Lets talk about prams! So expensive yet so small...

[HJWT]

So I went to Mothercare with my DM today and thought I would have a look at prams whilst I had my nephew to use as a 'prop' 😁 I tried him in 4 prams Bugaboo Fox, Silver cross Wave, iCandy Peach and M&P Ocarro (they seemed to have the largest seat) he is a small 2 year old and his head was touching the M&P hood and almost touching on the other 3.

My first DD is 93rd Centile and grew out of her iCandy at 10 months so I wanted to get a pram that would last till at least 2 years !! AIBU to say that over £1000 for a pram that will probably last 18 months is an absolute joke 🙄 and does anyone have any suggestions of what I can try? I think the Bugaboo Fox is out best bet at this point. Glad iv got 30 weeks to research 😂

Do not still have the pram from your first DD?

They sell pushchairs from £20, you are looking at expensive ones! Try Argos....

I'm planning on getting this:

Baby Jogger City Mini GT Single Stroller Black www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00G3XR8PS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_wwNICbRSX559C

It's hardly ever mentioned on here for some reason but seems perfect for us and has brilliant reviews.

Don't go blowing massive amounts of money on your first pram, after the first few months of struggling to get it in the car & on buses, chances are you will go out & buy something smaller & lighter. I had a travel system when DS was born, within 3 months I had to go out & get a McLaren buggy because we couldn't get the travel system & all our luggage in the car to go away to our caravan. Go for something it won't break your heart to stuff in the shed or loft when you realise it is too heavy & bulky for every day use.

I bought a pram from eBay (brand new) that my tall 3yo still fits in (just, she has to scrunch a little if I put the hood up).
It was less than £150, is parent and world facing, lightweight, came with cosy toes, rain cover, carry cot, car seat, mosquito net, you name it.
Have a look, there's loads on there, and outs has done more than 2 years, and is still going strong. My only regret is I didn't buy it earlier!

This is why so many parents 'down grade' to an umbrella style pushchair when their baby is 9 months old! You don't 'need' a pram. Baby needs to lay flat and be comfy. You don't need a bulky framed giant thing that cost 100s of pounds.

I didn't ever get an umbrella stroller. I used my bugaboo cameleon with both my children for a total of 5 years so some people do get their money's worth from these types of big prams, I think it's just preference. I much prefer a bigger buggy with a larger seat unit for comfort. I also liked that the bugaboo I could have them facing me, especially when they were having a nap. (A lot of prams do that now) Also I think bigger prams are just more comfy for the child that a stroller if you walk a lot as I did.
It's up to you how much you spend on a pram. I've sold my cameleon as we weren't planning any more babies and have been looking at all kinds of prices buggies. I liked the mamas and papas solar, bugaboo Fox, I candy peach, egg stroller and the silver cross wave.

I swear by the out n about

It fitted my 5 year old in when she was being lazy

I no longer use it

@kgeal3 exactly, I wasn't looking for a load of criticism on my choice of spending money 😬 I like nice prams and I want one that will last a couple of years and was just looking for recommendations.

I have a Steelcraft Elite. It's on the cheaper end of prams, $400AUD when some other

For pram I bought the orb all terrain (180 in mothercare right now because of the closing down sales but I don't know if your one has that?) and the silver cross zest stroller for 60 because of the sale. Both seem quite large and the stroller has the ability to lie flat as well as upright quite easily.

Sorry, typing one handed while breastfeeding and dropped the phone, must have hit post.
Some other mums in my mothers group paid well over $1000 for their prams eg the Redsbaby and Uppababy models.
Mine has a simple push button and pull the strap to close up (it lies flat in the car boot), and you can open it out one handed once you release the clasp.
I looked at all sorts of prams and strollers before DS was born and went with one that was:
a) inexpensive (under $500AUD)
b) easy to fold and unfold
c) lightweight (it's only 9kg)
d) narrow and easy to manouvre around tight shopping centre aisles
e) looked fashionable (a nice linen grey with a leather look handle)
f) had bigger wheels, not those dinky looking tiny plastic ones that rocks would get stuck in.
g) from a reputable brand. Steelcraft have been around so long that my mum had me in a steelcraft pram 30 years ago.

