There was a time when baby transport came in just one style – the perambulator. Beloved of the Norland Nanny, the large coach-built pram was a status symbol. Today there are an almost endless range of choices for modern families, and in summer, a pushchair or buggy is essential. We have a little guide to ‘mobility manners’for pushchairs and then some suggestions on how to choose the best buggy for you.
Pushchair etiquette
Travelling with a pushchair can be fun, but it can also be a nightmare. Knowing how to use your buggy is one thing, but some basic ground rules for good pushchair behaviour might also be useful.
Avoid rush hour
Seriously, it’s the biggest tip we have to offer. Our Elite Nannies know that the easiest way from A to B is when the least possible number of other people are trying to make the same journey. Often there’s no choice. School runs and public events require everybody to travel at the same time. But where you do have a choice, why not try to travel when few others will be doing so. It makes life so much easier!
Musical pushchairs
When travelling on public transport. There are often more pushchairs that buggy spaces. Good manners dictate that you.
- Pack your pushchair front to back or back to front rather than across the space.
- Apply the brakes rather than holding the buggy in place.
- Sit down if there is a space available. Rather than standing next to your buggy. This means that it’s usually possible for two small strollers or lightweight buggies to get into the available space. Each parent or nanny can still see their toddler in the buggy. Nobody is blocking the view and the pushchair isn’t going to fly across the bus or carriage if the driver has to put the brakes on in a hurry.
- Limit changes.
- Like avoiding rush hour. Simple forward planning can help make travel manageable. Often you can take an apparently longer route. But with less changes and in a big city, this can save hours of travel time. As well as the need to get child and pushchair up and down steps and in and out of small spaces.
Top Five tips to choosing the best summer buggy
Mothercare have five good questions to ask, but we’re not sure they go quite far enough. Our nannies and happy mums have given us the real lowdown on pushchair choice in their five top tips below!
Look out for a small turning circle.
This is valuable on all pushchairs but summer ones in particular benefit from nifty turning. You’ll often find that you’re in a space with a dozen buggies trying to do the same manoeuvre. Such as at a village fete or summer show.
Make sure the parasol or sunscreen is effective.
Tiny dainty broderie Anglaise parasols look cute but aren’t good at preventing the sunburn. To which small children are very prone. Check that the parasol can be angled low as well as high. And that any mesh screens can be clipped and unclipped easily to protect baby from the sun.
Summer means lightweight.
If you have two buggies, your summer one should be considerably lighter in weight than your winter one. This means you have choices. But when sand etc are in the equation, the lighter the better for buggies and pushchairs. They are also easier to carry on and off transport than the heavier winter pushchairs and that’s okay. Toddlers often like to walk, or at least dawdle, in summer but aren’t so keen in winter.
Take your nanny with you – if possible.
When choosing a new pushchair. Unless you are the same height. You may have very different experiences with a buggy. What works perfectly for you might give her backache etc. So sometimes you need to compromise on a transport system that works reasonable well for both of you. If you’re both going to be regular buggy pushers. Adjustable handlebars can be a great investment.
If you have a new nanny. Or a temporary nanny coming in to cover your regular nanny’s holiday. Give her plenty of time to acclimatise to the buggy. Packing it away, applying the brakes and getting baby in and out will all take practice.
Remember that babies shouldn’t be in a non-reclining pushchair until they are six months old and can sit up because their spines need more support. Similarly, three-wheel pushchairs are wonderful but shouldn’t be taken off road until the baby is six months. Because they don’t have the neck strength to cope with uneven terrain.