Why i "need" a pushchair (apparently)

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

My mum keeps going on about me getting caden into a pram, saying how i need a pram because quote other people use prams : and i can't carry him round forever, we yes wasn't planning on doing that he will walk at some point, but not yet he's only 1.
does anyone else get this too?

[JamieCatheryn]

DH and I always get a laugh out of parents struggling with their strollers or bucket seats with a baby who would rather be carried or off paved areas. Most people just can't shift their paradigm away from these norms no matter what makes more sense. We never bought a stroller and never regretted it.

[laohaire]

My mom was really, really invested in me having a stroller. She brought 4, count them, 4 strollers to my house (2 new and 2 used) after being told No Thanks.

I really don't have any idea what was motivating her but it was ridiculous.

I don't have anything against people who use them, but I agree with the PP; while other moms were struggling with their strollers and lugging around about a year's worth of supplies in them, DH and I would just be breezing by with DD in her Ergo (or just plain being carried).

DD is 3.5 years old now and we still don't ever have a time where we think, gee, I wish we had a stroller.

[ursusarctos]

I don't have a kid yet but I don't plan on buying a stroller. I see way too much of the hassle strollers are - you can't fit them anywhere, there's stairs all over the place, they pick up all the slush and muck from the road, and they're just darn annoying to push around everywhere. Why would I put my baby in a cart? It makes no sense to me, personally.
I also see too often a scene where a parent is trying to force an unwilling, screaming toddler into a stroller... Not for me thanks. I'd rather walk slow.
That said, I just bet I'll end up buying a stroller after all

[Honey693]

My dad keeps saying I need to use our stroller for when I walk the dog, which is kind of valid. He's scared the dog is going to trip me (he's nuts and runs all over like a psycho) and I'll fall with Peanut strapped to me. His way of thinking is that if she's in the stroller she won't fall, which would be true unless the dog gets wrapped in the stroller and knocks that over. That being said my child will never fall asleep in a wrap, but will pass out within 5 minutes in a stroller. When she won't sleep at all and it's starting to drive me nuts is one of the only times I use mine. The other time is clothes shopping b/c I refuse to put her on a dressing room floor. I don't think anyone needs a stroller if they're comfortable with babywearing.

[MoonStarFalling]

My father insisted on buying me a stroller after finding out that I didn't own one. He thought we didn't have one because we couldn't afford it! I never broke it to him that my carriers were worth three times what he spent on the stroller.

[munchymum]

Crystal_R, I agree with you about the clothes shopping! I use my pushchair about once every two months when I REALLY need some new clothes (cos I'm still losing weight from pregnancy). And I come back so stressed from the trip because DD is probably crying and just wants to be carried Then I refuse to use it for another 2 months.

[kierenm]

Are Prams & Pushchairs a Must?

I tend to agree that prams and pushchairs aren't necessary for everyone, and to some parents they've become a bit of a fashion or status statement which is silly. There are some good reasons to consider owning a pram though, especially when your baby is very new, with little ability to support their own weight and delicate bones it's often a safer bet having them well supported and secure in the lay-flat position of a pram.
Each parent is different though, and each mother and father really should be respected for their own private decision on these sorts of things I think (so long as there are no serious dangers involved) ..so yea, your mum shouldn't particularly be "forcing" this kind of stuff on you.

If you're interested visit the new blog about Prams/Pushchairs which helps parents decide whether they should have a pram or pushchair and make the most positive decision when searching through the countless pushchair choices available online.

[RunnerDuck]

Well I use both... because wearing two babies is no fun and dealing with a double stroller is also not fun... so I tend to wear one and push one. But even when I had a singleton I would find strollers good for some things and carriers nice for other things.

Personally there's no way I'd want to go through raising a baby with no stroller at all but different strokes for different folks right?

If you haven't felt its lack then no you don't need one.

[D'sMama]

I said I would never use a stroller, but then my DS started waking up and getting REALLY angry when I took him out of the car seat if he was asleep... so we bought a stroller frame to put the bucket seat on. It has it's moments, but it's a PITA, frankly. Sometimes my back is not up for babywearing, and then it's nice, if annoying. And today was opposite day, apparently, b/c DH was wearing DS and he was screaming - as soon as he put him in the stroller, he was happy. Go figure.

But, no, no one who is able to carry a baby needs a stroller.

