How to know if your baby is too big for their pram & when to switch from a bassinet to a seat

YOU’VE got a shiny new pram ready for your new arrival.

But as any new parents, or parents-to-be know, most new prams come with tonnes of various attachments – including different seat options.

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However, how are you meant to know when you should swap your baby’s seat?

Newborns will start in a bassinet, as it’s important for them to lie completely flat.

It’s also very important for the bassinet to have sides.

So while some pushchairs do have the capability to lie flat, they aren’t suitable for very young babies, as they don’t have sides to protect them from rolling and protect them from the weather.

As with moses baskets though, some babies – especially ones that are long at birth – can look as though they’re ready for the next stage up when their feet start approaching the end of the bassinets.

But it’s important not to move them up too soon.

Babies should stay in a bassinet until at least three months and preferably until “approximately six months or until they start to roll over and get up on all fours” – most manufacturers state.

Weight wise, the majority of bassinets are suitable for babies up to 9kg, according to experts Kinderkraft.

This is usually when they are five to six months old.

Once they reach the appropriate milestones, and weight, you can transfer your child into a pushchair seat.

With most prams, you’ll be able to start with this seat facing you, before eventually turning it to face outwards.

And if you invest in a pram that is built to last – with different seats for different stages – you can expect to make full use of it until your child is ready to get rid of it altogether.

Once again, there are no set guidelines for when a child should stop using a pram – it’s usually down to the parents.

But most people stop their child from using a pram or pushchair at around three years old.

“The transition should start at about three when your child is able to walk confidently and understand your directions,” the pros at Mom Loves Best said.

“This might take a little patience and perseverance on your part — your child may not take to it right away.

“A gradual process of short walks combined with time in the pushchair could help your youngster adjust to the change — with your sanity left in tact.”