Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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:
Walnutwhipster · 08/08/2019 20:26

It's always been a thing. The ones that spend a fortune and change them regularly are seen as chavvy around here but the Chelsea tractor crew can easily spend close to £2,000 on a single travel system.

MamaRaisingBoys · 08/08/2019 20:28

My iCandy turned out to be my best baby purchase. Yes it was £1000 but I’ve used it daily for 4 years so I’ve definitely had my money’s worth. I’ve tried lots of different prams of friends and family and I’ve never found one that is so smooth to push. Simple to fold, smooth ride for dc, still looks good, never had any faults. I will be sad to see it go.

I knew it would have to last for more than one dc so why would I not spend on a decent one?

GinUnicorn · 08/08/2019 20:35

My bugaboo Bee has been great. I originally liked it because of living in a small flat central London. Honestly had no idea of brands we just had a small lift to fit into! It’s lasted really well and I’d be happy reusing it for number 2. My dd still seems perfectly comfy in it too.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General pregnancy
Skiphopnicknok · 08/08/2019 20:35

We got a second hand icandy but only as I hadn’t really bothered to do a lot of research and it was a double one and we want 2 kids close together. It’s pretty sturdy, and sent mad on the colour but it does the job.

MIL also does our childcare (yes we are v lucky!) so we got her a mountain buggy second hand for £40 - faded etc but she takes it down the beach most days in the summer and when I picked DC up earlier it was outside in the rain so absolutely no point in a fancy pants one. We also tend to take that one on planes as it’s smsller and lighter

There are SO many girls I know who have to have the latest, most expensive brands but they’re the same with cars, clothes, sunglasses etc yet live in pokey houses as they clearly spend all their cash on these other things instead. Personally I’d rather have a nice house with land than a fancy pants pram/designer kids clothes

Skiphopnicknok · 08/08/2019 20:35

*not mad on colour!

anitagreen · 08/08/2019 21:01

I have the bugaboo cam 3 I paid just under a grand for it in 2015 it's seen me through two babies and two toddlers I'm now due my third soon and will be used for the baby too. It still looks immaculate, it's the smoothest buggy I've ever pushed and the children have always been comfortable in it and slept well. It's so easy to clean as well. I've never used a stroller they don't look comfortable

anitagreen · 08/08/2019 21:06

The only thing I'd like more of in the bugaboo pram is the basket it's a good size but I need a huge one

IrishMamaMia · 08/08/2019 21:14

I think there's an element of truth to this. I didn't get an expensive travel system and did feel a bit left out when I was at baby groups with my first in a middle class part of North London.
I bought a Silvercross Reflex stroller , not expensive and has been perfect for my lifestyle so far. Its nice and narrow for shopping /train/café. Baby sleeps well in it. The only annoyance was that it doesn't parent face after 6 months but I baby wore lots anyway. Bigger prams just aren't for me.
I also really like the look of the Yoyo and the Baby Jogger City Mini. See lots of them and always hear good things from mums who have them.

LolaSmiles · 08/08/2019 21:21

Buyitinbamboo
That's interesting. The reason I considered it was because I'd heard the locking wheels on the Vista made it ok for running and the tyres were ok.
Someone also suggested the chameleon for that too but I wasn't as much of a fan.

In your opinion (on a tangent here) would you suggest spending lesson a normal out and about buggy and then putting the difference to a decent running / outdoors one? If so do you have some pointers?

ballsdeep · 08/08/2019 21:28

Lolaamiles I thibk the vista would be far too heavy for a running buggy.
I have a Bob and I love it. Its huge seat and off road wheels make it brilliant and it pushes along the sand like a dream

LucieLucie · 08/08/2019 21:46

Yes it's a thing. Pram huns.

It's like the cool girls v the uncool

According to my friends cool is the Bugaboo & icandy, mid range is silver cross, mamas & papas and cringe is Graco, Cosatto & Mothercare etc.

Apparently, if you have a Graco you will be shunned at baby groups ShockHmm

Evilmorty · 08/08/2019 21:48

A pram does depreciate. My m&p’s armadillo was £400 new and they are £90 now. A bugaboo is anything from £150 on FB selling sites.

I’ve never had a brand new car either because I don’t buy anything on credit and my 3yr old one that I bought for half what I would have done on the forecourt has also lasted me 9 years, so my outlay could be around half what was stated by the previous poster who mentioned cars. It’s all about what you prioritise. I like holidays and doing up my home, not prams.

I wouldn’t recommend the armadillo either. It was rubbish.

StarShapedWindow · 08/08/2019 21:54

I had a Yo-yo Baby Zen, it’s was brilliant. It looked nice, was sturdy yet light, wheeled easily and folded down so small you could carry it on your shoulder. I don’t think people in real life judge others on their prams, if there are such people I’m sure they’re in the minority and as thick as two short planks.

