iar: magazine P

P = Practical Parenting [September 2010 £2.95 pp 148]

I learnt: that if you're a new parent who is confused about what you should do with your baby, it probably helps to be good at logic problems. So... where should my baby sleep? ...you may choose to have your baby in a moses basket in your bedroom for the first few months (page 49), you should have your baby in it's cot in your bedroom for at least six months (page 75), you shouldn't have your baby in bed with you (page 75), it's never safe to have your baby fall asleep in your arms on the sofa or in a chair (page 75), you'll probably have your baby in a moses basket in your room for a few weeks before moving them into a cot in their own room (page 89).

Surprise #1: having a baby; it's as old as the hills, lots of people (animals, mammals) have done it, but it's still something that's pretty amazing/exciting/terrifying. So it was quite surprising that the entire magazine - even the 'what it's really like to give birth' article - was just so DULL. Maybe it's just trying to be reassuring to inaugural parents, or maybe it's just compulsory for magazines to be as bland as possible so they don't spark any interest in their readers. Maybe there's some regulations somewhere...

I have read 2/3 of this magazine and I have no idea what I will say about it. £90 for a pram? I remember someone telling me once that it was a very competitive area - walking down the street, mums and dads casually glaring at each other to see whose pram/penis is bigger/brighter/shinier than the other. Strange world.

Surprise #2: having read the rest of the magazine - apparently £150 and under is the 'budget' pram category!

 

approx £169

approx £360!!! :-O

probably £300+ (hard to tell - they're like Transformers!)

Would I buy again: no

Time taken to read: an hour in bed

Bought from: an online retailer through a very familiar computer :) Paid by credit card with the rest of my food.

Delivered by: Dave, who was very friendly and helpful and had thick white hair and long shorts.

[in case you were wondering... these are just some of the stunning colours available to match the silver or black chassis of your Oyster pram]