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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Which Pram?

31 replies

123nellyc · 17/08/2010 14:19

I am stuck as to which pram to purchase. So was wanting your opinions please/suggestions on good prams!!

I was initally wanted a 3 wheeler but after seeing them in the shops they dont look very comfy for a new born.

So i want something that lies flat for a new born then turns into a pushchair/stroller.

I have looked at travel systems and would consider a smallish one as i only have a small boot.

So i am after something suitable from birth, small and light and easy to put up and down. Any suggestions?

Thank you

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HavingAnOffDAy · 17/08/2010 14:25

I had a Silver Cross travel system thing with my first. It starts as a 'proper' pram (by use of an insert thing) and then converts to a buggy.

I'm pg with my second now & will def use it again.

We were lucky enough to be given a 3 wheeler by friends who'd outgrown it. I love & used it once DD got big enough for a buggy. It's much easier to push as it has HUGE wheels & is lovely & springy. Sadly it doesn't lie flat so wasn't any good for a newborn.

HavingAnOffDAy · 17/08/2010 14:25

I had a Silver Cross travel system thing with my first. It starts as a 'proper' pram (by use of an insert thing) and then converts to a buggy.

I'm pg with my second now & will def use it again.

Original poster

123nellyc · 17/08/2010 14:39

Was that the silver cross 4d? We looked at that in mothercare and we really liked it as it looked really cosy for a newborn, but then came home and read reviews about it and people were complaining saying its too heavy/not easy to put up and down? We did like that one though.

Also had a look at the petit star Zia 4.

OP posts:

HavingAnOffDAy · 17/08/2010 15:03

It's the 3D - is that the one you mean?

I found it as easy/difficult to put up & down as any other pram I tried. I remember crying when I first got it as I thought I'd NEVER be able to put it up - hormones

I didn't find it that heavy either - especially compared to the 3 wheeler.

I must admit I didn't really try any super duper prams as 1) my inlaws were buying 2) I refuse point blank to pay silly money for a pram.

A lot of prams state how they can be used up to 5 years of age but ime by the time DD got to 2.5 she was in the lightest buggy we could get away with so I was glad I hadn't spent £££££

Ebb · 17/08/2010 15:06

I have the silvercross 3d and I've been very pleased with it. I find it easy to put up and down but it does need two hands. It is a little heavy but it is sturdy and well built. I'll be using it with DC2.

JosephineClaire · 17/08/2010 15:14

I've got the Britax BSmart 3 for our first baby due in 12 weeks - we've had a play around with it, and it comes with carrycot, lie-flat car seat, buggy attachment, sit-up car seat etc - it does everything!
Also, if you don't want it with 3 wheels, it also comes with 4...?

cardamomginger · 17/08/2010 15:23

We're going for a Bugaboo Chameleon. Completely flat carrycot, converts into pushchair, can fix a maxicosi carseat to the chassis (need to buy adaptors tho), steers brilliantly, very robust, easy collapse, break on the handlebar which we prefer, fully adjustable handlebar. The collapsed size is OK for our hatchback car. We considered the Icandy range, but decided against it essentially because the chassis was much heavier than the bugaboo. There were a couple of other things we didn't like but the main reasons was the weight. Oh and the hood on the carrycot made a huge racket when you put in up or down - sure to wake a baby and trigger a bout of crying. The Chameleon is not cheap, but they appear to retain their value quite well on Ebay, so if we did decide to sell for whatever reason and haven;t wrecked it too badly, then we should be able to recoup some of the expense.

Mothercare do "their version" of the Chameleon, which is not bad at all and is about half the price of a Bugaboo. We decided against it because we felt it wasn't quite robust enough, the pushchair option didn't look quite as comfy, and the collapse and reassemble was fiddly and although DH got the hang of it, I couldn't get it to co-operate at all.

Good luck!

Original poster

123nellyc · 17/08/2010 15:32

Yes sorry i meant the silver cross 3d. I am the same as you as in not want to spending ££££££ as my sister made that mistake on a huge travel system and as soon as my niece was old enough to go in the buggy she ditched the expensive travel system as it was too big so i dont want to make the same mistake. My mum is buying us the pram and we have about a 400 budget for it.

I change my mind every week with prams. I think i have found one and then reviews put me off. So all past experience/comments very welcome!

OP posts:

PickleSarnie · 17/08/2010 15:38

We got a mamas and papas Sola. Folds up easily and quite small and it lies flat without having to buy a seperate carrycot. Can be pushed easily with one hand (leaving other hand free for coffee drinking - this was my main criteria!).

japhrimel · 17/08/2010 15:39

We're getting the Mothercare MyChoice 3, as we want a 3-wheeler, but I don't like the look of the jogger-types for a newborn. The MyChoice has a pram option (without needing a seperate carrycot).

Samraves · 17/08/2010 18:01

I am watching this with interest as I really have no idea what to get... except that I don't want to spend much as only have a little car and have a bad back so will be getting a light pram as soon as possible - none of which are suitable for newborns!

Haven't got anything to add that is useful though.... i keep changing my mind, every time I read a different review!

Cakemuncher · 17/08/2010 18:05

The Mamas and Papas Sola is very light.I need a light one as I am pretty small and couldn't manage a lot of the prams. I reckon it would be a good one to go for if you had back problems. Compared to many of the light prams, it is very reasonaby priced at £325 (or thereabouts).

