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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Buying a new buggy for older toddler

93 replies

BigBlondeBimbo · 08/09/2020 10:08

Slightly cheekily posting for traffic!

I am not being U, I don't think, as we really do need a new buggy for our large toddler! The old one was a beautiful big pushchair, which we got for £50 secondhand. Even DH who is extremely careful with money has agreed we need a new one as the old one is literally falling to bits. The chassis has started to come apart and it is just very well worn. This is the second DC in our family alone who has used it and we bought it secondhand in the first place.

Any who, can anyone please recommend a good buggy for a large toddler? It would need to be nice and comfy for him, lightweight and good to push around town.

I know he may not be in it all that much longer, but we can always sell on when he is out of it. He is two years old and tall, but not massive.

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Original poster
BigBlondeBimbo · 08/09/2020 11:04

He will still be in it for longer walks, rushed walks, (ie school run), and grocery shopping, if nothing else tbh. I definitely can't monitor a toddler while carrying groceries along our roads. Honestly, if I saw someone attempting that here, I'd think they were complete a complete tit, or a glutton for punishment. I imagine he'll walk more in around a year, by which stage we can sell it on. Even a year of daily use is value for money imo. And I do let him walk when he wants to. I just push the buggy alongside him 🤷‍♀️. I personally think it's teaching him better habits than if I just drove him everywhere because it was too far for a 2 year old to walk. I don't know any two year olds who walks the distances we do with the buggy every day. We cover miles every day of the week. He might manage it some days, but others he wouldn't, so there's no harm in having the buggy there for those times.

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Original poster
BigBlondeBimbo · 08/09/2020 11:04

And also thank you for all the recommendations! This is really helpful FlowersCake.

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Soubriquet · 08/09/2020 11:05

Out n about for sure!

I could fit my 5 year in it and it’s so easy to push I could do it one handed

Soubriquet · 08/09/2020 11:06

And ignore all those who say he’s too old now.

I had a pushchair for mine till he was nearly 4. I didn’t drive, I walked everywhere

People who say he’s too old usually have a car to get there in the first place

SacreBleeurgh · 08/09/2020 11:08

City mini all day long! Ideally the GT as it really is better - suspension, wheels, adjustable handle etc. Agree with the suggestions to buy second hand then sell on - will almost certainly work our cost neutral as they are so sturdy and hard wearing that it will probably be just as good when you sell it!

minipie · 08/09/2020 11:09

Definitely get second hand, you will save a ton or can get a better buggy for the same money iyswim. Also if you don’t use it much you may well be able to sell it on and recoup your money.

Bugaboo Bee is really good for this age and you could get an older one cheaply. They are very well made so will be fine second hand. I also like the Nipper 360 mentioned above but the seat is quite enclosed so they can’t see out quite as well, also it doesn’t fold as small as the Bee.

Caspianberg · 08/09/2020 11:10

I think a three wheeler jogger type would be comfier for larger toddlers, and generally easier to push when they are heavier as bigger air wheels.

Baby jogger, mountain buggy, nipper and similar would all work and can be found on Facebook marketplace also if you want secondhand

I don’t get the problem with 2-3 year olds in prams I see here. Our baby is only small, but there’s no way he will completely pram free at 2 years. Daily he will be able to walk around locally, but we live in the mountains and normal weekend walks are 10-15 km. I’m sure he will happily walk many of them, but at some point in the day he will need to rest or nap. When it’s 35 degrees in summer or freezing with snow in winter a pram is super handy for shade or cosy with blankets and a footmuff if they get cold after walking an hour.

Those talking g about no prams at 2 years generally walk locally only, or back for lunch etc.. if you leave at 9am and out the whole day until 5-8pm there’s no way an average 2 year old happy poodles around for 6/7/8+ hours on a balance bike

SacreBleeurgh · 08/09/2020 11:10

(Oh and for what it’s worth, my just turned 4 year old sat in ours for 15 minutes at the end of a walk with her younger sister the other week - sue me!)

BestOfTimesBlurstOfTimes · 08/09/2020 11:11

Another vote for Mamas and Papas Armadillo here. DS2 is 3.5 and we still use it on DS1’s school run.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 08/09/2020 11:11

This is going back a bit as youngest is now 19 I'm disabled and found Maclaren quest brilliant DS2 was in it until 3 years 9 months! He's fine just a big late walker!

BillyAndTheSillies · 08/09/2020 11:13

My DS1 was in a buggy until nearly 4, he only quit once DS2 was born.

He'll go for miles now, either on his bike, scooter or just by foot but I honestly never thought I'd get him out of the buggy.

