Yet another pushchair dilemma...HEEELLLPPP!

[ThinkPinkStink]

I'm sorry that I can't find the answer to my question without starting a new thread, I know that MN is brimming with pushchair advice - but we just can't make-up our minds.

Every time I make a decision it is undermined by reading a bad review, or looking at the exact spec of the basket...

Wish list

• Be suitable from birth until she doesn't need to be in a pushchair anymore
  
• Be light, easily foldable and suitable for London (easy to get on and off
  buses/tubes/kerbs)
  
• Have a good size basket (we don't have a car, so I'd like to fit a good load of
  shopping in there)
  
• Have a carseat adaptor (we will travel in friends'/family cars from time to time)
  
• Cost up to £600
  
  We will also have a baby carrier (Baby Bjorn style).
  
  First we chose the Silvercross Reflex - light, manoeuvrable, good reviews, good value (it comes with all the bits and bobs), but it's a bit flimsy feeling and has a small basket:
  
  www.silvercrossbaby.com/our-products/prams-and-pushchairs/reflex/
  
  Then we ordered the Silvercross Wayfarer (and then cancelled it) - a bit sturdier, but I read that the front wheels seize up, and it's hard to get up kerbs.
  
  www.silvercrossbaby.com/our-products/prams-and-pushchairs/wayfarer/
  
  Do I just need to bite the bullet and get an iCandy or Bugaboo?

[MrsHathaway]

** Be light, easily foldable and suitable for London (easy to get on and off
buses/tubes/kerbs)
** Have a good size basket (we don't have a car, so I'd like to fit a good load of
shopping in there)

I think these are kind of mutually exclusive, aren't they?

I think you should look at Phil & Teds. It does everything but the car seat adaptor - and it's really unsuitable to transport a baby in a car seat except in a car so it isn't something you should plan for if at all possible.

Actually, it may have a car seat mode. I'm not sure; we didn't use it. In any case please don't put the car seat on the wheels when you don't need to - use it to get the car seat to the car from home but not while you're out and about.

[ThinkPinkStink]

Thanks MrsH

I think these are kind of mutually exclusive, aren't they?

This is exactly what I've found...of course it makes logical sense, a big hard basket will never fold down to a small narrow folded chair.

But, aside from safety and comfort of the child, those are the two most useful things to me as they will allow me to get around town easily on my own (when DH is at work).

I guess looking at chairs with large but soft-baskets could be a good start.

I don't plan to use the carseat for day-to-day pushchairing - I'm aware that there is a two hour upper limit for time in a carseat, I see it more as:

• Go in a car somewhere (with friend/family/taxi)
  
• Take chair chassis
  
• Use car seat in chassis for short trips - around supermarket, into town for coffee etc.... not for all-
  day-every-day
  
  
  I'll take a look Phil & Teds - I have seen them online, but see them so rarely in real life that I didn't know if there was some terrible design flaw with them that I hadn't heard about.
  
  It is hard! #firstworldproblem
  
  Thanks again.

[AndersArms]

We have just bought a Joie Chrome which has a decent sized basket and folds pretty easily. Not sure about manoeuvrability yet but might be worth looking at OP?

[DorotheaHomeAlone]

Ooh im the first baby jogger fan here! It does all the things you've asked for and is way under your budget. You can set aside the extra for a really light stroller which almost wants after about 18m anyway (much easier on the tube).

[DorotheaHomeAlone]

Alms everyone wants

[DorotheaHomeAlone]

Almost. Grr ffs.

[GipsyDanger]

I just got a maxi cosi loola, from the outlet site for £185
It's a touch on th heavy side but collapses very tidy. Suitable from birth and part of a travel system.

