Silver Cross Dazzle
If you are expecting your first baby, buying that first pushchair is a bit of a mind-boggling rite of passage. Even if you are expecting your second, third or even fourth, it can still be a major challenge because if you want to get an update on your old buggy you'll find so much has changed on the market. Take a look at the ThinkBaby Pushchair Questionnaire which will help you address what kind of pushchair is going to suit your needs - whether it's a from-birth buggy that's small enough to fit in a narrow hallway or the boot of a car, or a huge three-wheeler that's perfect for bumpy country lanes.
In addition, if you go to the Products section of the website you'll find all the different kinds of pushchair listed in different sections. Each section has news and review articles written by our experienced reviewers (journalist mums and dads who have put buggies through their paces!) as well as truly invaluable ratings from ThinkBaby members just like you, who have added their own comments and experiences in User Reviews.

But which kind of pushchair does what?
What exactly is the difference between a 'from-birth buggy' and a 'combi'?
Almost without exception, couples buy their first pushchair before their baby is born, so getting to grips with what they really need can often come down to a lucky guess unless they have someone experienced to guide them through it.
Read on for our jargon-free guide to the baffling world of pushchairs…

Maclaren Techno XLR
What is a pushchair?
OK, that might sound like a silly question, but actually, all kinds of different shapes and sizes of baby transport come under the word 'pushchair'. The word is used for models which can be used in many different modes - such as a pram or just a chassis (the frame of the pushchair) with a baby car seat (infant carrier) clicked into the top of it. These more complicated options shoudl really be identified as travel systems or combis (for both, see below).
A pushchair itself is really just the main frame and wheels with a seat, and optional extras like a basket underneath and a raincover or a foot muff etc. (Some come with these included in the prices, others don't.)
When it comes to travel systems and other more complicated formats where the pushchair is included, you will find that the actual pushchair setting is going to be the bit you use most; after about six months, your child will want to sit up and look around and that is when the pushchair mode of transport comes into its own, lasting up until your child no longer needs a buggy at all.
Pushchairs can be used from birth without a pram/carrycot but they need to be able to lay flat for your newborn. (See 'from-birth pushchairs', below.)
A pushchair is usually rated as suitable from birth, from three months, or from six months. It will last up until your child no longer needs wheels - anything from two and half to four years, depending on the child or how much walking some of your journeys involve. (It's advisable to encourage walking after the child is two, but it's unrealistic not to think that some pre-schoolers will get tired on expeditions to the park - just don't let older infants retreat to their pushchair too often, out of laziness or your need to get to places more quickly!)

What is a from-birth pushchair?
When your baby is very small, he can't sit up and support himself, so it's important that he is not placed in a seat where he might just flop forward.
In order to qualify for being 'from birth', a pushchair must be fully-reclinable so that a new baby could lay down flat in it. Many pushchairs are really best suited to three months and older as they are not quite so comfy as a pram (or a pushchair that converts into a pram with a carrycot, see combis and travel systems below).
There are many models of pushchair that are suitable from birth, but look for one with lots of cosy padding (or use it with a fleece lining that's certified suitable for new babies) if you are planning to use it with your new baby.

What is a pram?
A conventional pram will simply allow your new baby to lay down flat. Think of the traditional prams of 30 or 40 years ago.
Not all prams are huge and many will fold down, but they are really only useful until your child can sit up (anything from four and a half months to seven months is normal, depending on your baby's physical development). Once your child can sit up you will need to switch to a pushchair (above) or buggy (see below).
If you are keen to use a pram but don't want to have to buy something else when your child gets to six months, you can get a travel system or combi (both below) which will turn into a pushchair suitable for use after this age. However, do bear in mind that depending on your choice of brand and style, sometimes buying one larger pram for a newborn and a more slim, less fussy model of pushchair at six months might be cheaper than buying one big flashy do-everything system from Day One. It's up to you, your budget and your needs. (For more, see the Questionnaire, linked above.)

