When to Upgrade Your Pushchair
Upgrading your pram to a pushchair
The first big upgrade comes when you have finished with your pram. To explain a little more about this, we answered the top FAQs from new parents.
What is the difference between a pram and a pushchair?
A pram is a pushchair that is designed to support baby in the early months of their development. A pram usually comes with a flat-lying space for baby, rather than an upright seat.
You don’t need to purchase a brand new pushchair when your baby outgrows their pram, as most pushchairs come with a ‘pram’ mode. This is usually when a carrycot is secured to the pushchair frame, where the seat should be. A carrycot is a high-sided basinet for a child which provides them with a flat, padded space to sleep unrestricted by a safety harness.
Why do I need to upgrade my pram?
It’s important to upgrade your pram as your child grows, because as they become more independent, they will want to sit up and take in their surroundings. A carrycot doesn’t include a safety harness, so baby can sleep unrestricted, however, as they start to sit independently, a seat unit allows them to be secured to the seat while still being comfortable. By upgrading to a seat unit, you can sit your child upright while awake or lie them down if they’re sleep.
A seat unit can also be installed in the parent-facing mode – facing backwards to see parent as they’re pushing. This is ideal in the early months as it helps to build a bond. A seat unit can also be installed in the forward-facing position, this is ideal as they become more aware and interested in their surroundings.
When should I upgrade my pram?
The general rule is that you should be looking to upgrade from pram mode to pushchair mode around the six month mark. By this point, baby should be able to hold their head up and take in their surroundings. This may happen a little sooner or later than six months exactly, so it’s important to follow baby’s development.
Most carrycots are designed to last six months and often come with a maximum weight capacity, so this is a good way to gauge when to upgrade to pram mode. As soon as your child becomes too heavy for the carrycot, start using your seat unit.
How do I upgrade my pram to a pushchair?
This is usually done by removing the carrycot unit and replacing it with the seat unit. Some pushchairs have an adaptable seat unit which doubles as a carrycot, but often these are two separate pieces that can be interchanged.
What should I look for in a pushchair?
As we mentioned above, a pram and a pushchair can be the same thing. So, when you’re shopping for your pushchair initially, it’s important to find one that offers the comfort and safety you need for your growing child, with the option to purchase an additional carrycot for baby in the first six months.
Most pushchairs come with the option to purchase a complete bundle which includes your pushchair and seat unit, as well as a carrycot. If you’re purchasing a travel system, this can even include a car seat.
Upgrading your pushchair to a stroller
This is the next stage of your pushchair life journey. We’ve answered some of the big questions around upgrading your pushchair to a stroller below.
What is the difference between pushchairs and strollers?
A stroller is a lighter, compact version of a pushchair. Pushchairs are often larger and heavier than a stroller and provide more robust support in the first couple of years of baby’s life. They can also attach carrycots and car seats, whereas most strollers are a single use item.
Strollers perform all the same major functions as a pushchair – they have reclining seats, safety harnesses and additional comfort benefits for baby, and there are different options for different lifestyles, such as all-terrain and sporty modes.
Why do I need to upgrade to a stroller?
You don’t have to upgrade your pushchair to a stroller, but often parents find that it’s better to downsize their pushchair to a smaller stroller. As baby becomes a toddler and starts to walk more often, a larger pushchair isn’t always necessary.
Strollers are traditionally smaller and lighter than a pushchair, so they can easily be stored away in a car boot or carried if the child is walking but can then be utilised when your child is ready to rest.
When should I upgrade to a stroller?
It’s entirely up to you when you upgrade to a stroller as it depends on your reason for upgrading.
Some parents buy a stroller while still using their pushchair, as a lightweight option to alternate between. They’re ideal solutions if you’re planning a long trip – such as a holiday – where a pushchair is too cumbersome. A stroller can be treated as luggage on flights and in some cases stored in overhead compartments.
Most pushchairs are usable until your child turns 4 years old, so it may be that you simply go from pushchair to walking. However, if you need a pushchair for longer walks and trips, but one that can be easily folded away when not in use, a stroller is a great way to transition as your little one finds their footing.
Most strollers can used from around 6 months onwards. As most don’t have the option to secure a car seat or carrycot, they’re not suitable for a newborn. However, from six months they can secure and support a child, as they include safety harness, and most can be reclined to a flat position for sleep.
What should I look for in a stroller?
Again, this depends on your needs. If you need something smaller and more lightweight than your pushchair, then make this your focus.
If you want to retain some of the same features as your pushchair, such as all-terrain tyres, but want to transition to less frequent use, you can shop for your stroller in the same way you would a pushchair. Focus on the features you need and go from there. Strollers are generally smaller and cheaper than pushchairs, so it will always be a downsize from your current travel system.
Summary
So, there you have it. Those are the two main times to upgrade your pushchair as your child grows. A lot of this can be covered off as you shop for your initial pushchair, but it’s helpful to know when you might need to move to the next stage. If you find that size and space are a big concern initially, you can find pushchairs that provide a compact solution from birth, which saves you having to downsize later.
Whatever your needs, we hope you find what you’re looking for. Don’t forget to check out our range of travel systems and strollers. We have several bundles available that bring all those travel essentials together in one handy package.
