What To Buy For Your First Baby - Prams And Cots

Having your first baby is an exciting time, but planning for your first baby can be overwhelming. In this post, I am focusing on the different types of prams and cots out there. These items are often the costliest and there are so many types of each on the market that I hope this post will shed some light on them.

Prams, Pushchairs and Travel Systems


A good quality pram or pushchair is essential, as well as a rain cover and sunshade for added protection. To be suitable for a new baby you should ensure that the baby can lie flat in the pram or pushchair. 
When looking to buy a pushchair make sure to see a few of their recent reports and customer reviews to see if it is right for your baby. If another mother has reported discomfort, problems with the brakes, or parts breaking off then steer clear of that brand.


A Budget Option - Joie Brisk Travel System - Royal Blue £134.95

A pram is generally more robust and cannot be folded flat for storage while a pushchair can be easily folded away. Some pushchairs are marketed as 'all terrain' and have 3 large wheels. These are especially good if you do a lot of walking in the countryside and on uneven ground. If you buy a pram and are a car driver, consider if you have space in the boot for the pram or would a pushchair take up less space.

A stroller is more suitable for older babies when they can sit up unaided and is also lightweight and easy to fold. Strollers are particularly easy to manage when you get on and off public transport and are light and easy to manoeuvre around.  If you have more than one baby you can get a stroller for your babies that will carry all three. 
A Luxury Option - Cosatto Ooba 3 in 1 Travel System - Charleston £899.95

A travel system usually includes a carrycot which can convert into a pram and car seat in one. If you do not have a travel system, and you have a car, you need to think about a car seat as wellAlthough seemingly more expensive at first a travel system can be more economical in the long run as you do not have to buy separate pieces. 

When choosing a car seat the rule is that all babies start off life in a rearward-facing infant carrier. As there are many things to consider when buying a car seat, I recommend checking out this guide by Which magazine here. 

Cots, Cot Beds And Moses Baskets

A newborn baby needs between 10 and 18 hours of sleep a day so choosing the right bed for your little one is vitally important. 





Clair De Lune Palm Moses Basket - Butterscotch £25.95 Sale Price

Moses baskets which are suitable from birth are generally made of wicker and lined for comfort. Moses baskets are smaller and cosier than cots and are usually suitable until the baby is 3 or 4 months old. They often have handles so you can carry the baby from room to room if needed.

4Baby Classic Cot Bed - Country Pine £89.95 Sale Price

After the baby outgrows the Moses basket a cot or cot bed is the next step. A cot bed is generally bigger as it can adapt into a child's bed when they get older, and therefore can be better value for money. It's a matter of personal preference if you choose a cot or cot bed. Some parents can feel a little baby can get a little lost in the cot bed due to their size. 

A thick waterproof mattress is important in a cot and cot bed. Make sure you have the right size and type for the cot, and that it is firm with no sagging, tears or damage and no obvious gaps between the mattress and the cot. 

Babies are not good at regulating their heat so you must monitor their temperature and adjust their bedding accordingly. The advice is to not use a duvet when the child is under the age of one, as a sheet and a light blanket are often enough, just add an extra light layer if the room is cold.

For more advice when buying a cot or cot bed, check out this guide by Which magazine which is very useful and this website by The Lullaby Trust, which offers help and advice on SIDS and safer sleep for babies. 

When buying a pram, pushchair, car seat or cot always look out for the British Standards Institute mark to ensure the item is tested to rigorous standards and is safe to use. Don’t forget to add a high chair for babies to your list because you will surely need it

All items featured above are from Online 4 Baby. With next day delivery and a one-hour delivery slot * in most cases, your pushchair, cot or other baby essentials will be delivered to your doorstep when you need it, quickly and effortlessly, at a click of a button.



* PR Collaboration

19 comments

  1. Great choices. I loved buying for our twins when I was pregnant x

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm not at that part of my life although I can imagine buying all these essentials for your child can get quite stressful. There's such a wide range to choose from within each category! X

    ReplyDelete
  3. MOH and I always have this discussion about when we have kids what we want to buy and honestly every time we discuss it I change my mind. Thanks for breaking it down.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I wish I'd had internet access when I was planning for my first baby 17 years ago... it really would have helped! I was so lost - I didn't even know how many towels to buy! Some great ideas here. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am with you on this one Elizabeth! There is so much more information out there now. I love finding out information from the Internet and it's great to read blogs for advice too.

      Delete
  5. I don't have any children but my friend is due in a weeks time so will share this post with her! Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What an exciting time for any new parents! Great post xo

    ReplyDelete
  7. Although I'm not expecting I found this post very useful. There is so much stuff available its hard to know what you will actually use.

    Jen
    www.tartanbrunette.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is a lot of products out there and it can be very confusing for new parents.

      Delete
  8. Giving birth for the first time is sooo very exciting, yes. Totally agree that it's vital to choose your pram wisely. I bought four of them before I was really happy with my purchase. Not a good plan, so research is key. Good suggestions here. Tx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Research really is key as you say. Different people have different needs so you really do have to research what you need.

      Delete
  9. Some great choices. I remember how difficult it was to choose when I was pregnant with Jack and it took us a while before we finally opted for a pram we were happy with and has lasted us a long while. It can be so confusing. Online4Baby sound like a fab resource.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It can be a difficult decisions as items such as prams and cots can be expensive too and you don't want to waste money.

      Delete
  10. Great post! One of the things that I find seem more popular abroad than they are in the UK are baby bjorns - and seem like they'd be easier to manage on public transport, too! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, like baby carriers. They are useful for public transport I think. I had a baby carrier when my son was small and it was lovely holding him close.

      Delete
  11. Such an exciting time, even if it does cost the earth! I loved going to various stores and trying everything out. By the time I had my third child, I felt like a pram pro!
    www.fattyboomtatty.co.uk

    ReplyDelete