Most pram guides talk about features. In Sydney, the pram that suits you is usually decided by three much more boring things: your car boot, your local footpaths, and how often you take public transport.
Start with the boot, not the brochure
This is the single most common regret. Measure your boot, width, depth and the height of the opening, before you shop. Then check the folded dimensions of any pram you are considering.
Remember the boot also has to hold shopping, a nappy bag and sometimes a second child's scooter. A pram that technically fits but leaves no room is a pram you will resent within a month.
Wheels and your actual footpaths
Sydney footpaths vary enormously between suburbs. Older areas have tree roots, uneven pavers and steep driveways; newer estates are smooth.
- Larger air-filled or foam wheels handle rough surfaces, gravel and grass far better, and make hills less of a fight.
- Smaller hard wheels are lighter, more compact and easier in shopping centres, but transmit every bump.
- Three-wheel designs steer more easily one-handed; four-wheel designs are generally more stable when loaded.
Suspension matters more than people expect, especially if your baby naps in the pram.
Public transport and the one-handed fold
If you use buses, trains or ferries regularly, prioritise two things: a fold you can do while holding a baby, and a weight you can lift up a flight of stairs. Anything over about 12kg becomes difficult quickly.
Test the fold yourself in store, with one hand. A fold that needs two hands and a knee is fine in a driveway and hopeless on a bus.
Australian safety requirements
Prams and strollers sold in Australia must comply with the mandatory standard AS/NZS 2088. Among other things, this requires a parking brake and a tether strap with a wrist loop. Use the tether strap every time. It is what stops a pram rolling away on a slope, and Sydney has plenty of those.
Other checks: a five-point harness, a locking mechanism that cannot be released accidentally, and no gaps that could trap small fingers.
Newborn suitability
Newborns need to lie flat or very close to it. Confirm the pram either reclines fully, accepts a bassinet attachment, or takes a capsule. Suitable from birth is used loosely, so check what it actually means for that model.
Features worth paying for, and features that are noise
Worth it: a large canopy with UPF rating, a basket you can reach when the seat is reclined, adjustable handle height if you and your partner are different heights, and a seat that reverses so baby can face you early on.
Usually noise: cup holders and phone trays that add bulk, and convertibility to a double pram if you are not certain about a second child.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a double pram now if I want two children?
Not necessarily. Convertible prams add cost and weight immediately for a need that may be two years away. Many families buy a second pram later, or use a pram board.
How long will a pram last?
A good pram will take a child to around three or four years, well past the point most children want to walk.
Are expensive prams meaningfully better?
Above a certain point you are paying for materials, ride quality and fabrics rather than safety. Every compliant pram meets the same standard. Buy for how it fits your daily life, not for prestige.
Push it before you buy it
Bring your boot measurements to our Peakhurst showroom and push a few models around. Ten minutes in person tells you more than an hour of reviews.
General information only. For product safety requirements see Product Safety Australia (ACCC).