For a parent to-be picking the right pushchair is incredibly confusing, great fun, but confusing all the same.  The choice of prams available today is massive and knowing what will work for you and your new family can be hard, especially if you don’t already have children.

The first thing you need to do is look at the different types of pushchair available and that will give you some idea of what might work for you.

Three wheeler – although many people buy three wheel pushchairs based on looks alone they are actually designed to provide a smooth and secure ride across rougher terrain.  A good three wheel pushchair will have strong suspension and be hardwearing and tough; ideal for long walks in the country.

3 in 1 – a 3 in 1 pushchair offers multiple positions, to see your child right through from the newborn stage to toddler age.  They usually have a pram mode, with a detachable carrycot and both forwards and rearwards facing pushchair positions.  So, buy the right 3 in 1 pushchair and hopefully you won’t need anything else for your child.

2 in 1 – a 2 in 1 pushchair is similar to the 3 in 1 pushchair, but without the pram mode for a newborn.  Although, as the seat unit on many buggies can be positioned completely flat, they may still be suitable from birth.  If you are only planning to use your stroller for shorter trips, or are short on storage space then a 2 in 1 might be the ideal option.

Travel systems – just to add to the confusion, many pushchairs are travel system compatible, meaning that with adaptors an infant carrier can be placed on the pushchair frame, allowing you to transfer baby from car to pushchair easily; if you plan to use your car a lot then this may be helpful to you.

Of course, even within these individual categories there is a huge selection to choose from.  Some models are more compact and lightweight than others, some have a one-handed fold mechanism (useful on public transport) – there are lots of factors to consider, depending on your individual lifestyle.  Whatever option you decide upon, a pushchair is a sizeable investment and it is worth spending a bit of time exploring the options, before making the final purchase.

A Bugaboo pushchair is a high end option, however, a Bugaboo gives you all the flexibility of a 3 in 1 travel system, with the durability and manoeuvrability of a three wheeler.  Your budget obviously dictates the pram you ultimately decide on, but do keep in mind that spending a little more early on can save you money in the long run.