Please help, I have pushchair purchase phobia

[hester]

I went to John Lewis today to look at buggies, and ended up completely bewildered and despairing in the face of so much choice.

This happened to me with my last child, too - I ended up asking a wise MNetter to tell me what to buy, and she did, and I was ever so grateful. So please, could somebody who actually ENJOYS thinking about pushchairs give me some advice?

I'm about to adopt an 8 month old baby (will be nearer 10 months when she arrives). Apparently she is not at all keen on sitting in her buggy, and has mainly been in a sling. So I need a buggy that will be:

• seriously comfortable, to tempt her into it
• maybe back-facing, to allow me to entertain her as we go along/bond with her (this may sound a bit precious, but may be really helpful with an adopted child)
• if possible, decent-sized shopping basket
• good for walking and nipping on and off buses (I don't have a car)
• able to fold and not take too much storage space
• not too heavy
• ideally, not too expensive (I'm not looking Stokke Xplory or Bugaboo territory)

Can anyone help?

[highlystrung]

Congratulations on the adoption!! I know you said you didn't want Bugaboo but I've just ordered the new Bee Plus, which seems to meet all your needs perfectly and got £100 off it (got for £370) - which makes it not too hideously expensive (seen them for nearly £500 on some websites).

[Rockbird]

I would second the Bee. You could probably get a good deal on an original Bee which is still a damn fine pushchair.

Or an iCandy Cherry (Apple is fab but too cumbersome for buses methinks)

[Rockbird]

Forgot the congratulations bit!

Congratulations!

[BertieBotts]

I have heard really good things about the Britax Vigour. I know it's rear facing and I think it has a big shopping basket but apart from that I don't know much about it.

I have a Loola Up which I love, it's rear facing and the seat is really comfy, padded and also the fabric is reversible - one side snuggly suede-type stuff for winter, one side breathable material for summer. It also has a choice of 2 settings for the suspension. The straps are a bit of a pain, but you can attach reins as a harness instead which they like as it gives them freedom of movement to sit upright and lean on the bumper bar, etc. I think it's a great pushchair for the price.

I have used it on buses loads, but it depends on your local buses really - I couldn't fold it up quickly for example and hold an 8 month old. And it is quite big so it depends how big your pushchair spaces are.

If you want a recommendation of a sling do ask - there are loads of slings you can use for older babies/toddlers comfortably.

[itstimmytime]

Congratulations - that is wonderful news. I hope you and your wee one will be very happy together.
At that age, if you're going to be hopping on and off buses, I say Maclaren xt which lies completely flat so the wee one can nap when you are out here or triumph here with a sheepskin here and a nice buggy snuggle here. The triumph has a carry strap and folds tiny.
I'm on about 4 buses a day to nursery, then work and have a triumph. Can do it all one handed as long as you don't store stuff underneath...

[itstimmytime]

p.s. I have had both and now use triumph exclusively, but I am tall and the handles are a bit low, so from a pushing pov, the xt is better, and more luxurious for passenger! The Triumph is just more practical and less bulky.

[multimummy]

How about the "treasured" bee from Mothercare. You get 10% off at checkout if you order online before june 1st, and use code jlk to get another 10% off. £287!

[multimummy]

Oh - and I forgot - HUGE congratulations on your daughter too.
Do you also have a sling incase you need it? (thinking of a wrap sling or connecta carrier or something - that will enable you to carry her if that is what she is used to for a while). x

[hester]

Thank you SO much, everyone. I am going to write a list of all your suggestions, and go and check them out (yes, even the Bugaboo). Then see if i can find any cheap on Ebay...

BertieBotts and multimummy, I'd love some sling suggestions. I'd rather not use it, but I'd rather get backache than wrestle a distressed baby into a pushchair.

[pookamoo]

Congratulations, hester!
You#d be surprised about slings, you probably won't get back ache.
I suffered really badly from a bad back, but I still carry my DD in a sling and she's 18 months!

We have a kari-me, which is a wrap sling and is fantastic. No backache at all because it spreads the weight evenly.

I'm sure others will also have suggestions.

All the best, and I hope you have success with the pushchair too. (We went for an iCandy Apple, which is rear and forward facing but a bit hefty for the bus)

[Multimummy]

Wrap slings are comfy, but have a steep learning curve for the back carries especially. A patapum (see ebay) would be a great start. Much comfier than whatever it is your imagining. I can seriously carry my 2y old in one for over an hour without pain or discomfort! Another i'd recommend is the connecta baby carrier. V easy to use. Again, very comfy. Spreads the weight nicely. Get one with a sleep hood. Connecta integra i think they call them now.

[beautifulgirls]

I would just throw in the possibly consideration to have more than one buggy. You might find a lightweight Maclaren type foldable small buggy good for the bus trips etc, but a larger one to rear face for days when you are just walking places with her.

Congratulations on your new arrival - I hope things are nice and smooth for her transition to you.

[LoveJules3]

You could try the mothercare Xcursion, it's one of the few we considered for our ds! We eventually bought a vigour 4+, now called something else but i can't remember what . The bee we decided against cos it didn't seem big enough to see him past 18m and it was a lot to spend for so little time in it.

[bigbonus]

Hi Hester,

YES - that's just fab - well done you. Strollers ??? - icandy cherry in Mulberry colour!

Really light to carry, simple to fold, big shopping basket. You don't need a carry cot so the buggy will be well under £300, maybe you can haggle a bit ! - I'm suprised the big JL didn't show you that one.

[BertieBotts]

I wouldn't use a Kari Me for an 8 month old - that way backache does lie Stretchy wraps are great for newborns though if anyone else is lurking.

For an 8 month old I'd probably go for something easy to use and supportive like a Mei Tai or a Soft Structured Carrier - the main difference between these is that the SSCs have buckles and adjustable straps, and Mei Tais basically have straps which are just long strips of material which you have to tie.

A Mei Tai is probably more versatile, and tend to be prettier, but a SSC is easier to use. I have a Patapum (toddler size) which is one of the most supportive SSCs out there, and I love it. The toddler size is supposed to be for 12-18 months upwards, but you could definitely use it on your front for an 8 month old until she got too heavy for your front and then you can use it on your back. Or you could go to your back first (Instructions for back carry with younger child here). The other SSC recommended on that site (which seems really in depth) for comfort is the Boba 2G Toddler Carrier.

Bear in mind that most sling users have built up the muscles to carry their babies easily by carrying them a lot when they were tiny and slowly getting used to the heavier weight. So you might find it hard at first - the best way to minimise this is don't overdo it, maybe try to leave at least a day between each sling excursion if possible and stick to shorter sling wearing sessions at first. You will soon build up the muscles which help you carry comfortably though, and a good, supportive sling is probably even more important for this reason. If you go for a Mei Tai look for one with wide straps.

Good luck and congratulations

[hester]

Hmmm, cherry iCandy is in pole position at the moment...

BertieBotts, what a brilliantly informative and helpful post. Thank you so much. Thanks, everybody.