Bamboozled by pram choices

[toadmum]

Hi,
Just wondering if anyone can advise on which pram we should buy for our baby due in May. We have recently looked at lots and lots and have had a lot of advice form family and friends about what we need etc and I am now completely confused! We have looked at the Uppababy Vista because it comes as a complete travel system but its a bit pricey. We live in quite rural location and I walk a lot with the dog so I need something which is strong and good over rough terrain(although I plan to use a carrier for walking as well) and easy to get in and out of car to go shopping etc. Do I need a carrycot - I've been told not to bother as they are only in them a couple of months max but hate seeing babies slouched in a pram in the first few weeks.
Any help or recommendations on what you used would be great. Thanks

I was a bit bamboozled by it all too, in the end we went to an independent pram shop that had pretty much all the main makes and models and tried them all and had a good chat with the staff about what our requirements were and the differences between all the models. We went for the uppababy vista in the end. One that was very similar was the Oyster, which is cheaper so worth looking at.

Even if you dont go for one of the dearer ones, getting your requirements boxed off is a good idea then try some out. I was convinced I was going to get the bugaboo buffalo but hated it on sight in the shop!

Just to add, I ordered the Uppababy from Kiddicare with 12.5% chasback through quidco and 15% off so its worth keeping an eye out for a good discount code to bring the price down!

Loved my bugaboo cameleon. Still using it every day after 3 years. Carry cot essential for new born spines in my view - you need a proper flat pram with a proper mattress not just reclined pushchair. You can get a bugaboo second hand if it's out of your budget range. All fabric goes in washing machine.

Spend some time on the pushchairs board and you will have loads of info and good advice.

KateH - did you bother with a clip in car seat or just use the carrycot with your bugaboo?

We went to a pram specialist today (kiddisave) and had a really good chat with the staff - it was way better than mothecare or M&P and we came out with a much clearer idea of our options!

Had the Maxi cosi cabriofix and adapters which worked well.

I have the bugaboo buffalo and love it. All terrain wheels so good for walking trips.

we're in fame position as you and opted for the quinny buzz with maxi cosi pebble for the car seat, toys r us let you use lots of vouchers to buy prams etc....

we've not got the carry cot but will keep an eye out for the wrap thing you can buy to make the reclined buggy Upton more did to new borns x

ignore Upton, bloody smart phones!

Questions to ask yourself.

What is your budget
Is storage an issue
Are you going to be using public transport
What terrain are you using it on
Do you want a complete travel system
Have you got isofix in your car, or would a belted seat be needed
3 wheel or 4 wheel

I have a graco sterling travel system and I love it. I use it pretty much everyday. DS also loves it and goes to sleep as soon as we go out in it (partially why I love it ).

It's so light yet stable. Doesn't have carrycot but the car seat clicks onto the top, so no slouchy newborns. It's obviously heavier with car seat on, but still a pleasure to push. I only noticed when DS stopped using car seat.

I'm due in May also and have gone for the Babyjogger City Mini GT, with a Maxi-cosi Cabriofix which fits onto it. I obviously haven't used it yet, but am very pleased with how it seems. Whilst it does have carrycot attachments you can get, the blurb and all the reviews make it clear that you can use it from birth as the seat lies completely flat with very good padding. It is super easy to fold up/unfold (one hand easy) and is very compact yet sturdy - if that makes sense! It is also meant to cope with reasonably rough terrain, although I can't confirm.

Available on kiddicare with the 15% discount/quidco cashback etc. Slightly annoyingly, I bought mine on the first when the discount was 10% - and forgot to go through Quidco!

I have a stokke. Not used it yet just getting to grips with working it haha! Apparently the uppa baby vista is good!

I'd have a look on eBay u can get nearly new ones I. There xx

greentshirt did you get kiddiecare 15% off the vista? The discount code doesn't seem to work, and when I've read the t&c's, it does say uppababy branded items are excluded.

(Just want to check it's not me doing something wrong!)

I've got a bugaboo chameleon with maxi cosi cabriofix seat ready for baby due in April. I love it already!

