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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Please help me choose a stroller!!!

33 replies

DianaXXX · 21/11/2011 23:11

Hi mums and mums to be.
I'm on a low budget and most things I'll be buying second hand or given by my friends however I'm willing to send money on a good stroller!
I love stokke explory and bugaboo camelian.
If you had any experience with either one any advise would be great!
Also where is the best place to buy them? I still have till feb when my little boy will be born so I still have the Christmas sales ahead of me :)
Thank you for reading my ad in advance ??

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Xmasbaby11 · 21/11/2011 23:31

We got a bugaboo bee 2nd hand for 180, which I think is a steal (500 new). Our friends have it and it is great! Light, easy to use etc.

Brand new buggies are expensive, even in the sales (we searched and searched), so I would go for 2nd hand any day. I would decide on what model you want by looking round shops, then try to get it from Ebay or Preloved. Preloved is generally cheaper because there are no bids, just a fixed price, and you have to pick it up so there's only local competition.

If we hadn't got the bugaboo for that price, we were going to get a Mamas and Papas Sola. They have sales regularly so it may be worth holding out for that!

Original poster

DianaXXX · 21/11/2011 23:37

You did get a very good price indeed :)

OP posts:

LikeACandleButNotQuite · 22/11/2011 00:23

If you are wanting to keep the cost low, and still get brand new, the Maclaren XLR is a from-birth stroller, which will last (in size and durability) til they no longer need a buggy. It can be used with a soft cot, which is flat and parent-facing, and a car seat can be clipped into it too.

here

The parts (stroller, car seat and soft cot) can be bought seperatley so you can shop around (eg, Soft Cot is £65.00 but I found it on Tesco Direct for £32.50, and similarly the car seat at £40 less too).

I have a Micra, and it fits in the boot.

I am nutty about this stroller, everything else baby stuff-wise I've gone with whatever DH fancied / was a bargain, but I would not compromise on this

Original poster

DianaXXX · 22/11/2011 00:27

Thank u ever so much will look into it :)

OP posts:

NoSeriously · 22/11/2011 03:47

Bugaboo Chameleon. worth evry bloody penny. Keep an eye on ebay the one I got was like new tbh but I was looking early so could wait till I saw the right one.

SandyChick · 22/11/2011 11:05

I have a bugaboo chameleon. Bought it for ds who is now 4. I'm 21 weeks pregnant with 2nd ds and will be using it again. It's still in excellent condition considering its almost 5 years old.

All of the fabric can be removed and washed. It has washed really well over the years. It was expensive brand new but I never needed a buggy etc I used it until ds was too old for a pushchair. I have friends who bought travel systems then bought umbrella fold buggy etc too after a year or so because they found their travel system to heavy or bulky. They probably spend the same overall as I did on the chameleon.

It's really easy to put up and down. I find it really smooth and easy to push one handed etc. Basket is huge but can be a bit of a pain to get to depending on position of the seat. I like the draw string to close the basket so you can stuff it full and close it so nothing falls out. Being able to adjust the handle bar height is a bonus for dh.

Original poster

DianaXXX · 22/11/2011 17:36

How about stokke?

OP posts:

belindarose · 22/11/2011 17:40

I have a stokke. People seem to love or hate them. We love ours and didn't consider anything else. We had the flat carrycot from birth and moved into the seat once DD could sit up. Accessories like the cosy ties were bought later as presents. Never had it forward facing. Love the height of it. However, we were very lucky and it was bought by the grandparents. It is expensive, even second hand. We got ours from 'Back in Action' in Amersham. They do mail order.

Looking forward to using it again for this one.

GloriaTheHighlyFlavouredLady · 22/11/2011 17:46

I'm looking to. I got my mcclaren Ryder for £65 from toysrus 5 years ago and would be pissed spending much more than that but think it is time for a new one. Any ideas?

Stokey · 22/11/2011 17:56

DH bought a stokke secondhand - much cheaper than new about £250 but was 4 yrs old and not great colour (grey). I also bought the carrycot new.

The height is great and Dd likes it - I used to use it facing me but now she's older tend to have it facing out so she can see where we're going.

But it's pretty heavy (i'm quite small) and doesn't fold down that well - you have to take it apart in two different pieces. We live in a first floor flat so I tend to keep it outside in the boot of my car as there isn't enough room. I do like it but if i'm going on the tube or bus i tend to take my lightweight buggy - more a maclaren type. Tbh i spent £60 on this and have had far more use from it except it wouldn't be suitable from birth.

