OK, in the big minefield that is buying a pram/pushchair - why have 3 or 4 wheels?

[sadiemcgrady]

Does it matter?

Why would I get one over the other?

First baby due later this year

3 wheels:
better stability on lumpy ground
if front wheel swivels, can be easier to steer
can be awful to steer if it doesn't
look cool ()

4 wheels:
can be harder to steer if wheels don't swivel
some have better suspension
look more old-school

Are we talking carrycot types or strollers here?

three wheelers better for walks in the woods, along the beach, even pebble beaches - no problem. Can't do that with a four wheeler.

Depends on your lifestyle I suppose but if you can see yourselves on long walks etc, get a three wheeler.

Well I'm not really bothered about looks so much as practicality. I was in a massive pram store at the weekend and there were tons to choose from.

Very confusing...

Carrycot types over stroller type. Some had carrycot bits which seemed to sit on top of the stroller too. Bit weird I thought.

Just wondering about the advantages of each as the woman in the shop just said "oh it comes down to personal preference". Not sure how I can have a personal reference never having done it before!

My advice, get a lay flat buggy to throw in the car for whizzing round the shops, get a second hand three wheeler for walks in the woods etc.

Don't spend more than £200 on a pram either, you will sell it in 6 months - betcha.

Have fun choosing but ask lots of advice from lots of RL mums before you buy.

Carry cot type prams are lovely, the bouncy M&P ones but look in your local paper - there are dozens for sale, less than 6 months old - for a reason?

ooh, misdee and I will sort you out with one

what's your lifestyle like?

Do you walk much?
in town?
in the country?

Do you drive much?

Do you ever need to get public transport?

Do you have space to park it (eg in the hall) or will you want to fold it up and put it away?

Do you live up steps?

What's your budget?

if you dont go 'off road' alot get a M&P pramette with carseat.

lies flat, attaches carseat, turns into pushchair, pram looks nice ect

ummm..I deliberately decided NOT to have 3 wheels as I think they look stupid when you are essentially a townie and pushing it round the shops. Also the front wheel does not always swivel (my friend has a Maclaren one where front wheel does not swivel). I spent AGES researching pushchairs and ended up with one I am not that happy with!! (It does have 4 wheels though).

I had a Quinny Fashion 3 wheeler - it was fabulous for pushing on school run, not great around the shops. Fixed wheel meant I didn't lose the front of the pram down every dropped kerb!

Actually I would say do not bother with a 'travel system' of a carseat that fits on a pushchair - it's not good for them to be in the carseat for more than 1.5h when they're tiny, so get a decent safe carseat that fits your car properly and never mind if it fits on the pushchair you like.

My gut feeling is

• a comfy lie-flat pram or one with a carrycot (3 or 4 wheels as you like)
• a maxi-cosi cabrio carseat
• once they're 6mo, a Maclaren Triumph you can sling in the boot

You should have 3 or 4 because 2 wouldn't work

My main criteria was for it to be light. For some reason I got a travel system (it was one of the lightest around). I wish I had just got a lie-flat stroller and a good car seat that would be comfortable until ds could go into the forward facing car seats. I find the M & P carseats are a bit rubbish.

i second mrsb suggestion of NOT getting a travel system.

I didn't really fancy the M&P pramette. Looks very low down as a pram and doesn't face backwards later. Not sure if the rear facing thing should be a deal breaker? Just something I fancy

DH and I do a bit of woods walking but much more around town.

oh i have a urban detour for sale, 3 wheeler. £70 delivered

you say that, JanH...

Does it face backwards misdee?

what if I got misdee's second hand 3 wheeler and a big Silver cross coachbuilt from ebay?!

Apart from needing an extension to store them!

neither will fold up neatly to go in the boot...

it doesnt face backwards but they are good 3 wheelers.

theres a pic on my profile. for an extra £7 i can get you a new raincover for it.

... so you'd still end up bying a Maclaren in a year's time

Can see why people turn into buggyholics. I guess nothing does everything.

I agree about not fixating on travel systems. Our M&P pramette is great as dd was flat and facing backwards when little and now faces forwards - with the option of still lying flat, of course. It is a travel system but never used it as one!

this was the one that confused us the most. You can get it in 3 wheels or 4. Why, when the rest of it is the same?

I am also waiting on my first and decided early on to buy on ebay so that we don't lose much on a mistake.

We are both big hikers so at first were sure that we would want a three wheeler but they are impossible for London buses, and we decided that carrying the bubs in harness or sling on hikes might be more convenient anyway. I am hoping to carry the baby a lot indoors as well so we will probably have a set of slings between us, and don't plan to take bubs into the wilds until at least six months anyway.

I tried the "umbrella fold" travel system thingummies in M& P at two months pregnant and gave up. 11kg is heavy now so it will be then as well!

In the end we bought a second hand Bugaboo frog which is a good compromise between city commuting and outdoorsy, but not much good if you drive a lot(I won't be) as I understand it is a bit tricky to fold down on your own. As mentioned above, I have already given up on being able to manoeuvre anything so my pram will be parked in the hall.

Beware of car-loving partners and their potential preferences in pushchairs! My boyfriend is as good at spotting a Jane, Quinny or an Urban Detour on the the street as he is at spotting a Porsche or Ferrari, and he desperately wanted a pram "he could jog with" (not having jogged since last summer): i.e. nothing less than macho