To have LOST MY MIND trying to choose a buggy

[ElleMcElle]

I've spent hours in John Lewis. I've accosted pram-pushing Mums on public transport. I've read reviews online until my eyes bleed. I've even been to the testing track at the sodding baby show. Yet I still can't decide. Now at the point where I despise them all and despise myself. (OK - slightly dramatic. I blame the pregnancy hormones)

Was on the verge of buying Uppababy Cruz (relatively narrow which I need living in London, but still sturdy with bassinet you can use as occasional travel cot and a large and accessible basket underneath). I thought I was sorted... But then I read reviews saying that the wheels on the 2015 model are crap - reports of them getting stuck, making it impossible to turn the buggy etc.

Can anyone reassure me so that I can buy the sodding thing and get on with my life? Does anyone have the 2017 model - and can you tell me if these wheel / steering issues have been resolved in the newer version? Or would I be letting myself in for years of cursing the cruz?

Please help - I have become a buggy bore!

Babyjoggers are strong as heck and hold their value well, I’ve found.

"I have the Cruz and I liked it but my tall baby out grew it at 9 weeks."

You mean 9 months, right?!

Just buy the one that looks nicest (not helpful)

I LOVED the Bugaboo Chameleon I had for DS4. Looked brand new when I sold it on Gumtree later on.

I live in London and the downside was folding and putting in the car. I used a sling for 6m on buses/trains and had a Maclaren techno for public transport later on. If you have space a very light umbrella fold buggy is really useful.

I think the Bugaboo Bee would suit all eventualities as it's much more compact.

I had the 2015 cruz and loved it. I’m now expecting baby number two so I have sold it and I am buying the vista so I can get two seats on it. I can’t decide between 2015 (cheaper) and 2017.

If I was you I’d go for the 2017 cruz in denim it looks fab.

I've slightly started looking into this and it fills me with terror too! One thing i worry about with the bee etc is its quite low (live in london) so am a bit worried PFB will be at exhaust level.

The silver cross prams look good but I'm also mindful of having a second and having to get a new pram all over again, I know some like the peach convert but one of thr kids will still be really low?

I also have a tiny flat so might look into buying one second hand then getting a new one when i know what i want. Is ebay the best place to look.?

I've tried loads of different buggies and the most important factor always comes down to how heavy it is to push. You can't go wrong with an out and about nipper 360. Obviously it depends how much walking you do and how pretty you want it to be etc but this is by far one of the best buggies out there. I have the double and single versions. I've tried-phil and teds, Jane Twone, Joie, maclaren, Hauck, city mini, uppababy vista and others and always go back to the nipper every time. it's just so so so easy to push and steer whatever weight is in it.

YANBU!!!! It's hell. So much choice and so many opinions.

I broke down in Mothercare and sobbed on DH shoulder that if I could not choose a buggy I could not raise a child.

Eventually bought the nearest one to me geographically. Second hand, £30, worked perfectly for 5 years and 2 kids.

I’d go for a nipper 360 as well. So easy to push, good for all ages, great off road but also good in shops and on the pavement.
Had lots of prams none of them come close to the nipper.

I think if this thread shows anything, it's that:

a) no matter how many people love something, some others will hate it
b) you really won't know what you need until you're actually living it
c) in these circumstances, you should just buy a secondhand buggy that you think ticks your major boxes and get on with it, secure in the knowledge that if you end up hating it, you can trade it in without losing hundreds of pounds on the deal.

There is no sense in overthinking these decisions about your PFB. You are just not going to divine the One Right Answer from a spreadsheet and that buggy will meet all of your needs and solve all your problems. I spent ages faffing around with the whole travel system thing and adaptors so you could fit the car seat on the buggy frame etc. Times I actually did that? 0. I mention that not because you won't do it either but because it's very likely different things will turn out to matter to you than you thought beforehand.

Also, like the PP says, BURN GINA FORD.

"BURN GINA FORD."

Well it is Bonfire Night soon

I was like this. If I could go back in time, yes I'd do lots of research though ideally less (I bet hands down I did more than you - very unhealthy levels ) and once I had decided, I would buy second hand. I know people want to use them for multiple babies etc but even if you do, what are the chances that it will meet the same criteria you need, when you have another child? E.g. if I moved house I'd probably have different criteria, changed car, if the children were close in age I might need a double, etc etc. And if it is still the same criteria? Chances are, it will last anyway. As it is, we might not even have another so all the more reason for second hand.

Just saw my pram mentioned so I'll chip in on that - Armadillo Flip XT. I really like mine. It's not the lightest, but dd has always been really comfy in it and everyone still comments how comfy and also regal (?!) she looks in it! It's quick to fold, good length seat (dd is unexpectedly very tall) and versatile (I've used it with a Cybex car seat, carrycot and main seat parent-facing so far). I've never yet used it non-parent-facing and she's over a year so I'm glad I never bought one that couldn't parent-face. Oh, and the cup holder is great for baby bottles or water bottles but not so good for coffee cups unless you order a large.

Thanks again for all of these responses - much appreciated! I'm going to revisit some of the models mentioned here, but I think the Cruz is still just about coming out on top for my needs.

@TerrifyingFeistyCupcake - yes, this thread certainly shows that the perfect fit for one family isn't right for another. I imagine that applies to just about everything about parenting!

Surprised to hear about people running with the Bugaboo Bee - I was under the impression that it wasn't safe to run with a standard buggy and that you need a specialist jogging buggy for that? Was planning to pick up a cheap jogger on eBay once baby is 6 months +.

@MulderitsmeX - I was also wondering about getting something cheap on eBay or gumtree and then buying something longer-term once I know what transporting a baby is actually like. But I suspect that once the baby is actually here, I won't have much time / inclination to step foot in John Lewis! I'd be interested to hear what you end up going for!

Re - BURN GINA FORD - Fear not. My obsession does not extend to sleep routines. I can control a purchasing decision, but I'm under no illusion that I can control a tiny infant's waking and sleeping habits!

Ah good, you're more sane than I was

Oh I know this. I mean how am I meant to decide what my needs are and what best value is, when I don’t know what my needs are?

I talked myself out of buying something in the mothercare sake because it was a bargain. Then about a month later a family friend asked on Facebook where she should sell her travel system. I advised her she should sell to me :) she’d gone all out with the research, as I suspected she would have. So now we have complete mamas and papas sola 2 travel system for £200. I have no idea if it is a good buy but it fits in car, has baby seat, has bassinet, is not too heavy although I need some practise with folding it. Joy abounds.

The deed is done! Uppababy Cruz purchased! Accosted a few people on the street with the 2017 model and all said no problems with the wheels on the newer version, so fingers crossed... Bought from John Lewis - so hopefully if it's defective in some way, we can get a refund / replacement. Thanks again for all of your responses.

The insanely over-saturated buggy market is everything that's wrong with the modern world, to my mind. Just go to an actual shop, any shop that sells buggies, and choose something within your budget. It will be fine.

ah! Too late! glad your suffering is over.

@FindoGask - Yup - Anxiety about doing things 'right' as a parent manifesting itself in attempts to be the 'perfect' consumer! Sad but true... I guess purchasing decisions are one of the few things you feel are under your control when you're pregnant! Anyway - it's done. Just need to keep child emotionally and physically healthy for the next 18+ years now... Has to be easier than buggy testing in John Lewis on a Saturday afternoon.

"Just need to keep child emotionally and physically healthy for the next 18+ years now... Has to be easier than buggy testing in John Lewis on a Saturday afternoon."