Am also now pregnant with second and it doesn't convert to double buggy (which i don;t know if i'll need by worth thinking about). I think icandy has one called peach? that does convert and is lighter. may be worth considering if you're planning an upmarket buggy.

Other friends that have the bugaboo Bee says it's getting a bit small for our now 2-yr olds.

fraktious · 22/11/2011 18:01

We have a Baby Jogger city mini with carry it and carseat. Bloody love it, especially great for travelling. Seen too many people with bugaboos and others struggling in airports!

icooksocks · 22/11/2011 18:06

Stokke and Bug Cam both fab. I've had both. I 2nd the ebay suggestion, there are some fab quality ones on there.
I will say if you get a Cam get a second generation and if you get a stokke get an evo (v3) if possible, or a V2-but not a V1 as they are old and had some problems.

belindarose · 22/11/2011 18:17

I admit the stokke is quite bulky. Mine mostly lived in the car boot. Very easy once you know how to do it, but certainly doesn't fold up on public transport or anything.

justabigdisco · 22/11/2011 23:16

I've done a fair bit of research on this as I'm 36 weeks pregnant and today placed an order for an Uppababy Vista - I strongly suggest you have a look at them, if you like the Bugaboo Chameleon. Just as nice and a good bit cheaper, as all the extras are included in the price. Haven't seen a bad word said about it either on here or on wider internet searches. You might struggle to find somewhere near you that supplies it but if you can, have a look. I am really happy with our choice.

RockChick1984 · 23/11/2011 00:06

I'm becoming a bit of a pramaholic sinc having ds, the best one I've found so far is my babystyle oyster. Forward or rear facing, lightweight, can be folded down in 1 or 2 pieces depending on way suits you at the time. There's a category about products which you may find useful posting in as you will probably get more response there.

slavetosiamesecat · 23/11/2011 10:24

Maclaren quest rocks, lightweight easy to carry and get in and out of car. DS loves it, had a M and P Pliko Pramette before hated it with a passion wanted to take a sledgehammer to it!

fredandginger · 23/11/2011 19:27

I adore my Britax B-Smart - does everyone you could want, and also has a lie-flat car seat (looks like a carrycot, so no scrunching baby up in bucket seat)

Only downside is it's a bit heavy, but has never bothered me. I think you'd only struggle if you had a CS and couldn't lift?

fredandginger · 23/11/2011 19:34

everything* you could want!

Original poster

DianaXXX · 23/11/2011 21:26

I'm even more confused now lol

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RockChick1984 · 23/11/2011 22:45

Best way to choose is to decide what is most important to you. I personally never get the bus anywhere so didn't need one which was easy to fold on public transport, however a good friend of mine doesn't drive and has frequently had to fold her buggy or wait til the next bus; so what I needed was very different to her.

Are you bothered about it being parent facing once baby is out of the small carrycot phase? I didn't think of this until after ds was born, so had just a forward facing until I got round to replacing it!

Will you make use of the shopping basket? There's loads of prams which have good size baskets under them which are a nightmare to get anything into / out of, and some lovely prams with diddly little shopping baskets. These are no good unless you are happy carrying your shopping while pushing the pram!

Inflatable wheels usually make for a comfy ride for baby, but can get punctures, so again this would be something to consider.

Best advice I can give you is not to choose based on brand name, I have a habit of doing this with things and (being now on my 3rd pram in 8 months) can honestly say the worst pram I've had was the 1 I chose just for the make!

LikeACandleButNotQuite · 23/11/2011 23:50

Go to Mothercare/M&P/ToysRus et al.

Play with all the pushchairs, fold them, price them, etc. This may help establish what you need/like

Then buy online as is usually cheaper!

pootlebug · 23/11/2011 23:53

2nd hand bugaboo cameleon. You might have to stalk ebay for a while to get one at a good price. I paid £180 for one without a carrycot (can pick up a carrycot for £30-ish).

Original poster

DianaXXX · 24/11/2011 23:23

so many opinions as many as strollers lol
I tried few strollers but they all seem the same! :(

OP posts:

Kiwiinkits · 25/11/2011 00:21

I would add that if you are planning on having another child before your first turns 3 then having the ability to convert to a double pram is very important - otherwise you'll just end up having to buy another pram later on down the line.
We have a Phil & Teds Explorer, which we love but would be too heavy if you were on and off buses all the time.
HTH

thejoanwilder · 25/11/2011 17:20

Justabigdisco- We bought an Uppababy Vista (we're in the US). Yet to use it as DD isn't due til March, but we liked the feel of it- sturdy, but not too heavy, and not as pricey as the bugaboos.

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