Bewildered - which buggy to buy?

[stclair]

I've been to John Lewis and read reviews on Which, and any buggy I like has something wrong with it! Basically, I need something that will fit on London buses, not get in the way in cafes/shops, and handle the occasional storm wander over Hampstead Heath. Baby not born yet . . . Any ideas please?

A lot of people find that rather than try to find one buggy which will do everything, it works out easier/cheaper to buy two - one that will lie flat for when the baby is new and then a cheaper umbrella-fold one for when they can sit up.

Good value can be got from second hand pushchairs - those travel systems don't hold their value so can be picked up cheap on ebay. I've had two SH pushchairs and both were immaculate.

I always think, once you've had it a week it's already used. And that way you get a great quality pushchair for the money.

KI6IH - you don't need 2 as the maclaren techno xt does both of those purposes very well - I have one and really like it - I'd have thought it would suit your needs, stclair, too.

techno xt

It would not do for serious off-road stuff though MrsJamin - you really need a three-wheeler with proper tyres for that. Depends what the OP means by wanders over Hampstead Heath.

Bugaboo Bee - this is specifically designed as a city pram.

I live in North London (prob near you) - can haul mine easily on and off the tube, bus, round poky shops, table-filled cafes, narrow streets and can even fit in some larger public toilet cubicles. It is one of the lightest you can buy - I can carry mine up and down stairs on my own. (It is easy for partner / strangers to help carry too as they don't have to crouch down to pick up the wheels - they can hold the sides).

We went on Eurostar and European trains and didn't even need to fold it. It lies flat for first 6 months and then is buggy which can face either way. If you live in a poky flat (as I do) it is much easier to handle indoors.

It will handle Hampstead Heath OK as long as you don't go through mud/wet grass. It's quite low slung so beware of big puddles drenching your change bag / shopping in the basket.

Cons: storage isn't great but adequate as long as you're not planning epic supermarket trips. The brakes are also a bit annoying occasionally.

For buses and lifting up stairs, and not taking up much space, the Maclaren XT is fab from birth - I go on buses daily with mine and never seem to encounter the stroppy passengers that people I know with enormobuggies all complain about.

It goes over short grass fine but it's a bit of effort on longer grass - depends how much off-path wandering you want to do on Hampstead Heath.

My baby also refused to sleep anywhere else for his first month, so I moved to the lounge with him in it at night!

um cons of the bugaboo bee would surely include the price?!

is the bee any good past 2 years? seat looks v small and there is no footrest

Yeah it ain't the cheapest but think a pram is where you spend the money especially if you live in London and use public transport rather than a car. It was also important to me to only buy one pram.

I meant to say it's OK if you stay on the path on Hampstead Heath. And of course the BABY (and not the PRAM) lies flat for first 6mo.

Also, you could always wait and buy a pram once you have the baby and have worked out how you are going to live together / what's important.

Yes you might find you hardly use the pram in the first 6 months if you have a baby that likes being carried around in a sling.

Thanks everyone, this is helpful already! I forgot to mention I live in a long cobbled mews so I suspect I need one with fat back tyres at least so baby won't be rattled too much?

Eldon Ave: the literature says 4 years (must be designed for those long, slender Dutch kids ), the John Lewis guy said 2 years really and that's how long the warranty lasts till. I don't know as mine is way off that stage yet - I think 2 years is fine as mine will be walking everywhere by then if not, indeed, passing his driving test.

bargain at £39.99

I am just waiting for my delivery of Petite Star Zia. Tried it in the shop, and it is so light it's untrue. Will place a review once it's here and in use.

How old is your baby? DS is 2 and I found it incredibly heavy and it also veers to the side.

The answer is that they're all imperfect, so you have to accept compromise in one area or another. ie decide what's most important to you. For the public transport/manoevreability/width/weight the Bugaboo Bee and the Maclaren XT are the best, but they vary greatly in price, and each has their own unique flaws. Neither is very good at the great outdoors. With the XT there's nowhere to put the shopping (the underbasket is good enough for a nappy bag but nothing else) and also the baby doesn't face you which is important when they're young. The Bee is better at storage but everyone complains about the wheels breaking/bad breaks, plus there's no catch to keep it shut when it's folded, so every time you pick it up it semi-opens - very annoying. About the cobbles, IME the buggies that have good suspension are too wide for buses and trains. I also think babies get used to the bumpiness and noise of bumping, so perhaps that's just something your LO will learn to love as a sign of home. Good luck!

We're thinking about a Quinny Zapp. Folds small so will fit in our boot with all the camping stuff in there too. Doesn't lie flat though.

Size/cost/carseat-compatible were the most important things for us so we've compromised on the lie flat option. Will buy a Maclaren that does lie flat if we need it as even getting both new will be way less than the Phil & Teds I really wanted Hoping a possible two buggy combo will meet enough needs to keep us and the baby happy.

Did you mean me re Zia Nappy addict? If so, DS is almost 11 weeks old. he's a big and long boy though and ready for a buggy I think. If Zia, surprised to hear you found it heavy as I picked it up no problem in the shop as we specifically wanted something light for taking on holidays. If you didn't mean me, please disregard .

I looked at the quinny buzz and zapp as the rear and forward facing options appealed to me but the wheels are like tractor wheels and no good for the narrow pavements in the village.

With the zia I meant heavy to push not lift. You might find as he gets older it is not as light to push as other buggies. It was the 3 wheeled one that I found veered not sure if you have the 3 or 4 wheeled version.

I am getting the 3 wheeled version. Doh. Mind you, at £125, it's a bargain even if it only lasts a couple of years.

I am looking at getting the 4 wheeled version cos I think that would solve the veering problem.

This is one that's come out since I was buying buggies: Chicco Trio4me, if you find it online you can buy it on its own for around £150-£200 (it's normally part of a travel system), it is umbrella folding, rear and forward facing and lies flat. It comes with a lovely foot muff and a rain cover. It is heavier than a maclaren but lighter than some of the other bulkier buggies. I wish it had been around when I was looking. I'd say you don't need the travel system as it lies flat anyway, invest in a good sling too and the world's your oyster! Or something like that...