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Original poster

What made you choose your pram

67 replies

SheSaidHeSaid · 20/08/2017 18:59

Possibly a little premature, as I'm only 11+4, but just curious to know how you all chose (or will choose) the pram you get.

I'm not looking to buy this second but I don't even know where I'd start when I do start looking. This is my first baby and it just seems there are so many options out there and so many brands so it's a bit of a daunting task.

-----------------------
Hello,

We've noticed this thread is quite old now, and some of the product recommendations are a little out of date. We've spent weeks speaking to parents and testing prams and pushchairs, here's our round up of the best pushchairs on the market right now and what to look out for when buying one.

Hope that helps!

MNHQ

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Amd724 · 20/08/2017 19:03

I bought mine (Egg) for quite a few reasons. It's easy and quick to dissemble the chassis. The wheels are really big and strong for walking through a city centre. And the reviews were incredible. It's made of really good material, feels sturdy, and I know I can use it again for any other child I have. It's adaptable for a tandem without buying a tandem specific buggy. There's lots of storage underneath, and there's a compartment at the bottom for me to put my wallet and keys. It's also beautiful. It wasn't cheap, but was a gift from my MIL for the baby.

Amd724 · 20/08/2017 19:05

And, mine was ordered when I was about 19 weeks. It was on sale, so I jumped at the chance. The carrycot is still out of stock everywhere, so on the Egg website they show you how to adapt the pram to hold a newborn with a newborn insert that they sell. It's £60 instead of the £199 you'd pay or the carrycot.

SelfObsessionHoney · 20/08/2017 19:07

I bought a giggle 2.
It fits in the boot, easy to adjust the seat recline, easy to push and manoeuvre, folds nicely so I can store it at home, I liked that the cosy toes is reversible and I liked the design of it.
On the downside the basket is shite and I don't like the fact that the rain cover has to be all on or all off, I'd have preferred it if it had a window that could be opened.

SelfObsessionHoney · 20/08/2017 19:08

This one.

HopeAndJoy16 · 20/08/2017 19:10

I bought a second hand Mamas and Papas Sola2 off facebook, the woman had barely used it (it was her "spare" pram) and was in great condition. I don't see the point in spending £££ on something I am getting rid of within a year. When my LG is big enough for a buggy I'll be donating it, we don't have the space to store it for potential future babies.

AllGone · 20/08/2017 19:11

We got a Bugaboo chameleon after a friend recommended it and we had a try pushing theirs. Also looked at it in the shop a couple of times to make sure we liked it before we ordered it.

dippypanda · 20/08/2017 19:12

I wanted one that would last, last time I had a travel system but realised after about a year that the seat was too small to last the 3/4 year recommended and I got sick of separating the things whenever putting it in the car/storage etc. I ended up going through about 3 pushchairs after that. This time I've gone for a baby jogger city mini gt, large seat which will last, one handed fold system, I bought a second hand carrycot for birth onwards even though the seat lies flat, and will sell that on when I'm done with it.

mycatloveslego · 20/08/2017 19:16

I have an UppaBaby Vista. I chose it because:
It has a massive shopping basket;
The seat is quite high up and the handle is extendable so good for tall people (DH)
It folds easily.
I also have a Baby Jogger City Mini which I chose because:
It's got a big seat capable of accommodating a 5 year old (DS1 was very tall/long)
It folds instantly by pulling a handle up in the middle of the seat and then it stands alone.
Finally, I have a Micralite fast-fold stroller because:
It's super light weight;
It has a mesh seat which is great for hot climates
It folds up very small and is perfect for travelling.

AdmiralSirArchibald · 20/08/2017 19:16

I bought a baby jogger city mini because it's the only one I could find that met my two criteria: a) fits in boot of car and b) doesn't have to be taken to pieces. It will also last until age 3. I learned from my mistakes with DD1 (this is DD2). I bought the carrycot but the baby hated it so it has barely been used. We do have car seat adaptors/ compatible car seat which is handy.

