to not understand the obsession so many mums have with pushchairs?

[SamuelAndOscarsMummy]

I probably am as it doesn't actually affect my life at all but I don't get why some mothers feel the need to get 5 or more different pushchairs in the time that their baby needs one or to spend a ridiculous amount that they cannot really afford on a 'designer' pushchair?

It's not really the money side of it, I just genuinely don't understand the appeal of it? it's not like the baby cares? I have had two pushchairs in the time I have had my children, one travel system that converts to a stroller and when I had my second I got a double, as far as I knew the purpose of a pushchair is to transport your baby.

I guess the reason it has wound me up today is seeing them all on those free gifting sites on facebook and seeing people I know who already have a decent pushchair asking for another one when there might be someone who genuinely cannot afford a pushchair or theirs has broken or been stolen or something that needs one, not just because that one is prettier than the one they already have?!

Would be interested to hear what others think about this and whether I am the only one who really doesn't give a fuck what my pushchair looks like or what brand it is as long as my kids are safe and comfortable..

[LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance]

You know how some folks get all bridezilla when their wedding is all they have to think about........?

[Rooners]

Vacuous? Ok, I'm not obsessed with them, so maybe that doesn't include people like me. I should hope not - my IQ is above 140 and I'm quite clever really, according to most people I know...

[LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance]

Rooners a high IQ in itself doesn't stop anyone from being vacuous

[Wallison]

Rooners, you don't sound vacuous to me.

[Rooners]

Thankyou. I suppose I'm not sure what vacuous actually means - empty headed? That's what I assumed anyway. So yes I suppose one could have the potential for a full head but fill it with, erm, pushchairs

[Fairylea]

Where I live (south Norfolk) EVERYONE has Icandy's. Everyone everywhere.

If you're having a baby it is seen as madness not to buy an icandy and if you get something else people tend to think you're too poor to afford one (and this is sneered at).

It's all utter nonsense and bollocks of course.

I refuse to buy into any of it and happily use my silver cross tank :) (which I use because ds is like a tank, and it's the only pram he's ever had and ever will have!)

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

I think anybody obsessed with pushchairs must be pretty vacuous.

And anyone so judgy about something so harmless must be a quite a bit of a twat. HTH.

[ForgetfulNameChanger]

vinegar, how can you post saying that not everyone has an obsession or want material things and then derail the thread by posting about something you want to buy? Maybe a fancy pram is these other people's bakfiets?

[VinegarDrinker]

You'll notice I haven't actually bought one - and am very unlikely to, due to costs and the fact I own something that fulfils a very similar purpose. The difference between admiring something from a distance and "splurging" on it? If I owned one I certainly wouldn't be then obsessively buying more of them, either. It's just a means to an end (transporting me & DC from A to B)

[HaroldLloyd]

Most people have stuff they like to spend money on.

There is an incredible amount of inverse snobbery on here about prams. No doubt this thread will descend into the usual I found my pram in a skip and I used it for fifteen million years business.

I don't care if anyone has an old or second hand pram, when I had by first baby I worked full time, had savings, and decided to use some of these to buy a bugaboo bee.

Some people think that makes me a giant twat.

[Buswanker]

Where are these websites where people give away free prams I want to be the cheeky cow demanding specific colours of prams

[HaroldLloyd]

Free cycle?

[BeCool]

I'm not bothered. :)

But what I care about is the amount of BRIGHT PINK buggies/prams out there. I don't usually see them in London, but have just spent a day out of London at family friendly place, and my eyes are still recovering from the huge number of neon pink buggies we encountered.

What the heck is going on?

[BeCool]

My grey McLaren Techno is on it's last legs - I'm hoping it lasts as I don't want to buy another - DC2 is 2.5!

[Thurlow]

I was about to say that I agree and I don't get it, but.... am considering getting a 3rd pushchair and DC is only 18mo

The thing is, your needs change as DC get older.

Started with a tank of a Gracco travel system that we were given for free. Changed that to a Maclaren Techno XLR at 4m, which I have been in love with for over a year. Amazing pushchair, I'll probably use that straight from newborn if we have any more DC.

But now DC doesn't always want to be in the pushchair and doesn't need one that lies flat, and we use it a lot - walking too and from the CM - I quite fancy a lighter fabric stroller.

I don't get the obsession with travel systems, though. They rarely turn into decent pushchairs for toddlers.

[Arnie123]

My son turned 2 last week and we are on pram number 15. My husbands hobby is walking and he knackers them within a few months. We have now taken to getting them from charity shops as it is so expensive

[Rooners]

Arnie it may be a false economy - look at something like the Mountain Buggy Terrain on ebay, they don't make them any more (I don't think) but the old ones last practically forever. They were designed for proper rough terrain walking.

Something like a maclaren or a graco will just break in that sort of usage.

Thurlow, anyone who starts off with a graco has my personal permission, and that of the universe, to replace it with as many other sorts as it takes until they are happy! I started with a Graco, and used it for about a week until a light breeze blew it off a platform into a flower bed, and a lorry went by and it sailed into the air, well the wheels lifted off the ground, with ds in it

I put it in the paper and sold it and bought a proper pushchair that I used till he was 4. It only failed in terms of a sticking brake and broken hood fabric but it was amazing.

[Thurlow]

The Graco is shocking! It was great because it was free, but never again. It's put me off travel systems for life! I nearly cried with joy when I unpacked the Maclaren

[justanuthermanicmumsday]

Firstly I think each to their own some ppl obviously have money to burn.

I think manufacturers have effectively marketed designer pushchairs as a desirable accessory for women and even dads. Look you can now look cool urban and fashionable not a dowdy old parent with a pathetic looking pushchair. Wait a minute I thought the pushchair was for the comfort and mobility of the child not for the beautification of the parent?

if money was no objection I don't think id get those tiny designer chairs, they look so small have no baskets at the bottom not functional for me. Plus I'd need to replace it aft 1 year since the baby will outgrow it. But I wouldn't mind getting a pushchair that I actually liked I just bought mine based on budget not aesthetics.

this nonsense about girl boys pushchairs its laughable and I'm astounded intelligent parents buy into it. too much money not enough sense. A neutral colour will suit any baby you have why buy several when you can have one?

Also there's something downright distasteful in society when we think its ok to pay 600 quid or more on a pram the same amount of money that could buy a person a second hand car or pay the rent, and we are apparently in a recession? Just think this pushchair will be of no use after 2 or 3 years unless you are planning on many more kids.

[HaroldLloyd]

So no one would be able to buy anything by that logic.

[Rooners]

Just, I think you should start a blog.