When you’re shopping for your baby gear, you’re often faced with a confusing dilemma: What’s the difference between a pram and a stroller? Both are great for taking your child out and about with you, but each is suitable for different needs.
Today, we’re going to be looking at the key differences between prams and strollers. We’ll explain what sets them apart, which is best for your baby at each stage of their growth, and give some top tips on what to look for when it comes to buying a pram or stroller for your little one.
Key Points
- The terms ‘pram and stroller’ are often used interchangeably because both items have a similar purpose. However, they are different.
- Prams are best suited for newborn babies, while strollers are better for older babies and toddlers.
- Certain safety features need to be taken into consideration when choosing a pram or stroller, including the harness and safety belts.
Content in this article:
- Is There A Difference Between A Pram And A Stroller?
- What Is A Pram?
- What Is A Stroller?
- What Factors To Consider When Choosing Between A Pram And A Stroller?
Is There A Difference Between A Pram And A Stroller?
Yes, there is a difference between prams and strollers. While both are often used interchangeably, prams are designed for use for newborns and young babies, and strollers are designed for older babies and toddlers. They are also different in design, with prams having a flat bassinet-style mattress and strollers using a seat unit.
The reason for this is fairly simple. From birth until around the age of six months old, babies need to be placed in a lie flat position in their pram as they have not developed the muscle tone to sit upright by themselves yet.
Placing a baby in a lie flat position as opposed to forcing them into a seated position allows air to pass into the lungs and dramatically reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Similarly, allowing a baby to lie on their back on a flat sleeping surface supports their developing muscles and bones.
Once your baby is able to sit upright by themselves, it is safe to move them into a stroller. However, it’s best to use a stroller that has an adjustable, reclining seat, as this allows you to gently move them into a lie flat position while they sleep without risking waking them up.
What Is A Pram?
A pram, or baby carriage, features a flat, bassinet-style base that is topped with a mattress. Most also have four large wheels that are ideal for getting your baby to your destination with minimum disturbance to the baby. There are a few different styles of prams available, including traditional baby carriages, travel systems, and convertible prams that allow you to switch from a lie flat position to a seated position.
What Age Ranges Do Prams Cater For?
Prams are designed to cater to newborn babies and can be used up until the age of six months, although many parents choose to move their child from a pram to a stroller once they reach their first birthday.
What Are The Advantages Of Using a Pram Instead Of A Stroller?
Using a pram for newborns and young babies allows you to keep them in the lie flat position they need to be in most of the time. This reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) through suffocation and ensures your baby’s head and body are supported at all times.
Prams also ensure that your baby has room to move their arms and legs while they lie flat, which is crucial for their comfort and development.
What Are The Main Disadvantages Of A Pram?
Prams are often heavier and bulkier than strollers, making them a little more difficult to maneuver through the streets. They are also bigger, and most can’t be folded down, which means they take up more room in your home, can be difficult to lift on and off public transport, and are very hard to take up and down stairs without help.
Prams also have limited use, and you’ll likely only use one for the first six months of your baby’s life, at which point they have the muscle tone needed to sit upright by themselves and can be moved into a stroller.
Who Is A Pram Best Suited To?
A pram is best suited to newborns and young babies under the age of six months. While you can continue to use a pram up until your baby is twelve months old, many parents choose to switch to a stroller before this age as they are safer and more comfortable for the child.
What Is A Stroller?
A stroller is another form of baby carriage, but it is designed for children aged from six months to three years old. Strollers also come in a wider variety of designs compared to prams, including four wheelers, three wheelers, and jogger strollers.
What Age Ranges Do Strollers Cater For?
Strollers are suitable for children aged six months to three years old, although it’s important that you choose a model that has a size and weight limit that allows your child to grow with it. Otherwise, you’ll end up having to purchase a new stroller once your child has outgrown it, as it won’t be safe for them to ride in.
What Are The Advantages Of Using A Stroller Instead Of A Pram?
