WIBU to insist on this pram?

[aliensprig]

I really, really want a Bugaboo Fox. In the reviews it ticks all the boxes for me: sturdy, lightweight, all-terrain, great storage and obviously pretty damn gorgeous!!

BUT DH doesn't think we should spend a grand on something we'll only use for about three years and wants us to get something second hand. He doesn't understand that there are literally billions of types out there, and some of the cheaper brands are cheap for a reason!

Also he won't ever be pushing the damn thing - I don't drive, and will be doing A LOT of walking with it. We live in a hilly town with some rural areas, so just buying something at random from the Argos catalogue isn't going to cut it. It needs to be light, easily folded, have good storage and be able to tackle mud, uneven ground, hills and busy streets.

WIBU to just buy the Fox regardless? We're not rich by any means, but we're not poor either, we can afford it. Plus I expect my parents will want to cover half the cost. Or should I compromise and get something cheaper like the baby jogger city mini? I don't like that it's forward facing only, but it's another all-terrain and my husband is more likely to agree on that one...

If you live rural get the out N about nipper or mountain buggy, or even the icandy all terrain if you must have a big posh pram. The fox is crap over anything more robust than a flat field.

it's funny seeing all the different opinions.

personally for me it was buy cheap and you buy twice. or actually thrice in my case. plus several borrowed 😳

I'd wanted a good travel system but my husband was against it.... we ended up buying a discontinued quinny cheaply. fine for town but rubbish where we lived. then had a borrowed Phil and Ted's which was great for outdoors but my baby hated it as she couldn't see me and it was only forward facing. then bought an icandy when baby was 9 months. which me and the baby loved. im still using it 7 years later with baby no 3. should have bought it in the first place and not wasted time, energy and stress on the others. also also have an umbrella fold buggy for the car and a borrowed double which I needed for a year or so when I had a newborn and toddler.

none of them were perfect for everything though.

I think you're nuts.
2 Baby Joggers here.
Rough terrain, often over stones and through mud, hills, the works.
Don't drive.
I couldn't imagine spending silly money on a pram when you can get an amazing, built-to-last one for £300.
Don't be silly. A grand is a lot of money.

We are getting the Bugaboo Fox for Dd (due in December) based on the fact that my SIL has the donkey for her twins and I've found that easy to use and push (including through muddy woods on dog walks!) even with 2 toddlers in it!

They've had their Donkey since the twins were born and they'll be 3 in December, and had no issues with it. It's even been abroad with them 3 times, without problems (not getting smashed up in transit)

I could never let my parents give me 500 quid for half the cost of a buggy. Is your budget really 500 so getting a more expensive one as they are helping.

1000 on a buggy, you need your head checked to be honest.

I couldn't drive when my oldest was born and got a cheap pram and some driving lessons. I don't know your reasons for not driving, but if it's a physical possibility for you, I strongly advise doing it. Walking as much as possible is great but there are times when you disadvantage your kids if you can't drive. I remember missing out on baby swimming with friends as it was just too far to walk and there wasn't a bus that went at the right times. I don't think it's ok to ask for lifts on a regular basis.

Now they're older I take them to birthday parties, for treats with their friends, to the cinema and all sorts of things they'd miss out on if I couldn't drive (even though my partner does - they're often when he's at work). I'd hate them to have missed out because of me. It's a much better long-term investment, OP, honestly.

I know people weigh in a lot about driving/not driving and it's probably annoying, but since I've been there (including the cheap pram - which was 100% fine) I feel like I can be the voice of experience!

We've bought a Fox for PFB, due next month. We live in NI and there was very little in the way of 2nd hand options locally, and I didn't want to make a big ticket purchase without seeing it in person. We also bought it through a nursery store, so got the car seat thrown in, 10% discount and were able to pay it off comfortably over time- my parents also made a contribution as their baby present, which isn't unusual.

Many of the recommendations mentioned here aren't parent facing, and I really wanted something that DC could stay in facing me for as long as possible- she might well hate it, but at least we have the option. The front wheels are larger than those on the cameleon (although there are good deals to be had on that, even new) and lock for rough terrain. It's light for a pram of that size/spec. Anyone I've heard of who has had an issue has been really positive about Bugaboo's customer service- DH's mate broke a part of their Fox when assembling it after forcing something, and they replaced it with no issue.

It was a lot of money, but DH trusted that I'd done my research and let me get what I wanted. So long as you're not getting into debt over it then I don't really see what all the angst is about.

Get the pram you want!
Saying that i do think bugaboo are more city pushchairs. I find it loads easier to push my Cam than an umberella fold, and i need a super sturdy one.

If you are doing lots of country walks i would look at other pushchairs tbh. Also if 1k is a lot of money to you i would get a second hand one.

Fwiw i love my Cam and so does DS, really comfy for him, i would have bought 2nd hand had he not been my pfb

Sorry to jump in... We do have a part of the site dedicated to reviews (including buggies, travel systems and more), which you can find here. Hopefully it's of help for anyone planning their next purchase.

