Pram Help!

[Chocoholicmonster]

Been putting off getting a pram as honestly, I have no idea where to start! I'm now cutting it really fine & need to make a choice. There's so much range out there - choice / design & cost.

Ive seen one I like but I'm put off by the low price (I know that sounds ridiculous) but I want to buy something that's going to last. Has anyone else had a Hauck pram (similar or the same to the picture)? If so, thoughts? Thank you!

Don't get that one. They look great but are horrible to steer and too light.

It really depends what you need a pram for. Will you be walking a lot or mostly driving? On or off road? Do you want a full travel system with car seat/bassinet and pram seat or more of a buggy that lies flat so your newborn can use it? Are you planning a second child with a close age gap so may need one that can turn into a double?

What is your budget? You may be able to find a pram that's perfect for you, second hand and in good condition.

I would recommend visiting John Lewis baby section and asking advice.

Hauck are very flimsy and don't last long at all. Are you up for second hand? Gumtree and eBay have some gems, all the soft bits can be washed and all the hard bits scrubbed so it's like new. We got an all singing/all dancing double iCandy with all the trimmings for £250 from Gumtree.

Beware of spending a lot though. I got a buckle carried when DS1 was 5 months and pretty much never used the buggy again.

The joke now is that I spent more time cleaning it than I have using it with DS2.

Good job it was second hand!

(And I heartily recommend a carrier!)

Thank you for the feed back. If it helps - I have a feeling it'll be used a fair amount. I'm still learning to drive & intend to shift some baby weight walking when I can depending on the weather. Mostly on road use. I'm looking for a travel system so it can be used for newborn & then turned into a first pram / pushchair with a car seat. Not interested in it being turned into a double buggy as we wont TTC (all being well) for a couple of years at least.

What prams did you buy?

I'm glad someone else asked about this haha!
We are looking for a travel system too! I had several magazine/books and seen a few I liked but can't believe how pricey they are...some costs the same as a second hand car lol.
I will probably go somewhere like babies r us and other places and try some out to see what thy are like before looking for the best price

John Lewis by a country mile are best for advice. Book an appointment if you must and give it an hour or so. I chose the uppababy cruz in the end. Had no hard sell in fact the lady who served me said DONT buy today start a list instead and that way if people want to buy gifts point them
In that direction instead. The beauty of this is I now have only a couple of hundred pounds left to pay. Also in between times I have found some of the other things on my list on local websites second hand. Now only have pram, cot and a toy left to get.

I used a hauck travel system and loved it. I wanted one that was lightweight as had to carry up 2 flights of stairs every day. Great on public transport too. It was a bargain.

We've got an upababy cruz as well after checking them out at John Lewis then buying it for half the price in Gumtree.
Things to check
-does it fit through your Hall
-is it light and easy to manoeuvre
-can it fold into your car

• can you use the mechanisms easily to put in the basket, car seat, swap the facing round?

I liked the upababy as the baby can sleep overnight in the bassinet so useful if we go away for a night I thought the iCandy was pretty good as well.

I also have an uppababy cruz too and love it.

Pram buying is a nightmare! Make sure you choose a lightweight one that's easy to fold - best if tested in a shop. Otherwise (bitter experience) you'll never use it and will end up buying another one that's lighter.

Take it easy with pushing a heavy pram from day one as a form of exercise. It can be quite damaging for your stomach muscles if you're not careful because of the way you bend forward, especially if you have a muscle separation.

I've got a mamas and papas sola 2, it's a good pram and pushchair but honestly I wish I hadn't spent so much on it as I want to buy a pushchair/stroller already as my son is getting so big for a big pushchair now!!

My mums neighbour has that pram.

It looks cheap and is very very flimsy.

I wouldn't buy that.

Most prams fit various car seats nowdays with adapters. The thing you need to check is if the car seat fits in your car first. So I would personally buy a seperate car seat, then a pushchair than can be used from birth either with or without a carrycot.

We got a third hand Bugaboo Cameleon and it has been great. We have a maxi cosi car seat which fits on the wheels (so useful!). I just washed the fabric (about 7 times, it had been in my cousin's garage for 4 years) and it was good as new.
It's not as bulky as some of the Uppababy ones, and is brilliant at off road surfaces too. Get on Gumtree!! Good luck!

