Baby Pushchairs Shopping Tips for First Time Buyers

At first glance, buying baby pushchairs seem simple, but many parents end up buying the wrong model for the wrong reasons - which almost always lead to regret, frustration and a waste of money. Worse, such a mistake usually needs to be remedied by buying another pushchair - but without an effective decision making process, they end up buying one wrong pushchair after another.

Don't make the same mistakes. My top tips below show you 6 questions you need to answer to help you evaluate which baby pushchairs are suitable for you.

Do you commute or mainly drive your own car? Do you live in the city, or in the countryside? Do you have a lot of stuff that you need to take with you when you're out and about with your baby?

How much stuff will you be carrying with you on a regular basis? If you'll be using the pushchair on public transportation, then you'll need an easy to use stroller with a big shopping basket. Trust me, shopping basket size is a BIG deal. When it comes to shopping baskets, size matters! ;)

Where you live might also affect your purchasing decision. If you live in a place that will require you to carry the pushchair up and down stairs a lot then you might want a lightweight stroller.

Even the adjustability of the handle bar matters. If your height varies greatly from your partner's, buying a pushchair with adjustable handle height is a must. If you're both the same height, then it wouldn't really matter.

Now that you are clear about your needs, it's time to consider pushchair features and which ones will meet your unique needs. Your answers to question #1 above will dictate how important certain features are for you like portability, maneoverability, size, weight, suspension, durability, etc.

If you will be mainly riding buses instead of driving, get a pushchair that's sturdy, easy to push, easy to manouevre, a well-made and well-designed hood, and a good-sized shopping basket.

If you'll be using public transport you'll be better off with something that is extremely easy to fold and unfold even with one hand. It makes a world of difference especially when you're carrying things or when you're stressed out and in a hurry!

If you live in the countryside, an all-terrain or 3-wheeler pushchair with suspension will be able to cope with rough ground and therefore will be more suitable for your needs.

Just remember that it's important to stick with matching the pushchair features with your needs and you'll never go wrong.

If the pushchair is for a newborn, it needs to be able to allow your baby to lie completely flat on his/her back as this promotes spinal development. If the pushchair is for a toddler who can sit upright on her own, then you may still want a pushchair with suitable reclining seat positions.

Also, there are studies that claim that newborns benefit more when they are facing the parent while inside a pram as this provides them comfort and improve their communication skills. On the other hand the same studies concluded that toddlers' brains are stimulated more when they can see the outside world. In this respect, baby pushchairs with reversible seats may be a superior choice.

At this point you should have a good list of pushchairs that are suitable for you and your baby's needs. Time to double check the size.

Look at the wheels are they too big? Look at its size when folded will it fit in your boot? Look at all the accessories that come with the pushchair, too. Will they all fit in your storage space?

It's not just a question of whether they will all fit in your boot and closet at home. Will it fit through doors or through hallways?

Once you've gone through the above elimination process, only then should you look at the price tag. This way, you can make sure that even if you choose the cheapest or the best looking one, it will still meet your needs perfectly.

It's not a problem if you have a tight budget because you can get pushchairs that are suitable from birth until 3 or 4 years old.

Some parents don't mind buying a pram for their newborn, then buying a small lightweight pushchair when their child grows older just for quick strolls around the city, and then another buggy exclusively for off-road use.

Some pushchairs are sold with a lot of fancy accessories that are really useful, while others just come with basic accessories like raincover, shopping basket and hood.

It's always worth checking what is included and depending on your baby's needs, you may need to buy extra pushchair accessories.

Just remember that this is when you'll likely spend way over your budget, but as long as you remain clear about what you really need and can do without, you will never go wrong even if you end up blowing 200 more than your originally planned. After all, it's your precious child we're talking about here!

Taking the time to assess your child's needs and your own circumstances first will enable you to determine which pushchairs will meet your needs, and allow you to get the best value pushchair for you.