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AIBU?

To expect a buggy to be able to go up and down stairs?

62 replies

Octonautstotherescue · 27/08/2014 15:49

Purchased a Joie brisk and just about toppled over the buggy pulling it up a set of stairs to my house. The break overhangs and catches and then jams on! Not a good design. Informed the manufacturers and they say it is not designed to be used with stairs! I must use the disabled ramp! What ramp - it's a house!! What about getting it on a bus? Or train? Must you have a car and live on the flat to own this buggy??

OP posts:

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callmewhatever · 27/08/2014 21:20

The problem is mummyraptor that IF it did cause any issues with your pram then the manufacturer or the retailer are well within their right to say they will not fix it free of charge as the damage was caused by improper use. I understand a lot of people do bump up and down stairs with buggies but that is not proper use and you can't expect all buggies to be designed with that purpose in mind.

Notso · 28/08/2014 00:05

I don't think anyone is disputing the fact people will at some point need to negotiate stairs with the buggy MummyRaptor. It is whether buggies are actually designed to go up and down stairs that is being disputed.
As previously mentioned the Stokke has a stair mode, if the OP had one and found it didn't work on steps then obviously it is a valid complaint.

When I've had umbrella and other lightweight buggies I have carried them up and down steps or someone has grabbed the bottom wheels and you carry it that way.
With my sturdier all terrain type prams you can easily bump them down because of the large wheels.

Obviously bumping is a hazard and I can't see many manufacturers recommending you do it especially with the child in the buggy. I wouldn't without a wrist strap.

SourSweets · 28/08/2014 01:22

My silver cross does this exact thing. I hate it!

Morloth · 28/08/2014 01:28

The bugaboo bee plus went upstairs beautifully backwards and was light enough, that if that wasn't possible I could pick it up baby and all and just carry it/them.

Octonautstotherescue · 28/08/2014 08:26

No refund just a snippy and quite patronising reply ...did I not realise I had steps to my house?? Well where was the warning note on your website that said it's not for steps?Joie you're not great at customer service. And your Joie brisk buggy's not great either. What a waste of money!

OP posts:

CurlyBlueberry · 28/08/2014 09:05

Even the Stokke Xplory comes with a warning not to use it in stair mode with a child inside (or at least my V2 did, not sure about the later models). Obviously everyone does it though

Sorry, I don't think it's fair to expect all buggies to be able to cope with flights of stairs. A few steps up to a house, yes, but not whole flights of stairs. I would assume buggies CAN'T do stairs unless specifically stated, and I'd research first (look for online reviews etc) if stairs were going to be a regular occurrence. I certainly wouldn't expect a warning! They can't warn you about everything

DurhamDurham · 28/08/2014 09:10

I think buggies can be expected to manage one step or curb but it is very dangerous to expect it on a flight of stairs. I have seen a pushchair with child inside and several bags of shopping topple down some concrete steps, it was awful. There were two people holding the pushchair but it must have been so heavy and awkward that they lost control.

wigglylines · 28/08/2014 09:30

I had a Silver Cross which did this, when we had DC1. I absolutely hated it, but we couldn't afford to replace it. I later got talked into getting another Silver Cross, against my better judgement, and kicked myself when it did the same.

This time round we spent more and got the Maclaren Techno XLR. It does have one downside - it tips quite easily with bags on the back, but that's fine, I just make sure I'm careful if I have bags on the back! Apart from that, it's great, I highly recommend it. And very importantly (for those of us who live in the real world!) it is great on stairs.

bananaleaf · 28/08/2014 09:31

Arsenic the OP is saying a set of stairs to a house which is what I have. And it seems the brake goes on on the first step, so whether it's 3 or a whole flight the point is she can't get past the first step. Durham yes I always take any shopping bags off first as it changes the balance.

wigglylines · 28/08/2014 09:34

Durham that's an awful image - but for those of us who don't drive, or live somewhere like London where you must use public transport to get around, what are we supposed to do? Not go anywhere with steps? It's just not feasible.

Also my flat had stairs, what was I supposed to do there when I was on my own? I couldn't leave the buggy (or the baby come to that!) unattended in the road while I got the other in, as it was a high-crime area. They had to both come in with me.

Notso · 28/08/2014 10:03

Annoying for you OP. Have you thought about using a sling on the stairs and carrying the buggy?

DurhamDurham · 28/08/2014 10:19

It is hard I know. When I lived in London then Watford I had stairs up to our maisonette and I used to carry dd1 and my handbag into the house and then go back for the buggy. It wasn't ideal but the image of the falling pushchair will never leave me.

crazykat · 28/08/2014 10:41

Y maclaren quest goes up and down steps with no problem. The only time I have a problem with bumping it up steps is our back door step as it has a lip at the top of the riser IYSWIM, I have found a way to bump it up though and I've managed to bump ds2 up and down three times a day for the past 18 months.

crazykat · 28/08/2014 10:41

Oops that should be my maclaren.

jacks365 · 28/08/2014 10:46

I bought my maclaren quest because it is light enough to pick up with dd sat in it and carry up and down steps.

Notso · 28/08/2014 10:53

DurhamDurham I read that as you carried DD1 in your handbag

We had a Maclaren with a carry strap for taking on public transport. I could carry it over my shoulder and carry DC and a bit of shopping.

DurhamDurham · 28/08/2014 10:55

Haha.....yes much safer to carry your baby in your handbag

Notso · 28/08/2014 10:59

Wondered if you had a tiny DD or a massive handbag!

Octonautstotherescue · 28/08/2014 11:03

Thank you all! glad there's some sense out there in the real world! I've asked the company to put a note on their website to say the buggy shouldn't be used with steps as I don't think it's fair that others are misled...watch this space!

OP posts:

toomuchtooold · 28/08/2014 11:06

I wonder what buggy manufacturers expected me to do with my twin babies and my three steps up to the house. Expected me to shell out £600 and then go away and not come back, probably. Of all the stuff I've ever needed to buy I've never seen such a rubbish, unfit for purpose range of products as you get with buggies. What do you want from a buggy, when you think about buying one for the first time (i.e. before your expectations have been bashed down to size by actually owning one)? You want something the baby/babies will be safe and comfortable in, that you can take them around in in your normal life: take it into shops, on the bus, and up the occasional stair. You want it to be cleanable i.e. the fabric is either truly wipe clean or are made of bits that can be taken off and washed in the washing machine. You want to be able to put it in the boot of your car, store it in your hall without giving yourself a hernia trying to get past it, you want to be able to push it without having to bend over or raise your arms so high you start to get sore elbows. Ours is a good one, we spent nearly a grand on it, and it still fails about half of that.

sashh · 28/08/2014 11:11

Only an idiot would manufacture a buggy designed to be used on stairs.

Yes a lot of buggies can be bounced up and down but there is always a risk of someone letting go and the buggy complete with child heading downstairs at speed.

Octonautstotherescue · 28/08/2014 13:32

News flash...'ALL buggies are NOT designed to be used on steps'...Glasgow Pram Centre

OP posts:

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ArsenicyOldFace · 28/08/2014 13:36

This is reminiscent of the idiotic US lawsuit that resulted in the 'contents may be hot' warnings on takeaway coffee cups.

Of course buggies are not designed for use on steps. Have you bullied them into putting announcement on their website OP?

Please let this be a joke thread vying for Classics.

tiggytape · 28/08/2014 13:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ArsenicyOldFace · 28/08/2014 13:40

What tiggy said.

I sometimes want to drive my car too fast over speed-bumps. So I do.

But I wouldn't kick off at the manufacturer if I damaged the car.

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