Buying Baby Prams

Buying Baby Prams in New Zealand

Buying your first baby pram, stroller or pushchair can seem like a daunting task. With so many models, accessories, shops and brands available in New Zealand, it’s tempting to simply walk into a store and grab the first thing that looks like it might work – especially considering all the other information overload that can come with having a new baby.

However, with a little forward planning and time, it’s easier than you might think to find baby prams suited to your lifestyle. You’ll probably save yourself a lot of money and hassle too! Importantly, there is a National Safety Standard for prams and strollers. When you’re looking for one to buy, make sure you only buy a pram or stroller that meets the mandatory Australia/New Zealand safety requirements .

What will you use your baby stroller for

Before even leaving home, you’ll need to sit down and put some thought into the following question: ‘What am I going to be using this pram for?’

Take your time, and think seriously about the answer. Different types of baby prams suit different lifestyles, and how you intend to use your new pram or baby stroller can drastically influence the type you should be buying.

Initially, all newborn babies need to lie completely flat in their pram, enabling their posture to develop. So if you’re buying for a newborn, you’ll need a pram with a fully reclined seat. If you want the stroller to last right through until your child reaches age three or four, you should probably look at getting a model with a multi-position seat unit to allow a sitting-up position at a later stage. Otherwise, you may need to buy more than one pram during your baby’s childhood.

If you’re going to be doing a lot of walking around outdoors with your new baby, you’ll need to think about:

• Sun shades/canopies/rain covers: Your baby’s sensitive skin will need protecting from New Zealand’s strong sun, and no baby will appreciate being rained on if you’re caught out in a shower!
• A strong, solid chassis with good suspension: This helps to provide maximum comfort as you push the pram over rough or uneven surfaces. You may also want a pram with a well-padded mattress, or you can buy padded seat liners to place in the pram.
• Forward-facing or rear-facing: Debate has long existed over whether it’s better for your baby to face you or the scenery as you push a baby stroller. Advantages are claimed by both camps, so those that can be adjusted to face in either direction are an option if you’re unsure which you prefer.
• Large wheels: Larger wheels mean a more comfortable ride, and rubber wheels enable smoother travelling than plastic ones. However, big wheels make baby prams harder to manoeuvre, so if you’re going to be navigating shopping aisles or narrow footpaths moderate-sized wheels might be the way to go. Swivel wheels greatly assist ease of movement too.
• A good handbrake: If you sit down for a few minutes’ rest, you’ll be able to relax far more easily if you’re confident the pram isn’t going anywhere!

If you’re planning to use the pram mainly for short outings or shopping trips, you’ll need to consider:

• A decent-sized shopping tray: While cramming tonnes of shopping into your pram isn’t recommended, it’s often handy to be able to grab a few items without needing a trolley. If you are using a shopping tray, make sure that the pram is still stable when loaded with shopping. This is especially a concern if you also fit accessories such as toddler seats, which can make the pram very unstable if not used correctly. Whatever you do, resist the temptation to hang shopping bags on pram handles as the pram may tip over or become unstable.
• Small wheels: As a general rule, the smaller the wheel the easier the pram is to manoeuvre – important if you’re going to be ducking and swerving down supermarket aisles. Swivel wheels are also great for helping you move around with ease.
• An easily collapsed/reconstructed pram: As you learn the fine art of juggling a pram, shopping bags, your handbag and a tired baby; a stiff awkward pram will be the last thing you need.
• A baby pram that fits easily into the car boot: Possibly the single most important thing to consider. Make sure you can fit a decent amount of shopping and baby gear into the boot at the same time.

At the pram store

Make sure you’re as hands-on as possible when ‘test-driving’ a baby stroller. Check the brakes. Collapse the stroller; then reconstruct it. Try doing it one-handed. Push the pram around a while and see how heavy it feels. Try pushing it in a straight line – does it wobble or lurch to one side? How easy is it to turn in a circle? Take your time and really put each pram through its paces before making a decision.

It pays to try a few different stores, if you’ve got the time, as prices for baby prams can vary greatly. And when you eventually decide on a model, ask the shop assistant to physically place the pram in your car boot so you know for a fact that it fits.

