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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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Fowles94 · 15/08/2019 18:55

YABU to assume cheaper prams are worse. I have a Hauck travel system, cost £170 and still going strong through all weather and terrains 13 months later. Its got loads of storage and folds up small.

If you and your partner have shared finance like us then you should decide together. If not just pay the difference yourself.

reefedsail · 15/08/2019 18:56

You can't possibly think a BJ City Mini is all terrain??

Is that like when people post on the 'rural living' board about moving to Weybridge? Grin

DoloresOnTheDottedLine · 15/08/2019 18:58

Get the iCandy strawberry instead - ticks every box you mention, is half the price and they even throw in the cup holder Wink

Undaunted77 · 15/08/2019 19:00

I had a second hand travel system from eBay, not a super fancy brand. Cost about £150, and probably did about 2000 miles, before my kid eventually graduated to a Maclaren pushchair. Was absolutely fine - and I never worried about breaking it, losing it, spilling anything on it, or getting it stolen...

Greengreen88 · 15/08/2019 19:02

With 18 pages and billions of responses, I’m sure this one will get lost or has already been said Grin

But, to be honest, if you can really afford it (won’t go into debt for it), then get the one you want. I had a Bugaboo with DC1 and various other prams since. While the Bugaboo probably wasn’t and isn’t the best out there, I loved it and used it all the way.

One comment though- I had the Bugaboo Bee (brill buggy, btw) and it’s small and I genuinely used it until the end of buggy days (then sold it and got another type for DC2 - the Babyzen yo-yo, which I have mixed feelings about). The Bugaboo Fox is big and you won’t use it for three years. You’ll probably use it for one year. Seriously. After that, you’ll want a lightweight stroller. I promise you. You think you won’t but you will.

Having said that, resale is pretty good on Bugaboos. Let’s say you sell it for half price you got it for (and you’ll probably sell it for more), it’ll cost you £500, not £1000 in the long term.

Maryann1975 · 15/08/2019 19:09

I’m another one saying don’t spend so much on a big prom. By the time dc1 had reached her birthday we hardly used it and we lived rurally and walked everywhere too. Much preferred the maclaren stroller. When dc2 came along we had the Pram out again, but also used the buggy and a sling. By the time I had dc3, she never even went in the pram. I’d realised how big it was and I didn’t see the need for it at all.

But, it’s probably one of those purchases that until you’ve lived your life with it, but until don’t know if it works or if there is something better out there for you.

Mary54 · 15/08/2019 19:14

I think you are being optimistic if you think you will use it for three years. If you have a second child, you will probably need to replace it with a double pushchair at some point. Even if you only have one, you may find that a lightweight buggy is more useful once you hit the toddler stage. Especially if you don’t drive. The buggys can often be folded with one hand which is much easier if you are using public transport and need to hang onto the toddler. Also much easier to fit into a car boot if someone offers you a lift.
As to resale value, we found that it was hard to even give away an old pram (top of range silver cross) as nearly everyone wanted a new one for their first dc

partofyoupoursoutofme · 15/08/2019 19:27

We got a second hand version of the expensive pram I really wanted for a third of the price. It's fab and we've never had the need to change it for a lighter weight pushchair. Dc is 3 now and I still use it a couple of times a week, number 2 is on its way so I'm hoping we'll get another 3 years out of it. I'm glad we didn't pay full price, but in my experience the expensive prams are worth the money.

cherish123 · 15/08/2019 19:57

Depends on what you can afford. 1k seems excessive for a pram but equally I wouldn't get a second hand one unless you cannot afford a new one. There must be an in between option.

LovelyIssues · 15/08/2019 19:57

A grand for something they use for 2 years max?! you're mad

ToftyAC · 15/08/2019 19:58

Op you are being ridiculous. A grand? Jesus. I had a Mothercare 3 wheeler to start (with baby car seat) and a Mothercare stroller after. Both were 2nd had, both were £20. 4 years of easy getting about with the easiest pushable baby vehicles. Just gave both away for a 3rd life. Just think of all the practical things you could do with a grand.

gill1960 · 15/08/2019 20:04

I buy everything second hand and makes sure its easy to fold and lightweight.
Both of my buggies came from mothercare and had options to face either way.
For me it was about easy function and weight ... not looks.
I have been parenting for over 40 years to different children.
You can waste a lot of money on a heap of crap that doesn't perform as a buggy should.

