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Original poster

Prams as a status symbol/pram snobbery

182 replies

Mamamooligans · 08/08/2019 17:58

So today I was looking at prams and overheard a woman telling who I assume was her mother 'we're only looking at the icandys and bugaboos, I wouldn't be caught dead with anything else.'

Is this a common attitude? To be honest I don't really like the look of most icandys and bugaboos, I think the bucket seats look uncomfy. I don't get why anyone would rule out other brands, surely you want whats comfiest for baby and suits your lifestyle best? Not just based on brand or cost?

Do people choose prams as a status symbol? Do you judge people based on what pram they have?

OP posts:
Jinglejanglefish · 08/08/2019 18:28

We had a pretty cheap standard pram for the first seven months of DD's life, then a wheel broke and I bought a second hand Oyster and I absolutely love it. I would definitely get an expensive pram next time, probably second hand though. A pram is not just a pram, if it's crap it can really add unnecessary stress to your day.

MoreSlidingDoors · 08/08/2019 18:28

think anyone who spends a grand on a pram needs their head felt.

It was a much needed investment for my spine.

HattieRabbit · 08/08/2019 18:28

It’s 100% a thing
Just like handbags and cars 🙄🙈

I live in a very ‘middle class’ and ‘trendy’ city. Being ‘fashionable’ seems to be VERY popular with the ‘love island’ crowd around here. The fake nails, fake hair, instagramming their brunches types, and it all seems to circulate around spending a lot of money.

There’s a stigma to having ‘certain’ brands to ‘prove’ you belong and have money. But it makes me LOL as half the young women/couples I know who fit this, don’t own their houses and most either live with parents as ‘too expensive’ to rent or rent tiny cramped flats. Yet they strut around with mulberry handbags, £1200 pushchairs and fancy cars😂

One pointedly asked me the other day (I’m perceived as being particularly ‘well off’ due DH’s job) what pram I would be getting.

I shrugged and said I’d already bought a Mothercare one on sale for £189 as it has SUPER good user ratings and was lovely.

They honestly looked like they were going to faint.

‘It’s just a pushchair...and it’s going to get trashed by a toddler. No way I’m spending £1000’s on that 😂’

So many young people blame the government for the housing issues but honestly if you and your partner earn less than £40-£50k between you and you’re swanning around spending thousands on high end luxury items. YOU are your problem! Save up and spend better 😂

It also creates such a nasty judgmental culture where women get ostracised based on their decisions - if I’d said that to that ‘friend’ and she didn’t happen to know that DH and I make circa £100K a year... she’d have been a total bitch about it

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Crunchymum · 08/08/2019 18:31

My Bugaboo has been used almost daily for coming up to 7 years.

I've has the chassis replaced once (FOC even though it was out of warranty) and I've added a few bits and pieces with each child.... new footmuff and new hood... I've spent about £1400 all in. So approx 56p a day. And I'll probably get a few hundred back resale value.

managedmis · 08/08/2019 18:32

Yup, it's a thing.

I've experienced snobbery with regards to my Graco.

teenmumandsowhat · 08/08/2019 18:32

I admit i was a right pram snob with my first two, and nearly 20 different prams/pushchairs/ strollers over 5 years (14month age gap between dc’s, eldest didn’t walk till almost 18months)

However when I eventually have a 3rd, I shall be getting an UPPAbaby Vista, as every friend I know that has one, never needed another buggy, and lets face it the basket size is amazing!

EssentialHummus · 08/08/2019 18:32

There are people who choose, cars, clothes, houses, handbags, holidays as status symbols. I imagine the same people choose prams as status symbols.

This for me too. My biggest pram regret actually is not asking the opinions of the second/third time mums I did antenatal classes with, as they’d road-tested and dismissed plenty.

Crunchymum · 08/08/2019 18:35

PS: we haven't had a car for most of that time (live in Central London) and it's by far the most expensive thing I've every purchased.

Aa we knew it would be used so much, we decided to "invest"

We have a cheap stroller for holidays. Ironically have only been able to afford one holiday since buying a Bugaboo Grin

Princessfaffalot · 08/08/2019 18:35

I loooooooved my stokke. I did love the way it looked but it was also really good to push and I loved that they could see so much and weren't low down. My only gripe with it was the zero basket space unless you had the bag and even then you couldn’t get a lot in. But I loved it so much I just put heavy stuff in the bag and got a couple of bag hooks to hang other stuff on. It certainly wasn’t a statement thing, it cost a lot of money but I got it second hand and used eBay for extra bits I wanted for it. I just loved it!