Original poster

SheSaidHeSaid · 20/08/2017 19:17

Really helpful replies, thank you.

So I want to be checking sturdy it is, how easy it is to get up and down, that it fits in the boot (we have a big car so don't think that will be an issue) and also how long I can use it for.

I've been confused about the 3 in 1 type things too. My DH wants quite a specific car seat (he has back issues so wants one that swivels rather than us needing to twist our backs as we put it in) so I'm thinking these 3 in 1 prams aren't as useful for us?

OP posts:

Original poster

SheSaidHeSaid · 20/08/2017 19:18

Lightweight! Very good point!

OP posts:

meltingmarshmallows · 20/08/2017 19:18

Also got a Bugaboo chameleon after numerous recommendations and trying it out in store

loveulotslikejellytots · 20/08/2017 19:26

We have a massive boot, (BMW 5 Series) but our pram - Silver Cross Pioneer takes up the whole thing. It does however also fit in my mums boot - Mini Paceman.

I liked it because it was sturdy, big wheels for lots of walking, big basket.
I hate it because it has to be taken apart to fold (unless the seat unit is facing forwards, then it folds in one piece but it's huge).

If we have another I will definitely look for a one piece fold. My sister had the mamas and papas armadillo flip. It parent faces (which I really liked with dd) and is a one piece compact fold.

I was swayed by the shiny travel system 'look'. I should have thought about how much I'd be using it and where we'd store it. Our old house (where we lived when dd was born) had a narrow hallway which the pram only just got down. So when we got in from a walk we'd have to put a towel down and leave the pushchair in the hallway until one of us cleaned it enough to push through the house.

It's hard not to get carried away when shopping but do some research and think about what you need it for, where you'll store it etc.

We also have the Nuna Rebl car seat (it swivels). We love it. We haven't missed not having a car seat we can use on the pram chassis it was never a problem moving dd.

GrouchyKiwi · 20/08/2017 19:27

Our first pram/pushchair (Baby Style Prestige) was chosen because it had massive wheels, sprung suspension and a good sized carrycot. I walked a lot with DD1 and lived in a cobbled area so the sprung suspension (and rubber tyres) made that a lot more pleasant for both of us. It also had a large shopping basket and the chair part of it could face both forwards and backwards. It was kind of like an old-fashioned Silver Cross pushchair so wasn't great for collapsing and taking on the bus or whatever, but we didn't do much of that with DD1.

When the chassis of that pushchair got bent out of shape we chose the Baby Jogger City Mini GT for several reasons: it collapses easily - and one-handed - for bus travel, it is very easy to manoeuvre, doesn't take up a lot of space but fits a child to at least age 3, comes with a lifetime guarantee on the chassis (which we've already made use of), has large wheels so goes well through puddles, and has adaptors for the car seat we had already. I love this pushchair and kind of wish we had it for DD1, though the previous one was good for that time of our lives.

unicornsunshine · 20/08/2017 19:29

The swivel car seats are great, I have one but with both my two we only used it after 9 months as the newborn car seats you can carry are so much easier, and handy to clip onto a buggy base if you're popping into a shop. All really depends how much you'll walk and use car etc.

MummyMrsMe · 20/08/2017 20:14

I did loads of online browsing and was convinced I wanted the Uppababy Vista. Went to a local pram shop and it just wasn't right for me.. I can't tell you why, I just didn't love it. So I'd definitely recommend going to a store and playing about with a good few different ones.

In the end, it was an easy choice... we went for the Silver Cross Pioneer and I LOVED it. Currently expecting DC2 and can't wait to use it again. Yes, it's not the most compact but it fitted in our boot with no issues.

We ended up buying a Mamas & Papas Armadillo City for going on holiday as I didn't want my Pioneer being ruined by baggage handlers and we switched to this permanently when DC1 got bigger and wasn't using the pram as much so it made sense to use something more lightweight. Really like how it folds over rather than the umbrella fold of most strollers. Plus it was fairly cheap in comparison with other strollers and we didn't want a big expense as it wasn't going to be used much.

