Pram from 0 to say 3 years? Does it exist?

[HorseyGirl1]

Hi, I'm expecting in early June and am completely baffled by all the pram / travel system / buggy combos out there. What I would love is a pram (or whatever!) will take me through from birth to say 3 years? Really I would like parent facing as I've read that it is good for the baby's speech if it does. Does such a thing exist? I don't mind buying a separate car seat which is pref removable when DC is tiny and fast asleep. Any ideas? Thanks

(hijacks thread)

I'm particuarly looking for a folding stoller type suitable from birth because of space/budget issues. I've looked at models such as Mothercare's Mino which seem like they would be good.

But none of the photos of them are in the 'from birth' position and I'm wondering if that's because they wouldn't really look suitable for a newborn even if they were fully reclined. I'm also a bit confused because they talk about multi-positionable seat, are they just talking about upright versus reclined or will this include parent facing too? Because I'd prefer to get a parent facing model if I'm using it from birth.

We live in a first floor flat with very little space near the groundfloor door (though I think a folded buggy would be ok). Parking isn't right outside and we couldn't keep the pram/buggy in the car anyway as my husband uses the car for work. I'd also be stuck for space upstairs for storing a seperate carrycot type.

We mainly want to use a sling, so the buggy is just for back up really. I'm happy to buy a seperate car seat that pretty much stays in the car.

So would the Mino and other similar models (Mothercare Nanu, Silvercross Pop, Mothercare Nulo) be suitable as a first/only pram?

SpiritedWolf - there isn't an umbrella fold that parent faces (well apart from the Loola/Loola Up/Bee plus but they aren't traditional looking umbrella folds like the ones you mention).

If you want small folding, parent facing and long lasting the Baby Jogger Versa is probably the best bet. It is a book fold which means it folds flat but doesn't get thinner.

the loola is like an umbrella fold but its heavy! so if you ahve having to carry it up and downs stairs then that is good.

i like the nipper 360 thats great! lies totally flat i used a cocoon in it for when baby was little, like one of the phil and teds cocoons, but its a breeze to push and can still fit my almost 4 yr ld fine, it folds flat and you can take the wheels of easily if you want to.

but for forward/rearward facing and durability my bugaboo frog has been fantastic, bought it 8yrs ago and used it for 4 kids and its still going strong! LOVE that pushchair :)

wolf if it's Only a back up pram then you could pick anything really as the baby won't be in it for lOng periods of time. I'd be tempted to spend the money on a brilliant sling.

Maclaren XLR?

I also must recommend bugaboo cameleon. It is just fab. So light, so practical, indestructible, and versatile. They wear really really well, so if you are put off by cost, buy second hand. Mine is stil in amazing condition after 2 years heavy use and we are about to convert back to pram for next babs and intend to use for next 2 years at least. dc1 will ride on a buggy board attachment.

Personally, I thin the parent facing theory is a bit of bollocks (sorry ). You need to go with what child (by that time a toddler ) wants. Mine was desperate to face forward and see the world, not stare lovingly at me. She speaks very competently at 2.

Some children naturally speak later than others but it s nothing to worry about, it's a spectrum just like walking, and it all evens out. Talking and engaging with your child at all times, as I'm sure you are planning to do, I'll encourage good speech, so if the child wants to face forward, let them!

ICandy cherry is good, the seat is a lot bigger than Apple, friend who's DS is also 2 is struggling to get her DS still in the seat but the cherry is bigger. (however isn't wider)

the cherry is also a lot cheaper. (and also has the 'pram' attachment for newborn).

Hmmm I have had two DCs . And two stokkes. I loved them(2 because one was blue and I wanted a red one for dd). But I have to say both my kids looked silly in them by 18 months. They are tall kids though but imagine an average 2 year old would not be too comfy in it either, let alone 3. Dd isn't three yet and would never fit in one now. Great pushchair though. But prob won't last until they are three, so you may be better spending your money on something else.

My friend has a 2.4 yo DD who looks chic and fab in her Stokke. My DS is 17mo, I think it's still a great look. I can't imagine putting him in something else if I have him and shopping to do, would not use a low pushchair, I love that he is high up.

I used my Bugaboo cam for ds until he was 3, it was fab and ds loved it as it was so comfy :)

We still use the Stokke Xplory with my hefty giant 3 year old one min, and my one year olds the next. It is beyond compare. A thing of beauty. And totally solid - ours has taken a bashing and NOTHING has ever broken/snapped/bent/fallen off.
If you can, you should.

Cunningstunt you know the footrest is adjustable and you can take the belly bar off? My 3 year old is v v tall and we use it all the time. Lovely and high up.

Yup bagofholly I know that. Footrest was on its last rung and bar was off. My ds is just turned 5 and in clothing for an 8 year old he was/is hugely tall. At 2 he was in age 5 clothes. Lanky boy. Maybe a stokke would do (just not my brood)

I don't mean to be antagonistic but if the child was wearing aged 5 clothes he's not a typical example of a 2 year old is he ?

I have mamas and papas ora which is great. Lies flat for DD to sleep even now at 21 months. I only bought it when she was 14 months as I hated the m4 we had but had I known about the ora initially id have bought it from the start.

spritedwolf - we are in a first floor flat too - the baby jogger city mini worked well for us - weighs 7kg and folds amazingly. i could carry the baby upstairs in one arm and the buggy in the other. also vg for public transport. only downside is not parent facing - but if you are using the sling a lot (we did) the baby gets the interaction/chat etc from that - and my little girl used to fall asleep in the buggy anyway. lies flat from birth and a decent size for my now 3.5 year old daughter.

I have a Britax Vigour 3, the new version is the Britax B Smart. I also have the Britax B Dual as I now have 2 DC's. DS, who's nearly 2 1/2 fits fine into the seats on both. You can get a Britax for much less than you'd pay for a Bugaboo / mothercare My3/4 / iCandy. It parent-faces for as long as you need, and has a hard carry cot for NB's and fits the Britax car seat (I've found his useful when going shopping etc).
Someone else has mentioned the B-Dual and how you can add a second seat. I would say I wouldn't have wanted it before I needed the second seat as the base is very long.

The single Britax used to fit into my Fiesta with 1 wheel taken off, and fits into my Focus just folded, as does the Dual.

I really wanted parent facing too, it was one of my "must haves" when I was looking for a pram for DS1. I just really liked having him facing me for as long as I could. And he never seemed bored staring at me!

Another vote for bugaboo chameleon, Maxi cosi carbrofix is a really good, safe seat too.

Well quite heswell. But I still don't think it would do an average three year old

Thanks so much for all the replies! Can't wait to start looking at them on the internet now. I keep seeing 3 or 4 names cropping up quite a lot so I will check those first. Don't mind paying a little bit more if it takes me through the whole thing. But agree a cheapy buggy would probably be better latter on. Thanks x
so much xx