Are you struggling to get your head around the confusing world of prams and pushchairs? Trust us, you’re not the only one! With the huge range of options out there for new parents, it can feel like any decision you make might turn out to be the wrong one.
To begin with, we’ll start with the easiest and more clear-cut differences that every parent needs to know, and these generally revolve around age suitability.
Prams differ from strollers in that baby prams are suitable from birth to around 6 months, they allow your child to lie flat in a carrycot to support your little one’s growing spine as it develops. Strollers by comparison generally support toddlers from 6 months upwards to around 3-4 years meaning that a stroller tends to be more lightweight and compact than a baby pram as a general rule. Baby prams come in all different shapes and sizes and you can even still get the type of bouncy prams that were so popular in the olden days!
What's the difference between a pushchair, a stroller, and a buggy?
This is where it can get a bit confusing, as these words are often used interchangeably and so you have to be careful about reading the specifics before buying. Often, a pushchair will come with a carrycot included, meaning it can be used either as a pram or as a pushchair depending on the age of your child. This also allows you to switch from parent-facing to forward-facing as you need, meaning that pushchairs are generally seen as the more versatile option as there are a lot of different ways you can configure them and they last your child longer than a regular pram would.
Strollers or buggies, on the other hand, tend to be suitable from 6 months upwards, and because of this are usually more lightweight - some frames weighing less than 5kg - making them a bit quicker and easier to push around as a result.
They also tend to be easily collapsible, which can help make transporting and storing them a lot easier than it might be with a conventional pushchair which makes them perfect for day trips with your toddler. Because of these features strollers and buggies are generally a bit cheaper than pushchairs, particularly when they don't have a newborn lie-flat option, but then aren't as likely to be used every day like with a pushchair.
The difference between a buggy and a stroller tends to come down to the individual company’s choice of wording and so they often end up meaning the same thing. That being said, in our experience strollers are generally more geared towards city-life and manoeuvring through busy streets, while buggies often have a more outdoorsy, all-terrain feel to them. It does vary from brand to brand though, so make sure you check the specs before buying!
What type of pushchair do I need for a newborn?
Newborn babies should be carried in a lie-flat position until between 3-6 months old, this encourages a healthy oxygen flow, promotes good respiratory and circulatory health as well as helps to protect their developing spine. Most prams come with a carrycot to allow your baby to rest in this position, but you can also find many pushchair bundles that will include a carrycot, or even enable 180-degree-lie-flat reclining so there’s no need for a carrycot at all.
It's important to note that while a lie-flat position is ideal for your baby in the newborn stages, once they are able to roll over, sit up or crawl, it can become dangerous for them to remain in a carrycot or lie-flat position so this can be an indication that they may be ready for the next stage of a pushchair.
What features are important when buying a pram or pushchair?
This all depends on how you think you will use it in your day-to-day life. There are so many different features, styles, and accessories to factor into your final decision that the options really are endless when it comes to buying a pushchair. Don’t let this discourage you though! There are a few key features you can consider to help you navigate through the chaos, so we’ve compiled a convenient checklist of the top 5 features worth thinking about to help you narrow it down.
1. Location, location, location
Do you live in a city or the countryside? Will you mainly be nipping around busy streets or strolling through tranquil country lanes? Location is important when it comes to picking a pram as it can mean the difference between a nice trip out, and one filled with awkward manoeuvres and endless frustration.
2. Functionality & Practicality
This part is all about you. What will you and your partner need from the pram? For example, if you are someone who loves going on runs it might be an idea to look into brands like and that offer lightweight buggies that you can jog with to get that much-loved extra daily exercise. Or if you're a total shopaholic, then a might be a really important factor for you when nipping around the shops to help take the hassle out of carrying lots of bags. It’s important to consider what matters the most to you and make a decision based on that. Many brands out there were actually founded around specific interests, for example, came into existence as one man's mission to find a stroller that would allow him to roam off into the UK hills with his new baby!
3. Comfort
When your baby is in the newborn stage, then a well-ventilated carrycot is important in order to maintain a comfortable and safe climate for them to sleep in. There are various options when it comes to carrycots that you might want to consider. Most prams come with a carrycot included but they can vary in style and features such as aerated inlays, antibacterial bamboo fabric lining, vented bases, and many more!
At toddler age, there are even more options to choose from. From multi-recline seats to bumper bars and sunshades, there's a lot to consider. If you live in a particularly warm and sunny climate then a UPF50+and reversible seat liner might be important in keeping your little one cool throughout the day. Likewise, you can buy them to protect them during the chilly and rainy weather in the colder seasons.
There are plenty of options to choose from and as no two children are the same it's definitely worth shopping around to find the perfect stroller to keep your little one comfy and cosy all day long.
4. Style
Many brands offer sleek designs that look stylish wherever you are, however, designer buggies tend to cost a bit more but you're going to be using them every day for the next few years, so it's worth buying the best you can afford.
5. Growing Families
If you’re expecting twins or are planning on growing your family in the future it might be worth considering a twin or tandem stroller. There are plenty of prams and pushchairs to choose from to provide the best travel comfort for your twins from day one all the way through to pre-school.
Twin
This type of stroller is probably what automatically comes to mind when you think of a double. They're your standard side-by-side that have been around for ages and chances are if you have a sibling close in age you even rode in one as a child yourself.
Though substantially wider than a single, double pushchairs are generally designed to fit through the majority of door frames, however, if you live in a house with particularly narrow doorways and corridors, or live in the heart of the city and often find yourself squeezed in amongst crowds or navigating old side streets you may struggle with a standard double. If a twin stroller seems like a good fit for your family then there are plenty of options out there and many brands like and have whole ranges of double pushchairs designed to suit every lifestyle so you can always find a double to match your needs.