- Written By: Tricia Ellis-Christensen
- Edited By: O. Wallace
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Copyright Protected:
2003-2012 Conjecture Corporation
A pram is short for the term perambulator, which is essentially a stroller for a baby. Usually those in the UK refer to the stroller as either a pram or a baby carriage. These first became popular during the Victorian Era, and the typical pram was black with high wheels, consisted of a bed for the baby to lie in and a half cover, which could be used to protect the baby from overexposure to the sun.
One can still find examples of the classic pram in modern strollers. They may vary in color and fabric, and may also add the ability to adjust the bed so the child can either be lying down or seated. In fact, most prefer this adjustable ability in a pram since this extends the time the pram is useful.
Often the pram built on the old Victorian model is one of the more high-end strollers people can purchase. They may be used as much for status as for transporting a baby. A typical retro pram can cost about 600-700 US dollars (USD), whereas the average pram or stroller costs less than 200 USD. One can get even less expensive collapsible versions for less about 30 USD.
A newer type of pram, that tends to range in price from about 200-300 USD new, is the jogging stroller. This usually has high back wheels, and has one, instead of two wheels in the front. It can usually carry a child up to 60 pounds (27.21 kg) in weight and allows the person pushing it to either jog or walk quickly. Often one can find a double pram that can be used for jogging while pushing two children, either twins or children of different ages.
Because the weight bearing is on the back wheels of the jogging pram, it tends to be easier to maneuver and turn. However, a heavier child can make the pram a little harder to push and to turn. This is particularly the case when the weight is not evenly balanced, as with two different sized children in a double pram.
Some jogging strollers are excellent for rough terrain, allowing new moms or dads to quickly get back into shape after a pregnancy, or keep their commitment to fitness alive. Some prefer a more traditional pram, and slower walking with a child, as this gives one more opportunity for conversation, and also for observation of the child’s moods.
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Discuss this Article
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pennywell
Post 6 |
I've always loved the vintage look of those old Victorian prams, especially those that are still in usable condition. Today's strollers aren't nearly as quaint, but I suppose they're a lot more practical with all that extra space for the baby's belongings, diapers, wipes etc. Have any of you actually purchased an old style pram for a newborn? How did you like it compared to jogging strollers? |
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Penzance356
Post 5 |
My friend bought a beautiful English style carriage pram from an online auction site. Perhaps she was swayed by it being named after a British country estate!
For a newborn, this pram seemed way over the top. Her tiny baby seemed lost in all that space! Once he got a bit bigger it was fine though, and he always looked so comfortable in it.
The thing that surprised me was the weight. Her model was 37kg! Definitely not the kind of thing you can hop on a bus or train with!
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Mae82
Post 4 |
True prams seem very much like a bassinet on wheels to me. I have also found that if you want to get the beautiful curves of a traditional pram with oversized wheels and lovely detailing you are going to have to pay through the nose for it. Most prams are also only designed for infants, which means you are going to have to buy a stroller later on if you don't get a convertible version. For myself, when I was browsing at true prams I found the prices pretty staggering, with some in the thousands of dollars. I think unless you are wealthy or plan to have many children, a real pram just isn't worth the price.
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rebelgurl28
Post 3 |
I love the look of the old-fashioned baby prams, but I never realized they were so expensive. If course, I guess now they are called retro fashion and today that is very popular and expensive. |
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Sara007
Post 2 |
If you are looking for a pram that does it all, picking up a travel system may work for you. These strollers are fantastic as they combine a car seat with the pram, giving you a great piece of baby equipment that can do double duty. One of the problems with a travel system though is their bulk. These kinds of strollers tend to be very heavy and difficult to maneuver, so if you don't think you'll be using the car seat much, it is probably a better idea to just get a regular stroller. On average these travel systems run between $150-$500.
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ShellM89
Post 1 |
This is an interesting article. I have heard of a carriage pram, but I have never heard of a stroller pram. Here in the US I have only heard them referred to as strollers.
I have heard of jogging strollers, though. We live in a college town where there are a lot of young moms and jogging strollers are very popular. Many use them daily as they work to get back in shape. |
