Buying Your First Pram? Read This Before You Choose One

If you’re wondering how to choose the right pram, you’re not alone! Shopping for your first pram is honestly on par with buying a car. You start out thinking it's all about colour and aesthetics… and suddenly you’re deep-diving into suspension systems, wheel types and fold mechanisms late at night. There are so many brands, so many configurations and so many features you didn’t even know existed.

I bought my first pram last year, and what I thought would be a quick one-month decision turned into a six-month spiral of comparison charts and second-guessing. I was genuinely worried I’d spend thousands of dollars on the wrong one. Looking back, there are some very important questions I wish I had clearly asked myself before buying. If you’re researching the best pram for your lifestyle, start here.

Credit: prostooleh

Where Will I Actually Be Using My Pram?

This is the most important question — and one of the most overlooked. If you live in a city and mostly walk on smooth footpaths, through shopping centres or hop on and off public transport, you probably don’t need heavy-duty, all-terrain wheels. However, if your daily life includes parklands, gravel paths, cobblestones, uneven suburban streets or coastal boardwalks, suspension and wheel size suddenly matter a lot more.

There is nothing more frustrating than realising your pram struggles on the very terrain you use most. On the other hand, oversized wheels and heavy suspension can make a pram bulkier than necessary, harder to lift and more difficult to navigate in tight spaces. Your real, everyday routine should guide this decision more than anything else.

What Climate Will I Be Pushing It In?

Your local weather should absolutely influence your pram choice. If you live somewhere hot, sun protection becomes a priority. Think about how far the canopy extends, whether it offers UPF coverage and whether there are ventilation panels to keep airflow moving. Prams can heat up quickly under direct sun, especially during peak summer.

If you live somewhere cold or windy, weather protection becomes the key consideration. You’ll want to think about whether a rain cover is included, how easy it is to attach and remove, and whether the canopy design blocks wind effectively. If the temperature drops regularly, compatibility with footmuffs and additional layers might also matter. Choosing a pram suited to your climate can make daily outings far more comfortable for both you and your baby.

The Redsbaby NUVO2 double pram. Credit: Redsbaby.

How Compact Does It Need to Be?

This is where lifestyle logistics come into play. Bigger wheels and generous storage baskets often mean a heavier frame and a larger fold. That can be wonderful if you want space for groceries, baby bags and everything else you’ll inevitably carry. But it can quickly become a problem if you live in an apartment, have narrow hallways, limited storage space or a small car boot. For the latter, you might be more interested in travel prams.

Before committing, think about where the pram will live when it’s not in use. If you’ll be lifting it in and out of your car regularly, weight matters more than you might expect. Fold size matters too. A pram that looks manageable in a showroom can feel very different when you’re trying to fit it into your car while holding a baby.

Will It Grow With My Baby — and Future Babies?

Babies grow much faster than you anticipate. Seat height, weight capacity and backrest length are all worth considering, especially if you and your partner are tall and expect a tall child. It’s also important to think about how long you plan to use the pram and whether you’re hoping to have another baby soon.

If you plan to expand your family in the near future, a convertible single-to-double pram might be worth the investment. If you’re spacing children further apart, a compact single pram with the option to add a toddler board later could be more practical and cost-effective. Thinking ahead now may save you from upgrading sooner than expected.

The UPPAbaby Vista V3 pram. Credit: UPPAbaby.

How Much Use Will It Really Get?

Most prams get regular use, but some become the backbone of daily life. If you plan to use yours every day for walks, errands and grocery runs, durability and basket capacity matter a great deal. If you intend to exercise with your baby, steering, suspension and overall stability should be part of your decision-making process.

The more you rely on your pram, the more important the finer details become. A roomy basket, smooth manoeuvrability and comfortable handling can make everyday life significantly easier.

Does It Need to Fold Easily?

The fold mechanism is something many people overlook until it becomes frustrating. If you rarely pack your pram down and mostly wheel it in and out of your house, this might not matter much. But if you’ll be putting it in your car boot often or storing it in a tight space, ease of folding becomes essential.

Imagine holding your baby while trying to collapse the frame. A smooth one-handed fold can make a huge difference. It’s also worth checking whether the pram folds with the seat attached and whether it can fold in both parent-facing and world-facing positions. These small details can have a surprisingly big impact on your day-to-day experience.

The Bugaboo Fox 5 Renew pram. Credit: Bugaboo

Do I Need a Bassinet?

Many new parents assume a bassinet is essential, but it’s worth pausing to think about how you’ll use it. Some prams offer fully reclinable seats or newborn inserts that safely support a newborn without requiring a separate bassinet attachment.

That said, there are genuine benefits to a bassinet. Being able to remove the entire bassinet and carry a sleeping baby inside without disturbing them can be incredibly convenient. For some families, that feature alone makes it worthwhile. For others, a newborn-compatible seat is more than sufficient. It really comes down to your routine and storage space.

The Best Advice: Try Before You Buy

No amount of online research replaces physically testing a pram. Social media makes many options look flawless, but real life quickly reveals what works and what doesn’t. Go in-store and push your shortlist across different surfaces. Fold and unfold each model. Test the brake. Adjust the handlebar. Lift it.

The best place to do this? The One Fine Baby and Pregnancy Expo. You can find all the top pram brands under one roof, road test your shortlist and even take prams for a spin on our Pram Trial Track, which gives you an idea of how a pram feels on different common terrain types. 

Come to our next One Fine Baby and Pregnancy Expo by visiting our Sydney baby expo, Melbourne baby expo and Brisbane baby expo pages.