Mammyloveswine · 08/08/2019 21:55

I love my bugaboo!!! Great to push, lovely bug seat and looks great!

I bought mine second hand though!

Evilmorty · 08/08/2019 22:03

Also, a pram can’t compare to your dinner Grin you eat and enjoy your dinner. It’s gone. A dinner is not like a car or expensive watch that you sell on after. Of course when you buy something you look at resale price, who wouldn’t? £1000 is more than some people spend on their car so why not consider a pram an asset?

CuteOrangeElephant · 08/08/2019 22:33

I love my Bugaboo Cameleon, it's perfect for me.

My house is a bit awkward with a large staircase to the entrance and a bit of an awkward bend. The Bugaboo is nimble enough to make the bend and light enough for me to carry up the stairs.

I've never felt the need for a cheaper stroller. In fact, whenever we've borrowed my in-laws cheap buggy I absolutely hated it.

Biggest regret is not buying the matching foot muff. Had a John Lewis cheapie one and it was so annoying!!

raskolnikova · 08/08/2019 22:50

Apparently, if you have a Graco you will be shunned at baby groups

Gosh it's stuff like this that makes me glad I don't have any mum friends.

I have a Graco that was bought for us, didn't get a choice. It's pretty ugly admittedly, but I get so many compliments for the actual baby inside it Smile

Wiltshirelass2019 · 08/08/2019 23:20

This thread is possibly the most boring I’ve ever commented on, I’ll be off now 😂 Who gives a shit what pram you have, sad bastards 😂

JessePinkmanYo · 08/08/2019 23:26

This thread reminds me of when I just had my first dc. New young mum. Went out for lunch with a friend. Had baby in a old second hand pram someone gave me. Wasnt a shiny new model but i was happy as easy to push, baby was comfy and id saved much needed money.
Couple sat behind us. He said to her "Ergh, look at that old pram. When we have a baby it wont be in crappy one like that".

I remember feeling really crushed. And upset. I was struggling to cope and find my feet. I was very sensitive to any criticism regrading baby or me as a mother. I never took that pram out again.

Thing is I hadn't heard the comment myself. My friend overheard it but then decided to tell me. I'd have been none the wiser.
Looking back I believe the bloke had actually made no comment at all, but my friend made it up because that's what THEY really thought of my pram. They weren't actually a very good friend. And this is the sort of sneaky mean thing they'd have done.

Anyway, it makes me sad to think of new mothers out there feeling inadequate because they don't the latest expensive this or that. It's doesn't fucking matter. It's no reflection on your worth as a parent. Your value is in your love and care for your baby. And expensive shiny material things are no measure for this.

Thistles24 · 08/08/2019 23:26

I had a graco for my first baby. It was practical, and had a fantastic basket, but I never LOVED it. Had a britax 3 wheeler for DC2, which I did love and got so many compliments on. Now have a icandy peach and bugaboo chameleon (both hand me downs from friends) and have to say, you can tell the difference! I’ve been out on walks with friends who have cheaper prams (the mothercare journey is very popular here) and their babies are bumping around so much they’re falling down in their seats, where DS doesn’t budge.
Whether they’re worth that extra depends on what you’re using them for. We go to the beach a lot, and the bugaboo just seems to cope with any surface you throw at it, the icandy not so much. But if you’re just walking round pavements then any pram would do the job.
And honestly, I haven’t noticed more people speaking to me compared to when I had the graco- like PP said, it tends to be the baby inside people comment on!

JessePinkmanYo · 08/08/2019 23:27

And yes I ditched the dickhead 'friend' a long time ago

DefinatelyAWeeGobshite · 08/08/2019 23:32

My pram choices were limited (twins) as I didn’t like the twin prams that were longer with one on top, one on the bottom or front and back. I wanted a side by side pram so I could see them both (and weirdly I’d have felt sorry for whichever baby was in the back all the time!).

We went with the bugaboo donkey which was fab apart from the fact I couldn’t get it in and out my front door Hmm. We got about 2 years solid use out of it. We also bought a really cheap fold down buggy to take on holiday as the bugaboo was so bulky, the cheap one lasted a few months before falling to bits.

Graphista · 08/08/2019 23:33

Rideordie - lovely attitude 🤔not snobby at all 🙄

Anyone who shuns or looks down on another because of what sodding pram they have is a knob!

TildaTurnip · 08/08/2019 23:34

When I see someone with a Bugaboo I assume they live in a small flat/house as they’re very compact

We have the Chameleon and whilst light and easy to manoeuvre, I wouldn’t call it compact as the wheel base is so wide!

bugeyedbarber · 08/08/2019 23:43

Your Mums weren't proper trendy ones as the pram of the moment is BabyZen YoYo from birth. Preferably in black.

Proper hipster mum would never be seen with a Candy pram. It's for the suburbs. Even Bee is now passé.