By [https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Kate_Christie/7266]Kate Christie
There are many top brands selling good quality baby pushchairs, strollers and prams, and searching for the right one for your baby can be like wading through treacle if you don't know where to start. If you're about to have your first child the chances are you won't have gone through this process before so it can seem quite daunting as there so many different styles and brands to choose from.
To make things a little bit easier for you we have some tips for making that choice - what elements to think about and what features to look for:
o Functionality
The first decision to make is whether you need a pushchair, a pram, a stroller or a complete travel system - this decision is based partly on the age of your child (e.g. a newborn baby needs a lie flat position), how you travel (do you need a car seat that can be transferred to your pushchair frame), when and where you'll be using it (every day, around town, on holiday). On holiday you might want a lightweight stroller but for use at home every day you might want a complete travel system that incorporates a pushchair, a carrycot that can make a pram and a car seat.
o Kids
The second decision is based on how many children you have and their individual ages, and whether you are planning for your family to grow in the near future - so will you need a tandem or a twin pushchair, or the option to add another seat or a ride-on board at some stage? If you already have two children you have to decide whether you want them to sit alongside each other, one on front of the other or whether you want one to ride on a board that attaches to the pushchair.
o Budget
The third thing to think about is how much money you want to spend and look at which brands are affordable, as they can vary vastly in cost. There are some very good quality, affordable baby pushchairs going right up to expensive designer brands. It's worth looking around to find offers and sales on as well if you have a particular brand in mind, and also remember that this is an investment for your baby, a one off cost. If you do your research thoroughly and get the right pushchair it should last you the next three or four years, or longer if you have a second child.
o Weight
You need to think about the weight you'll have to push around, how strong or fit are you, will you be lifting and carrying a pushchair on your own? How do you travel, on public transport, in a car? Where do you live, do you have to carry the pushchair up and down stairs often? Don't forget that when you test the weight of a pushchair it's minus the weight of your baby so take that into consideration!
o Maneuverability
It sounds like you're test-driving a car but it's actually really important to consider maneuverability. Will you be nipping around town, in and out of shops, through doorways and tight spaces? If so you probably want a swivel front wheel, but a lockable one for using over rougher terrain. If you plan on off-roading, on the beach or in the countryside think about the suspension as well as the maneuverability of the wheels.
o Compactness
When you're looking at pushchairs they will probably be unfolded so you can check out most of the features but remember to fold it to see how easy it is to fold and how compact it is when folded. Think about where you are going store it at home, and will it fit easily in your car? Check out whether it's easy to fold and unfold with one hand, and does it have quick release wheels to make it easy to get in and out of the car?
o Style
Although it's vitally important to consider all the practical and functional features of pushchairs it's also important to think about what style you like as it's something you will probably be using and looking at every day. Styles of pushchairs also vary based on what usage or terrain they're aimed at, e.g. 3-wheelers tend to be more sporty, with large pneumatic wheels for rough terrain. But there are now all sorts of styles available, in 3-wheelers, and 4-wheelers - contemporary, classic, practical, pretty, minimalist, chunky, funky, etc.
o Extras
You might just want to buy a basic pushchair to start with but it's worth considering whether it's adaptable, i.e. can you add extras to it? Could it become a complete travel system, can you attach a car seat or carrycot to the frame to transfer baby with disturbance? Can you add an extra seat if you have another baby? Do you need a larger shopping basket that you can attach, or get a coordinating bag, blanket, footmuff, etc? Some brands have whole ranges of matching extras that can be bought separately, and as your needs change it's good to know you can adapt without having to buy a complete new pushchair.
o Accessories
Some pushchairs come with more accessories than others, but most come with a matching rain cover, sun hood and a bag or basket of some kind that you can carry on the pushchair for baby's things or shopping. Some also come with more accessories or have a range available that you can but separately, such as footmuffs, cup holders, parasols, sun shades, insect nets, weather shields, etc. Make sure you check what's included in the price and what optional goodies you can buy.
o Baby Comfort
Probably one of the most important things to think about, and yet possibly one of the hardest things to guess is how comfortable the seat will be for your baby. Check whether it has multi-recline seat positions, including a lie flat position for newborn babies (not all pushchairs are suitable from birth so check what age each model is suitable for). Have a look for features like an adjustable footrest, adjustable straps, a headrest, pads for smaller babies, etc. Some pushchairs have front and rear facing seats so think about whether your baby will feel happier facing you or looking where they're going, or whether you want the option to be able to turn the seat around as your baby gets older. o Parent Comfort
It's quite important to think about how comfortable you are going to feel as well. How long will you be pushing the pushchair for, how tough will it be, what sort of terrain will you be pushing it over. Look for an adjustable handle height (if you're tall some handles can seem too low). Check out how the brake works, is it a foot operated for a hands free operation while you are dealing with lots of other things at the same time? Is it easy enough to push with one hand while holding the hand of another child? Is it easy to fold with one hand?
o Color
Lastly think about what color pushchair you'd like. Do want it to be a practical, dark colour like black or grey? Do you want it to be bold and make a statement? Do you want pink for a girl? Have you got a little boy, or one of each so you want unisex? There is a whole rainbow of colors available across all the brands that make pushchairs, from dainty pastels to bold reds and dark blues and blacks. There are probably more important features to think about first but color is important too so take your time to look around if there is one you particularly like.
There may be other considerations to think about depending on your personal circumstances and needs but if you research thoroughly and take the time to choose you will hopefully end up with the right pushchair for you and your baby. Use the tips here as a starting point for your search, write a list of the things you need and then compare similar baby pushchairs made by different brands.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Baby-Pushchairs---Tips-For-Choosing-the-Most-Suitable-Option-For-Your-Baby&id=2041801] Baby Pushchairs - Tips For Choosing the Most Suitable Option For Your Baby
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