Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to spend a small fortune on a new buggy

70 replies

Wispabarsareback · 27/11/2008 14:49

Apologies for the dullness of the topic, but I'm having a genuine dilemma. I don't usually get drawn in by stories in the media about all the things we may be doing wrong as parents - but the recent one about forward-facing buggies has thrown me into a bit of a spin. I've always been keen on good old Maclaren buggies, for all the obvious reasons, but even before this research was reported in the media, I'd begun to fret a bit about DD2. She's 15 months old but very tiny for her age and developmentally delayed, so she's not speaking yet and isn't very responsive. She likes being out in her buggy, but I'd begun to feel all wrong about her being 'out front'. (With DD1 it was never an issue, as she would turn round from an early age to have conversations as we went along - but DD2 doesn't do that.)

So I thought I'd have a little look at various options for parent-facing buggies - had always thought this kind were too big and bulky to be useful to me. And I came across the Bugaboo Bee, which is very appealing (I've always been quite snotty about Bugaboos, on grounds of cost and general ponciness - but I hadn't seen the Bee before).

On impulse, I ordered it - but I'm now slightly reeling at how much it costs. We can afford it I suppose, but it's a huge amount of money that could be spent elsewhere. I could still cancel the order, or return it when it comes.

AIBU to buy a new buggy when the old one still works perfectly well, simply so DD can face me instead of the outside world? I admit that I've been suckered by the design of this particular model, which I really like, but I'm also very anxious about DD2, who has SN, and I want to do anything I can to help her - the point is there doesn't seem to be much we can really do, so buying a new buggy might be a bit of displacement activity.

What shall I do - go ahead and buy the thing, or cancel the order??

OP posts:
KatieScarlett1 · 27/11/2008 14:58

Don't cancel! If this is something which is beneficial to your daughter why not?

Notreallycutoutforthis · 27/11/2008 14:59

Can you get into John Lewis or somewhere and try one out? Have only looked online but am a bit concerned that there doesn't seem to be a footrest, and your DD may not get as much time out of it as she might a Stokke xplory (which I have and will recommend to anyone at great length )

thisisyesterday · 27/11/2008 14:59

hmmm well I LOVE rear-facing buggies and have used them with both of mine just because I like being able to see them and chat with them

I don't necessarily agree with this whole campaign thing though because I think it takes a lot more than a few trips in a forward facing buggy to affect a child's development. unless your child is in a buggy for most of the day I honestly doubt it's a problem. most of us spend a LOT of time chatting to our kids anyway.

but if you WANT a rear-facing buggy and if you think it will benefit your child, and make you feel like you're doing something to help her, and you can afford it then you absolutely should!
there are cheaper alternatives than the bee though lol
why not see how you like it when it gets to you and decide then?

Notreallycutoutforthis · 27/11/2008 15:00

But if it makes you feel you're helping DD then how can it be a waste of money? It is so much nicer to talk to them when walking...

ToThrottleablackbird · 27/11/2008 15:00

Are you sure you will like it? Have you tried it out in a shop?

If so then, no dont cancel.

thisisyesterday · 27/11/2008 15:00

the only things I don't like about the bee are:
it seems quite low down, the seat isn't that big. I tried ds2 (1yr) in one in mothercare and he swamped it lol

Wispabarsareback · 27/11/2008 15:14

Thanks for your views. I'm not worried about DD being too big for it, as she's very very little, and it's going to be a good old while before her feet go anywhere near any kind of foot-rest!

I just never thought of myself as a someone who would spend hundreds on a buggy (!), and I don't move in Bugaboo-pushing circles! But I like the design of this one because it isn't big and heavy. And it comes in great colours

OP posts:
PotPourri · 27/11/2008 15:14

If you want it adn you think it will help your little one come on, then go for it. You can sell it on once you are finished with it. Don't beat yourself up - you need to do all you can so that you can never tell yourself that you didn't do everything you could to bring her on. Unless this is going to make you have to eat beans for a full month for tea, then weigh up whetehr you will feel better with it orwith the money.

did you look for one second hand?
And what does DH think?

thisisyesterday · 27/11/2008 15:19

good point from potpourri. once you're done with it you can probably flog it for a fair bit still.

Wispabarsareback · 27/11/2008 15:20

DH thinks I've lost the plot, but he is being very nice about it - I think he thinks that anything that makes me feel better about DD2 and more positive about life generally at the moment is A Good Thing. (He is very lovely and I'm lucky to have him.)