I got a Joie Chrome

www.mothercare.com/prams-and-pushchairs/joie-chrome-pram-and-pushchair-travel-system---black/LX5158.html

The deal at mothercare is really good.
Me and dp don't drive and have used it every single day on and off buses and walked miles and miles. Seems to be standing up to a decent battering.

Graco zigzag, cheap and yet sturdy, we already had a graco base from previous car seat so was a bit limited this time round, it folds so easily and lots of people comment on how nice it looks... Downside, there's no carrycot available 😞

Something like this

www.mothercare.com/prams-and-pushchairs/joie-chrome-pram-and-pushchair-travel-system---black/LX5158.html?dwvar_LX5158_color=Damson&cgid=prams_pushchairs#start=1

Or this if you want something better offroad

www.mothercare.com/prams-and-pushchairs/mothercare-xtreme-pushchair-travel-system---red/785964.html?cgid=prams_pushchairs#sz=12&start=28

I had a Hauck and have since passed it on to a friend so they do last. It is light but I wouldn't have called it flimsy. Wasn't this one though so maybe they have changed as mine wasn't quite that cheap either.

The buggy seat wasn't great (hard, no padding at all) but the bassinet and car seat plus frame were great. The low price meant that it didn't matter that the buggy bit wasn't great, I always planned on buying an umbrella stroller to replace at that stage anyway.

Think about:

Can it fit in your car?
Is it light enough to pick up easily?
Does the seat reverse?
Does it fold easily? A true one hand fold is useful and rare!
Are the wheels and suspension ok for what you will use it for? ( eg bugaboo bee is great in a city but not in the country.)

I have an easywalker mosey and it's brilliant - narrow for getting on buses, small fold, not too heavy, seat can face either way, great little bassinet that folds flat, plus a seat that reverses and can be used with car seat.

The temptation as a new parent is to get a big pram - don't! Look ahead and get something lean that'll last you until they don't need it.

A second hand bugaboo is likely to last far better than a brand new cheap pram op.

I agree with Hubbles. I had a big pram (second hand but still expensive with all the bits) got rid of it when DS was 10 months old and bought a regular stroller/buggy.

Starting again I would get a mid-sized pram with a decent basket which laid flat.

The Hauck you linked to is actually the perfect size for long term use; secure for a newborn but not so big and bulky you'll want to buy a stroller when they are a few months old. But that model is no good. I tried one and had to send it back after a couple of days because it was completely horrible.

I like the idea of a Bugaboo Bee, but the seat looks too small for a toddler IMO, due to no leg support. Great for a baby but not future proofed. We have a City Mini (pram #3!) which fits my tall DS2.6 very nicely, but it is quite big. Genuine one handed fold and so easy to steer though and we have bought the carrycot attachment from eBay to use for #2, when that happens.

I have bought a second hand Bugaboo Cameleon with the intention of selling it on once baby is sitting up and getting a Babyjogger City Mini fold up pushchair. This is DC3 and will be our last (had thought DD2 was the last one and got rid of our old pram - Mutsy 4 Rider, which was good but quite heavy and the shopping basket was tiny - it also was worth pretty much nothing once we'd finished with it as really only Bugaboo hold their value).
Everyone I know who bought a Mamas & Papas one had major problems with them, the most common one being one of the wheels falling off. This happened to 3 different people I know! Dunno what model they were though, I never looked at that brand.
I had a Babyjogger City Mini with DD1 and DD2 and used it to death - light, quick and easy to fold and put back up, shopping basket was huge - I will definitely get another as soon as this next baby can go in an upright seat. I like a proper carrycot for a newborn though - and the Cameleon can have a car seat clipped onto it as it is a proper travel system, which is convenient.

I have a Cossato Ooba and I LOVE it, I get so many compliments on it from other mums. We spent about £600 on it but knew buying a decent pram would be worthwhile as I walk everywhere and knew it would get loads of use, and it does, its in constant use.
One of your favourite features is how you can flip the handle out of the way and push it right up to the table in cafés. Because it's so high she's at the right level and sits up like a proper seat so she's really comfortable.

Everyone has different pram needs but if you'll use it a lot don't get a flimsy one. Get yourself to John Lewis and test some out.