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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

WIBU to insist on this pram?

515 replies

aliensprig · 14/08/2019 09:15

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...

OP posts:
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Nonnymum · 14/08/2019 15:44

That's a lot of money to spend on a buggy! Can't you just get one second hand? The baby won't care its not the latest model. You say buggys are cheaper for a reason but the reason is often that it is just not a brand that is in fashion.

SeriouslyEnoughAlreadyRantOver · 14/08/2019 15:51

Seriously though, what baby stuff??

everything, included you know.. food. Can't imagine to have to carry a baby in front of me, and a full ruck sack on my back instead of pushing my buggy with one hand.

Where do you even change a baby nappy when you have a sling? on the floor?!?
I wouldn't have the energy to carry a baby for hours personally, the buggy was a blessing. I admire people who do, but that's not for me. Great to put my shopping too! Baby wasn't in the sun or in the rain, that worked too.

I don't think everyone should have a pram if they don't want one, but the £1k-ish I spent on my own travel system was the best money I've spent for my babies. It worked for me and what I needed.

SeriouslyEnoughAlreadyRantOver · 14/08/2019 15:51

Even my 1st car cost a lot more than £1k, It's all relative.

Everybodywaffledoggie · 14/08/2019 15:52

IMO you're not just paying for the brand with bugaboo. We have the cameleon, now using it on our second child after having three years of heavy use with our first. We researched it A LOT and the cameleon was the only pram that ticked all our boxes - easy to steer and lightweight compared to many, parent or world facing, works off road. It's not going to be as versatile as a mountain buggy but those saying you can't use it on anything other than a playground are talking nonsense, it's fine off road. We have pretty much abused our pram and it has had 0 issues over the 3.5 years we've had it. It still steers like a dream, even one handed with a baby plus toddler on the buggy board. They are so well built. Plus to those saying you'll want to switch to a lightweight umbrella pram a few months down the line, I would MUCH rather still push my bugaboo - so much easier to steer and to fold down into a less high space than an umbrella pram. If you can afford it OP I would recommend the bugaboo any day.

TheJoxter · 14/08/2019 15:54

I LOVE my babyjogger city mini and got it secondhand in great condition for around £30

3 wheels are far better than 4 wheels for rough ground too.

TheJoxter · 14/08/2019 15:56

Oh also I used a sling exclusively for the first year, I don’t drive either and live in a very hilly area but my boy hated the buggy so much that I couldn’t use it (I did have a parent facing one to start with that had been passed down from a cousin so it wasn’t just that he couldn’t see me)

Definitely wouldn’t spend that much on a buggy

Liverbird77 · 14/08/2019 16:01

It's up to you, but it seems like a lot.
I have the uppa baby vista and it is brilliant.
The wheels are good for all terrains too.

Original poster
aliensprig · 14/08/2019 16:02

Some truly excellent advice on this thread, thanks so much.

the MN ideal seems to be pulling a wrecked Maclaren out of a skip

If all else fails, I know where to look Grin

We are not rich. I have some money saved by for a pram as I knew they can be pricey (that was before I saw the Bugaboo and realised I had underestimated...). My parents have already said they want to get the pram or at least contribute, so that's on them if they want to.

I will hold my hands up and admit the argos catalogue comment did sound snobby, but it wasn't meant that way, I bloody love argos! I meant it in the sense that if I let DH choose it, there wouldn't be any thought to what it actually is or its features - I'd be just as annoyed if he went out and bought a high end pram without talking to me (ie the person who'll be pushing it all the time) first. My SIL has an Uppababy Cruz and it's like trying to push and turn a lump of granite - didn't get on with it at all, and my nephew's still only tiny!

The mountain buggy has gone on my list of models to test drive, along with the baby jogger Smile

OP posts:
pictish · 14/08/2019 16:11

The pram is a very enjoyable buy. I wouldn’t ever hope to rob you of the pleasure. It’s just that I haven’t known a single mum yet who didn’t replace the travel system/pram/all singing-all dancing big purchase, for a foldy-uppy McLaren to bash around with, within a year.

shookennotstirred · 14/08/2019 16:20

I was horrified at how much some travel
Systems cost, so I found a Britax Affinity pushchair on TKMaxx for £160 (had brilliant reviews online), travel cot was £30, couple of extras off eBay £12 and a Britax car seat that clips into the pushchair frame £110. Its great, push onehanded, huge tyres that handle mud and beaches really well.

