Gravel driveway and pram: what do I do?

[ladybird8131]

Hello!
We just bought a new house and recently moved in with our 7 month old baby. When we viewed the house we didn't realise that we were going to struggle pushing our Cybex travel system (Callisto/Cloud Q) on the deep gravel driveway between our front door and the entrance gate.
The driveway is about 50-60 meters and I have tried asking the management company for help (install metal grilles for example) but they say they can't help as this is a shared driveway that is driven over and most solutions won't work.
There are 3 houses sharing the driveway and we are the only one with this problem so the others have no interest in making the driveway pram-friendly. Paving the driveway (with concrete slabs for example) would cost a fortune and would require permission from all users. It would be cheaper to buy a new pram.
Does anyone have the same problem and how did you solve it? Moving is not an option. Could you recommend a pram/stroller that would 100% work on a gravel driveway? At the moment I am pulling it backwards but it takes ages and it's very unstable and we get stuck often. Also impossible to carry bags and pull the pram at the same time. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
Ladybird

Something with air tyres would probably be better. Baby jogger do strollers with air tyres.

I used to pull a toddler and baby in a double buggy through a deep gravel drive.

Reverse and pull the pram as though you are a horse and cart. It is a relatively short-term problem. :)

Fold and carry? not ideal but probably easier.
Many parents do this when living in flats, take baby first, put in safe place then return for bags and pram. Once baby is walking then he/she can walk the short distance to the door :)

Agree with the air tyres, we used to have a big 3 wheeler with proper tyres and it worked on gravel, sand, mud, everything. It wasn't a "pretty" pram but it was a proper work horse . It was a mother care one, urban something, but it was about 8 years ago so they might not make it any more.

Lay some flagstones on it and make a little pathway. You'll be able to remove them when you stop using the pram travel system.

Personally I'd go for a sling, even if it was just to carry the baby while I carried the pushchair! Can recommend the out n about nipper SPORT for gravel though.

Our nipper 360 handles gravel just fine.

Thanks for your reply, much appreciated.

Abraid2, that's what I am doing at the moment...it's killing me! The driveway is quite long and some parts are deeper than others, not very safe with bags etc.

chocdonutyy. I can't fold it at the moment as using the travel system. My baby is very small and the pram seat is too big for her, I am still using the Cloud Q car seat on top of the Cybex Callisto pram but the wheels are tiny. I would have to leave it at the gate, which is on a main road, and walk into the house with her. I'd worried someone would take pram and bags in the meantime :(

MrsLeighHalfpenny, that would be too expensive, the driveway is some 60 meters long! and is constantly driven over so it would have to be a professionals job.

ispymincepie, I started off using the sling but after a while she gets stressed and wants to come out. I would be at the till trying to pay and pack stuff in the bags and she would be screaming lol with the pram if I am lucky she will fall asleep. I will look into the nipper!

Princesspeach1980, thanks for your suggestion, I think that model has been discontinued. I will look into air tyres though!

ALemonyPea, I will look into that, thanks!

KayJBee, will look into the nipper thanks for the suggestion!

I used to go backwards with twins.

The mamas and papas side by side, and the McLaren were the worst (small wheels) and the silver cross much better. The tandem (bebecar?) was ok - probably larger wheels too (but a liability going over dropped kerbs - ditched it when they were 14mths after it nearly tipped uncontrollably sideways).

Babyjogger city mini GT pushchair. It's got all terrain wheels. My mum has gravel driveway and it works fine on it. Best thing I ever got that pushchair

Air tyres yes. Nipper 360 was great for stuff like this.

Or - do you have s car? Keep the pram in the car on the drive and sling the baby between house and car.

Mountain Buggy They are fantastic off road. You can pick up a second hand single pushchair in good nick for £150 with accessories. Very rugged and hard wearing with air filled tyres. Lies flats too if you need/want it to. Not the prettiest pushchair but it's practical. I discovered them on the MN review section and haven't been disappointed. I have a Swift (which I got second hand, has lasted DD and will be fine to use for the next once I can go back to using a single again), and have just bought a Duet (double) in readiness for DC2's arrival.

We've a double mountain buggy, with air tyres, we live on gravel roads and walk on them lots its always fine. Have only had to do the backwards thing once in very deep snow on wet mud.

The bugaboo buff would be good big wheels

Our Bugaboo works okay on gravel if you push it with the big wheels at the front. Otherwise take baby out of the pram, leave at the end of the driveway and go back for it later??

Bugaboos have air tyres, I bet one of those could manage it. What a palaver though!

Walk just inside the drive. Take the car seat off and carry baby to the door. Then go back for the bags/wheels.

I would suggest rubber matting, something like the one Maryz linked to.

Are you considering a second child fairly soon ... if so then you could look at getting a Phil and Teds, has big air tyres so may work on your gravel, it's a decent single buggy which then works as a double.

We have a long gravel driveway too, so if I am walking I use our phil and teds pram- massive all terrain wheels! I have a smaller pram I keep in the car for when out and about.

Thank you for your replies!!

I am not considering a second child at the moment. Which model of the Phil ad Ted should I be looking at?
The bugaboo is out of my budget unfortunately. I am considering the Nipper and Mountain buggy at the moment (I want to get new, not second hand).

Rubber mats or grilles are not possible as the driveway is shared and driven over a lot (delivery lorries too). Walking is an option but leaving bags in the rain not great.

It's a shame second hand's out of the question; I got our whole Bugaboo travel system (minus car seat) second hand for £75!

A friend even came up to me at a BBQ to say "bloody hell, nice pram! They come in at about a grand don't they??". Well yes they do my friend, but not to me

Hmm yes shame you want to get new rather than second hand. Second hand buggies, if a good quality brand, are a great option IMO and give you access to a much better buggy for your budget. I'd rather have a really good second hand buggy than a crap new buggy any day.

Phil and Teds - tbh they are all pretty similar but the Navigator's probably the best.

Would the rubber matting really not be possible...? Worth asking the other residents if they object and explain the situation? The matting could be driven over as long as you sink it down slightly to make sure it is level with the surface of the gravel.