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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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OnlyaMan · 14/08/2019 21:40

You want to spend one thousand pounds on a pram! If you and your husband are rich....well......go for it.
If you are a "normal" person...………….stop being so silly.

TheJoxter · 14/08/2019 21:49

@Iminagony yep the mini has those solid foam type wheels and the GT has all terrain wheels, would have preferred the GT but could only find the mini in my budget. It still manages rocky beaches and all sorts so I imagine the GT is incredible!

newtothenet · 14/08/2019 21:55

I bought the Bugaboo Bee for my first child. It was perfect. We used it from baby to toddler and again for my second child from baby to toddler. It was the only pram / buggy we owned. It just handled so well and was easy to use. It's still sat in the hallway because I don't want to part with it!

Meanwhile some of the school mums tell me stories of owning a dozen or more because they keep changing their minds.

I'm not sure what the moral of the tale is. I suppose if you love it and it will see you through then the price per use will be very low, but you need to be certain.

JoeMaplin · 14/08/2019 22:18

Imho of having had 4 kids and having about 10 years of buggy pushing experience, I would go for something all terrain like the out and about nipper. I've just looked at the fox online and those wheels will be a right pain for mud, rough ground etc. Honestly.

VeganCow · 15/08/2019 08:57

Another her saying when mine were babies Mamas n Papas was all the rage, looking back it was just a carrycot on wheels with a car seat. It did last my 2 but was a waste of money ..if mine ever have kids I would certainly not bother with looks/expensive hyped brands, but rather get something that is easy to push, easy to fold, light to carry and store, doesn't take up space when folded and has sturdy all terrain wheels. Some that do all that have been mentioned here and they aren't the cost of Bugaboo

caperplips · 15/08/2019 12:10

This thread is making me laugh - all these people saying 'oh don't buy it NOBODY uses a bugaboo beyond 7 / 8mths and then the overwhelming majority of us who have had and used a bugaboo have said - yes, get it, we've used ours from birth to age 4 with no issues Grin hilarious!

oddsocks123 · 15/08/2019 12:13

YANBU for wanting to spend that much on a pram if you can afford it. Don't get into debt over it!
But YABU for wanting that, bucket seats look soooo uncomfy! Get something with a lay flat seat, bucket seats may be trendy but not as comfy for baba, and tend to be smaller too..! I personally don't like lightweight strollers, I like the feel of something sturdier but I appreciate I'm in the minority there!

kidsdoingmyheadin · 15/08/2019 12:35

we've used ours from birth to age 4 with no issues grin hilarious!

I actually don’t know any 4 yr olds that use a pram.
I got the additional seat for the Uppababy & a buggy board for my DC1 when DC2 came along. I barely used them, DC1 was 2yrs 10 months.

caperplips · 15/08/2019 15:42

kids we last used ours when dc was 4 as we travelled to New York with her and we suspected that with the huge amount of city walking plus the heat she would not be able for it and would slow us down if we didn't. And we were right! She was very glad to hop in and out of it on that trip.

We live quite a walk (couple of miles) from the nearest shop and up to about 4ish I would bring the buggy with me, she would walk some, sit for some, walk some as that distance was too great for her there and back but I didn't always want to drive.

LaurieMarlow · 15/08/2019 16:11

With DS1 I used the Chameleon regularly until he was 2.5 and occasionally until 3ish. It’s now going strong with DS2 at 15 months.

SeriouslyEnoughAlreadyRantOver · 15/08/2019 16:16

I actually don’t know any 4 yr olds that use a pram.

I do, so what?
School pick up time seems to fall into nap time, and there are quite a few mums who have a young one sleeping in the pram. I can think of a few who are starting reception in September, so they are around 4 years old.

Not everybody drives everywhere, there are still plenty of parent who manage to leave their cars when they are only a short walk away, and taking the buggy with you if the youngest get tired is helpful. Or if you want to rush and don't have time to mess about.

kidsdoingmyheadin · 15/08/2019 17:09

I live 10 mins from the tube/high st & a less than 5 mins from the common & school so I don’t drive much either. Even for longer walks my 4 year old wouldn’t get in the pram & apart from the odd occasion eg theme park or city break I don’t think it’s the norm for a 4 yr old to use a travel system.

kidsdoingmyheadin · 15/08/2019 17:13

Plus I’m pretty sure most travel
systems are marketed for newborn to toddlers & I don’t think 4 yr olds are toddlers.

kidsdoingmyheadin · 15/08/2019 17:14

I think LaurieMarlow’s experience is more typical imo.

