Types of Pushchairs, Buggies and Strollers

What type of pushchair do you need? Read the guide for advice to help narrow your search for a pushchair from the following types:

    * Complete travel systems
    * 2-in-1 pushchairs
    * Forward facing pushchairs
    * Strollers
    * Three wheel pushchairs
    * Pushchairs for more than one baby.

Complete Travel Systems

A complete travel system is a pushchair that comes with a compatible car seat, which fits onto the pushchair or buggy frame. They can be three wheelers or four wheelers. The complete travel system allows you to move your sleeping baby to and from the car and pushchair with minimal disruption.

Travel Systems are:

    * Suitable for newborns
    * Available in various styles of pushchair with a matching baby car seat.

2-in-1 Pushchairs

This is a basic pushchair with a lie-flat facility that allows your baby to have short periods of supervised sleep. The 2 in 1 plus models have handles on the seat which means you can lift the seat on and off when in the carrycot position. 2-in-1 pushchairs are:

    * Suitable from birth.
    * Have adjustable forward or rear facing seat positions.

Forward Facing Pushchairs

These pushchairs are light and pretty versatile with options for newborns and the older baby or toddler. Generally they have larger wheels and offer more padding than the simpler and lighter stroller. Most models have swivel wheels making manoeuvrability a key feature. Most models have a simple folding mechanism which is great if you travel around a lot and need to get in and out of the car fast.
Strollers

These are the lightest and most easily transported pushchairs. If the stroller fully reclines flat, it can be used from birth. Newborn babies should not be put into strollers that do not recline flat. From three months, baby can be put into a partly reclining stroller and from six months baby can cope with one that does not recline but think hard about the comfort factor.

There are a huge number of strollers to choose from dependent on budget. Most strollers fold up into really small packages so are suitable for travelling and take up less space in the home. Strollers are:

    * Lightweight yet robust.
    * Easy to operate - check out if the wheels can lock or swivel
    * Many models have lie-back adjustments
    * Some models have an optional car seat designed to fit on the frame of the stroller.

Three Wheel Pushchairs and Buggies

These stylish pushchairs are generally suitable for babies aged from three months because they partly recline, although some models recline far enough to use from birth. Many 3-wheeler pushchairs have compatible car seats which can be used until baby is strong enough to recline in the pushchair.

Three-wheelers are popular with families who enjoy country walking or even jogging. Take particular advice if you are looking to jog with your baby as not all pushchairs are suitable.

Because most three wheelers have soft tyres rather than gel-filled or solid tyres, they may puncture, so make sure you know or know someone who knows how to deal with a pushchair tyre puncture. Soft tyres do provide much better suspension if out and about.

And if you're going to be using your three-wheeler pushchair on buses and trains, check out its back wheel width because some cannot get through the inner doors on train carriages.
Pushchairs For More Than One Baby

You might be lucky enough to be having twins or you may already have a toddler in the family. If so, your pushchair needs are going to be slightly different. You will need a pushchair that can deal with the needs of your newborn and handle the demands of an active toddler.

Some pushchair manufacturers are beginning to really think about the needs of the growing family. Although selection is limited you can find attachments to add on to your existing pushchair that will allow you to convert a single buggy into a double buggy!

 

You can get tandem pushchairs, twin pushchairs and triple pushchairs:

Tandem Pushchairs

A tandem pushchair works by allowing one baby to sit behind another rather then alongside. It's narrower than a twin buggy but is significantly longer so you really do need to check its size when folded.

Tandem pushchairs generally allow you to:

    * Move different aged children out and about
    * Independently adjust the seats
    * Recline the rear seat fully for a newborn baby
    * Seek an optional car seat designed to fit onto the frame.

Twin Pushchairs

Twin pushchairs are suitable for two babies or children up to the age of four years. These pushchairs generally have independent seats that can be fully reclined with a range of up to four or five reclining positions.

Some have three wheels for extra manoeuvrability and some have four wheels. Pushing two children is heavy work so you may want some extra help with the steering from wheels that swivel and lock.

Check out the size of your car boot as some three wheelers are particularly wide although the front wheels on some brands of pushchair can be removed to help you fit the pushchair into the car.
Triple Pushchairs

Triple pushchairs are a fairly recent addition to the pushchair family - but with the number of multiple births on the increase, triple pushchairs are a welcome addition to the range. Pushchairs for three children are available but brands are limited.

All guidelines for standard pushchairs apply but most triple buggies have a weight limit of 50kg and recommend use up to the age of 4 years.

Durability, weight and pushchair robustness are key as well as ensuring children have room to grow. And check the guarantees available for these triple pushchairs as they're going to be working hard for you.