The first journey home: Weeks 17-18

How to choose your first car seat and pushchair

Get ready for your baby's first journey home and all the adventures to follow

There are simple baby buys like muslins and nappies and then there are the ones that give you a little jolt of “wow, we're actually having a baby”.

A car seat and pushchair can be like that. One will bring your tiny newborn home for the very first time. The other will take them out into the world.

At 17–18 weeks, your bump may be more noticeable, and you might even be feeling those first little flutters as your baby kicks and wriggles. There's still no rush to buy everything you need, but this is a great time to start looking.

Choosing your first baby car seat

Car-seat shopping can introduce you to a whole new vocabulary: ISOFIX, harnesses, recline positions, newborn inserts. Thankfully, you don't need to become an expert overnight.

The main thing is finding a rear-facing car seat that's suitable from birth and works with your car. Then you can get into the features you'll really appreciate clever swivel designs, easy-to-use bases and the little touches that make getting your baby in and out so much easier.

Make sure the seat is compatible with your car and that you know how to fit it correctly before your little one arrives. It's worth practising too. With a tiny new passenger and all those first-journey-home nerves, nobody wants to be Googling how to fit the car seat in the hospital car park.

And if the choice feels bewildering, pop into a Mamas & Papas store, you can book a free Mamas & Papas Car Seat Appointment. One of our fully qualified experts can help you find a seat that's right for your baby and your car, talk you through the different options and show you how to fit it safely, giving you peace of mind.

How to choose the right pram or pushchair

With so many different prams and pushchairs to choose from, it helps to start with the way you live. And for most parents, that starts with a travel system.

A travel system consists of a pushchair frame, on which other parts can be fitted. These parts include carrycot, seat unit and car seat. These are all purchased together as a package or ‘bundle’ meaning they’re good value for money. For more info read our Travel Systems Buying Guide.

From there, think about how you’ll get around once your baby arrives. Are you more likely to head out of the front door on foot or load everything into the car? Will your pushchair need to tackle muddy park paths, squeeze onto a bus, bump up your front steps or fold into a small boot? Those everyday details will tell you far more about what you need than an endless list of features.

For your newborn, you'll need a pushchair that's suitable from birth and lets them lie flat. Plenty of storage underneath will come in handy too – babies may be tiny, but they don't exactly travel light.

Then there's how it looks. Whether you're drawn to warm neutrals, beautiful fabrics, sleek black or a pop of colour, your own aesthetic matters. You're going to be spending a lot of time together.

Trying prams and pushchairs in store

Trying prams and pushchairs in person is when you start to work out what you actually like.

If you’re not sure where to start, try our pushchair quiz – it’ll help you narrow down the options and find the types of pushchairs that could work best for you and your lifestyle.

Then take a few for a spin around your local Mamas & Papas store. You’ll find around 70 brands under one roof – compact city strollers, complete all-terrain travel systems, airline-compatible models and everything in between. Yes, 70. If that sounds like a lot, that’s because it is. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re still working out what you actually need, let alone which brand to choose. But, our experts are on hand to help you narrow it down, so you can focus on the few that fit your life and then take those for a test drive.

If you're there with your partner or a soon-to-be grandparent, swap over so you both get a proper try particularly if there's quite a height difference between you. See how easily they steer, then have a go at folding and lifting them. You might be surprised by how quickly you both start having opinions.

'We had no idea where to start, now we feel ready.'

You could also book a complimentary Mamas & Papas Buying for Baby appointment, either in store or virtually. You'll get dedicated time with one of our friendly experts to talk through what you need and help you feel confident about your choices. If you visit in store, you can try car seats and pushchairs for yourselves, too.

You can even shop Pre-Loved pushchairs at Mamas & Papas. In selected stores, you'll find professionally restored Mamas & Papas pushchairs that have been safety checked and deep-cleaned a more sustainable way to find one you love.

There's no rush to decide just yet. For now, you can enjoy looking, trying a few out and discovering what feels right for you. Because behind all the practical decisions is something much more exciting: getting ready for that first journey home – and all the adventures to come with your little one.

For more advice on choosing the right options for you, take a look at our Buying Your First Car Seat and Buying Your First Pushchair guides.

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