Do modern prams isolate young mums?

fluffnutter

littlerock wrote: »

When I was a young mum, large baby carriages were out and we all pushed our children around in lightweight buggies.

Lightweight buggies weren't really popular before the 70s. So, in the history of pushing babies around, big prams have actually been the norm. Those Silvercross things were enormous. And when you did your shopping you left your baby outside the shop because you couldn't get it in the shop.

Things change, there are pros and cons to most things. Some people think today's fashion for larger prams is annoying but that's because those prams aren't sat outside the shop any more whilst some git nicks your baby. You win some, you lose some.

moomoomama27

I had prams for all three of my children. I hated the ones that faced out, and only bought a Zapp for holidays and use on the bus, which was quite infrequent.

When the baby/toddler faces you, it encourages conversation, and from a speech and languahe outlook is a great advantage. All three of my children had wonderful and advanced speech because I was always talking to them, pointing things out and sharing in their world!

I often see babies and toddlers in forward facing buggies, parnts with ipods/headphones shoved in their ears and no communication between them.

sooty&sweep

Hi
I had both.
I'm within walking distance of a decent shopping area so I'd use the pram as the child could travel in comfort & I could transport shopping underneath. Mine could change from a pram into a pushchair as they got older. It was also brilliant as it was parked in my hallway & so I'd put them to sleep there during the day. I liked the fact it gave my child room to sleep rather than strapped into a small pushchair which doesn't give them any room to move around.
I had a stroller pushchair that I used if we were out and about in the car.
Jen

fluffnutter

moomoomama27 wrote: »

I often see babies and toddlers in forward facing buggies, parnts with ipods/headphones shoved in their ears and no communication between them.

It might be the only break they get from meeting their toddler's demands all day. Sometimes it's nice to zone out whilst walking, for both parent and child. Equally the child may be due a nap and talking to them just keeps them awake.

I don't think you can assume, because someone is listening to the radio or music whilst they push their child, that that's indicative of their whole communication, or that their child's speech will suffer as a result (which could be inferred given your earlier comment).

moomoomama27

fluffnutter wrote: »

It might be the only break they get from meeting their toddler's demands all day. Sometimes it's nice to zone out whilst walking, for both parent and child. Equally the child may be due a nap and talking to them just keeps them awake.

I don't think you can assume, because someone is listening to the radio or music whilst they push their child, that that's indicative of their whole communication, or that their child's speech will suffer as a result (which could be inferred given your earlier comment).

Children can still take a nap facing the parent, all my gabbing on would not have stopped them sleeping!

I guess it would depend how often a parent with headphones in adopted that behaviour, but it can be detrimental to speech development if this is routine. 'Pram time' is a very beneficial time to improve and promote communication between parent and child.

fluffnutter

moomoomama27 wrote: »

Children can still take a nap facing the parent, all my gabbing on would not have stopped them sleeping!

I guess it would depend how often a parent with headphones in adopted that behaviour, but it can be detrimental to speech development if this is routine. 'Pram time' is a very beneficial time to improve and promote communication between parent and child.

It's easy to look at other parents and decide they're not doing it as well as you did, isn't it.

barbiedoll

My pram was a moderately-sized thing, somewhere between a buggy and a "big" pram, it was impossible to fold up one-handed though. I didn't drive then so I was once stuck at a bus stop, whilst holding the baby, the baby bag and trying desperately to fold the bloody thing at the same time. I actually had to put my baby down on the pavement so that I could get the pram folded down, watched by several people at the bus stop!

As soon as he was 6 months old, I bought a buggy and gave the pram to my mum, for when she was baby-sitting. That buggy went everywhere, I could carry it up and down the steps at railway stations, I could fold it up easily on the bus and it came with us to Greece on holiday.

Both of my prams were front-facing but I still used to natter away to my baby anyway, I think he was probably glad of the peace and quiet when he was facing outwards, he always seemed to fall asleep as soon as we got out of the front door!

The big expensive prams today are definitely seen as status symbols in some sections of society, usually the poorest, sadly. I have spoken to young women who wait excitedly for their maternity grant cheque (£500, only available to those on certain benefits) so that they can spend it on an over-priced "designer" pram.

The best pram that I saw recently was a real vintage piece. It had belonged to the grandmother and had been used by the mum and her two siblings. Grandmother had kept it in the loft for sentimental reasons and was delighted that her daughter wanted it for her grandchild. It wasn't a huge Silver Cross-type, just a bog-standard 70's or early 80's Mothercare model but it was absolutely lovely!

Jagraf

moomoomama27 wrote: »

I had prams for all three of my children. I hated the ones that faced out, and only bought a Zapp for holidays and use on the bus, which was quite infrequent.

When the baby/toddler faces you, it encourages conversation, and from a speech and languahe outlook is a great advantage. All three of my children had wonderful and advanced speech because I was always talking to them, pointing things out and sharing in their world!

I often see babies and toddlers in forward facing buggies, parnts with ipods/headphones shoved in their ears and no communication between them.

Isn't it funny how my child had advanced speech with a out-facing pram!

In fact my daughters expected 12 A* GCSEs purely because the pram was facing outwards .... :cool:;)

Jagraf

moomoomama27 wrote: »

Children can still take a nap facing the parent, all my gabbing on would not have stopped them sleeping!

I guess it would depend how often a parent with headphones in adopted that behaviour, but it can be detrimental to speech development if this is routine. 'Pram time' is a very beneficial time to improve and promote communication between parent and child.

You don't need a pram to communicate with your child surely. Sounds like an excuse not to let them toddle.

hawk30

moomoomama27 wrote: »

Children can still take a nap facing the parent, all my gabbing on would not have stopped them sleeping!

I guess it would depend how often a parent with headphones in adopted that behaviour, but it can be detrimental to speech development if this is routine. 'Pram time' is a very beneficial time to improve and promote communication between parent and child.

But if you talk to your child all the time at home, why would a bit of quiet time when they are in the pushchair be detrimental? My 18 month old is forward facing because she likes it best (she's nosy) and I'll admit that I like getting the thinking time. When we're at home it's none stop jibber-jabber, and it can get tiring.

I don't want one of one of those flimsy pushchairs and certainly wouldn't have used one when she was a baby.