Passthecherrycoke · 08/08/2019 18:36

I’ve got a £1000 bugaboo. It’s the only pram brand id heard of and my parents wanted to buy it. Not a big deal imo

lanbro · 08/08/2019 18:37

I was gifted a second hand graco travel system, wasn't very pretty but did the job, and we were not at all well off. 2nd time around, 18 months between, I bought a secondhand Phil and Ted, repainted the frame and jet washed the fabric, looked brand new! I like nice things but I also like a bargain, and don't live beyond my means...would rather put £1k towards a family holiday!

JustOneSquareofDarkChocolate · 08/08/2019 18:37

I’ve just worked out that my bugaboo bee cost 20p a day. One buggy for two children (3 year age gap so never needed to get double). Bought it on sale and then donated it to a charity who refurbished them and gave them away to women on low incomes. Best money I have EVER spent.

costacoffeecup · 08/08/2019 18:38

I got a bugaboo bee as it had to be carried up stairs or stored in the boot and fit on the tube. It did my dd til 4 and is now on second baby. Looks like shit though and the seat looks so uncomfortable- if it hadn't been so expensive I would have bought a new one I liked now we've moved out if the London flat!

TheFatberg · 08/08/2019 18:39

The Uppababy Vista has the best storage and handily you can use it as a double buggy if you end up with a smaller age gap. Means I've spent £50 on adaptors rather than needing to buy a whole new pram.

Also, two American celebs had the Uppababy Vista recently (both from The Hills), so I'd say they're not uncool, if that matters.

ballsdeep · 08/08/2019 18:40

@lolasmiles I can't recommend an uppababy more. I love it. I was gutted when u my lo grew out of it. Its so strong and robust and the basket is a god send. And the seat is really high up too. The carrycot is huge. I love it!!!

JustOneSquareofDarkChocolate · 08/08/2019 18:40

And sorry to answer your question - wouldn’t cross my mind to judge anyone by their pram. But then I think for people who DO they’ll also be judging you by your handbag, sunglasses, shoes and car!

Wiltshirelass2019 · 08/08/2019 18:41

You’d have to be one boring shit brained person to care what make of pram you’ve got 😂

ginandbearit · 08/08/2019 18:42

I paint beachscapes with family groups on the beach ...the worst client I had for a number of reasons was also obsessed with me getting the correct make of buggy on their painting..really obsessed about it ..sheesh .

NewAccount270219 · 08/08/2019 18:43

Buying an originally expensive pram secondhand is one of the very few parenting choices that I have been 100% sure about! They do handle much better than cheap ones - I love mine but I wouldn't have spent the £1k on it that its original owner did (though they recouped £175 of it from me!)

fascinated · 08/08/2019 18:46

Our Stokke Xplory was the only thing I spent big money on (bar the car seats). Basic clothes for DC and me, but the Stokke is the business. Used TIL bubba about 4 and now Nine years later it is still in perfect shape for bubba 2, turns on a sixpence, one handed so you can drink a latte and bubba safe from fumes and dogs. And my back is protected as I am tall. Worth the special trip to Harrods to try it out - it was the only place that had it on display at the time and I wanted to be sure before spending 800 odd on it. No regrets. I will sell it on, too.

bobstersmum · 08/08/2019 18:47

I have a silvercross pioneer 3 years old and not heavily used or battered, it's Immaculate really, with matching car seat and carrycot, cost a fortune new (given to me by my sister who had used it scarcely) trying to flog it now and struggling to get more than £50 for it! It's ridiculous I am going to end up giving it away because it's taking up space, I'm so glad it's not my money down the drain!

fascinated · 08/08/2019 18:48

Hilarious the comments from men, too... “is it a golf buggy? Looks great... “ they say!

Domino45 · 08/08/2019 18:49

I’m a first time mom & when we were looking pushchairs it was about practicality as my car is so small. I didn’t even look at the prams over a certain price given all the other things you need to buy. We got a mamas & papas one in a sale. Everyone’s different I guess!

Myfoolishboatisleaning · 08/08/2019 18:51

With my PFB I did, it cost more than my first car at school had! 😂 Subsequent child had one from the car boot!

thenorthernluce · 08/08/2019 18:51

Off topic, but having a piece of baby equipment labelled icandy is just a wee bit yuck to me!