Prams - would you have bought something different?

[SunSparkle]

Hi

First time mum here. I’ve heard a lot of people say they bought huge travel systems with car seats, carrycots and big seats spending £££ to then switch to a lighter stroller type within 6-12 months.

If you were buying a pram again to last from newborn, what would you buy now? Would you go with a lie flat stroller with no travel system?

Tell me what you think before I go and buy something.

With DC1 I was gifted a travel system and an old fashioned air tyres/spring suspension pram. I hated the travel system, DC loved the old fashioned pram, it was an ugly thing in a bright blue and orange tartan check but DC would always nap in it happily. However at 5 months old I spotted a Graco stroller on sale in Halfords for £25, and it was £25 extremely well spent. Small, light, easy to push, good size basket and good recline function, had a food/drink tray, not parent facing but you can’t have everything. 15 years later it was so good that if I could find it or they still made it i would absolutely buy it again.

DC2 bought a stroller with pram liner from Argos, the pram liner worked well and it pushed ok, the brake broke after a few months of use so I ended up ditching it.

DC3 bought a second hand silver Cross Wayfarer and I have loved it. Carry cot lasted DC to well over 6 months, probably 8/9!months old the last time we used it. As a stroller it could be lighter and in terms of boot space could be smaller, I do also wish the rear wheels were a bit bigger. I don’t regret buying it though, DC is not far off 3 and we still use it.

I had a travel system which did 2 kids brilliantly. I would have also got a land-rover type jogger pram in hindsight also.

I think the fact that you don’t drive and use buses makes a big difference. I’d be tempted to sling it for the newborn stage and go straight to something foldable.

I had a bugaboo chameleon and loved it- it worked well for my needs but I wouldn’t have bought it if I was on buses all the time. With my second, I think she used the basinet once. It was just much easier to have her in the sling and be hands free to help my toddler. Now she’s bigger we use the buggy more. We got a very cheap stroller for holiday and we barely use it as it is awful to try and push around. I’d much rather use the proper buggy as it’s much nicer to push even though it’s a faff to put together.

With my first I had a bebecar and although it was comfy for my daughter I hated it! I saw my friends Jane pushchair and loved it, mainly because of the lie flat car seat! Absolutely perfect for the first few months. I have a baby jogger city mini which I've used since she was one, and love!! (Second hand again) but it would have been too big for her before then I think xx

I got a big travel system (icandy) and no regrets whatsoever. DD nearly 3 and it’s still sometimes used if we’ll be walking a really long way or on bumpy terrain, and I can fit a humongous amount of shopping in the basket underneath. I definitely used it every day for the first 2 years of her life.

Depends on your lifestyle - if you’ll be on and off the bus something like a BabyZen Yoyo is recommended by a lot of people, if you drive everywhere it probably doesn’t matter much and you can just get something cheap and small. If you walk a lot you need something with big wheels that’s properly comfortable for you and the baby - the smaller more lightweight pushchairs are just not comfortable to push for extended periods of time.

We did exactly that. Never spent a silly amount but switched pretty quickly onto a stroller. This time around we've gone for the ikkle bubba moon travel system. It's extremely cheap and although hasn't been used yet looks good. Will likely switch early on again so didn't see the point in spending more than necessary.

We have the Mamas and Papas Ocarro (bought second hand) which was great for the first couple of months while DS fitted in the bassinet. We still have it, but rarely use it because we have an Out n About Nipper which is brilliant for both town and country paths. If we have a second baby (DS is 8 months) I think we will probably do the same thing. Both buggies are light enough to file one handed and out in the car easily. I’ll probably get the M&P buggy out again soon mainly because I miss my little man facing me! And it’s a lovely system.

We were gifted a Mee-go brand travel system. It was an utter pile of shit, I hate the fucking thing its absolutely clunky. We were at a baby show and DHs parents offered to pay, DH insisted on this pram (of all the bloody ones).

I bought an uppababy for my son who is now eight and a half, and still using it for my third child now. I did buy a light weight folding stroller when we went on a plane, and a second hand Phil and teds when two of mine’s ages overlapped, but still go back to the uppababy. Having said that, like you I know many people whose first expensive buggy was swapped for something smaller after a few months - I suppose it’s probably not possible to say For sure what sort of family you’ll be til after the baby is born.

I would buy second hand again though, definitely.

I bought the Ocarro travel system and I loved it but it was about £1000. The bassinet only lasted 4 months and although I still love the pram, it’s not suitable for off road walking and feels bulky, so I’ve just bought a second hand Mountain buggy because the reviews are so good. I would buy the Ocarro again but definitely a second hand one because they just don’t last that long! I recommend an Ergo baby sling, it was the best thing I bought! X