pushchairs for grandparents

[gaijingirl]

Hello all - I've been reliably informed this is the place to ask the experts!! I'm getting my knickers in a twist trying to solve this one..

I want to buy two pushchairs/strollers for my 6 month old baby girl. Whilst I'm at work her grandparents (on both sides) will be looking after her a day a week. All grandparents are late 60s-70s and whilst v. fit and healthy there are some problems with stiff hands/joints (years of typing!). We have a Maclaren XLR and they all (and to be honest us too) find it difficult to operate the harness buckle.

I'm planning to buy on ebay and I'm not in any huge rush so can wait for the right model/s to appear.

They don't have to be the same model or anything and each pushchair will get used no more than 1x a week and is unlikely to be pushed further than a mile a day - so it doesn't have to be some off-road super buggy!

They need basically to be:

light-ish and easy to push
easy to operate (for weak wrists)
easy to get on and off London buses (this is v. important)
Can fit into a small car boot if necessary (although this is the least important as with their freedom passes they tend to use the buses anyway!)
Shopping storage would be nice..

Any recommendations/advice very gratefully received.

Thanks

[RobynLou]

buggy buckles get easier with use...
my mums got the mothercare stroller, dead cheap and light, fine for a day a week.

[mamatomany]

If they have stiff hands and joints how will they do up her car seat in an emergency or her highchair ? Just a thought are they actually able to keep her safe ?

Back to the point, quinny zapps are light and about £50 on e bay.

[BettyButterknife]

My mum bought a Maclaren Volo for use when she has my son one day a week. Her hands are a little arthritic but she seems to manage the harness ok.

Depends whether your DD wants to nap in the buggy though, as Volos don't recline.

I think they're about £70 new - mum's very happy with her purchase!

[LadyBiscuit]

The Volo buckle is really hard to operate - I think you'd be better off with something with a standard 5 point harness - it's the squeezing both the front and the back at the same time which my parents have struggled with.

mamatomany - it is perfectly possible to care for children extremely well with arthritic hands

The ageism on MN really pisses me off at times

[MilkNoSugarPlease]

mamtomany- OP didn't say they have problems with all harness FFS....FWIW charge has a mac. quest and I can never get the bloody thing open...

OP,the slightly older Maclaren XT's like this one still have the 5 point harness with the standered buckle

[mamatomany]

Milknosugar - FFS - is that necessary ?
I'd hardly say the XLR is an unusually difficult buckle compared to a carseat for example, just raising a concern for the OP's child if that's ok with you ?

[gaijingirl]

Re whether or not my parents and parents in law are capable of caring for my child I feel sufficiently qualified to make that judgement for myself and I'm perfectly happy with my decision. Thank you however, for your concern.

With regards to my question:

Ladybiscuit - yes I think it is the squeezing front and back at the same time that's the problem (not an issue with the car seat). I think that they'll get used to it if necessary but I'd like to make life as easy for them as possible (whilst obviously ensuring the safety of my daughter for those who may be concerned).

Just to reiterate also - the bus thing is important - Iknow, from my own Maclaren it's fine on a bus - is this the same for a Quinny Zapp?

Also - as I may well buy from ebay 2nd hand - it could be a more substantial item than the cheaper strollers - although they're an option too.

[MrsDimples]

"f they have stiff hands and joints how will they do up her car seat in an emergency or her highchair ? Just a thought are they actually able to keep her safe ?"

When my baby was born my Carpal Tunnel was so bad I couldn't even lift my baby up in a morning, let alone set the pram up. I could easily put her in the car seat or sling though.My health care providers didn't seem to think it was a problem . . .

[iskra]

Glad it's not just me who can't work the Maclaren XLR harness! That thing is impossible! I have a Maclaren 4 seasons & it has an ordinary, easily worked harness buckle.

[MilkNoSugarPlease]

Mamatomany, Sorry, been a crap week and I'm in a crap mood...wasn't personal...sorry again

[Multimummy]

The newer style Maclaren harness are quite hard to operate - great for not letting your toddler undo them - but even I (and I have strong hands) have struggled!)... and besides my toddler did a houdini and got out the snuggly fitted harness without even undoing the buckle anyway

An older Maclaren volo - pre new shiny buckles - the one with the all black or red mesh seats are easy to fold and unfold - great for public transport and light and the older harnesses were simpler and easier to operate.

The Micralite harnesses are easy - and a nice fit too. You'd get a bit of a recline on the micralite for nap time too. sometimes they're on ebay 2nd hanbd for £40 ish!

[5inthebed]

What about a Baby Jogger City Mini? They're great prams, harness is really easy and a doddle to push.

[Multimummy]

Yes, baby Jogger Prams are so easy to fold and unfold and their harnesses are easy too. Plus they're good for public transport and also comfy and lay flat for nap time. A Really good option for your needs.

[nicolamumof3]

i think a baby jogger too? or a quest with an older style buckle?

the maclarens with the newer round buckle definitely do have a knack to them, i know my own mother (by no means elderly or infirm etc!!) prefers the normal style harness tbh. Prams/babies/buses are tricky combo's at the best of times aren't they.

wouldn't recommend zapp for ease of folding for bus or the age of your dd.

[gaijingirl]

Thank you so much everyone. We lucked out and got a 2nd hand 3 wheeler for free today for my inlaws. Needs a little bit of cleaning but we've spent the evening washing and polishing and it looks like it's going to be good. Definitely not a bus pram but they're more drivers. I'm going to look into a baby jogger for my mum - sounds great.