Noordi Journal · 28 September 2026 · 7 min read
Short answer: Start with your days, not the catalogue. Choose a pram that lets a newborn lie flat, suits the ground you walk on most, fits your boot, stairs and hallway, and has a seat unit your child can grow into. Then check the safety standard, the warranty and the return policy. Everything else is a matter of taste.
Buying a first pram can feel like a very big decision made with very little information. Shops are full of numbers, names and features you did not know existed a month ago. This checklist is here to make it quieter. Ten questions, in the order that tends to matter most, and an honest note on what each one means in daily life.
1–3: Where will you walk, and how will your baby lie?
1. Your everyday ground. Picture a normal week. Smooth pavements and a café? Cobbles, park gravel, a forest path at the weekend? Rough ground asks for larger wheels and real suspension; city life asks for easy steering and a smaller footprint. We look at this trade-off in all-terrain pram vs city stroller, and at how springs and shock absorbers actually work in pram suspension explained.
2. A flat lying position from birth. Newborns need to lie flat. The NHS notes that pushchairs are only suitable for young babies if the seat reclines fully so the baby can lie flat. A carrycot does this naturally; some lightweight strollers do it with a fully reclined seat.
3. Room in the carrycot. Look at the inner length and width, not only the outside. In a cold climate your baby will spend months in a snowsuit or a sleeping bag, and a little extra space keeps them comfortable. Check the ventilation, too: a carrycot should stay fresh on a mild afternoon, not only warm on a frosty one.
4–5: What happens after the carrycot, and in the car?
4. A seat unit to grow into. Once your child can sit up steadily on their own, they move to the seat. Check that it can face you and the world, reclines for naps, has a 5-point harness and is approved for the weight your child will reach. Our guide on when to switch from carrycot to seat unit covers the signs to look for.
5. Car seat, or not. If you drive often, a pram that accepts an infant car seat on its frame can make short trips simpler. If you rarely drive, you may never need it. The difference between a 2-in-1 set and a 3-in-1 travel system is explained in 2-in-1 vs 3-in-1 prams, and the car seat standard itself in i-Size car seats explained.
6–7: How heavy is it, and where will it live?
6. The weight you will lift. You will lift the pram more often than you imagine: into the boot, up the steps, onto a train. The chassis weight is what you lift when folding; the total with the seat is what you push. A heavier pram often rides more softly; a lighter one is easier to live with in a flat on the third floor.
7. The fold and the space. Measure your boot, the hallway and the lift before you buy, and try the fold yourself if you can. Ask whether the seat can stay on when folding, whether the wheels come off, and whether the folded pram stands on its own.
| Fjordi V.2 | Aqua V.2 | Sia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | 2-in-1 pram | 2-in-1 pram | Lightweight stroller |
| From birth in | Carrycot, 81 × 37 cm | Carrycot, 81 × 37 cm | Seat fully reclined, 80 cm lying length |
| Chassis weight | 7.8 kg | 9 kg | — |
| Weight with seat unit | 12.1 kg | 13.6 kg | 5.9 kg |
| Up to | 22 kg | 22 kg | 4 years / 22 kg |
| Car seat | With adapters | Memory adapters | Not compatible |
8–9: Will it handle the weather and the everyday?
8. Weather and fresh air. A rain cover, a mosquito net and a canopy you can move against low sun are small things that decide whether you go out at all. One safety note matters here: the Lullaby Trust advises never covering a pram with a blanket or cloth that stops the air flowing, as it can lead to overheating. Use a proper canopy, sunshade or parasol instead. For colder months, see dressing your baby for a winter walk and rainy-day walks.
9. The details you touch every day. Stand behind the pram. Is the handlebar at a comfortable height for both parents? Can you reach the brake easily and see it is on? Does the basket hold a jacket and the shopping? These small things shape a hundred walks.
- Handlebar: adjustable if two parents of different heights push
- Brake: easy to press, clear to see
- Basket: open enough to reach when the seat is on
- Front wheels: swivel for town, lock straight for rough ground
A good pram is the one that makes you want to go outside.
10: What stands behind it?
10. Standard, warranty, returns. In Europe, prams and pushchairs are tested to EN 1888; part 2 of the standard covers pushchairs for children above 15 kg up to 22 kg. Look for the standard in the product details, then read the warranty and return terms: how long, what is covered, and who pays for return shipping. A clear manual online is a good sign too. More in EN 1888 explained, and if you are weighing up a used pram, second-hand or new.
Where Noordi fits
We make three strollers for three kinds of days. None is right for everyone, and some families end up with two: a pram for everyday walks and a light stroller for travel, which we discuss in pram and travel stroller: do you need both?.
Noordi Fjordi V.2
For forest paths, gravel, sand and snow. A front-fork shock absorber and independent suspension on every wheel soften the path, and the THERMOCOT™ carrycot (81 × 37 cm) leaves room for a winter suit. Later, the seat faces both ways and lies flat. Made in Kaunas, Lithuania.
Noordi Aqua V.2
For weekdays in town and weekends outside. Soft 8″ and 12″ tyres, springs at the rear and shock absorbers mid-frame, and a memory mattress on a THERMOCOT™ pad. Memory adapters let the carrycot, seat or a car seat click straight in.
Noordi Sia
For travel, buses and small boots. A 5.9 kg carbon frame that folds with one hand to 62.5 × 48.5 × 27 cm and stands on its own. From birth with the seat fully reclined, up to 4 years or 22 kg.
Still unsure? Compare the three side by side or answer a few questions in Find your Noordi. Every Noordi comes with free EU delivery, 14-day returns and a 2-year warranty.
Frequently asked questions
When should I buy my first pram?
Many parents choose during the second or third trimester, so there is time to try the fold, measure the boot and have it ready before the birth. There is no fixed rule; give yourself enough time to decide calmly.
Can a newborn use a stroller instead of a carrycot?
Yes, if the seat reclines fully so the baby lies flat, as the NHS explains. Check the manufacturer’s age guidance for the lie-flat position.
Is a heavier pram safer?
Not in itself. Weight usually comes from larger wheels, suspension and a sturdier carrycot, which can mean a softer ride. Safety comes from meeting the standard and being used as the manual describes.
Do I need a 3-in-1 travel system?
Only if you drive often and like moving a sleeping baby from car to pram in the car seat. Many 2-in-1 prams can accept a car seat later with adapters.
What should I test in a shop?
Fold and unfold it, lift the chassis, push it with one hand, check the handlebar height and press the brake. Five minutes of doing tells you more than any spec sheet.
In the end, the right pram is the one that fits the way your family already moves: the path from the front door, the Sunday walk, the trip that starts close to home and goes a little further than planned. Choose calmly, and then go outside.
Sources: NHS — What you’ll need for your baby, The Lullaby Trust — hot weather advice, BSI — EN 1888-2:2018. Checked September 2026.
Made for the way you wander.
Three strollers, one calm way of getting outside. Find the one that fits your family’s days.
More from the Journal
All-Terrain Pram vs City Stroller: Which Do You Actually Need?
Wheels, suspension, weight and fold: a calm way to choose between an all-terrain pram and a city stroller, starting from the paths you walk every week.
2-in-1 vs 3-in-1 Prams (Travel Systems) Explained
What a 2-in-1 pram and a 3-in-1 travel system really include, who benefits from the car seat on the chassis, and why the carrycot is still best for longer walks.
EN 1888 Explained: What the European Pram Safety Standard Means
EN 1888 is on almost every pram box in Europe. Here is what the standard covers, what labs actually test, and what it cannot tell you about a pram.