how many pushchairs have you got?

[Bo]

My husband is constantly moaning about how many pushchairs I have (only 3).
I got a hideous 3-in-1 thing 2 years ago for my 1st baby. I hated it so much I eventually got a cheap mothercare buggy. Then, having my 2nd quite soon I got a double.
I use the double every day, but if I'm going out in the car I still use the car seat & chassis of the original pain, and if we're going on holiday I use the cheap buggy. So, although I still use all 3 to some extent or other he moans so much about it.

There must be people out there with just as many (perhaps more).

I'm planning to get every type of baby/child transportaion available to really piss him off.
a backpack carrier
a buggy board (by the way, how good are these?)
run out of ideas already.

Florenceuk - Thanks for asking the question that I really wanted to! We have a brand new Maclaren Techno in our living room at this moment - chosen for longevity, portability, maneuvrability and looks, and also suitable from birth. What more could one ask for I thought? Unfortunately, I was shocked when I saw the maximum recline - v. steep for a newborn I would say. Have phoned around and find despite manufacturers claims, retailers (such as John Lewis and Lilliput) do not recommend from birth - rather 3m. I'm so frustrated as am feeling increasingly stir crazy at home with 16 day old ds and he is far too big for long outings in his sling. Back to John Lewis with the Techno and back to the drawing board on this one. Have found it reassuring to note from this thread the number of multi vehicle babies - obviously an indication that there is no ideal solution. Any further suggestions welcome.
Would be interested to hear comments from mumsnet on this as the Techno is currently No 1 in the Top 5 Single Pushchairs from birth...

Bossykate

I've got a Maclaren Free Spirit, which is an earlier ('99) version of the Techno and I would not have a problem putting a newborn into it, I think it goes very flat (but I would pad it out a bit though). I got it (end of range sale) when ds was 6 months as the secondhand pram I had been given before he was born was so cumbersome I could hardly get it through any shop doors.

Plus a Mothercare Jive buggy (everyone seems to have one, with elephants all over it) to take on hols and to chuck in the back of the car for shopping trips.

Like everyone else here, I was about to buy a Techno but then heard about John Lewis' policy of not recommending it for newborns. I still want a pushchair style, and have seen the Bebecar Unica which apparently lies flat & can accept a car seat. It looks very similar to a Techno from the pictures I've seen. Has anyone bought or tried one of these?

Had Mamas and Papas 3-in-1 for newborn DD 4 years ago. Baby slept in carrycot until went into proper cot at 7 weeks, went out for walks everyday in pram and slept outside in it in garden (with cat net on, of course)until too big for pram section. Then used pushchair part until about 3 and a half years old. When small we used to take the pram apart and put it into my boot (just fitted) for excellent pushing around town. You feel baby is much more protected (and warmer in winter - she was born in January) in a proper high pram. At about 8 months, also bought McClaren buggy for taking on holiday and always kept in the car in case of need when visiting friends,etc. Talking of car seats, I never had a detachable newborn carrier as I wanted her to be held or on floor looking around as much as possible - I think it's unnatural for babies to be in a car seat except when in a car for safety reasons. With a "loose" baby in someone's house, for example, other people can't resist holding her and noticing her whereas it is very easy to ignore a little one strapped into a car seat on the floor. As for taking a pushchair on the tube, did this all the time with first child when I lived in London, found it very easy from the age when they are old enough to have a lightweight foldable buggy (form sitting up age)but before that stage used a sling. Found people qiute helpfu but having said that, first child was a long time ago.

Pamina - I've got a Maclaren Vogue buggy, although not sure what year model it is, although it was bought in 1999 and is blue and red. I think it has five reclining positions and believe that the shop might have recommended it from birth (my son was 6 months old when I bought it, so didn't take an awful lot of notice). I don't think I would fancy putting very young baby in it, as it doesn't go completely flat. I am, however, extremely pleased with it and have used it all the time since, with my Mamas & Papas 3-in-1 being put in the loft soon after I bought the buggy!

Well I had a Graco travel system for no1 and finally bought a Mclaren Daytripper when I had No2 with the idea that no1 would walk!! Ha fat chance, No1 insists on the buggy so I carry No2 in a sling (she's now nearly 6 months)
I love the buggy and although it says from 3 months I wouldn't recommend it so early. The daytripper doesn't recline that much. If I was starting again I would still have bought a travel system like we had. You get the car seat on top option, so no need to disturb a sleeping baby, but you also have the lie-back pram in the boot for longer journeys in the pram. They now do three wheel versions of this combo and I like the look of them. Then at around 6 months I should have bought a Maclaren techno, however I didn't. So second time around I couldn't justify £150 on a new buggy, hence the daytripper.

