The symbolism of the pram

I think when most women find out they are pregnant, one of the most exciting prospects of the coming months (aside from actually having a baby) is the excuse for shopping. So much shopping *drools*. Theres so many gizmos and gadgets, necessities and not so necesseties, the clothes, the toys, the cot, the pram. We all love buying baby clothes, and the smaller they are the cuter they get! Then there are all the slightly boring bits and bobs, then the nursery furniture (something I have had the pleasure not to bother thinking about yet), and most excitingly the baby carriage. Aside from the cot, it is the largest piece of baby paraphernalia you will own, and one everybody will see you parading your new bundle about the town in.

There are so many variations on prams and pushchairs available out there, it can feel a little bit daunting. I remember whilst my mum was pregnant with my sister we used to go baby-window-shopping every weekend, and she would carry a notepad and pen around in her bag to write notes and compare prices of all the ones she would try out in the shops. She also used the notepad for price comparisons on pretty much all the baby supplies but that obsession is another story. Whenever we met pregnant people or people with children (whether we really knew them or not) she would quiz them on their choice of baby transportation and scribble it all down like some sort of journalist. Her favourites tended to be the nifty modern types that were super convinient; she ended up with the Urbo from Mamas and Papas. But I always gravitated towards the pretty and traditional looking ones.

When I started to think about baby shopping I barely even looked at any before I stumbled upon the Silver Cross website and fell in love. I was actually just fantasizing about the prospect of a huge coachbuilt pram, a really old one, when i clicked on their site. They still make the coachbuilt ones to order, but they cost about £1250 for the Kensington model and £1450 for the Balmoral (pictured below).

Sigh.

I then settled on the modernised version, the Sleepover Elegance.

I love this pram dearly, it is my pride and joy and I feel proud that I saved up so much of my own money to buy it even though it was so expensive. For once in my life I wanted something beautiful and expensive that I didn't have to feel guilty about because I really did earn it. It is, however, THE most impractical baby transporting device in the world, despite all these mummy magazine awards it has supposedly won. Ok maybe it's not THAT bad, but it certainly is difficult.  It's large and takes quite some time to learn to manoeuvre as the wheels are fixed. You can't really fold it any smaller than it already is, the base goes flat but thats about it. So basically unless you drive a people carrier or a van or a flat bed truck, you have no hopes of taking it anywhere.

But the suspension is beautifully bouncy and the cream leather superior.  It really is a show stopper. Where ever I go people stop and stare, specifically the older ladies,  who I like to call the Pram Pervs. I walk by and hear them whisper "ooh look what a beautiful pram!  It's a Silver Cross!". Some people just stroll on over and tell me it's lovely, and then hastily tack on the end that I also have a very cute baby. Yes, well I know you only came to nose. Good job I know my baby is cute and I don't need confirmation from you!

I don't know about the reasons most women make the pram choices they do, but I certainly know that my choice is an indulgence of my inner little girl who always dreamed of a big Silver Cross. Its what I though motherhood was all about when I was a child. I'm proud to push my baby around in such an iconic masterpiece!