Good luck with your pram shopping x

affectionincoldclimate · 20/08/2017 20:24

I was resisting any pram research as it seemed so bloody complicated. I was watching prams on the street and they all seemed quite big.
A friend turned up with a Bugaboo Bee and I met her in Tesco. As I saw her navigating with ease among the isles in the smallest Tesco Express ever, I was sold. Super light pram from birth to toddler and I never even had carry cot which saved ££££. I just used the seat flat and a cocoon (admittedly DD was born in Spring so I suppose we did not need anything sturdier to protect her from elements.

It's so light I lug it up and down the stairs with DD in it and so nimble I can turn it 360 degrees in the narrowest of hallways. Folds like a dream too and the shopping basket is humongous for such a small pram.

All in all - best pram for me but I don't go off road too much.

I as for car seat have MaxiCosi with it (with Bugaboo grips to put it on the pram) but if I had the choice again I'd buy Nuna car seat as friend lent it to me on hols and it was far better than MaxiCosi.

Original poster

SheSaidHeSaid · 20/08/2017 20:33

Thanks for the car seat recommendation loveyoulots. I'm going to have a look at that one.

All the info you've all given me is really helpful, I don't feel quite as daunted now as I actually know what I should be looking at rather than just kind of looking without a clue.

OP posts:

MrsPandaBear · 20/08/2017 20:33

You also want to consider whether parent facing matters to you or not. We have the Babyjogger GT city mini several people have mentioned above, and it's great for country walks and nap time walks. However, the child faces away from you. That bothered me going around town shopping, as I like to talk to DS. It also has a fairly small basket. We ended up buying a 2nd pushchair to use in town, which parent faces with a big basket.

The other one to consider is whether you are thinking about having a 2nd and if so, what kind of age gap. Some pushchairs you can convert to a tandem, others at least take a buggy board, and others (like the Baby jogger GT) won't do anything.

ButtMuncher · 20/08/2017 20:37

I have a Silver Cross Pioneer. A poster upthread mentioned what I find annoying about it - its bulky, and you have to take it apart to put into a car. We very quickly stopped using the carrycot because it was quite small and my son grew quickly (I think he was about 3/4 months).

We got it because the price was good and under a lot of the other similar travel systems, and it also has rotating wheels - I couldn't stand the static wheels and wanted something that moved quite freely. I got the Pioneer instead of the slightly cheaper (but similar) Wayfarer because I don't drive and do/did a lot of walking in the early days and was off and on buses. There is also ample storage room below.

We're now looking at next stage buggy but I hope some of that helps - I know we could easily get another year out of the SC but it's so bulky that I'm looking to streamline it a bit!

donajimena · 20/08/2017 20:41

It was many moons ago that I bought my first pram but I was advised not to go OTT on the first one (travel system carry cot etc) as I would be changing it for an umbrella stroller as soon as possible. Sure enough I did. However its a really exciting time so choose something that you love!
I'm really glad I didn't break the bank though.

donajimena · 20/08/2017 20:43

Also the main thing for me was the storage under the pram. I had a Graco. You could have fit a suitcase in that!

Jfw82 · 20/08/2017 20:55

Also have a pioneer. Yes big in the boot but very sturdy and great size basket so can take lots of food shopping (and I do everything on foot whilst on mat leave!)
I do have the corresponding car seat and when little v handy to move onto wheels (or off) without needing to wake baby.

Mum2oneds · 20/08/2017 20:58

I'm only 11 weeks and have chosen. Walked into a mothercare and saw the Silver Cross Wayfarer. Showed Dp. He like it but prefer the Silver Cross Pioneer. Which is more expensive. However luckily my mum is buying ours.
I did see a secondhand one on Facebook however my dp has issues with second hand stuff. I dont know why as when ttc he said he didn't mind. Now he's adamant no second hand. Unless from someone we know.?

travis45 · 20/08/2017 21:00

We went for icandy, it felt sturdy and we liked the look of it.

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