The five criteria we gave you were:
1. Stylish
2. Light and easy to fold
3. Flexible for baby to face you or face away, etc
4. Suitable for all terrain
5. Not too expensive
What you said
Despite the number of models on the market these days which offer mix-n-match designs, obsessively fashionable fittings and wheels that make them look more like off-road vehicles, 'Stylish' was the second lowest scorer (11 per cent) on the list of important features, and 'All terrain' wasn't much more, on 13 per cent.
Admittedly, for parents who can afford or end up needing a few different buggies, perhaps having a stylish sporty model as well as something more functional is perhaps a bigger priority. But do we really all want pushchairs we can 'drag across sand' or jog through forests with?
The least important aspect of buying the right buggy was that it was 'not too expensive' (10 per cent of votes). It's good to know that cost is not an issue when you're looking for perfect baby chariot, and it's certainly good news for the makers of the many flashy strollers and systems on the market!
However, the cost of pushchairs these days is pretty astronomical and it's a big cost for a new family. We'll be looking at price over the coming months and what value different models offer, so we'd love to hear from you!
The flexbility to be able to turn the baby seat to face you or have it front-facing was quite popular, with about a fifth of the overall vote.
With travel systems which allow you to pop the car seat on the top being rather out of favour (in case your baby isn't laying flat enough for long periods of time), seats which are high and face you can be an appealing alternative right now.
I confess that with our first baby, five years ago, there wasn't the same concern voiced and I loved having my son in his car seat, secure but high up and facing me as I used my 'travel system'. I never used the pram aspect of it except when he was asleep sometimes in our kitchen (away from the cot). Lloyd doesn't seem to have developed poorly for this use of the car seat, but it's true that a better position is preferable for long periods of use.
Light and easy does it
Interestingly, with almost half of all votes, 'light and easy to fold' was the first priority for 45 per cent of you.
Apart from the strains of birth and sometimes having to recover from a caesarian, there are plenty of other things which can contribute to back ache, neck strains and tense arms and shoulders. And I'm not talking about lack of sleep!
Bending down to change nappies, stooping when you're breastfeeding in one position for some time, carrying your growing baby - these and so many other small activities which your body hasn't been expected to do before, can really take their toll. The last thing you need is to have to lug around a heavy pushchair at the same time.
Designs have got a lot better at being easy to fold down. Even quite large buggies collapse with one or two movements, with a one-hand function being a particularly valuable selling point.
More than 90 per cent of Graco models have one-hand fold down, and all Maclaren's four-wheel single buggies have single-hand folding mechanisms. The Quinny Zapp, pictured above in blue, folds down into a holdall, and the name of the Micralite FastFold, pictured here in red, says it all!
Pretty much every manufacturer is now building in ease of use as a matter of course, as well as using aluminium for strong but lighter frames, where once all prams felt more like tanks!
Not only is weight and ease of folding and storage important for using pushchairs on public transport, but also for getting in and out of your home, moving your baby from car to street, and so on. That's why all ThinkBaby reviews for these products include categories to rate portability and storage.
To review, rate or recommend your own buggies or ones you've come across, go to the Reviews section of the website. Other parents value your opinions!
