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Original poster

To ask if you bought a second hand travel system/ pram, do you have any regrets?

66 replies

Gieenorg · 14/02/2023 16:43

Me and DH are shortly expecting and were in 2 minds about purchasing a second hand travel system. We could afford a brand new one but we are both suckers at trying to find second hand bargains, including from charity shops/on vinted etc.

I dont really know much about prams in all honesty and wondered whether I could get real life experiences of buying a second one, whether they are usually robust enough to last through a few families or whether perhaps you purchased one and it was defective/worn and ended up a bit of a nuisance!

Any regrets?

Also, naive question by me, how long do your children tend to use the prams for? I would assume approx 3 years maybe?

(I imagine there would be some factorS to consider, I.e brand of pram/ how long the owners have had it for.. things we need to research and consider!)

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rubytubeytubes · 14/02/2023 19:26

Absolutely. I have had 3 second hand now, they become second hand as soon as you start using them anyway and not worth buying new. Always got them in great condition and been really happy.
i would recommend a second hand pram to anyone

HelterSkelter224 · 14/02/2023 19:26

Oh also you asked how long you might use the pram. Honestly prams are heavy and we switched to a foldable buggy (also a FB marketplace bargain) at about 11 months to make it easier to get on and off buses, travel etc. The lovely Silvercross pram lives in the boot of the car now 🤷‍♀️

CharlotteFlax · 14/02/2023 19:27

I bought a second hand travel system and was very happy with it. And it was in such good Nick still I was able to donate it to our local refugee aid after I'd finished with it! A good friend of mine gave me her carseat which although technically second-hand I absolutely trusted her that it hadn't been in any accidents.

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KeepingKeepingOn · 14/02/2023 19:27

I got a pretty much brand new Cosatto travel system - pram, bassinet, car seat, frame and changing bag - for about £120 on eBay 9 years ago (I was confident about the car seat).

Best thing we bought, it’s been through 3 DC with nothing but sun fading and a new pair of wheels late last year! Am still super chuffed about my bargain (that and the £15 perfect condition McLaren I picked up from Facebook). I think I only bought cot and mattress absolutely brand new.

Jellyphants · 14/02/2023 19:36

Second hand every time. For the amount of time they’re actually used for its not worth the spend. By the time DC1 was around 7 months we’d switched to a buggy (more lightweight and compact - doesn’t take up the entire boot when you’re going somewhere).

Our first pram had already been through 2 kids, and did actually break in the end. For DC2 we’ve gone second hand again, and I plan to get rid of it as soon as I can. It takes up so much space.

Agree with buying a new car seat though, you want that reassurance.

Rahrahrahraah · 14/02/2023 19:37

Re how long they are used for, in my experience (in a city) most people switch from a travel system to a lightweight/travel buggy by 18 months. The only people who stick with the travel system are those who had e.g. a Yoyo to begin with.

110APiccadilly · 14/02/2023 19:44

I bought a secondhand buggy which was compatible with the (new) car seat we had, so could be a pram with the car seat on top, and then later a buggy.

Really glad we did as we haven't used it all that much, I used a sling a lot more, so I'd have felt like a real sucker if we'd bought a new one. It's clearly got plenty of life in it still.

imnotthatkindofmum · 14/02/2023 20:11

I have never had a new pram. My first there's no way I could afford it so I used my sisters she had had previously this included the car seat. Second I had my sisters next pram (a Phil and teds double) unfortunately had to replace that as it was in my car when it got stolen but again got second hand. I had my cousins car seat for my second. My 3rd I bought a Jane jogger travel system. I got the car seat with it but just used that as a baby seat on the pram after the carrycot phase as it laid right back and was parent facing. I had a new car seat in the car.

imnotthatkindofmum · 14/02/2023 20:12

And I don't have any regrets as at none if these times could I afford a new system without going into debt or buying something really cheap.

Cococomellonn · 14/02/2023 20:15

I think it's fine except for the car seat. I have a silver cross pram to sell and don't really want to part with it but if I have another I think I'd buy second hand because of the cost.

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 14/02/2023 20:16

No regrets - even though we got rid of it after a couple of months (sold on). I am tall and while it wasn't a problem in shops for little test pushes, I found that any length of walk with the travel system we had gave me back ache as the handles were about three or four inches too low for comfort. Sold it, bought a different system that suited my height better. Unfortunately had to go new on that one as not many about!

So even though we didn't keep it, I'm blooming glad we hadn't bought the first one brand new!

ScrantonDunderMifflin · 14/02/2023 20:18

We bought two second hand car seats that looked absolutely like new but now reading the comments 😔 However, that's why we picked them, they were in an absolutely perfect state.
Had they been in an accident, surely there would've been some scruffs, etc?

