Pram I Am

If you aren’t familiar with the term pram or know it only by name and not by reputation, let me share with you all the vintage goodness of the perambulator (what a mouth full) — better known as pram for short.

First, a little history… Before 1800, babies were seldom carried outside of the home. When transporting babies was necessary, they were swaddled in clothing or, among the upper classes, carried by nannies. Prams were introduced in the early 1800s and by mid-century, they had become status symbols across Europe and Northern America. It wasn’t until the 1920s that prams became common in all social groups. Although prams were quite popular in their day, the design of strollers and carriers became more modern and convenient — eventually causing the pram to become cumbersome and obsolete.

So you might be wondering, “Okay, they’re vintage and really cool, but what could possibly be the practical use for an oversized vintage baby carriage?”

Good question! And besides the fact that pushing one down the sidewalk will surely make you the hippest vintage mom on the block, the bonus answer is, “Think bassinet.”

Both of my babies slept in a bassinet beside our bed for the first three months (a great helper when you’re nursing). And the wheels on that bassinet were a must for wheeling the little ones from room to room during the day without disturbing their naps. In hindsight, I wish I had thought to use a pram in place of that bassinet. What a wonderfully vintage experience that would have been! (Not to mention the great photo opportunities!!) It wasn’t until years later that I remembered this vintage pram my mom had used with my baby brother…

Although the quality of the photo is not the best, this photo is priceless. My mother custom made the red gingham bedding for the pram and the red gingham chicken mobile that’s hanging above. How adorable is that? If you squint, you can even see the silhouette of my tiny baby brother (born April 1980). She wheeled him everywhere in this thing and even took him for an occasional stroll through the neighborhood.

It was kind of ironic when Krista (see previous post) sent me photos of the vintage pram she used for her son, Shiloh. The funny thing is, I had already started research on this post about vintage prams. (Great timing, Krista!) Krista also used Shiloh’s pram (below) in place of a bassinet and once he could sit up, it was a great photo op as well!

I love the embroidered vintage car below. It works perfectly with the vintage travel theme Krista used in Shiloh’s nursery.

So maybe you’re open to the possibilities of a pram? Many people are taking advantage of these vintage ‘hot rods’, and as much as I would recommend researching them as an option, always be careful in your selection of vintage items that will be used for baby. Be sure any pram you are considering is in excellent, sturdy condition and safe for baby.

For more information and a slew of gorgeous photos of vintage prams, the Prams Perfect Prams blog is a great resource. You won’t believe how many varieties there are.