Smile19 · 14/08/2019 16:31

100% reccommend out and about. Light weight. All terrain. My 6YO can still sit in it! You can pick up good price second hand ones. I had an icandy too, which I loved...but didn't last as long size-wise and just didn't do rough ground like the O&A. Mountain buggy is heavy in comparison. Good luck.

Celebelly · 14/08/2019 16:32

Where do you even change a baby nappy when you have a sling? on the floor?!

I don't really understand this. I've never seen anyone change a nappy with their baby inside a pram?! We've got a roll up changing mat that goes on the floor if we are somewhere without a baby change place. How does a pram v sling make any difference to changing a nappy? 🤔

Celebelly · 14/08/2019 16:33

Also I do love our Ergo360 but I also like having the pram. It just depends what we are doing that day. Doesn't have to be either or!

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 14/08/2019 16:35

Also he won't ever be pushing the damn thing

Really?!

Celebelly · 14/08/2019 16:36

Do check the height of the handlebars btw. Our expensive pram is really uncomfortable for DP to push as he's 6ft 4 and they don't go high enough so it gives him a sore back. I do the majority of pushing as I'm still on mat leave but when we are out together he often likes to push it, so handlebar height is a bit annoying.

myself2020 · 14/08/2019 16:44

We bought a bugaboo bee for my first. expensive, but the only pram we ever needed, used extensively every day for almost 7 years now. it pays to get exactly the pram you need and want!

SeriouslyEnoughAlreadyRantOver · 14/08/2019 16:46

Celebelly
I would never have put my baby on the floor in places where there's no baby facilities, sounds grim, sorry. I have seen a woman doing just that in an airport toilet, I did judge I have to say.

I don't know how you use the toilet yourself with a sling either. If women are fan of slings, by all means, go for it, but I much preferred my pram!
Baby could nap, I could go for walk, shopping, try clothes, to cafes and restaurants, carry the other ones stuff. I am yet to see how I would have managed without my pram.

It doesn't mean it's right for everybody.

Celebelly · 14/08/2019 16:49

But they're not on the floor, they're on a changing mat 🤔 I just never realised people used prams to change nappies; I've just never seen it. I find it hard enough on the back seat of the car and there's much more space there! Every day's a school day.

SeriouslyEnoughAlreadyRantOver · 14/08/2019 16:50

It’s just that I haven’t known a single mum yet who didn’t replace the travel system/pram/all singing-all dancing big purchase, for a foldy-uppy McLaren to bash around with, within a year.

just walk past my kids school at pick up time, there are plenty of Bugaboos around, I don't know many people who got rid of them.
If you go from your car to a shopping centre and nowhere else, I guess a smallish can work, but for many mums the proper travel system are a lot more practical.

It's not true that they are a PFB purchase discarded after 2 months, plenty of toddlers are seen in them.

Megan2018 · 14/08/2019 16:53

I’d never get an umbrella stroller up the field to the horse, they are crap off road.
I intend to use a sling but not safe to handle horses and baby wear-I need to be able to park the baby for hours in something sturdy!

We are also using the carrycot from the icandy all terrain as a moses basket, which then converts to the pushchair seat-so it is multi use.

Cheeseandwin5 · 14/08/2019 16:54

This isn't really about the pram, its about both of you coming together and compromising. £1k does seem a very large amount on one item. If it is as good as you and others say, then there will be second hand ones available at a much cheaper price. Its not just about spending it cause you have it but putting the money you have to the best use.

SeriouslyEnoughAlreadyRantOver · 14/08/2019 16:54

Celebelly
Who would put a changing mat on the floor! Gross.

I have changed nappies in the boot of the car too, that's a lot more practical I give you that, but I rarely used my car, which was the entire point of the buggy in the first place.

I think that schlepping nappies, spare clothes, bottles, bottle warmer and so on instead of using the basket sounds like far too much hard work.

Celebelly · 14/08/2019 16:56

But that's literally what they are for! Mine has a waterproof back specifically for use when out and about. I guess I'm gross but all my pals are too so that's just fine Grin

Daisychainsandglitter · 14/08/2019 16:58

I don't drive either OP but live in a big city but my travel system got a lot of use with my two getting on and off buses and with a lot of walking.
My travel system lasted for both children and I spent around £600 on mine. I would say though especially with my second who is very active that actually it was worth having a better lightweight stroller as it's easy she's in and out of it all the time and it's much easier to push a lightweight stroller with them both. My second was in the starved system for just under a year until we swapped her to a stroller. We have definitely got more use out of the stroller.
Saying that if you have your heart set on a bugaboo and can afford it why not but in my experience it's better to invest in a more expensive stroller as they will likely use that for a lot longer.