PensionPuzzle · 14/02/2023 20:21

If you think about it many (most?) second babies are technically in secondhand pushchairs anyway. We had a new one for number one and used it again for number two and I hope to sell it on, there's only the frame that really shows any signs of wear from scuffs etc.

I've bought several too- needed an inline double for a bit so bought that secondhand and then gave it away as I didn't feel it was good enough to sell, but it was still useable. Also bought a more off-road one secondhand when we needed it, that did get ruined and went to the tip. My main one now is also secondhand and that's because I fancied one with a built in buggy board and one came up locally.

Just check the fold, the brakes and the wheels don't stick or click excessively. I also wish I'd asked about smoking with the latest one as it stank, but I was so excited to find the one I was after at a good price locally I've just spent hours trying to freshen it up instead.

PensionPuzzle · 14/02/2023 20:22

Also just to echo everyone else, buy a new car seat, maxi Cosi infant carriers seem to be compatible with most things. We threw away the seat when DD2 had finished with it as it had definitely done enough work in three years, but we did sell the isofix base on.

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 14/02/2023 20:25

If you think about it many (most?) second babies are technically in secondhand pushchairs anyway.

Yep, ours did both kids.

Ragwort · 14/02/2023 20:26

We were lucky enough to be given everything from friends when we had our DS (older parents ... all our friends and family were well past the baby stage ). I think we were given three travel systems/ prams ! I was happy to have a second hand car seat as well... from trusted friends. Never bothered us in the slightest .. it is well known that new parents to be are a marketing dream !
I don't think we needed anything new for our DS until he was about 9 year old.

Squamata · 14/02/2023 20:27

The bassinet stuff doesn't get used that much. Fine to buy second hand.

We bought folding buggy/stroller things from about 12mths, got secondhand bargains but went through about five prams for our two kids, prob worked out the same as buying a new one but was more annoying.

So yes to newborn type pram second hand, buggy I think it depends if you plan on having multiple children. It also depends on lifestyle and how much you use it or if you drive a lot, if you're going over muddy ground a lot etc.

Bookegg · 14/02/2023 20:27

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the user's request

barneymcgroo · 14/02/2023 20:37

I've bought two second hand prams. For different things, not because anything broke. Both still work, both have been well used, no regrets.

If you know what you want, fb marketplace is great. Or there are buy/sell fb pages for most of the major brands.

FawnFrenchieMum · 14/02/2023 20:45

First child bought new, spent a fortune, used it until I went back to work around 9 months then got a much lighter pushchair. Sold it for a fraction of the price!

Second child, bought second hand (although from a friend). Baby was prem so used the carrycot a lot longer and had a much bigger car by then so used it until child was 2ish. I did have a stroller as well from 1ish but still used the pushchair part of the travel system a lot longer second time round.

So in summary, I regret buying new not second hand!

ParentsTrapped · 14/02/2023 20:49

Agree with everyone else. I bought a new bugaboo bee for dc1 but wish I’d bought secondhand. It’s had pretty much constant use now for 5 years (2 kids) and it still looks and functions perfectly.

APoppyLicks · 14/02/2023 20:55

Always bought second hand from either ebay or Facebook, each time I've got my money back when I sell it on. Only buggy I've bought brand new was a disability buggy and I wanted the guarantee/easy exchange or fix when needed.

BCxx · 14/02/2023 21:00

I would say 100% but second hand. Chances are you will not buy one pram, only have that pram and keep it until the child is 3. I had a baby pram (mamas and papas one) with the carrycot etc. Then he moved into the seat unit and that was fine for a while. Then I realized how heavy the pram was to be putting in and out the car every time and how much space it took up. I then got a second hand travel buggy that folds small to leave in the car (and use for holidays). He then got a trike with the handle so it’s used mainly in the summer. I then bought a more off road buggy that’s so easy to push and I end up using it for dog walks.

Id say try to buy one that actually suits your lifestyle rather than just thinking ‘a baby needs this’. I’m having #2 and this time buying something with a carrycot that’s much more dog-walking friendly from day 1. I’ll be buying second hand this time as a lot of them hold their value well and I can sell it after for probably a similar amount 😊 Just have a good look at the pictures, check it comes with a rain cover, the belly car, any adapters it’s supposed to have etc

BCxx · 14/02/2023 21:02

Also remember you can buy a new mattress for the carrycot for quite cheap if you want to freshen it up a bit!

InTheFutilityRoomEatingBiscuits · 14/02/2023 21:03

I bought a pram from a charity shop for £15

I used it about twice out of the house but used it as a downstairs bed for one of my DC mostly and then gave it back to the charity shop. I don’t regret buying it. It was one of those huge hooded things.

My DC were “out of” a pram or pushchair in that they never went in one past around four months old, the second DC I don’t think ever went in one but oldest and youngest did when tiny sometimes. We had new car seats for each DC though.

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