Prams, Push Chairs, Buggies & Car Seats

Push Chairs

Push chairs (a.k.a. strollers) are the ones where where the baby can sit upright. Given it needs to accommodate baby movements, it comes with 5 point harness and a lot of padding. The push chair can either be facing the pusher or the street, ideally you want it both ways. They are used for about 3-4 years or until they start walking comfortably. They are of more stable construction with 3 or 4 wheels. From what I can gather in the forum discussions is that parents seem to prefer 3 wheels as it is easier to navigate.

Buggy

A push chair that can be folded is called a Buggy (a.k.a. folding stroller). Given it needs to be folded, it is usually built using metal tubes and has fabric seats. It is not of a sturdy construction and does not have much padding but still has a 5 point harness. It is very lightweight about 6 Kg.

Travel System

The more practical one would be the new child travel system, which is a combination of all three types of carriers. A travel system is a 3 or 4 wheeled foldable stroller which allows the seat to be swapped to a bassinet. Although it is foldable, it doesn’t not miss out on padding and other security features. It is not that lightweight and weights about 10 Kg.

Car Capsule/Seat

There are travel systems out there that allow you to swap its seat with a car seat instead of a bassinet.

What I can gather from the forum discussions and blog articles is that it not healthy for the child to be in a car seat for more than 1.5 hours. I am not too sure how true this is, but I can understand that it will be quite tight and uncomfortable when in use for a long period. Especially for toddlers as they need to be laid down. It’s not as free and flexible as a bassinet. An interesting read about Are Car Seat Travel Systems Bar for Baby.

Ideal features

A travel system with the following features that doesn’t break the bank would be ideal.

• Can swap the seat to a bassinet
• Retractable canopy with a viewing window
• Reclining seat
• Child should be bale to lean back as well as fully sit up
• Can be switched to forward or rearward facing
• Compact when folded
• Single-motion folding
• Has a storage area for baby items & handbag
• All wheels with suspension
• A water bottle holder
• Can be fitted with a buggy board
  its a skate board attached to the push chair when your child is too tired to walk and doesn’t want to sit down
• Single foot brake