But what you ultimately decide on is up to you and your baby.

After this excursion into the world of pushchairs, I would personally opt for a jogger, as I am often out and about in the woods and on country lanes, my partner likes to run and we like to get around in comfort. What I like most about the Urban Jungle from Mountain Buggy is the design. But the large pneumatic wheels, the sprung rear axle, the five-point harness and the compact design are also impressive. As I said, this is a purely theoretical purchase recommendation - because I haven't tried out the pushchair. And I would probably have to talk to the boss about the price. [[productlist:6361262]]

What my test shopping experience showed me is that some planning is required before buying a pushchair. Much more than I initially imagined. Because, as I mentioned at the beginning: not all pushchairs are the same.

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Raphael Knecht

Senior Editor

raphael.knecht@digitecgalaxus.ch

When I'm not stuffing my face with sweets, you'll catch me running around in the gym hall. I’m a passionate floorball player and coach. On rainy days, I tinker with my homebuilt PCs, robots or other gadgets. Music is always my trusted companion. I also enjoy tackling hilly terrain on my road bike and criss-crossing the country on my cross-country skis. more

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