Help with light and bus friendly pram

[varignet]

Hi, this is my first thread.
I'll become a dad soon, I've been spending the last 1-2 months going to shops and browsing online for a compact and light travel system but unfortunately am still totally lost!

Our requirements are:

• it'll be used from birth
• it has to be reversible
• very light ( ideally less than 9-10Kg total )
• compact for city life ( travelling via bus and crowded coffee shops )
• price point is not a problem (within reason!).

With weight and width in mind my shortlist is:
-bugaboo bee ( a little too flimsy)
-bugaboo cameleon3
-mountain buggy mini (perhaps non-reversible?)
-baby jogger city mini (perhaps non-reversible?)
-uppababy cruz (a tad too heavy and bulky)
-silvercross waifarer (a tad too heavy)

I then went back to the mumsnet review section and was flodded by at least 20 more potential models... HELP! :)

Thanks
Luca

[chocolatemartini]

I love my cam3, and have taken it on buses loads, although now my son is older I do go for a narrower foldable stroller for bus journeys. It's a lovely pram

[charlyn]

The Mamas and Papas urbo and Sola city would meet those requirements, might be worth a look

[varignet]

Thanks for the tip chocolatemartini, the cameleon is at the top of the list right now.
I was wondering, In order to use it from birth, does the seat flatten down ( to be use in conjunction with a footmuff ) or is the carrycot option absolutely required?

[chocolatemartini]

The cameleon comes with the carrycot included, then after 6 months you take the fabric off the frame and change it for the seat fabric.

[likeit]

Bugaboo Bee 100%. It's perfect and absolutely faultless from my experience.

[juniorcakeoff]

Get a sling/baby carrier
Then at 6 months (or later if light baby) get a 2nd hand maclaren techno

I travelled the bus, trains and underground (in London) every day for many years with my children when small and was constantly irritated by people with massive prams. They don't fit in the area on buses where prams go properly - Maclaren/other small umbrella fold are the only ones that go behind the pole and, if no, room or the train fold up really easily. No pram designed for newborn fits in well or folds up easily - you really need a baby carrier at first.

[Lovescourgettes]

I have had a bugaboo bee and a Maclaren Turbo. Both are great for bus hopping but I prefer the incredible responsive steering on the bee plus it wears much better than the Turbo, the rain cover is much easier to pop on and it is less prone to tip.

[RandomMess]

Bee plus, I know it seems flimsy but they are well built and have a great warranty on them so fear not.

[varignet]

Thanks for your help!

sling wouldn't be an option for us because my wife is on the short side and she would prefer a pram. I love the design of the cameleon3 but it does look a bit too big. Regarding the bee I tried it at the store but didn't quite like it.
I'll check out the sola and urbo at the M&P store hopefully over the weekend.

I've added two babyjoggers to the list, the baby jogger city mini 4 wheels and versa but am confused regarding what options I would have to use the city mini and the versa from birth.
The versa is reversible but it requires a separate carrycot from what I understand, what about the city mini? the baby jogger website doesn't help :)

[Ihateparties]

The bee is the small parent facer. Everything else is bigger, that has basically been the choice over recent years. The easywalker mini is the next smallest if that might be more your thing. Otherwise.. bigger is the way to go.

I would look into a sling too, regardless of size, strength etc. Carrying a newborn is considerably less weight than a full term pregnancy after all...

[DisneyAddict88]

definitely the bugaboo bee - hated mine at first but so easy on buses, very light, dd loves it and parent faced for 18 months (just turned her round today) - I had a bugaboo frog before (older version of cameleon) and was much bigger and heavier - I had to sell as couldnt carry up to my flat and was bulkier on buses etc although the carrycot was handy as suitable for overnight sleeping.

theres also the stokke scoot which is similar look to bee although I haven't seen in person so cant comment on what it's like.

the baby jogger city mini is quite tall - wife might struggle if she's petite? can be used from birth as is or can get a soft carry cot inside or a larger one that clips on frame. however the gt version has adjustable handlebars

the versa looks nice in person - have heard of people using a newborn support nest to make it suitable from. birth or there's the carrycot.

also baby jogger do the select which faces both ways can use carrycot, carseat. also the option to turn into a double if u needed at a later date.