We used the Maclaren XT which still felt sturdy with him in it despite being very tall. This weekend we were at a very hilly zoo so he hopped in while DS2 went in the sling and it was still easy to push with DS1 in it at 4.5yo.

Original poster
BigBlondeBimbo · 08/09/2020 11:13

Yes, I'd thought about Bugaboo Bee. Will have a look for secondhand for that one.

City jogger, maclaren and the nipper out and about one seem popular on here.

I do think the nipper might be a good option for us, as it's three wheels and think light off-road would be ok with it? Has anyone used it for hikes at all? Not scaling a cliff face or anything, but hilly, dirt tracks or mud?

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blablablablablablabla · 08/09/2020 11:14

I bought the Baby Jogger City Elite when my DC was 15 months. It's great. It's not light but it's great to push and folds nicely, it's got a good seat for a bigger child.

Original poster
BigBlondeBimbo · 08/09/2020 11:14

Will check out the Armadillo too Flowers

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strawberrymilkshakemonkey · 08/09/2020 11:17

i wouldn't bother. if a child is able to walk, make them walk. if you put them in the buggy everytime they show the slightest hint of getting tired, their legs will never develop the strength to walk further. legs are made for walking and buying another buggy will encourage dependence. just reduce usage until he grows out of the current buggy.

Original poster
BigBlondeBimbo · 08/09/2020 11:18

@strawberrymilkshakemonkey

i wouldn't bother. if a child is able to walk, make them walk. if you put them in the buggy everytime they show the slightest hint of getting tired, their legs will never develop the strength to walk further. legs are made for walking and buying another buggy will encourage dependence. just reduce usage until he grows out of the current buggy.
And u till his legs grow strong enough, how do you propose I do the shopping or school run or go anywhere further than a couple of miles from home and back?
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teaandlotusbiscoff · 08/09/2020 11:22

No experience with the out n about but we have a mountain buggy urban and it can definitely last. Fits up to 25KG and is very sturdy, have been fine on rougher terrains and up hills etc

Original poster
BigBlondeBimbo · 08/09/2020 11:23

Thanks @teaandlotusbiscoff, will take a look. I remember some not friends getting that one.

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Soubriquet · 08/09/2020 11:24

@BigBlondeBimbo

Yes, I'd thought about Bugaboo Bee. Will have a look for secondhand for that one.

City jogger, maclaren and the nipper out and about one seem popular on here.

I do think the nipper might be a good option for us, as it's three wheels and think light off-road would be ok with it? Has anyone used it for hikes at all? Not scaling a cliff face or anything, but hilly, dirt tracks or mud?

Yes I used to take the out n about on river banks and back roads whilst I walked the dog.

It handled them like a dream

RogueV · 08/09/2020 11:24

What’s this bollocks of you won’t use it after they’re 2.5.

My 4 year old still needed the pushchair occasionally!!!!

Keeva2017 · 08/09/2020 11:25

Not sure I would make it too cushy for him but obviously you want him comfortable enough so that he’s not kicking off wanting to get out (when your late, on a main road and about to blow your top 🤣 which is usually the moment they pick). Maybe look for a fairly cheap but comfortable stroller. I think a pp mentioned a red kite one. My mum got one for her house for when she had my eldest and and my little girl preferred it to the expensive one I had!!

About 50 quid I think and really durable so could reasonably look for a second hand one.

Twigletfairy · 08/09/2020 11:28

What about a trike that has different modes so can be pushed by you as well?

My eldest is 3 and broke her leg during lockdown and I couldn't have lived without the trike. It's especially useful when going out for the day to somewhere like the zoo where we will be on our feet all day.

Ours is designed so it can be folded up to pop in the car. And it's great as it can still be used as they get older as a trike that they steer themselves without the parent handle attached

FoxtrotSkarloey · 08/09/2020 11:29

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ.

Clarabellawilliamson · 08/09/2020 11:32

Baby joggers always get good reviews. We got a silver cross zest for similar reasons to the poster above with their pop- goes up to 25 kg. It's a neat fold, fits in my tiny boot, you can put shopping underneath it, or fill the hood with random crap...

Let's not forget, with 2 kids sometimes it's nice not to have to carry everything even if they are walking!

Original poster
BigBlondeBimbo · 08/09/2020 11:39

@FoxtrotSkarloey

We've just got a Silver Cross Pop and I'm quite happy with it. Two main reasons were 25kg max weight limit and decent ability for rougher ground. The downside is it's a bit bulkier than I would have liked for a pushchair but it was the best I could find.
Oh thanks for this. I was looking at the zest and thought it mightn't be sturdy enough. Is yours the pop star paper planes one? And it does ok on roughish terrain?
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