The biggest advantage of using a stroller instead of a pram is that it can be used from the time your baby is six months old up until you have a three-year-old toddler, offering a safe way of taking your child with you while you’re running errands or visiting friends and family.
Strollers also tend to have many more features than prams that make life so much easier while you’re out and about with your baby. They can be folded down, which makes them easier to take on public transport (and saves you space in your home when it isn’t in use). They are lighter in weight and are more streamlined, too.
Due to their streamlined designs, strollers aren’t only easily portable, they are much easier to maneuver through crowded spaces, such as shopping centres, and are better at turning corners compared to a heavier, cumbersome pram.
What Are The Main Disadvantages Of A Stroller?
Strollers aren’t suitable for newborn babies or for young babies up to the age of six months, which is their biggest disadvantage. Depending on the model you go for, strollers may not offer as much storage space underneath either, making them more prone to tipping backward should you hang shopping bags or your baby bag from the handles.
While your baby faces you in most prams, most strollers have your child facing away from you as well. This doesn’t only make it harder to keep a close eye on them but can make it a little harder to communicate as you make your way to your destination.
Who Is A Stroller Best Suited To?
Strollers are best suited to parents with babies over the age of six months old and up to three years old. There are different types of strollers that suit different needs, too. For example, active parents would find jogger strollers most beneficial, while a parent with two young children would find a double stroller the best type of stroller for their needs.
What Factors To Consider When Choosing Between A Pram And A Stroller?
When it comes to choosing between a pram and a stroller, there are several things you need to keep in mind to find the right choice for both you and your baby. However, the most important thing to remember is that your child’s age will ultimately dictate which you should get.
A newborn baby should be placed in a pram and moved into a stroller from the age of six months or when they are capable of holding themselves in a seated position unaided. Likewise, it isn’t safe for a child over the age of three years old to ride in a stroller.
What Should You Consider When Buying A Pram?
Once you know a pram is the most suitable option for your child, here’s what you need to consider:
- It should provide a flat, comfortable surface for your baby to lay flat on.
- The sides should be high enough to ensure your baby isn’t able to roll out (300mm should be the minimum height).
- It should offer some form of sun protection, such as a canopy or sunshade.
- It should have big wheels with a good suspension system that holds the pram steady on rough ground.
- The bassinet should be big enough to allow your baby to move their arms and legs and offer enough space to accommodate them as your baby grows.
- You may want to consider hybrid prams, such as a travel system, if you’re an on-the-go family as this will allow you to move your baby from pram to car without needing a separate car seat.
Giving a little thought to each of the above and ensuring that these features are in place will help make finding the right pram for your baby much easier, meaning you can get outside and explore the world together faster and safely.
What Should You Consider When Buying A Stroller?
Things you should look for when buying a stroller or push chair include:
- A convertible stroller should have a seat that can be fully reclined, allowing your baby to lie flat while they sleep.
- You may want to consider buying a stroller with a reversible handle, making it more comfortable for you to push in different situations.
- There should be safety belts in place to keep your baby safe and secure in the stroller, such as a five point harness or crotch strap.
- Protection from sunshine and wet weather should be offered in the form of a canopy, sunshade, and rain cover.
- The stroller seat should have an adjustable backrest that ensures your child is as comfortable as possible at all times.
- You should look for larger wheels if you’ve opted for a jogger stroller, as this will ensure sturdiness and stability across different terrain.
- Make sure that the stroller you’re looking at can be folded down, making it easier to put in your car boot and store when not in use.
Most models will come with these features, but it is essential that you take the time to ensure they are in place. Doing so won’t only help you find the perfect stroller but will ensure the stroller you choose will be suitable for your child as they grow, saving you time and money in the long run.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are some key differences between prams and strollers. However, the most important thing to remember is that you need a stroller isn’t suitable for babies under the age of six months unless it is convertible and can offer a lie flat position. There are also certain things you need to keep in mind when looking at prams and strollers, so make sure you follow the advice outlined above before making your final decision.