Transcript: Find Your Perfect Baby Stroller – 7 Smart Questions to Ask Before You Buy

This is a text transcript from The First Time Mum’s Chat podcast. The episode is called Find Your Perfect Baby Stroller – 7 Smart Questions to Ask Before You Buy and you can click on the link to view the full episode page, listen to the episode and view the show notes.

Welcome to First Time Mum’s Chat, the podcast that helps you feel calm, confident, and connected as you begin your motherhood journey.

I’m Helen Thompson, a childcare educator and baby massage instructor with over 20 years of experience helping new mums tune into their baby’s needs and cut through the overwhelm.

Let me ask you a question, are you about to buy your first stroller?

Because if you are, there’s a good chance you are about to make one of the 7 costly mistakes I see new mums make all the time.

Maybe you’ve been told you need the best pram or you have fallen for the model that looks amazing but turns every trip into a workout. Don’t worry, you are not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing 7 baby stroller secrets every first time mum should know before buying, from how to spot hidden deal breakers to what features really matter for your lifestyle and budget.

By the end, you’ll know exactly which stroller fits your life and which ones to leave in the store.

So before you spend hundreds on a pram that gathers dust in the hallway, stay tuned.

This quick listen, could save you stress, money, and a whole lot of buyer’s regret, and help you enjoy those first walks with your baby feeling calm, confident, and free.

Before buying any stroller, ask yourself where will I use it most?

If you live in a city and plan to navigate footpaths, shops and public transport, a lightweight, compact stroller might be your best friend.

But if you are out in the countryside or love nature walks, a sturdy, all-terrain model with suspension and big wheels will make a world of difference.

And here’s something many mums overlook. If you rely on buses, trains or stairs, or if you even just want to have a coffee out with friends and you cannot be bothered with a pram, even the best compact strollers in these situations can be awkward at times.

That’s where a baby carrier or sling can be a complete game changer.

One of my favorite brands is Oscha Slings, who create beautiful, woven organic baby carriers made ethically in Scotland.

You can save 10% at checkout using the code ‘helen’, when you shop through MyBabyMassage.net/Oscha, that’s MyBabyMassage.net/Oscha. Oscha spelt O-S-C-H-A. This is an affiliate link, so I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Many mums alternate between baby wearing and using a stroller depending on the outing. It often gives them the best of both worlds.

A stroller might look amazing, but if you can’t fold it one handed while juggling your baby bag, it’ll quickly become a frustration. H ere are a few things that I suggest you try before you buy a pram. Try the car boot test before buying:

* Can you lift it comfortably?

* Does it fit easily in your car? Make sure it fits easy, ’cause the last thing you want is to be putting your baby in the car seat and thinking, oh God, I can’t get this pram in.

* Can you fold it while holding your baby? I’ve often found this really, really hard as a nanny, and I’ve seen mums struggling. A mum I spoke with recently has twins. She told me the best pram for her was one that let her lift both car seat capsules straight into the car while folding the rest easily.

If the answer to any of those is no, keep looking, your future self will thank you! Light and simple beat, fancy every time.

Does it fit your home and storage space? I’ve worked with families who discover too late that their stroller doesn’t fit through the front door. Can you imagine, you get home with your brand new stroller, you’ve unpacked it and you are dying to go out for a walk with your baby and you suddenly realize, oh no, it doesn’t fit through the front door.

So measure your space, especially if you live in an apartment or need to carry it upstairs. And that’s where Oscha Slings and babywearing is great.

If you’ve got a baby sling and you’ve gotta carry the pram upstairs, you can just leave the pram at the bottom of the stairs, lift your baby up and put them in a baby sling. It also helps you carry the shopping and carry anything else that you might have in your hand with ease and comfort.

A slimline stroller often makes everyday life easier, even if it sacrifices a bit of storage underneath.

Remember, practicality always wins over perfection.