Recaro Trendline
What is a buggy?
This can also be referred to as a stroller.
Often people describe any pushchair as a 'buggy', but for clarity 'buggy' really means a lightweight pushchair, most suited to using on shorter journeys. (Lighter, more simple models of pushchair aren't always very comfy for longer trips for your child as they do not come with so much seat padding and are designed to be smaller and easier to carry around. They also often have very simple wheel, tyre and suspension set-ups making them fine for short trips but more tiring to push over tougher terrain or on longer walks.)
A buggy is great if you no longer have room for a major pushchair, pram or travel system, but still need something to last you for a year or two as your child gets used to walking more regularly.
A buggy is also great to take away on holiday as it's light to carry and usually a bit cheaper which means you're not quite so worried about what state it'll be in when it comes along on the baggage carousel!
Sometimes parents like to keep a cheap lightweight option either in the boot or at the grandparents' house for those times when they don't want to lug a massive travel system around.
A 'buggy' is best suited once your child is over six months or preferably over a year old, but some lightweights are suitable from earlier on. If you're looking for one for a new baby, make sure you get one that states it's suitable from birth (and which can safely recline as your baby needs it to).

What is a three-wheeler?
OK, that might also sound like a silly question, but apart from the fact that some parents just like the sporty look of a three-wheeler, why get a pushchair with three wheels instead of the traditional four?
Air Buggy Mimi
Three-wheelers tend to have good suspension and can be useful if you like to go for walks off paved areas. Many have tyres which can be pumped up (though there is also the risk then that they get punctures). This air-filled option gives the three-wheeler bounce if you like to go jogging, for example. Some have solid tyres if you prefer this, though it will add to the weight of your pushchair and three-wheelers do tend to be heavy to start off with.
A three-wheeler tends to take up more space (folded or unfolded) but often does have a roomy interior for your baby to enjoy and to some parents, it simply looks more cool!
Now there are some models on the market which look like three-wheelers but are actually four, because the two front wheels are smaller and fixed together. These can be useful because even though you still have the three-wheel look, you have more sturdiness.

What is a travel system?
Ah, now we get onto the part where it can all start to sound rather complicated…
This is a do-everything option.
From birth you use the body of the pushchair but have your baby higher up and facing you by keeping your child in his car seat (at birth this is called the infant carrier) and clicking this directly onto the body of the pushchair. This isn't so trendy now because experts believe that babies shouldn't be left couped up in car seats for too long. However, a trip to the shops or a walk around the park is not going to give your child a curved spine for the rest of his life!
The advantage of this format is that a sleeping baby can easily be transported still in the carrier, from car to pushchair or from pushchair into the home, because the carrier usually clicks in and out safely with a one-hand motion. Many new mums like this convenience.
If you want to use your pushchair as a travel system, check that you either buy the model as a travel system (in which case you'll buy the car seat with it) or that you are buying a pushchair that is compatible with specific makes of infant carrier. (Any packaging should make this clear to you.)
The pushchair at this age can turn also be used as a pram. Some models use the body of the pushchair's main seat which folds up into a carrycot shape. Others come with a carrycot that you can click into the body of the pushchair.
Travel systems are a useful one-stop-shop when you're overwhelmed by choice, but are usually quite big, even when folded, so many new parents tend to buy one then opt for a slender, easy folding buggy at the six month mark.

Mamas & Papas Luna Pushchair
What is a combi?
Combi is a word popular with the retailer and brand Mamas & Papas because it applies to quite a few of their models. But it's a word that also well describes the massive range of pushchairs on the market which can be chopped and changed from new-baby pushchairs to prams to buggies!
These are models where you buy a basic chassis (the main frame of the pushchair) and then pay extra for the bits you want - carrycot to make it a pram, pushchair seat that in some models can face you ('rear-facing') or face away from you ('forward-facing') and so on.
Often these models appeal to sporty types who don't want something too conventional that means they're lugging a pram around when they're in the mood to go jogging in the park, but who do want a cosy pram for baby when they're doing a spot of shopping. The wheels are often detachable on models like this, to make them appealing as a small-folding option even if they are quite big when being used.
This kind of pushchair is becoming more popular as the alternative if you don't want a travel system (see above) but do want something from birth that can be used once your child is sitting up.

Read more…
See also the individual buyer's guides to the different kinds of pushchair for more detailed advice and tips:
Buyer's Guide to Pushchairs
Buyer's Guide to Buggies and strollers
Buyer's Guide to Travel Systems
Buyer's Guide to Three-Wheelers - and 'all-terrain' pushchairs
Buyer's Guide to Double Pushchairs - prams and buggies

For 'combis' see Pushchairs and Travel Systems sections of the Products pages.

What now?
This is really just a whistle-stop guide to what the different types of pushchair are called. See the links at the top of this article to look at specific brands, to get more advice on what kinds of options will suit your budget and your needs, and what ThinkBaby readers like you have found really worked for them.
Good luck, and happy shopping!