prams..what to buy or not to buy??

[blondebaby111]

Can anyone give me some advice on prams/pushchairs/ travel systems that don't cost the earth??
I havem't had my 20weeks scan yet so nly browsing trying to get some ideas but really really have no idea?? Any advice??

Don't get a loola up, it was bloody crap I tells ya!

Don't get a cosatto giggle they are badly made

I am still happy with my m&p zoom after four months lol and it's not a bank braker

Don't get a big heavy pram - you'll end up dumping it for a McLaren after 6 months!

2nd time round I have a lightweight icandy cherry & it's fab!

we only found what we really wanted by actually going to a shop and test driving a load of them. We went to a place on the A3 called A3 Baby Barn but I've been told kiddicare have loads of stores nationwide you can demo them at.
I did some online research before hand but actually being able to see how easy it is to move it around/take apart with one hand etc is invaluable. If the store has a baby weight make sure you use it, it really makes a difference in showing you what you can manage. Make sure you test out fitting it in the boot of your car so you know you'll have enough space.
I'm 5'2 & my husband is 6'4 so we did find out height difference affected which pram/travel system to get. The only other tips I got were to make sure it is doesn't have a wide turning circle as apparently that can be annoying, & make sure whatever you get is compatible with your car seat if you're going for a travel system.
We ended up picking the Uppababy Vista, a bit more ££ than we wanted to spend but it was part of a really good package deal so overall it worked out.
Good luck & happy hunting!

Just get a decent pushchair that fully reclines and is usable from birth to three.
Im on dc3 and cringe wen i think about the amount of cash ive wasted on travel systems/big prams and useless buggies over the years.
This time im gettin a maclaran pushchair and borrowing my friends car seat so i dont need to carry seat. Hopfully thus will do us untill he/she is walking :-)

Figure out what you will use it for. No point getting something very heavy if you drive everywhere, needs to be narrow if public transport, if you walk lots then a big pram is nicer to push.

Look carefully at how much will fit in the basket - will it just be a pint of milk and a pack of nappies or do you need to try and fit a week's shopping in there?

Some prams are suitable from birth, others need a carry cot or car seat until 3-6 months. Baby shouldn't be in car seat longer than an hour at a time, so ideally get a carry cot.

Once baby is sat up, are you bothered about them being able to face you? My first pram only faced forwards, and I hated that!

I had a few different prams until I found the one that suited me best (Babystyle Oyster) - it wouldn't be right for everyone though, there's no pram that suits everyone's needs!

I'm with rockchick - you need a good idea about what you'll use it for before you get get any useful advice!

Think about:

Public transport
Transferring from car
Walking - off road or Tarmac?
Weekly shop in the basket?
Where will you store it at home?
Do you need an adjustable height handle?

Lots of people buy a pram for the early days and add a stroller later. Some people use a sling for the first few months and move straight into a 3 month plus buggy!

Don't get the silvercross one. It's really heavy and huge when its folded.

agree with other ladies if you drive most places get a compact stroller ive choosen the obaby zezu this time how ever i do not drive wouldnt be a great choice if i did as its bulky but beautiful avoid the silver cross 3D its not worth the money and not as compact as it looks il be walking every where but also using transport so ive had to get a stroller aswell

We popped into mamas and papas ona whim. Liked the sola. Found it secondhand and bought it at a great price.

Could not face spending heaps of time or cash on it. Some friends have spent a thousand quid on theirs. No thanks!

I've got a Silver Cross Surf which is really lovely and gets lots of nice comments but it is over priced I think for what it is. New mummy friend has bought a Mothercare Xpedior. It is lovely. Costs £250 for the travel system, looks stylish, comes in a lovely blue or purple colour and does everything my push chair does, except is at a fraction of the cost of mine.. Friend loves it and her baby looks snug as a bug in it. If I hadn't bought my pushchair I would consider the Mothercare one, especially for the price and user reviews.

As others have said, it really depends on your requirements! I'd personally steer away from travel systems as they tend to be cumbersome and you don't really need the options. I've got a light weight, easy fold stroller now (Quinny zapp) and an off road suitable pushchair (Out'n'about nipper 360). The former is in my boot for whenever we need it (shopping centre etc), the latter in the garage and used for long walks. I used to have a travel system that did a half-arsed job for both - not small and nippy enough for shopping and town trips; too heavy and too small wheels for proper walks. So while travel systems are 'all in one', they don't necessarily do everything well!
And instead of the carrycot type things for babies early on that you get with most systems, just use a sling. So sling + lightweight stroller suitable from 6 months = perfect

I've ordered the mamas and papas sola. I bought a big travel system for my DS and its way to heavy. The sola is fairly light and you can get a car seat to clip on the chassis xx

Thanx for comments, a lot to get my head round. Has anyone tried the graco travel system. Still not sure whether to just go for a pram and get the car seat separate rather than get a travel system x

following with interest as I'm totally confused about what to buy!

we got a baby jogger mini gt and a bassinet thing for newborn - haven't used in yet as still pregnant. one thing I didn't realise tho was that they come in different 'seasons' or 'lines' so the shops sell off last years for considerably cheaper - we got one of these for about 60-70 quid less than usual price.

mini gt folds up very small, as we have a small house. lots of youtube videos that review prams too that are worth a look!

oh, and you can steer it with one hand!

We're getting the gt too.

We've done the whole system thing and the gt will be fab from birth up. We had the double and loved how easy it was to fold.

I'll be able to see dc3 in he carry cot and after that the don't want to be facing you anyway ime!

We've bought this Xpedior - basically a newwer version of their old My3/My4 really.

Am v impressed with it so far. HUGE basket, v light but yet feels sturdy, 2in 1 seat unit that changes from pram to a seat later on so no having to worry about a seperate carrycot to store/get rid of, car seat, footmuff and rainsheild included and dead cheap!

fooffighter I was wondering with the xpedia if the carrycot is comfy for the baby? Just the lining didnt look very thick and isn't the baby laid on the pushchair straps? Thanks

Another vote for the baby jogger mini. It's done us 2 years so far, about to reuse it for DC2 and I'm pondering the double even though I don't strictly need it.

I have a Bugaboo Bee and I love it! However if you are not in a city I wouldn't recommend it. It's such a practical, easy pram, folds in one. So many prams you have to remove the wheels to get it in the car. Has height adjustable handles (great for short me and tall DH), good size basket, light, and parent and rear faces. Not cheap though.

Think about what you need. Go and play with them before you buy. Some prams are really heavy and awkward to fold. Go to John Lewis or Kiddicare or somewhere and play with them. You can buy a separate car seat, just remember newborns can only spend up to two hours at a time in them. Just check it can fit on to the pram.

Let you know next week Bartbaby!! You take the straps out, the seat itself is a little padded so with the padded bit on the bottom of the liner I can't see that it would be a problem really :) I suppose you could always put a blanket underneath if you were concerned? They don't recommend a crib mattress or anything as it'd boost up the height of the baby and make a falling out more likely or something I assume?

Foof, would love to hear how you find it. I'm due in Jan and don't want to spend £££

Ahh yes fooffighter that makes sense to take the straps out! I didn't think of that lol. The only ones ive seen are in the shops with the straps in. Definately come back here and let us know what you think of it