Jenc check out Mother & Baby mag or Pregnancy & Birth I know I saw a review of the Unica recently. However I did find 3 months seems to go so quick, so if you can make do with a car seat and a sling, and the buggy on occassions I would go with that. The lie back flat thing is really impotant if the baby is spending long periods of time in the buggy, but if it's an hour or two at a time, and sleeping flat at home I shouldn't worry. Bear in mind I had a 3 month old in a daytripper, and she's now nearly 6 months and already just about crawling so I haven't harmed her back.

I have a three year old and six month old. First time I bought a Mama & Papas 2 in 1 second hand which also had the benefit of a car seat fitting in the chassis. I found it great but slightly on the heavy side with the pushchair seat although it was very padded and ds was very snug in it. With the second time around my back is far more ropey and so I have used the Mama and Papas for 6 months and being seduced into buying a Maclaren techno, the deal being that I am going to sell my Mama and Papas to justify the new buy. It is fab and so much lighter and folds up small. I agree with everyone about using it before 4-6 months. Even at 6 months my ds looks a weeny little scrap in the techno after being in a car seat/chassis combo.

Message for Lizzer and anyone else who has a GOLF - I bought a Graco Travel system a week ago but thought the car seat wasn't that secure - tilted towards my passenger seatback too easily. I had Mothercare take a second look and they said to return it....but then Toys R Us said it was 'OK' so now thinking of getting the Graco Metrosport or Mirage and perhaps putting something under the front of the Graco car seat. Has anyone else with a Golf, or other car, had this problem??? I note Lizzer had a Golf and a Graco travel System, that was all. Aaaaaagh!

Hi Winbourne, I didn't have that problem at all I'm sorry. I used it for 9 months and went all over the country with it. The only problem I had with the carseat was that it was a real struggle to get it fixed into the back of my mother's Fiesta as the seatbelt was a bit too short. I always found it okay in my own car, front or back. My Golf is about 10yrs old though, so maybe if you have a newer one they have changed the design or something? It doesn't sound to good though, don't think you should put anything to wedge it in case it makes things worse. If you are really not happy I'd definitely get a refund, ask them to fix it in themselves if they don't believe you....If you are unsure whether it is safe or not why not try asking your local police station if there is anyone you could speak to who deals with accident prevention... Hope that helps

Thanks for your reply Lizzer - I did take the travel system back - with no fuss. They agreed it shouldn't have been sold to me. So, I've now bought a Britax which is solid as a rock....My golf is a T reg and has sport seats so they tilt a bit - which was the problem. Only thing is, all Britax travel systems are too heavy....
Take care, thanks again. Clare

hi - does anyone know if the bebecar car seat fits into a vauxhall vectra. If anyone has got a bebecar raider I'd be interested to hear how you've got on with it. My baby is due in November and this seemed to be a very sturdy and easy to use piece of equipment.

volo - do you already have the Vectra? if so the shop should allow you to try the seat in the car. I've got a Ford Ka (tiny) so was careful to ensure that my Graco travel system would fit - ie baby seat in car and pram in boot. Was not so careful with Maclaren Daytripper and its not that easy because of the length to get it in.

hi im about to buy a graco mirage pushchair travel system £120.00 from mothercare and was wondering what you guys think about it if any of yiu own it that is, i'm the first of all my friends to have a baby so am clueless about this stuff, I already have a mamas and papas pram/ pushchair system but am seduced by the carseat option as it seems really convienient. help!!!

One of my closest friends bought one of these for her DD. DD is now almost a year old and it has served her very well. I would say that medical professionals advise against the use of a travel system as it is said that they are unhealthy for the spinal development in newborns, a carrycot is infinitely preferable.

There is a chance that you could buy a mamas and papas car seat to go with your existing system, depending on the model and age. I'd double check that this is possible with your local nursery retailer (not mothercare as they don't stock m&p and will tell you anything to get you to buy the graco!). I think that the newer G-Matic style fittings fit both the new and older 'pull out pin' type chassis.

kittykat - the whole pushchair world is bewildering isn't it? We ordered one thing and ended up sending it back, finally settling on a M&P pliko pushchair, which we're very pleased with. As for the car-seat option - think about your lifestyle, if you're constantly in and out of your car then yes, maybe it will be useful. Personally I don't use the car enough to get the benefit, so we bought a separate car seat. I know all the car seats have to pass safety tests etc. but we got one that was particularly recommended in a Which survey - not all the car seats got their stamp of approval. The integral car seats are great if your baby is asleep and you want to transfer them without disturbing them - but I think you do end up paying quite a bit more for that option, and I would say that it's only really useful for the first 3-4 months. Others may feel very differently about that.