Think about practicalities. You want something long lasting and good quality that you can open out and close up really easily, that is narrow enough to take anywhere. Steelcraft elite and the CitiMiniGT were my top two choices, and then I tried both out in store and found the steelcraft a bit sturdier as it has 4 wheels rather than 3.

I have a bugaboo buffalo. And bugaboo bee and my daughter is 3 and in 4-5 clothes and she's still fits in both of them think baby joggers have biggish seats (iv not had one) also doesn't the fox seat extend did u have it on the biggest setting?

@Mumsy4724 no I didn't realise that which part extents the hood? Xx

Extends 🤪

FWIW (following @coral13 suggestion) over on the Pushchairs topic, the BJCM City Mini and City Mini GT get mentioned all the time, and have done for years. They’re highly rated and a good price too. GT is better for the collapsible handlebar in particular, the regular version has quite a long body otherwise (generally fine but juts out on trains or buses).

I used to spend a lot of time hanging out on the Pushchairs topic

Hey 👋🏻
When I was pregnant with dd a friend said I could have her bugaboo bee. It was 3yrs old at that point but it was in good condition, it came with all the extras, summer shade, umbrella, car seat clips and city holder.
It’s done us well for 4 yrs, I’m a Childminder so it has been used solidly. The suspension has gone a bit and the handles slide down to I have had to tape them 🤦🏻‍♀️
I’m looking to get the babyzen yo-yo one next with the newborn attachment.

@Beforeihit30 thank you so much!!! I didn't realise there was a topic for this stuff. I was getting really paranoid that I never saw it recommended on threads in this one.

There are far too many topics to ever truly navigate MN

In case it’s handy for anyone, link to the Pushchairs topic, some very knowledgeable people on there. Mumsnet also do some helpful reviews.

I’ve got a mammas and papas armadillo flip xt, which I still use most days for my DS who is 2 yrs 4 months. I’m hoping to get at least that out of it for DC2 who is due next month. I personally don’t like the umbrella fold ones though we did buy a cheep one for holiday (only used for holiday currently In the shed!). So I have more than got my money’s worth (got it half price in the M&p sale so it was ‘only’ £350! Worth every penny to me!

We have the Bugaboo bee 5. My daughter's 20 months and over the 91sr percentile for height and there's loads of room. It will definitely last her until she doesn't need a pram.

We have a Mountain Buggy Swift. The seat isn't too big but I wasn't too big and neither was DH. I wanted something tough, small and lightweight. And something that didn't get a lot of attention. I love it and can't wait to use it. I suspect baby will outgrow it at or before 2 years old but I'm not convinced baby would want to stay in it for that long anyway.

@HJWT - I have the Bugaboo Fox. It was expensive and we were criticised for our purchase but I love it. I walk most days so have got my money's worth. My DD is so comfortable in it. She is 7 months old now and still has loads of room in it (she's 98th centile for length). The carrycot was the biggest I've seen but DD moved to the seat unit as 4.5 months as she wanted to see what was going on.

The only downside is that it's not great for public transport as the back wheels are very slightly wider than some aisles. I also wouldn't be able to fold it and hold DD. If I'm not walking I'm in the car though so it's not a problem - it folds small so will fit in cars quite easily.

We have bought a stroller for holidays. I also thought I'd use it for day-trips on public transport but I love the bugaboo so much (so easy to push and fits so much in the basket) that I'm not sure I will. It's definitely the lightest of the travel system type pushchairs - something worth considering if you walk a lot.

As much as I love it, I don't think it would be worth the money if it won't be used much. Friends who wanted a cheaper but similar option have gone for the mothercare journey or Cosatto systems and seem really happy with them.

voxnihili does the seat extend on the fox I'm sure I seen it when it was first coming out that it did but I can't find anything that says it does now lol

@Mumsy4724 - I don't think it does. I can't see anywhere where it could extend. It's pretty roomy though.