Which buggy for fourth floor flat?

[Lisalambert]

hello

I am having a bit of a dilemma choosing which pushchair to buy - our baby is due in early Jan. We live in greater London so need something that will be ok on public transport - We also live in a fourth floor flat (no lift) and we're not going to be able to move in the near future :-(

My plan is to get a lightweight travel system (one that looks good) and leave the chassis in our car, which we park outside on the street. I have also bought a baby Bjorn which will no doubt be essential.

I am considering:
Bugaboo Bee - v lightweight but worried that the cocoon provides little support and a proper carrycot will be easier when carrying the baby from flat to car to collect the chassis. Also it looks hard to get the baby in and out, which I'll have to do at my car.

ICandy strawberry/ cherry - lightweight - Although an additional carrycot needs to be bought and we don't have much storage space. Still a strong contender.

Silver cross surf - I love the way this looks, it's lightweight and looks easy to fold down/ attach the seat. Plus there's only one seat from birth to toddler stage. I know the shopping basket isn't great though.

Does anyone have any advice for me as I'm confused and don't want to make things too difficult for myself. Is anyone in a similar situation who can tell me how they manage?

Thanks in advance
Lisa

[OrangoCat]

Hi Lisa, we have a similar situation, third floor flat, no lift, not London though. We've gone for a Baby Jogger City Mini, the 4 wheel one. Is v lightweight, folds up small, really easy to fold and we got the Compact carrycot which is also very light. I think compared to your other options it's not as nice-looking though, which might be a factor. Also, baby not due for another fortnight so I can't give you any advice on how it's actually working out yet. Can let you know in a couple of months!

[Lisalambert]

Hello - thanks for responding - it's good to hear I'm not the only one who has to climb a lot of stairs. I haven't actually looked at the baby jogger but it sounds like a good option. Let me know how you get on once the baby is born and good luck with everything.

Thanks

Lisa

[fuckityfuckfuckfuck]

I live upstairs and tbh I think if you have a sling then your best bet is to go straight to a top of the range stroller, a Maclaren XT would be my choice. It's not rearfacing, but its lightweight and can easily be lifted up stairs with baby in situ. It'll last you til they no longer need a buggy too. I think the ICandy cherry is actually quite heavy.

[Tiggywunkle]

The Baby Jogger City Mini (with or without carrycot) would serve you really well to be honest. If you ever need to fold it to get on a bus then you can fold it one handed with LO under one arm / holding your hand. Longer term you will almost certainly need a better sling as carrying a ten month old 9kg(?) wriggly baby up and down the stairs will be hard! Or you could use a car seat - transfer baby at the car to carry them up - it would be heavy but at least you can put it down to have a rest!

[aswellasyou]

Another option worth exploring is a Micralite Toro or Fastfold Superlite with a carrycot. The Toro lies flat so could be used as it is rather than using the carrycot sometimes, but the Superlite is very light. They both have big back wheels so you can drag them upstairs easily if necessary.

[Lisalambert]

Hi ladies - thanks so much for all of this advice. I hadn't actually looked at any of the models that you suggest so good to throw some other suggestions into the mix. I'm off shopping on Friday so will try these out and let you know how I get on x

[TribbleWithoutACause]

If you go for the BCMJ you could get a phil and teds cocoon to pad it out a bit.

[codandchipstwice]

I used to live ina third floor flat in greater London and didn't drive, and had the Micralite fastfold with carrycot - which was fab. Carrycot unclipped easily to lift sleeping bubs upstairs, could use with maxi cosi car seat if going out with others with a car - and dead easy to bump up the stairs.

We also had a maclaren techno which was easier to carry upstairs with ds in (as it was narrower so easy to carry - micralite was easiest done in two parts) - but I preferred having him facing me in micralite cot.

Superlite better now as has much bigger recline, we used the mac totally for a few months when he was too big for carrycot but to slumped for pushchair (but then he didn't sit til 10 months, a baby who could sit would be fine in the buggy bit much earlier)

[urbandaisy]

We've got the iCandy Peach in a similar London situation, and we actually keep the chassis in the boot of the car rather than lugging it up and down the stairs.

The carrycot is really useful for daytime naps and for taking him up and down from the car. We're lucky in that we have off-street parking at our house which makes the setup a bit easier, though.

[nicolamumof3]

I have a micralite superlite with carrycot, and it is abosultely fab. DD is my fourth child and i find this a great pram. I've just tried her in the Bee and really not sure if i like it. the push not as nice as micralite at all. I will shortly be selling my micralite carrycot actually. She's now 11weeks and i've used it daily love it.

[Grumpla]

I'd take the BabyBjorn back now and look at spending a bit more on really decent sling. BB may be fine for a newborn but will be wrecking your back within months - they do not (IMO) distribute the weight of a growing baby very well at all.

Looking at a "SSC" (soft structured carrier) like an Ergo or a mei tei (I made my own) would give you the option of carrying for much longer which is brilliant for public transport. Some people carry successfully well up to 3 years old - I have only recently stopped carrying my large 2yo as I am pregnant. Even if that seems a bit lentil-weaver-ish, a decent sling will take you well into buggy age (my DS outgrew
carrycot for his pram at about 4/5 months) then you won't have to lug a massive pram around - you can go straight for a stroller. Several lightweight ones are suitable from birth anyway so you would still have something to hang your shopping off if not going on the tube

[MilkNoSugarPlease]

Whichever one you choose, I'd be careful about the brakes it has, if they stick out like <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=maclaren+techno+brakes&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=653&tbm=isch&tbnid=ft8NM_abQRfFYM:&imgrefurl=strollersandprams.com/strollers/563/Maclaren-Techno-XT/review-1.html&docid=6HOkgl_WvYuvrM&w=800&h=599&ei=DAaSToCLI9K48gPop50s&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=763&vpy=285&dur=2538&hovh=194&hovw=260&tx=107&ty=87&page=3&tbnh=133&tbnw=184&start=50&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:20,s:50" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">these ones then be careful they don't stick out TO much as they'll catch on the stairs as you go up and down