[rlmueller]

Push chair/strollers

are good for...........






shopping--and putting my stuff in it while I wear my babe:

[thtr4me]

I found my jogging stroller really handy at the local swapmeet. It was a great place to put all the stuff I bought. DS did enjoy riding in it some, but of course wanted up and wanted to be worn after a while in the stroller.

I actually got it so I could go rollerblading with DS (rollerblading and babywearing just don't mix), but since we moved, I cannot rollerblade anymore since the streets are now too steep.

[natural_mama89]

I didn't use a stroller for either of my kids until past 18 months, and even then only a handful of times. I even carried DS in a sling the whole time I was pregnant with DD!

[SamiPolizzi]

I would love to not need a stroller, but I'm a single mom and I'm also tiny and have a huge baby. Sometimes my back just can't handle it. I have a combi and I love it. It folds up really small, so I just keep it in my trunk all the time. I wear DS in my mei tai for as long as I can, and then once my back hurts too much I switch him to the stroller. I can do it a lot longer if he's on my back, but I can't get him on by myself so a lot of the time that's not an option. I finally decided to just order an ergo. I'm hoping I can figure out a way to get him on my back in that. I should be getting it any day now.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

Originally Posted by JamieCatheryn

DH and I always get a laugh out of parents struggling with their strollers or bucket seats with a baby who would rather be carried or off paved areas.

Please think twice before laughing at other parents or making assumptions about their children. I love wearing my baby and do often. But on walks she prefers her stroller. She gets it out and tries to climb in on her own (at 11 months) and is so excited to get to ride in it. So I hope you haven't been laughing at me because I'm just doing what seems best for my daughter.

[Katico]

What I love is the people who will look at you, wearing your LO, comfortably walking around or carrying a cup of coffee, or doing whatever, with the baby happily looking around or fast asleep and say....

"You'll need a stroller any day now, she's too big to carry, you'll hurt your back"

....*crickets chirp*.......

Does it look like I am in any sort of pain or inconvenience?

[caro113]

Originally Posted by Katico

"You'll need a stroller any day now, she's too big to carry, you'll hurt your back"

Unfortunately, this did actually happen to me. I threw my back out in highschool by lifting too much too soon and every since then I occasionally throw it out : So for about a week I had to put my babe in her stroller. I usually wear her but if we're going shopping, she usually is happier in the cart. whatever she wants.

and sometimes the stroller is the only way to put her to sleep. Although since we've moved, we don't have it. We simply don't have the room.

[Katico]

It just kills me that I was hearing it from the time she was about 8 lb (she is still only 13lb, I have a cat that weighs more than that), I have no history of back problems, and people just assume that it will inevitably harm you.

It's like it blows peoples minds that you are doing something "different" and different has to be dangerous somehow. So either it will = injury for me or our children will "never learn to walk"

[mamamoon89]

Originally Posted by JamieCatheryn

DH and I always get a laugh out of parents struggling with their strollers or bucket seats with a baby who would rather be carried or off paved areas. Most people just can't shift their paradigm away from these norms no matter what makes more sense. We never bought a stroller and never regretted it.

I'm really tired of people bashing parents who use strollers. You don't know the reasons why they do rather than babywearing...strollers are much more accessible for one thing, Ergos and other babywearing devices are expensive, and used strollers are free or cheap. Also, bigger babies can be tiring to wear (mine weighs 27 pounds and I'm only 5'2'', I get tired wearing her when I go for a walk). Or if one has a bad back or something a stroller makes more sense.
Please remember that just because others make different parenting choices than you, they are still people, they are not necessarily stupid or ignorant, and they love their children. Show some respect.

[Onemagicmummy]

i found after carrying my DD2 that i can not carry an older baby/small toddler for an extended period of time, when she was 11 months old it was starting to get pretty painfull carrying her on ym back and then something happend to my hip so i had to stop carrying her, she ahs loved the pushchair since and now i have DD3 i love carrying one and pushing the other as it means i have support for icy/slippy weather and somewhere to store my shopping etc. im hoping to be able to carry DD3 a bit longer as im going to try to get in some excersise to streghthen my back/hips etc.

but saying that DH is insisting on getting the Pear adapter for the iCandy so that once i am ready to leave DD3 for a bit he can take her out with the others or i can use the pushchair if my back is not up to it.

kiz