To ask for the collective wisdom of Mumsnet when selecting a pram?

[AngeloMysterioso]

First baby is due in late October, we’ve started looking at prams etc but there are so many options it’s making my head spin! We’ve got a few things to take into consideration:

• We have to go down/up a small flight of outdoor steps to get to our front door, so needs to be easy for one person to fold or pick up.
• Town we will be living in is hilly AF with lots of tree lined pavements, so able to handle lots of bumps and not mega heavy.
• Ideally one that can be converted to face both ways/use with a carry cot/car seat (if available in a bundle that’s a bonus).
• Not crazy expensive, happy to go for second hand one if necessary (would still buy a new car seat if we do).
• Won’t need replacing in 6 months time if we have a monster baby!
• DH would quite like one he can jog with... this is far from being a priority though.

Any suggestions or advice gratefully received!

Personally we had a travel system but didn't use it as such, the cor was used as a Moses basket- it too up too much space in the car, the car seat - we didn't ever attach to the wheel because babies shouldn't be left in them for more than 2 hrs at a time and it is too easy to do that if you put it on the wheels.

We used the push chair part a lot.
It went flat and could face either way, it folded down small.

Bebe confort I think we had.

Things I wish I’d considered when buying a pram:

Are either of you especially tall or short - if so avoid the peaks with flippy handles and go for an extendable handle?

Basket size - will you be using it for full days out, if so you’ll need to be able to get shopping, picnic stuff and changing stuff in it?

How big is your car- can it fit easily in the boot when folded?

From what you’ve said I’d be looking at a Bugaboo or Mountain Buggy but I’d avoid 2nd hand as I wouldn’t want one that’s had 3 years of use, you get what you pay for.

I’m 5ft5 and a half, DH is a fraction shy of 6ft.

We will be living just outside the town centre and I don’t drive so yes will need space for shopping and stuff.

We don’t have a car yet but will be getting something decent sized, not a 4x4 or anything though...

I thought Bugaboos were mainly for people with more money than sense?

I always recommend the Baby Jogger prams to people. They are sturdy yet light, fold up small (and with a one-hand action do you can hold the child in the other) and lie flat with a huge 180' opening hood. We've had two (only replaced because we sold the first as thought we were only having DS) and both have lasted 4yrs of solid everyday London use. The GT has bigger wheels which might be better for terrain, but we had the standard model each time.

BabyJogger Mini GT. One-handed fold, great tyres and suspension. It does only world face but we are still using with lie flat car seat at
6mo and will probably do so for a good few months yet. It's a bloody great pram and such good value.

Throughabushbackwards I have heard good things about Baby Joggers, don’t they only face away from you though?

I can only tell you from my own experience, but the people I know who bought Bugaboos have used them for 3 years without having to replace with a pushchair and then for the 2nd child too so although the initial cost is high they’ve definitely had their money’s worth, what I’ve heard from my friends is that they’re light, good on rough terrain and with extendable handles, big basket and fold down small.

I on the other hand bought a Cosatto because I liked the pattern, big mistake! I’m quite tall, 5’9” and I was pushing it hunched over, I ended up going to a osteopath for my back pain so I only used it for a year before I bought a pushchair with an extendable handle. So with the osteopath costs, cost of a buggy and the travel system I spent more than if I’d just bought the more expensive pram in the first place!

With the flippy handles if you put them up because you’re tall you end up closer to the pram and it’s easy to accidentally hit the break pedal, which is potentially dangerous if you’re crossing a road and the pram just stops!

I had the mothercare journey for my youngest and it ticked all the boxes for long walks on bumpy/country paths and in town, paid £199 in the sale but you can pick up a second hand one for around £50-100, front and rear facing too, lovely to push. I switched to a silver cross pop when he was one as it was easier but I do miss the mothercare one. I avoided the bugaboos and similar as I think they’re a waste of money, a cheaper one does the same thing and they aren’t used for long.

I got a Cosatto Giggle 2 travel system.

I really like it as it came with a car seat, pram element and push chair element. I had planned on having two kids with a small age gap so I didn’t want to spend stupid money on a pram. It was pretty cheap.

It is quite big though and doesn’t fit in our car although we do have a tiny Citroen c1 at the moment😂 it goes on the front seat and I sit in the back with the baby! It does fold nicely though.

One thing I didn’t consider is public transport. As we only have one car I do a lot of walking but when the weather isn’t great I get the bus but I’m always conscious about how much room I take up!

So size is important. I’m an idiot and didn’t think of that when I bought it.

@StripeySocks29 I'm glad it's not just me who finds the Cosatto really low, and I'm not even tall! DP can't even push it as he has to stoop, and I'm only 5ft 5 and find it sore on my back I thought we were doing something wrong but couldn't find any way to make it better!