How comfortable is it for your baby? Think about your baby’s comfort. Look for a stroller that reclines smoothly, has a breathable fabric, and offers proper head and back support, especially for newborns.

Some strollers look beautiful, but don’t support your baby’s natural posture or make it easy for them to nap while you’re out. That’s another reason why baby wearing is so, so beautiful because your baby can nap while you are chatting to your friends, while you’re going for a walk, while you’re having a coffee, whilst you’re doing the shopping. You don’t need to think about a stroller, you don’t need to think about a pram.

Comfort also means adjustability. Can it grow with your baby through those early months and toddler years. I met a mum recently who has twins, and she was telling me that her pram can be adaptable so that when the twins get older, they can sit upright. Make sure you know how much those things cost because it can be expensive.

A happy, well supported baby means calmer writings for both of you.

Another question to consider is how does it handle different weather? Whether it’s unpredictable showers, or a summer heat wave, your stroller should work in all seasons.

Check for a canopy for sun protection and rain cover and good ventilation.

Here’s a tip, darker fabrics absorb more heat, while lighter colors stay cooler. Small details that will make a big difference for your baby’s comfort and yours.

Does it suit your budget and future needs? You don’t need the most expensive stroller to get a good one, but ask will this last as my baby grows? Also think to yourself, how much are the extras going to cost? Is it gonna be an ongoing expense, or can I just buy one pram now that does everything?

Some parents love travel systems where the car seat attaches to the stroller, and that’s great long term value. But does that pram fit for when your baby is a toddler?

Others prefer lightweight, separate options.

Think ahead: if you plan more children, a durable stroller that converts to two seats could save you money later.

Make sure that it can save you money later on.

One of the biggest questions is, does it fit my lifestyle or someone else’s idea of perfect.

Remember, every family is different. A full-sized pram might be ideal for long daily walks, while a foldable travel stroller suits a mum who’s always on the go, and as I mentioned before, Oscha Slings are great if you’re always on the go.

You just pull your baby out of the car seat and put them straight into the Oscha Sling, so that you can have comfort and your baby if they’re napping, can just go quickly back to sleep. You don’t have to use a stroller for every outing. Sometimes a baby carrier or a sling is a calmer hands-free alternative for short trips.

If you’d like to explore babywearing further, check out my conversation with Hannah from Oscha Slings. There’s a link in the show notes.

The key is to trust your instincts and choose what makes life easier, not more complicated.

Here’s a quick recap of those 7 key questions I mentioned to consider before buying your baby stroller:

* Where will I use it most?

* How easy is it to fold and lift?

* Does it fit my home and storage space?

* How comfortable is it for my baby?

* How does it handle different weather? Remember I mentioned about darker fabrics absorb more heat while lighter colors stay cooler.

* Does it suit my budget and future needs? Think about that one carefully, because you don’t want it to be an ongoing expense.

* Does it fit my lifestyle and not someone else’s?

Remember, you don’t need the fanciest stroller to be a good mum, just the one that works for you and your baby. And if your partner is going to be helping you with your baby and they are taller than you, make sure that the pram handles can be extended. It won’t be comfortable if your partner can’t push the pram and they have to bend over because then they won’t want to help you.

So that wraps up the baby stroller podcast for today. So thank you so, so much for listening to First Time Mum’s Chat all the way through. I truly appreciate your time and trust.

Today we talked about choosing the baby stroller that fits your life, not someone else’s idea of perfect, so you can feel confident and ready for those first walks with your baby.

If you found this episode helpful, please follow the show and leave a quick rating or review in your favorite podcast app. It really helps other new mums find this supportive community.

I’d also love to hear from you. Tell me what stroller you chose, or your biggest baby gear question by leaving a voice note at MyBabyMassage.net/message, that’s MyBabyMassage.net/message.

And before you go, don’t miss the next episode on simple routines that help settle your baby into calmer sleep.

Until next time, keep trusting your instincts. Stay calm and enjoy your journey as a first time mum.