[DisneyAddict88]

oh and if u need info on prams there are alot of facebook groups dedicated to various pram makes. ive used bugaboo ones and baby jogger and always had good advice and help.

and baby jogger are very good if u email them

[Ihateparties]

Stokke scoot.. good call disney totally forgot about that! Has its own issues (no leg support at all, lie flat or upright, no inbetween) but it's got the small footprint like the bee and a sturdier feel. There's the yoyo 0+ too but if you dislike the bee it's similar. It's all subjective, you never know.. might be worth a look?

[chocolatemartini]

The scoot is really heavy, although it does have a small footprint and a small fold. My DS wouldn't nap in it, he just couldn't get comfortable. Also I thought it handled badly. No comparison with the cam3, which is lighter than the scoot and better in every respect except the fold. From what you've said if I were you I'd go for the bee or the cam

[callamia]

I'm small and have a bewilderingly chunky three month old (I've seen perfectly healthy six months old who are smaller). I use a carrier for most journeys around London (and almost always an offered a seat), but have a BJCM too. I really would recommend trialling a carrier - it's the best if I'm just going into town for lunch or something.

I'm still using either the carrycot or ucar seat, and it works brilliantly and is light enough for me to manage on my own. It also fits nicely on buses. The bee sounds like it might suit you best though. Choosing a pram was about the most difficult decision we made - good luck!

[SweepTheHalls]

I covet the Mountain Buggy Cosmopolitan, which seems to match your list perfectly ( and I will have when I finally get pregnant with just 1more!)

[chocolatemartini]

I agree, carriers are so much easier for public transport. Being small shouldn't make any difference, but the choice of carrier makes loads of difference. Some of them hang the weight of the baby off your shoulders and others distribute it so well that a small parent can still carry a big two year old. There's a lot of good advice on the mn sling board if you want to get one. My son wouldn't tolerate a pram for ages so it's a nice option to have in addition to a pram even if you don't want to use it as your main form of transport.

[Artandco]

Baby zen yoyo 0+. Parent facing 0-6 months. Folds small enough to bag like bag on shoulder, so easy in tubes/ buses if busy and need to fold. Super light and fits in hand luggage size for all airlines so can take on a plane. Handle folds down to save space on bus/ in cafe. Out end of jan.

[varignet]

Thanks so much for all your help.

We went again today to JL and have to admit the bee is growing on me! (and my wife loves it). Any other option felt a little too heavy or bulky.
The yoyo sounds very promising too!
I admit I haven't been to M&P and haven't tried the urbo/sola just yet, but at the moment the bee is def. our favourite, also thanks to the incredible number of posts about it on mumsnet (and the amount of bees roaming on the streets).

One question, in the case we went ahead with the bee,
I found online two different types of bugaboo cocoons,
the bugaboo baby cocoon light
and the bugaboo bee plus cocoon .
Would they both be compatible with the bee plus?

Same goes for the carseat adapters, would the
bugaboo bee car seat be compatible with the bee plus?

(you know...bee vs bee plus) :)
Thanks and goodnight
L

[Josie314]

I also live my bugaboo bee. It was great for buses, but also light enough to be carried up and down steps by one person if needed. Came in really handy when I had to catch the tube! I've been using it daily for 18 months now, and it is still in great shape.

[RockCrushesLizard]

I have a bee, and it really is much littler and lighter than any of the competition. Also it's really manoeuvrable, miles ahead of all the others I've pushed.

Like you, I did loads of research before buying, and after 15 months of use, still think I made the right choice.
The cocoon was brilliant, DD even slept in it at night at first. The two choices are because one is summer weight, one winter. We had the winter one, then took the front of it off when it got warm.

As regards bee/bee+, my understanding is that the bee+ was the old model, so all the new ones are bees. And I have those adapters - they fit the bee!

Last thing, don't discount a carrier - we are in London, and the tube/train is just not do able with a pram. I found it gave me much more freedom to use one, hassle free. I'm 5'2 for the record, and the weight was no issue, you're so used to lugging the baby around all day anyway, it's ends up feeling lighter than having her on your hip.

[StairsInTheNight]

I used my McLaren techno from birth with a fleece liner. I don't drive so needed an easy folding model. I loved it and had no problems, some of the buggies I see on the buses look impossible to fold! And so bulky!

[varignet]

Thank you all for your help.

We ended up purchasing online the bugaboo bee , the cocoon, adapters and maxicosi pebble, looking forward for it to arrive!

7 weeks away and counting down.

Have a great start of the week
Luca

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

You made a good choice, I have a Bee and love it. The cocoon is very snug and we are still using our Bee with our nearly two year old.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Good move. I came on to say Bee bee bee bee bee bee! It's perfect for what you want.