We got a Quinny Buzz- specifically because we do a lot of walking too- it's really sturdy and doesn't have that shopping trolley feel- a good off roader I think. My DS is only 15 days and we've had had him in the carrycot with mixed results- some absolute screamers! so the jury's out on the carry cot but getting a maxi cozi carseat as although it says he'll be fine I think he'll be too scrunched up in the normal seat. Oh and it's easy to put up

-posted too early! lady I knew used her carrycot as a moses basket as it's flat and nice and furry inside. I know what you mean about the choice I was nearly in tears in mothercare when pregnant! It's weird because I wanted everything to be ready and perfect for his arrival so bought everything in and we've already had to replace bits with more suitable stuff and we've only had him 2 wks- Wish I'd remembered that the shops are open the day after he was born as well as the day before!

I cant recommend the Vista enough! Smooth, great on rougher ground due to wheels and suspension, lovely big basket underneath, a bassinette that is approved for overnight usage (DD is still sleeping in hers at 6 months), easy to fold, turns on a ha'penny, adjustable handle, seat can face forwards or backwards. Love it. Also, apparently it holds its value well for re-sale.

Jane Slalom Pro with Matrix Carry cot/Car seat

The car seat lies flat both in the car and then clips onto the pram frame for trips out, you can buy a mattress for £15 and that makes it an overnight cot. Suitable from birth to 9-12 months depending on size of baby.

Slalom pushchair can fully recline and has lots of positions for all ages from newborn to 4 years, 3 wheeler, hand brake, very light to push and turn, very good off road (designed for rugged tracks).

I bought this as I will be doing lots of off road walking and wanted something big and sturdy and easy to take about. The only con is that it's quite large when folded and the car seat is quite large as it goes across 2 seats sideways instead of facing forward. This isn't a problem for me as I have an estate car.

New from mothercare

www.mothercare.com/Jane-Slalom-Pro-Matrix-Light-2-Pushchair/LU4483,default,pd.html

or a BARGAIN on ebay!

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jane-Slalom-Pro-Matrix-Complete-Travel-System-/221348386610?pt=UK_Baby_BabyTravel_Pushchairs_GL&hash=item3389645732

Completely undertsand you, I ended up nearly in tears of all the choices and spent 3 weeks on the pram websites , and even got one month subscription for which ... Ended up with Vista as only this one and Chameleon fit in our very small Volkswagen UP and I think you get a bit more for your money, plus I tortured mums in the neighbourhood with the same one and everyone seems to be very happy with it, the only negative comment was that it is slightly big for a bus. On top Vista guarantees their buggies if you travel which is important for me. You can look around for deals, we ended up getting it from the local shop where we got car seat half price and free footmuff and the price was slightly lower than retail price.

Now on dc3 we've abandoned systems for the ease of the bjcm gt. it's fab to push but I think they also do a xt which has seriously good wheels for all terrain.

The baby lies flat so you don't actually need to shell out for the carry cot and it can be used instead of the mclaren that everyone inevitably upgrades to.

City mini elite not xt I think.

right, as a veteran pram buyer (I've had 10), here's my advice.
Main point: If you want to go rural, rule out anything with tiny wheels, also anything pretending to be a 3 wheeler but that actually has two small wheels in front.
Large fixed wheels will take you off road, but won't fold down as small unless you remove said wheels if you want to put it in a small boot.
I prefer a choice of parent or outward facing.
IMO small babies like to feel secure and enclosed, being able to see/hear Mum is important. My local fb selling group has lots of people looking to trade only outward facing prams for ones with the choice.
I like the carrycot/carseat/seat separate option too, I find the stackable type of travel system incredibly bulky and unattractive. Also a lie flat seat is ok, but many need a newborn insert which means ultimately baby ends up lying on top of the seat rather than in it, which looks insecure to me. I'd much rather have a lovely cosy carrycot for long days out.
I opted in the end for the Britax B Smart 3. 3 nice large solid wheels, no punctures forward or back facing, folds quite flat and has separate car seat/carrycot options.
I got it from Mothercare where it is often on offer. At the time I bought mine, it should have been £329, but the black version was reduced to £229. The B Safe car seat was added for free, should have been £95, and the carrycot was £110 or so.
Then there was an additional 20% off everything in Mothercare that week as well so the whole kit was £289. All 3 items for less than just the pram in another colour!
It's worth keeping an eye in mothercare and joining their club. They often have great deals on.

I've ordered a silver cross wayfarer but Im having major wobbles and thinking i should have gone for the uppababy vista. In most likelihood i will be in the car most of the time and just going out to visit family and friends. We live on a new build estate so i won't be negotiating rocky terrain or dirt tracks. am i worrying over nothing? X x