[MyKingdomForBrie]

Icandy Raspberry? Unknown it's Icandy but starts from £500 ish I think

[MyKingdomForBrie]

*i know it's Icandy

[ineedwine99]

Not sure if it's too big for London transport but we've just bought the Mountain Buggy terrain. Suitable from birth as lays flat, suitable up to either 4 or 5 years of age, can buy adaptors so it takes the Mountain Buggy car seat/a Phil and Teds car seat/a Maxi Cosi plus another couple of brands.
It's got a good basket with a zip-able top, a fair few little pockets dotted around inc drinks holders and it collapses with one hand.
Very manouverable given it's an off roader/jogger. They also do one called the Urban Jungle, very similar to ours but lighter, different suspension/no spare rear wheels (which you don't need in the city as our spares are 16 inch!)
I think pushchair was £479, adapters £30 (ish) storm cover £29 (very good quality)
No baby yet but so far i like it and it's had great reviews

[Equimum]

No real advice, but if you catch buses lots, Mountain Buggies aren't much good. They are quite long so don't fit very well. We have the urban Jungle and the basket is also quite small. We use it I the countryside/ rural town and love it, but it can be a bit bulky in towns.

[AppleMagic]

Id get a baby jogger city mini or bugaboo bee and live with the slightly smaller basket. I've had both and managed to carry a reasonable amount of shopping by filling the basket with heavy stuff and hanging lighter stuff from handlebars.

[Notso]

Baby jogger either city mini GT, or the versa.

[RatOnnaStick]

Does the Babyjogger Zip have a big enough basket for you?

[EvansAndThePrince]

Have a look at the chicco urban too, I've found it great because at that stage where you're not sure if they should be in the carry cot or the seat, you can adjust it there and then as its all the same piece (rather than having a separate carrycot)

[SleepymrsE]

We have the uppababy vista which is great but I know a few people who went for the uppababy cruz which is a bit smaller and easier for public transport, is cheaper than the vista but still has benefits like a big basket.

[FizzyFeet]

Another recommendation for the uppababy cruz here, too. Folds easily, nice big basket (esp when using the seat not the carrycot), has car seat adaptors and narrow wheelbase. Only drawback is that it won't convert to a double pushchair if you have a second child. And it's not wonderful over very bumpy terrain.

The basket isn't rigid but it is sturdy; I find it easier for getting things in and out of than a rigid one as it has a bit of give. We do a lot of shopping in it! Haven't tried it on the tube but it fares well on buses and trains as it is narrow and manoeuvrable.

[ThinkPinkStink]

Thank you all so much! This has been so so helpful.

I'll have a good look through them all! More in a bit!

[Nan0second]

Baby jogger city mini or gt. Brilliant brilliant pushchair.

[2nds]

Be mindful that some buggies with big baskets have absolutely shit weak wheels. You really need to go to a shop that sells a selection of buggies and push a few display models around to see what you like.
Here's another thing, do you want parent facing, away facing or one that can change? Ones that can be changed are good because if the sun is shining into babies face when away facing you can turn it to parent face so no real need for those pesky umbrellas a lot of the time.

Like I said go to a shop, but if you don't want to pay shop prices you can always order online if it's cheaper.

[Hufflepuffin]

I'd get a baby jogger city mini (or zip) and a set of hamster bags for the shopping. The city mini gt has better handling off-road and a adjustable handle bar.

The baby jogger versa (and I imagine its replacement the premiere) are probably too big for hopping on and off buses. Folds easily and compactly though. The versa is heavy but I believe the premiere won't be.

The zip basket is too small for a full shop. If there's a supermarket near you though, then you always have the option to sling the baby and pile the pushchair with shopping.

[Hufflepuffin]

The cruz ticks all your boxes (and is lovely) but I think I've heard it's hard to carry when folded? So not ideal for on and off buses of you have to fold it.

[Artandco]

Babyzen yoyo is my suggestion. Folds so small that on busy buses you can still get on and fold pram by your feet, with baby on lap. Instead of waiting for a bus in rain with space for pram

Takes car seat, parent faces 0-6 months, light weight ( can carry like a bag on tube). The basket actually holds an OK amount but not huge. However I suggest getting a rucksack for shopping anyway, heavy weights in even large pram baskets buckle the frame over time and can break baskets. Use just for bulkier but lightweight things.

I also suggest you return babybjorn sling and get one that won't kill you back and shoulders in 10 mins. Basically any soft structured carrier, like boba, ergo, Tula, etc brands

[Sephipops]

I second artandco with the sling advice. Get a stretchy wrap for the newborn bit as they're likely to be too small for the structured ones like a tula.

[idontlikealdi]

Baby jogger city mini.