Seeking Recommendations - Most practical purchase

[dmuk]

I thought I had narrowed down the list to two but not totally sure...

We are looking for a push chair / stroller solution we can use from day 1 to year 2/3.

We don't have a car but will use the chair whenever we're out and on public transport.

The short list so far:
Silver Cross Reflex
www.silvercrossbaby.com/pushchairs/reflex/black/

Maclaren Techno XT
www.mothercare.com/Maclaren-Techno-XT-Stroller-2013-Model---Black/560061,default,pd.html#q=techno%20xt

Silver Cross appears to come with all the accessories.

Would both be suitable for our needs?

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

I cant speak for the silver cross but I have the Maclaren XLR. Its similar to the XT andhas a soft carrycot option. Our model (not sure if they still do this) is also compatible with the Recaro Profi Plus carseat and had adaptors to click the carseat onto the stroller too.

We bought it for DD from birth and she is now past using it. We have it ready for DC2 due at the end of this month. It is in excelpent condition (wheels, seat, chassis etc all great). Only thing we need to replace is the rain cover which has a tear down one side from being shoved in and out of the basket.

I knew before buying it that it was The One I wanted, and it has not let me down at all. I have not needed a second stroller.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Should add we also use public transport (as often as we use our car) and it is very easy to get on and off the buses and metro trains.

[Ihateparties]

I think your choices are entirely suitable. Only because I don't like pushing two handled/umbrella strollers I would also consider the babyzen yoyo 0+ and things like the m&p armadillo city and the red kite zumi. Also the bee and easywalker mosey. I have half an eye on the Phil and teds smart lux too but I haven't actually seen one.

[dmuk]

Thanks. Seems like we need to take another visit to the shops!

Not certain how we should consider the weight of the chair. They seem to vary from 4 to 8 kilograms. A heavier chair may be harder to carry about but I wonder if it is easier to push?

We know the Silver Cross has a rear facing option as well.

The 'Maclaren Techno XLR Stroller' is on the list albeit accessories are an additional cost.

babyzen yoyo 0+

• Haven't heard of the brand. It does fold down quite small. Unsure if the lighter weight is a good or bad thing?
  

m&p armadillo city

• Again, light weight. Unsure about the front wheels being a hindrance.
  

red kite zumi

• We have ruled out three wheel chairs due to their higher likely hood of tipping forward.
  

Hmmm.

[Ihateparties]

Have you been and actually tried things out with a weight in, folding and unfolding, all that jazz? I never found it easy to forward face a small baby, none of mine were ever bothered but I struggled with it. Hugely dependent on how you will use your pushchair though as well as all sort of other factors.

If I wanted a suitable from birth pushchair and I used public transport often then I would definitely get a yoyo, small and light but also foldable while holding the baby. The only thing would put me off it is if I also did a lot of walking, in which case I would be looking for something with larger wheels etc.

[Squtternutbaush]

If you walk a lot 2 handles and small wheels will get annoying very quickly!

With 2 handles there's no flexibility in where your hands go so they're stuck in the same awkward position, they're awkward to steer with one hand if you need to use your phone or carry something and the small hard wheels jutterat every bump, stone or blade of grass.

Have you tried the XT? I bought one after reading amazing reviews on here and it was the worst pushchair I've ever owned! Crap suspension, clunky recline mechanism and very heavy for an umbrella stroller.

I'd look at something like the Britax B Agile, Baby Jogger city mini 4 or Baby jogger GT (3 wheelers don't tip as easily as you may think) as these would be good all rounders for public transport or walking. You can also get carrycots for each of these if you wish.

[Ihateparties]

I had a b agile with carrycot with dc3, really liked it although they're not the lightest to steer. Definitely sturdy enough for a lot of walking though. I agree that all 3 wheelers are not equally tippy, some are some really aren't and the city mini gt very much isn't. Umbrella strollers are more likely to fall backwards imo, especially with the seat fully reclined.

[moggle]

We chose a baby jogger city mini GT to try and get one pushchair that'll last the whole way through. Our friends got a Maclaren XT or XLR from birth and love it but the two handles would bother me. Their baby did look very snuggly in his buggy snuggle thingy even when small, although they used a sling quite a lot too when he was weeny, as we're planning to. The GT is super easy to push and I have done a few tip tests in mothercare and am happy with it.

Having said that we have ordered the carrycot as it's going to be a winter baby, so seemed cosier, and I wanted to be able to see the baby for the first few months at least. In my eyes I justified it as we'll be using the carrycot for the baby to sleep in downstairs during the day.

I think there's a possibility that when baby can't fit in the carrycot any longer I may not like the idea of forward facing my PFB, as parties says, but I've no way of knowing this now, and had to pick something!

[JessB2]

Have you tried the icandy raspberry? this is perfect from day 1 to at least three years. we've been using ours for nearly a month and absolutely love love love it. can't even begin to explain how practical it is and how easy it is to use :)

[Artandco]

I would look at the babyzen yoyo 0+ for sure. Folds smallest and is super easy to push. The newborn cocoon is cosy, and small fold means you can carry it down escalater like bag or tuck by feet on bus with baby in arms/ sling if full

We borrowed a MacLaren Xlr last year at friends and by the end of the week I wanted to throw it in the bin! So heavy and cumbersome to push ( we used a bugaboo cameleon usually)