OP posts:
witchandchips · 27/11/2008 15:21

if she is small would something like this
http://www.babycurls.co.uk/hippychickhipseatblack-4159.php?products_id=4159&gclid=COTGvfzTlZcCFcsa3g odkktpJA hppychick back carrier work. Much cheaper and probably better for interacting with your dd.

thisisyesterday · 27/11/2008 15:24

i think your DH is right!

Wispabarsareback · 27/11/2008 15:30

Witchandchips - I've seen those hip-seats, though haven't tried one. I've thought about it, and may still get one - but it would have to be in addition to a buggy, as it couldn't replace the buggy entirely. DD would probably love it, as she loves being carried best of all (don't all babies?!) Will give it some thought.

OP posts:
misdee · 27/11/2008 15:37

i have a bee. it is lovely and small. its my car buggy (a big indulgence for soemthing that lives in the car i know, but was 2nd hand and had a 20% discount vouchers from paypal as well which bough the price down a lot!). dd4 is still only little, as only 2 weeks old, but the bee is one i can see me usiong until she outgrows it completely, then will put back on ebay to get some money back on it.

i also wanted rearfacing. similarly for the reasons you do. my dd2 had some speech issues, and i always felt bad as at the time she was in a tandem buggy, and we did spend a lot of time outside walking etc etc so she would spend a lot of time in the buggy. so with dd3 i hunted out a rear facing buggy for her, and i have never regretted it. so rear facing for dd4 was a must. even if there is no proof in the reports, then it still makes me feel better for at least trying.

witchandchips · 27/11/2008 15:44

but it could be in addition to the McClaren that you would use for longer journeys or when you were out and about at nap time?

mamadiva · 27/11/2008 15:51

No YANBU!

Infact am v.jealous

We used a rear facing pram with DS until he was about 9 months old and then just flipped it round because he hated facing us and wanted to look into the big wide world But he is a nosey little bugger

He is 2.5YO now and in his forward facing pram quite happily talking away to everyone who passes him so please please dont be sucked in by these reports although understandable if there is a noticed delay but am sure has nothing to do with you .

mamadiva · 27/11/2008 15:52

Also flog you maclaren if it makes you feel better they seem to get a decent amount no matter which model.

Wispabarsareback · 27/11/2008 16:01

I'm interested in people's comments about buying/selling used buggies. I've always run my buggies into the ground - couldn't imagine anyone wanting a buggy that was that well-used by someone else, and so I can't really imagine buying someone else's used buggy.

So either I am particularly hard on buggies (it's possible - we live in London, walk loads, get on and off public transport, etc), or I am fussier than I need to be!

OP posts:
jammi · 27/11/2008 16:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

misdee · 27/11/2008 16:04

i use my buggies a lot. but dont run them to the ground. i am a buggy-nerd though and do regular maintance and cleaning of them.

Wispabarsareback · 27/11/2008 16:05

Mamadiva - my DD1 was like your DS, very happy in a forward-facing buggy and very chatty with the world in general. DD2 has lots of issues - definitely not caused by her being in a facing-the-world Maclaren, but I just wonder if I having her facing me would give us a bit of extra opportunity for chat etc.

OP posts:
AmIWhatAndWhy · 27/11/2008 16:05

This is cheaper

www.mamasandpapas.co.uk/product-pliko-pramette-cosmos/185774900/type-i/

and so much nicer, I hate bugaboos with a passion.

Wispabarsareback · 27/11/2008 16:07

Regular maintenance and cleaning - I'm sure that's the answer, and explains why people can offer their buggies for sale with a straight face. Will put it on my to-do list forthwith...

OP posts:
misdee · 27/11/2008 16:07

amiwhatandwhy, thats not suitable rearfacing for a 15month old.

and i dont rate m+p products.

mrsgboring · 27/11/2008 16:08

I think you're doing the right thing - I'm another fan of rear facing buggies. The thing that gets overlooked in all the talk about this research is that although it's possible to talk to a child who's forward facing, it's pretty difficult to listen to them, especially before they are verbal and you're reading facial expressions and doing so much with eye contact. It is so much more lovely to walk along having a proper "conversation" with your baby.

I'm mostly a babywearer though - have used slings rather than a buggy almost exclusively and would really recommend it. I've never used a hippychick myself as I like to have my hands and arms free but could recommend you have a look at www.slingmeet.co.uk and go along to a local group - you can try out lots of things and see what suits you, and people can then put you onto second hand sources of slings (which are cheaper than any Bugaboo accessory you care to think of )