I'm sorry

Lou12124 · 15/08/2019 20:08

I have the citi jogger twin pram....its brill!!! But I would say it does take up alot of space in a car but like you say you dont drive so wouldn't affect you

manicmij · 15/08/2019 20:12

Money to waste. There must be others cheaper and just as good or second hand.

Mammajay · 15/08/2019 20:29

Mothercare Journey £300 looks great, complete travel system

Abraid2 · 15/08/2019 20:32

buy a second hand one, you'll always wish it was brand new.

You seriously won’t. Not after a few weeks walking in rain and mud.

Northernlurker · 15/08/2019 20:32

I would buy it if you want it. You spend a lot of time pushing it. A bugaboo will be ok for several children and holds value. Screw the Mumsnet beloved miserable virtue signalling of the second hand pushchair salvaged from a skip...

Neverender · 15/08/2019 20:35

Nope, nope, nope. They're a massive rip off.

NoSauce · 15/08/2019 20:38

I know you asked the advice of posters OP but seriously if you want the pram just get it, especially if your parents will buy it/help towards it. Don’t be railroaded into buying something you might regret by a load of strangers on MN.

As I said yesterday buy cheap buy twice.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 15/08/2019 20:40

To me the buggy was important and whilst I'm all for saving money in general it wasn't something I was prepared to compromise on as we could afford it. We got the uppababy vista which was quite expensive, I think around £700-800 though it might be more now. I've used it every day for 3 years and we are about to have a second baby so expect to use it for 3 more years. It's brilliant, still in good condition and has a massive basket (I don't drive either).

Take him to John Lewis to test drive the buggies, that was what swayed my DH. We actually bought the buggy on a baby show weekend without going to the baby show. We found out who was exhibiting for uppababy and called them up for the baby show discount bundle with car seat and it saved us a couple of hundred in total.

You do get what you pay for with buggies and whilst they don't exactly hold their value you can generally sell them on to recoup a bit of money at the end.

bigfatmoggy · 15/08/2019 20:43

You're all bonkers! I could afford a grand for a buggy but I wouldn't dream of spending that sort of money, how ridiculous! I got nearly all the stuff for my DCs either as hand me downs from family or second hand from friends, and our buggy was a lovely maclaren from a second hand shop for about £100. Did us for years and then I gave it to a friend.

It's not about what you can afford, it's about value for money. It's all done with so quickly (unless you're planning on 10 kids) so just imagine what putting the cash into a savings plan could do for them when they want to get on the property market later. You can get barely worn designer clothes from marketplace , and second hand cots, highchairs and bouncy chairs etc. All you need to buy new is underwear and babygros, bedding, mattresses and so on - no need to be sniffy about 'used' beds or buggies! You just use a bit of common sense and you could really help them in later life! Or keep the money for when they get really expensive at school - with trips, uniform, PE kit, backpacks, lunchboxes and so on......

NoSauce · 15/08/2019 20:48

and our buggy was a lovely maclaren from a second hand shop for about £100. Did us for years and then I gave it to a friend

And? Who cares?! It’s not about you.

Figgygal · 15/08/2019 20:53

I would never choose to spend that on a buggy

I have a Baby jogger it did ds1 for 3.5 years and Ds2 is almost 3 and still using it though he prefers pushing it

Hands down was the best baby item I ever bought and sing it's praises at all opportunities (as you can see)

Ithinkmycatisevil · 15/08/2019 20:56

If you really want it, then buy it. It’s your money and your baby.

If it was me, I would never in a million years spend a grand on a pram. My dd2 HATED her pram and would only ever settle and be happy in a cheaply bright pink buggy which cost about £50. Luckily the pram was a hand down from her sister and didn’t cost anywhere near a grand new. I’d have been gutted if I’d have brought an expensive pram and it went to waste.

LaurieMarlow · 15/08/2019 20:58

Surely £100 for a second hand Maclaren is paying massively over the odds?

Was there no skip round your way bigfatmoggy?

It's not about what you can afford, it's about value for money

I’m interested in why this is applied so insistently on here when it comes to prams, yet is surely not a tenet that people use for everything across the board.

Are we not allowed to spend money (if we have it) where we like, on something that gives us pleasure?