Sallyseagull · 15/08/2019 17:15

I paid £1k for my candy orange, I barely use it now (DS is 16 months) and haven't for months. I got a second hand buggy from Ebay for £25 which I originally bought for holiday except I actually love it and prefer it.

I wish I hadn't spent so much on my icandy as I only use it now when my husband is around because I feel so guilty at insisting we needed such a pricey thing.

NerrSnerr · 15/08/2019 17:20

We had a big standard Gracco travel system that cost about £400 (and was great, comfortable and worked well). We stopped using it for both children at about 2. Then the buggy was used less and less after that. My youngest is 2.5 and once he drops his naps he won't use it unless we're doing hours of walking. He walks the school run daily and everything in between fine. Where we live it's the norm for most to be out of a pushchair by the time they're 3.

Megan2018 · 15/08/2019 17:21

I don't understand why so much of mumsnet is opposed to people having nice things, just because they like them, regardless of the cost. Not everything has to be the most practical/economical/best value if you don't want it to be.
We aren't in Gilead.

I have bought some very practical and inexpensive multi-use baby things to save money. I have got a huge stash of cloth nappies to help the environment. I have been given/sourced huge amounts of second hand things as I like to re-use/recycle where I can. I have also bought some highly frivolous things because I like them and that includes the pram.

Jessie94 · 15/08/2019 17:28

Why not buy second hand so everyone's happy?

I was pretty insistent that I wanted the iCandy Peach but it's about a grand too.
So I picked one up 2nd hand for £200.

It's lasted me 3 years with absolutely no issues :)

KarmaStar · 15/08/2019 17:31

Buy it op.
"Buy it cheap,but it twice"you clearly need a sturdy,well made one and this will do the job.
Plus,if you have another dc it will be used again,or,you could sell it on for a fairly good price.
You said you can afford it,so go for it.🌸

larrygrylls · 15/08/2019 17:32

We had the chameleon several years ago, pretty much a complete waste of money. It was really quite heavy and tricky to put up and down.

I am not against people having nice things but baby buggies are not that nice and, also, they are not for you, they are for the baby, and the baby really does not give a flying...

When you are buying a buggy, you need to imagine it covered in spit, old food and baby vomit with some random old toys strewn in it. It is not the same as in the shop, all shiny and new.

Ultimately the aim of the game is to get them out of the buggy as soon as possible and you also need to think of second children coming along sooner than expected (you will need a double buggy) and air travel (you will need something cheap, light and quickly foldable).

I could easily afford the £1,000 that it cost at the time, but I still regret being sold it (which was what effectively happened). It felt like buying an expensive car but with lots of niggles and annoyances.

If you really want it and can easily afford it, go for it, but do have a read of what experienced parents have said on this thread.

Jimdandy · 15/08/2019 17:34

I had the brand new Donkey and spent around £1,500.00 on it with all accessories etc.

You’ll get lots of different answers in here as everyone is different with different priorities and incomes.

I say go for it

Mamaloveswine · 15/08/2019 17:37

Oh op I have the bugaboo fox and it’s amazing. It is a lot of money, but you will get the use out of it. I remember my husband got excited when I saw a much cheaper mamas and papas one that I liked, but in the end I opted for the Fox. Babies are so expensive so if you’re worried about money, it maybe isn’t the best idea, but if you can afford it, go for it Grin

StinkEye · 15/08/2019 17:38

Former buggy pro here (used to work in sales) and I h e to say the Fox is really not that great. The fold down is such a palaver, it's a big old beast, and imho overpriced. There are much nicer buggies out there. Have to say the Bee is amazing but if you want something bigger, have a look at the baby style Oyster, icandy lime too.

Pipanchew2 · 15/08/2019 17:39

Is this your first Pram? With DD1 I did loads of research and thought I’d figured out what I wanted only to find once I started using it it wasn’t quite right. I persevered with it but bought a new one for DC2 (silvercross wayfarer) and I love it as it ticks all the boxes that I now know are important. For first baby I would def recommend going cheap or second hand so that once you are actually using it you can change your mind.

Mishappening · 15/08/2019 17:40

Just about every single thing I had for baby 1 was second hand or handed down - we saved lots and were able to use that money for other things.