In all instances, you’ll need to consider

• Your budget: How much can you afford to spend? Some varieties of baby stroller will only suit your baby’s needs for a year or two – possibly less! Therefore, you should keep in mind that more than one pram may be needed throughout your baby’s early years. If you’re on a tight budget, also consider that it might be worth buying second-hand. A nearly-new top range pram will likely suit your needs better than a cheap but poorly constructed model. Remember to ensure that a second-hand pram has the essential safety features, that all moving parts and latches work as intended and that no modifications have been made to the pram or stroller that might make it unsafe.
• Your own comfort: So far, we’ve only discussed choosing a pram to maximise your baby’s comfort – but your own needs should be considered too! Be sure not to end up with handles that dig into your hands, or are too high or low (you’ll quickly get backache). Adjustable handles are useful, if you can get them, and a handlebar that spans the entire width of the pram is invaluable as it means you can push the pram one-handed if need be.
• Safety standards: New Zealand has a joint National Safety Standard with Australia for prams and pushchairs (AS/NZS 2088: 2000, Prams and strollers—safety requirements). However, it isn’t a requirement for all prams and pushchairs sold in New Zealand to comply. It’s important you set your mind at ease by purchasing a model that meets this standard, particularly if you’re buying second-hand. If you can’t see a marking that the pram complies with the Standard, ask the seller to make sure. The Australian national safety standards detail requirements for brakes, wrist straps, harnesses and head barriers (click here for more information).

Important points to note are: prams/strollers should be sturdy, have no sharp edges or gaps where little fingers could get caught, and utilise some form of parking device or brake located where curious hands can’t reach! A wrist strap should definitely be included to help ensure the pram won’t roll away, and locks to stop the pram or stroller collapsing are also important. Ideally, the pram’s harness should comprise shoulder, waist and crotch straps in a five-point safety system to keep your baby or toddler strapped in firmly. And beware of scissor-type folding hinge mechanisms, which can trap little fingers.

Washability: Accidents tend to happen all too frequently with a new baby, so it’s best if any parts of the pram containing fabric are able to be washed thoroughly and easily.

Accessories: Often, baby prams come with a range of additional features (sun shades, padded seat liners etc). Some have removable seats that double as sleeping capsules. You’ll need to factor any included accessories into the cost – you don’t want to end up paying extra for accessories you don’t need. On the other hand, you might discover that an expensive pram is really a bargain when you consider the accessories it comes with.

Some Safety Hints

• Never leave children unattended in a pram or stroller
• Always follow safety instructions for assembly, folding and use
• Always use the safety features that must come with prams and strollers, such as the tether strap, brakes and harness (for strollers)
• Always supervise children to ensure they do not climb on a stroller or pram while in use as this can cause it to tip over
• Avoid hanging shopping on handles, as this can cause prams and strollers to tip over
• When at railway stations, near water or on slopes always use brakes and the tether strap and park the pram or stroller so that it cannot roll onto rail tracks, into water or down a hill
• Never sleep children in prams. Strangulation or suffocation can occur if your child moves about when asleep and becomes trapped in parts of the pram or stroller
• Always keep children restrained in the harness that all strollers must have. This helps reduce the likelihood of little fingers or limbs being cut, pinched or crushed when accessing parts of the pram or stroller that they shouldn’t. It also helps prevent the serious injuries that might otherwise occur should they fall from a stroller or should it topple when in use

Don’t stress!

Remember, there’s no need to be overwhelmed by the array of choices on offer when it comes to buying a baby pram or pushchair. If you’re keen to get a head start on which models and types of prams perform best before hitting the shops, check out Consumer NZ’s ‘Strollers and baby buggies’ article. It’s $9.95 to read the full report, which has results on seven different strollers that were tested and analysed in terms of convenience, safety and features.

Then get planning, get testing, get yourself a great pram for your needs and enjoy having one less thing to worry about!

Reference: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Product Safety & Consumer Info – Prams & Strollers

This article is provided for general information and education purposes only. Nutricia makes no recommendation or representation as to the benefits or suitability of any particular products and this information does not purport to be all the information a person may require in order to select a pram or stroller. Parents should familiarise themselves with the Australia/New Zealand Safety Standard for prams and strollers and make their own, independent enquiries about the particular products that may be suitable for them. The information supplied in this article has been sourced from Australian Competition & Consumer Compensation and Ministry of Consumer Affairs. Nutricia does not assume any responsibility for any of the information set out in the article or make any representation or warranty in relation to the information or to the accuracy, currency or completeness of the information.