to want a rear-facing pushchair?

[Leedsmumof1]

I have the m&p pliko pramette, which I've loved in pram mode while dd has been small, but she's now 7mo and getting a bit big for the pram. However, it's only forward-facing in buggy mode, and I find myself unexpectedly sad at the thought that I won't be able to see her when we're out and about, and if she starts crying (which is not unusual ) I won't be able to talk directly to her and comfort her.

Please talk me out of it, I really can't afford another pushchair...

I am the queen of pushchairs. I am a total nightmare. It all started as a childminder. I wasn't happy with a double stoller - OH no I wanted the Jane powertwin and jane twintwo. They were fantastic...
...until I had my own kids. At this point I became super protective mummy (SPM). SPM hated it when DS at 4 months had outgrown the matrix carrycot that fitted on the twintwo. This meant that DS has to go into pushchair and face away from SPM. He was a little upset to not see his formiliar face so SPM found loads of evidence to convince PH (Poor Husband) to allow her to sell pushchairs and buy rear facing pushchairs. This is where my dilemma began.

You see in the world doubles there are so many more problems than shopping for a single. The market just doesn't cater to the audience as well simply because there is a smaller audience.

I have read most reviews, tried many and purchased far more than I should have. 11 months on and I own 5 pushchairs all except one are rear facing. 2 x doubles and 3 x singles.

Doubles

• Teutonia Team Alu - side by side - for walks
• ABC Zoom - tandem - fits in the car and can get through doors

Singles

• Britax Vigour 3 with sleepeasy carrycot - great for the spine, great in the park all round fantastic single - Expensive!
• ABC 3 Tec - Got it simply because the chassis fits my ABC ZOOM (double pushchair) nice pushchair and cheaper than quinny buzz.
• Petite Star - Small good for holidays cause it fits in luggage but faces the wrong way!

Mums think I am rich when they see the zoom but believe me I am not I just shopped around.

If you buy an ABC check out www.rotalis.biz or Petite Star www.nurseryvalue.com

Hope this helps you.

Amanda

Hi Amanda - just looked at the ABC zoom, do you think a 2:3year old who hates walking and a new born would suit it.

yanbu, I was exactly the same. We have the pliko pramette too and I bought a quinny buzz so that he was facing me. Cost a fortune, but it's worth it cos I love being able to see him, was driving me mad having the forward facing one!

I love having my DD in me facing pushchair and she is nearly 2. She sees everything around me and we smile at each other and chat and have a lovely time while we are out. I do face her the other way if we are in a park or somewhere lovely, but most of the time around London we face each other.
I really miss her when she is facing the other way

my DD is 3 and now will only sit in a rear facer as she likes to talk to me as we shop. She wont even get into the same pushchair in forward facing mode. I asked her if she wanted to do that to see everyone else, but she said no, she wanted to see and talk to mummy please
Apparently babies in rear facers speak sooner, and also are happier and more settled. They have only really become widely available in the last 2 or 3 years, I wish I had a rear facer when DD was tiny.

Not at all, I loved having dd facing me and she stayed that way until she was 2. When I am not working, we walk everywhere, 3.9 miles to town and would talk and sing all the way. I could also check on her if she was asleep in case she met with some sort of emergency .

She is now 2 and a half and only really goes in now to sleep on our long walks and I hate not being able to see her or talk to her if she wants a rest.

Who knows, bump number 2 may hate it but I have bought the same rear facer again. Plikos sell well (I bought one last week to keep in the car) and you can get fab bargains if you know what to look for (though hope you have good mucscles if you choose the Loola as they weigh a ton!!)

Oops, she's in a maclaren now which is forward facing, forgot to say that bit.

My DS is 21 months and loves his parent facer, have been through a few puschairs to find the perfect one as he grew out of the carrycot on first pushchair by 4 months and I am quite short so couldn't see over the hood, and a few times did not hear him crying at first with traffic noises.

He does occassionaly like to forward face but 9 times out of ten likes to face me so he can sing to me ... bless him.

So I would say definately get one because if she does prefer to face forward when she is older you can just turn the seat round!!

Hi tryingtobemarypoppins

Funny you should say that. I use it for my 2 year old and my baby 4 months. Its working perfectly for me. Only thing I would say is that holding hand with a little one and steering is difficult so I use a littlelife backpack (reins) and encourage him to hold the side of the pushchair.

My son likes facing me and talking (he loves to talk) and the baby in the carrycot nearest me. Its great and everyone comments on it bacause its so fantastic to see both children and fit through a door.

I like the seats cause my son actually fits. He is tall and most seats too tall to fit comfortaly.

By the way the raincover isnt that great I bought Jane individual raincovers.

See this its what sold me on the idea.

Amanda

Update (in case anyone cares ): I bought a cheap Switch, absolutely love it, and dd does too!

Thanks for all your advice