LadyRabbit · 17/08/2010 19:21

We've gone for the Bugaboo Bee for a lot of the reasons you mentioned OP. It's literally a one fold system and so light. Works with the MaxiCosi car seat as well. I can't believe how small it is when folded up, I could pick it up with one hand and I'm quite a small person. (When I'm not heavily pregnant that is!) You can even remove the wheels to squeeze it into something like a Smartcar if need be. I think it came to around £400 and then £100 extra for the car seat and adaptors.

Original poster

123nellyc · 17/08/2010 19:23

Does the sola fold quite small as i only have a small boot?

Has anyone had the petite star zia 4? I know that folds compact and comes with a crib attachment for new borns.

OP posts:

guernseygirl · 17/08/2010 19:55

Silvercross surf?

I was keen on the sola, which was really well priced and very sleek, but swerved at the last minute as I loved the surf's colours (fickle, stereotypically female...never).

Both the silver cross surf and the sola were light and easy to put up and down.

I think the surf is said to fit in a mini if you take the wheels off, but that may be anecdotal.

The surf has a newborn baby nest that makes it suitable from birth, it looks very snug indeed, if only they made it in pregnant hippo size I'd have my OH pushing me everywhere.

It goes with the silver cross ventura car seat to make a travel system, but we bought a maxi cosi pebble (and adaptors) as it's an isofix model and I understand these are safer for novices.

It was £470ish for the pram and £27 for a snug (like a big sleeping bag given we're having a winter baby). There are plenty of colours and the best thing about it was that the pram came with accessories as standard (so you're not shelling out an outrageous amount for parasol, rain cover etc).

I'm a big fan.

Hope you find the one for you.

Original poster

123nellyc · 18/08/2010 10:00

I'll have a look at the surf, i haven't come across that one so far. I wish more shops had more prams out on display - i like to view them as you cant get a clear picture from pictures oon the internet!

OP posts:

ILoveDonaldDraper · 18/08/2010 10:10

I love my bugaboo. We also have quite a small boot so I bought a cameleon to use for walks out of the house, and a bee which folds into the back of the boot easily, which I leave there for outings in the car. The bee is great, and I think we will use it lots when DD is a bit older, but it doesn't have a proper lie flat carry cot pram top which I think is essential for little babies, which the cameleon does have. The are expensive but you could look for one second hand, and or sell it one once you have finished with it and recoup lots of the cost that way. There is 20% off at mothercare if you spend more than £75 at the moment which makes the cost a bit more manageable.

JazzieJeff · 18/08/2010 10:17

We got a bugaboo chameleon too, because it has a lie flat option, but that carry cot then turns into the pram seat when your LO is ready to have a look around, so no worries about finding somewhere to store the carry cot. Works with maxi cosy seat which I liked (although the adaptors are extra) and easy to fold down and put back up. Seems to fit quite well in the boot for travel, and lots of colour ranges. Although we bought blue because this small is boy, it would be really easy to interchange if we had another baby and it was a girl in the future. It was pricey though. But some shops do 'bundle' deals, which are worth keeping an eye out for.

I thought the iCandy was bulky and really hard to fold. I'm sure once you got used to it, it'd be fine but there's a 'knack' to it apparently, which I don't have the time or patience for.

Mamas and Papas do a nice range, worth getting their catalogue up online and having a look because they're much more reasonably priced and a few of them work with the maxi cosy car seats too.

guernseygirl · 18/08/2010 10:25

123Nelly - sadly, not too many baby shops in guernsey so I had to buy without seeing, but I did see some good photos someone had taken at home of the surf on another pregnancy forum, link is below. I think you need to have a login to see the photos though.

www.babyandbump.com/pregnancy-second-trimester/379688-my-long-awaited-silvercross-surf-thread.html

LooL00 · 18/08/2010 11:29

We have M and P pliko pramette, it's 5 years old and maybe the sola is better. The pliko is great,nice little pram turns into a great pushchair and fits in the boot of a Citroen saxo.The car seat that goes with it has poor reviews on MN by the way!

nicm · 18/08/2010 11:42

we got a teutonia spirit s3. it is a rf 3 wheeler that can have a carrycot for nb and then pram seat attaches later. it fitted into my mums clio with the wheels off! is a great pram and i'll be getting the double in december hopfully.

LooL00 · 18/08/2010 11:48

pliko pramette

addictedisgettingexcited · 18/08/2010 12:12

i've bought the silvercross halo, it was really easy to put up and down in the shop and even fits in to the back of my car (fiat panda, very small boot space) feels very light and comfortable to push.

however i havent had the baby yet, so in 3 months time i could be on here ranting and raving about the 'stupid thing'!

Falsley · 18/08/2010 12:34

we've gone for the Mama's & Papa's Sola which can be used for a newborn. It can be folded with the seat still on it which was important to me, is light and fits into the boot of our car without having to take wheels etc off. Our car boot is small so we had to try quite a few in there!
It will also use the MaxiCosi car seat which I liked as it meant I wasn't tied to buing and M&P car seat.

rimsky · 18/08/2010 12:59

i'm another britax b-smart user! bought is after extensive testing and research on the web and baby show (I even had an excel spreadsheet!!)

I got mine with carrycot, car seat and pushchair. Personally thought the car seat was one of the best (babysafe SHR plus ii), and it was one of the few travel systems that didn't need adaptors for using the car seat etc, which I think can be a faff.

Something else we took into consideration is how long it would last, and we seemed to think the pushcahir attachment seemed bigger on britax than some other travel systems.

On the negative it does seem pretty wide when it's up so depends how big your hallway is. But folds up to fit in the back of my corsa.

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