Best pram for those without cars

[Yaya70]

I'm just starting to think about prams and the choice is overwhelming. Does anyone have any tips for what the best pram is for walking/public transport. We live in London and don't have (or need) a car, so I will be walking mostly, using buses a fair amount, and occasionally using the tube (though for tube journeys I may use a sling as there are stairs at my local station).

Does anyone have any thoughts/recommendations?

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Hello,

We've noticed this thread is quite old now, and some of the product recommendations are a little out of date. We've spent weeks speaking to parents and testing prams and pushchairs, here's our round up of the best pushchairs on the market right now and what to look out for when buying one.

Hope that helps!

MNHQ

If your criteria extends as far as "using on a bus" only then your choice is still fantastically high.

I agree the choice is overwhelming, I joined Which? to make my choice and my criteria was much more demanding. I've just had a look for your needs and to be honest there is so much choice for you I wouldn't know where to start.

Go and have a look around some shops and get a feel for them - mostly it will be personal preference. Then you could join which? for a month (£1 for first month - remember to cancel) and review their ratings and other customer feedbacks.

Happy shopping :)

A sling is far more comfortable and flexible... I used a wrap one until DD was big enough to sit up in a pushchair so never bothered with a pram.

On public transport the Baby Jogger City Mini is brilliant. It folds away to be put into the luggage rack with the flick of one wrist, which is ideal when you've got a baby in the other hand. I'd definately recommend it.

I dont drive and bought a second hand bugaboo. Its really strong so has withstood everything my now toddler has thrown at it, and is brilliant for loading up with heavy shopping. I would say its been invaluable for walking around our neighbourhood, we have also taken it on long train trips, weekends away, and long haul flights. Its amazingly easy to push/turn but quite heavy to lift. Getting on/off buses is totally doable, the suspension is amazing so you can just bump it up and down steps etc, however its only really good for the kind of buses that let you keep the pram unfolded. It folds down in two pieces so if you have to unfold it, its not that suitable.

I thought it was especially useful for the newborn stage when we used the pram mode. DS slept in restaurants all the time, he loved it so much we used it for his nap place even when we were in the house. Mine is black by the way, I think dark/neutral colours help them sleep better - if its too jazzy they get stimulated not drowsy. If I am lucky enough to have a second baby (trying at the moment!) I will use the bugaboo instead of a moses basket, much easier to wheel around the bed from my side to DH's side.

It also has some nice features like switching easily from face to face/facing front position, rotating/fixed wheels, sit up/reclining/fully horizontal mode, adjustable handlebars for taller people etc.

I think its best feature is that it is pretty much unbreakable, so it will last you years.

I am also in London and was advised by a number of fellow non-driving Londoners to look at the Bugaboo Bee. It's small, light and meant to be very easy to maneouvre on buses.

You can't fold it down one handed, but in London you probably won't need to as there is usually plenty of space or another bus due in a minute. And I was told that the Bee is great for sneaking in next to a bigger pram on the bus, where a bigger pram just wouldn't go.

I tried it out in Mothercare and decided it was definitely the one for me as everything else seemed a lot harder to lift. I've a few steps up to the house so definitely need to be able to hoick it up stairs.

I got an icandy cherry as the bugaboos felt too low and the icandys are sturdy feeling with a large shopping baskety bit. Plus it's nice to manoeuvre. We eBayed to save money too.

I asked the same question here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pushchair_chat/1128071-Best-for-public-transport and got some useful answers. I still haven't decided though!

I like my icandy cherry but it would NO GOOD on a bus because you have to take the seat unit / carrycot off to fold it and it would take up too much space. Its fine if you have a car, would second the bugaboo bee for your circumstances or a simple umbrella fold Maclaren type.

I live in a city and dont have a car, i have been through 5 prams and DS is only 6 months old. The best one I have tried is the Silvercross Surf, its suitable from newborn, it faces parent or outward and its super sexy! its has suspension etc and is super easy to steer. its a bit expensive but they do come up on ebay sometimes. i find the bugaboos too low down too, DS doesnt like being amongst all the traffic and people. Also the Concord Neo is awesome.

Ergo sling and wither bugaboo bee or maclaren techno xt

Bugaboo bee once too baby for sling

Bugaboo Cameleon, no question.

Fits on London buses (have never had to or seen anyone have to fold a buggy down on a bus here), sturdy for shopping (never tips over), a dream to push and can 'bounce' up and down stairs really easily on the big back wheels- I often take it on the tube, even with a heavy 2 yr old in it. I have a bad back, so hate the thought of having to carry a buggy up and down stairs on my own; however, the big back wheels and helpful public mean this is never a problem.

Also has an adjustable handle if you are tall (DP is 6'4") and you can push it one handed.

Stokke- but not sure if u would use it on the bus, i still don't know how to fold it (dd is 2.2).

Thanks for your feedback ladies -- it's really helpful. So much to think about!

Check and compare the widths carefully - the Bugaboos, even the small ones, are all about 2 inches wider than all Maclarens (except one model - described by a Bugaboo user recently as a total behemoth, despite it's being the same width as the Bugaboo she was recommending).

Also, with the Maclaren width, you can fit more pushchairs on, before the driver starts telling people they cannot board.

If you are a regular bus user, you will at times need to fold or wait - if it's a wet rush hour, the waiting will be long and uncomfy (as every dratted bus if full on days like that!)

I recommend you try out the fold mechanism in the shop, with bag over shoulder and baby on hip.

And I'd strongly recommend a sling for as long as you can!

Definitely check the width, and also the 'footprint', some buggies have v wide wheels iyswim and are a pita on buses

depends on if you take the bus and what your local routes are like
here you are likely to have to fold or wait for the next bus

so I'd say BJCM or Maclaren Techno

I often wondered what was the advantage of those really wide wheel bases on Quinny-type prams - to me, they just looked unwieldy and bulky.

I used a sling until 3 months then got a Maclaren Quest as it was just coming into summer. Had a Silver Cross freeway too but never used it much except for walks round the block to get DD to sleep, as it lived in our hall (to much hassle to fold up and down all the time).