I was really disappointed with the baby jogger - used a friends one for a month on holiday, I thought they would be really good, but nowhere near as good and practical as recommended. I am glad I didn't buy one.

You can never really try a buggy unless there's a proper track to experiment so recommendations and reviews are really helpful.

That's actually the first negative review I've ever seen of the BabyJogger and I researched a huge amount! I guess it's horses for courses. But we have a dog and do a lot of walking on country tracks and at the beach so something practical was high on our list. It's definitely not the prettiest pram around though. I've had quite a few people come over when I've been out and say how much they loved theirs!

I'd def recommend putting various prams through their paces in store. We discounted a few because they didn't fold easily or had plastic or otherwise crappy wheels. Mothercare have weighted dolls you can try to see what it's like to push with a baby inside too.

After getting a pram I realised the hype around expensive prams was just bs. A pram is a pram. The only thing I'd be looking for is something small when folded and lightweight. My mum warned me off expensive prams because when she had me she got a Silver Cross and hated it. Far too heavy, etc. So glad I listened. DD hated the bassinet and is currently in the buggy attachment and has been since 4m. What was more useful to me was the car seat being compatible for the pram frame for quickly scooting into a shop and having a buggy attachment for a nosey baby. If I'd spent 1k on a pram and bassinet I might as well have pissed my money down the drain.

We got our Cosatto pram, bassinet, buggy attachment, car seat and changing bag for under £400. We love it. We have pushed it along a field and beach and although I'm sure theres smoother prams, it went just fine.

I think bassinets are often a waste of money but probably less so if you don't drive. We got a lie-flat car seat that attaches on to chassis and still using that now DD is six months. I had debated buying the carrycot for our pram but DP thought we should wait and see if it was needed, and it wasn't!

I never used a pram, just a sling with the occasional trip in the extremely cheap buggy.

Prams are a waste of money, and the manufacturers know it, which is why they make them pretty.

There is a bugaboo selling page uk on facebook. DIL has sold lots on there and bought.

Sorry should say second hand, 30k members.

Cripes that is a ridiculous amount for a pram, it's probably good but so are many others- your baby won't be particularly arsed what it's like. I got a second hand travel system for £100 on eBay and it's been amazing (bought a new car seat though). If you're both in agreement id say of course, but would you be happy for him to spend loads on something you didn't agree with?

Prams are a waste of money,

that's your opinion, no one forces you to buy one. I couldn't have done without mine, so much more comfortable for the baby, for me, for carrying all the baby stuff and the rest, and for dealing with the other kids too. Even the school run would have been a nightmare without the pram. 🤷

They are like everything else, depends on your lifestyle. A mum living in London zone 1 can tell you cars are a waste of money, it doesn't make it true for another one living rurally.

I think it's sensible to look at cheaper alternatives or second hand at least to rule out cheaper options.

I wanted a phil and teds but everyone instead we only get a few months use out of it - had third with pretty much same gap as first two. Still having spoke to owners of them they had lots of niggles so perhaps not such a loss.

We ended up with travels system – had that will all three was sturdy but not great at folding down– front and back pushchair in line bought for us and heavy but good for young baby – second hand side by side much lighter and easier to get up curbs harder to get past parked cars and in some door – umbrella folding Mclaren was good for buses – some slings as different ones worked with different children and events buggy board first child hated – and collapsible side car and at very last really light weight pushchair second hand.

We tended to mix and match them for the situation.

Across three kids I didn’t think that was bad – many friends went through more as needs and what's important can change with time.

Why not get it second hand? They sell for a fraction of the price.

I spent £700 on my DC’s pram telling myself I’d keep it nice, sell it on and put the money in DC’s account. While it was glamorous and perfect for a non-walker it didn’t suit us two years down the track and I bought a secondhand fold-up for £20 that packed down small and DC could get in and out of easily. When I sold my glamour pram I was disappointed with what I got for it.

Prams are a waste of money

Blanket statements like that are utterly ridiculous.

I got a huge amount out of my pram. I walked everywhere and rarely used a sling.

The key thing is finding what works for your exact set up and budget.

Most prams these days are lightweight and fold easily enough.

If you try out a few, you are bound to find one half the price that is exactly the same.

Bugaboo spend a TON of money on marketing. Yes, it's a good product. Not 1000 quid good though.

Also I walk miles a day as don't drive at the moment, and do plenty of grassy walks. Save some of the money for groups etc and stuff you don't yet realise you'll need or want.

Maybe wait until baby arrives. I had my heart set on a Bugaboo but my babies were all massive and would have outgrown them in no time - they seem to be really small made. I bought a Quinny Buzz but even that was outgrown pretty sharpish and I ended up with them each in a Maclaren Quest at 6-8 months, so the expensive pram was a huge waste of money.