And yes I keep tripping on the Cosatto pram chassis or almost stepping on the brake with the handles up. It's a real pain. It's a shame as I love the pattern but functionally it's pretty awful compared to the BabyJogger and was more expensive too

I spent a fortune on a bugaboo Cameleon and then considerably less on a baby jogger. The baby jogger wins for me hand down. I have two kids close in age and it was a doddle to swap them over unlike many. It folds easy, isn't too heavy, manages all sorts of terrain, massive sun hood, easy to push, still fits my 4 year old when I'm desperate etc etc. It is the only baby item I think I genuinely couldn't have coped without!!

I also vote for baby jogger City mini GT, although it is a little heavy so carrying up a flight of stairs while holding a baby would be tricky. It does only face away (unless you are using the carry cot when baby is small).

If you want parent facing it will have to be a travel system type rather than a stroller/pushchair. This means taking off the seat unit to fold and then you will have 2 pieces to carry. There are very few systems where a parent facing seat will fold on the unit.

Uppababy vista has a good basket and good wheels and parent faces. But is big and heavy and will be a 2 piece fold. If you can manage this then that’s what I episode go with.

If a one piece fold is important then I would go for the baby jogger City mini Gt.

I’m another one with a Cosatto who’d have bought a Baby Jogger or YoYo if I was making the decision again, preferably a 2nd hand one as there are bargains to be had. Principally because it’s heavy with a toddler (we have 5 steps) and a bit too big for public transport.

A Silver Cross Surf 2 lasted us 2 years doing lots of walking up and down hills. Retired it because DD is tall but a shorter child would get more use. Carry cot suitable for overnight sleeps. Pushchair parent faces or world faces. I'm about your height and DH is over 6 foot and we could both push easily. We got it on a deal because they were bringing out a new model so it was a bargain. Loved it and would highly recommend

Forgot to say you really need to go to a baby show or baby shop and push them around and try folding and unfolding them

I got a beautiful pushchair (bebecar). Didn’t really think of having a toddler in it, I mean, I tried a average hight toddler in the pushchair bit but didn’t count on having a massive toddler which means the whole thing is now just heavy 🙈

Another vote for the Baby Jogger City Mini GT. Yes, only forward facing, but a decent sized window in the hood allows you to peek in on sleeping baba. We had the double version and loved it!

Also, I was hugely over invested in parent facing mode for toddlers and based my whole decision around it. She loves being outward facing and has done from six months, and we still chat non-stop about all the things she can see.

Check the fold up size, the boot of the car obviously but it's a huge advantage to be able to fold on buses, trains etc because if they are busy/disabled person needs the accessible space it's a huge advantage. Like so many we ended up with using an umbrella buggy past 6 months,

If you don't drive you really need to look at the public transport options in your area. You might say "oh I walk everywhere" (as I hear lots of people say) but out with baby things change big time and there are probably places you will go to with baby that aren't even on your radar now - the children's centre/church hall that's completely on the opposite side of town but is where the Health Visitor clinic is for example.
Seriously think to yourself "will I be using the bus/train/tram?" - even if you wouldn't now but when it's raining, baby is tired and cranky, you are tired and cranky and you just want to get home from Tesco - you certainly won't be doing that "oh I will wait until the rain stops" - you will be getting on the bus!
So that said - if public transport is going to be part of your life then please don't buy a 'pram'. They are too big for public transport and if you have to remove the seat/carrycot to fold it down - then no. Just no. It needs to be simple to fold and fairly flat when folded.
While having baby facing you in a pram is nice - but that vs being isolated because you can't get anywhere with your giant pram then having a forward facing buggy is much better for you.

Mini city jogger or Mountain Buggy - we are looking at the MB duet - and they can parent face till around 15 months - unsure if it’s like that for a single buggy or if it’s just the double however

If you don't drive, don't waste your money on a travel system, unless you're frequently going to travel somewhere by public transport and expect a lift or taxi to complete your journey. I think I put the car seat on the system twice for DC1 and not at all for DC2. The travel systems really restrict your car seat choice too and mean you have to buy a new car seat when the baby is a year or so.

The Baby Jogger does seem to be a good option. I have a Bugaboo Bee, which meets all criteria except the small wheels are not great on bumpy/uneven ground. I bought mine second hand, but it would have been worth buying even at full price. I am able to easily switch between DC1 (a big 3yo now) and DC2 (now 1).

It's a difficult decision. Good luck! Incidentally, DC1 travelled most places by carrier as she preferred it and it was so easy and convenient. Our Tula carrier was absolutely my best baby buy.

Hiya, I'm due at the end of October with my first too! Like you I've been going round in circles, but it did help with going to look at some first and I agree with others that a travel system isn't the best value for money. I'm looking at getting a car seat for 0-4 years, and have just ordered the Metro pram from Redsbaby, they have 50% off at the moment.

We have just got a mountain buggy terrain. It's absolutely fantastic compared to my last M&P buggy.