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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Looking for a pram that is suitable from birth

44 replies

wondering7777 · 21/02/2020 12:08

I’m hoping to buy a lightweight pram (I use public transport a lot) that is suitable from birth onwards as I don’t want to buy two. I’m keen to buy from John Lewis as they have a good deal on at the moment where if you spend over £500 in one go, you get a £100 gift card.

However, most of the prams seem to be suitable for babies aged six months plus.

Do I need a pram at all from 0-6 months or can I just use a sling?

The amount of options out there is completely overwhelming!

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Original poster

wondering7777 · 21/02/2020 12:09

Oh, and should I buy a car seat separately or get one that’s part of the pram, like a travel system?

OP posts:

ShivD · 21/02/2020 12:10

Babyzen yo-yo 0+ or a bugaboo bee?

ChachiChichi · 21/02/2020 12:12

We bought the icandy peach, it comes with a bassinet (that we also used as a travel cot and for daytime downstairs naps) which we used for 0-6 months then it converted to an upright pram for 6 months and beyond.

blackpinkinyourarea · 21/02/2020 12:13

Following as i am also entering the minefield of pram research! I have read its better to buy a car seat separately rather than one thats part of a travel system but not entirely sure why :/

PooWillyBumBum · 21/02/2020 12:15

I had a Bugaboo Bee with DD. So light and easy to manoeuvre. Would really recommend.

frazzledasarock · 21/02/2020 12:15

I bought my car seat as part of the travel system so I could click the car seat on to the pushchair frame.

I couldn’t personally use a sling in the first months after having DC as I had severe pelvic pain and it took a long time and a lot of treatment to heal.

I got a silver cross reflex for mine with newborn kit. It means that as mine grow I didn’t need to swap for a stroller. However I do still meticulously plan tube journeys and try and use stations with step free access.

RhymingRabbit3 · 21/02/2020 12:16

If you get a travel system you can use the car seat on the wheels as a pushchair for the first few months and then use it as a normal pushchair after that. Most travel systems can be use from birth in this way.

You dont have to wait until 6 months to use a pushchair with an upright seat, most of them have some sort of recline function so although they might not be completely flat they're reclined enough for a baby to sit in without falling forwards. We used ours in chair mode from about 4 months.

The cosatto wish has a function whereby the seat can be converted from a carry cot to a seat with a few clips, so no need to buy a separate carry cot. This was really handy but I dont know if they make them any more.

Iliketonamechangealot9876542 · 21/02/2020 12:18

How about these?

www.johnlewis.com/bugaboo-bee-5-classic-pushchair-grey-melange-black/p3633610
www.johnlewis.com/joolz-hub-pushchair-brilliant-black/p4439035

For a newborn you can always buy a new born insert for them too www.johnlewis.com/4moms-newborn-reversible-insert-grey/p3349102 for extra comfort for baby

sar302 · 21/02/2020 12:20

We had a Bugaboo bee. Bought the cocoon as opposed to the travel cot. He was flat in the cocoon for about 4 months which saw is through winter, and then went to lying right back in the pushchair.

Iliketonamechangealot9876542 · 21/02/2020 12:20

I’d get a sling as well, there are times you will be out and you won’t want to be holding baby in a sling ], clothes shopping 🙈- trying things on - nowhere to put baby - shopping in general as they can get in the way.

Have lunch out or coffee yes you would get baby out of pram but it’s comfier not to hold them whilst drinking a brew!

AgentCooper · 21/02/2020 12:23

It’s really overwhelming, isn’t it?!

To be honest, I don’t know what sort of lightweight prams do from birth but hopefully someone with some ideas will be along. We bought the huge, clunky Silver Cross Wave which was fine for the lying down in bassinet and then sitting up but reclining days but I’ve barely used it for the past year or so (DS is now 2.5). It was so heavy and big that getting it on buses (I don’t drive) was a real pain. DS actually hasn’t really fitted in it for a good while as he has long legs and they’ve been swinging out for ages. So he’s mostly been in the lightweight Silver Cross POP, which is a pushchair as opposed to a pram and therefore no good for a newborn. My thoughts would be get something with the bassinet and upright settings but possibly be prepared to change to a lightweight pushchair as time goes on (and therefore don’t spend an absolute fortune on the first one).

With regard to car seats, I wish we had used the Joie 360 from birth. It’s brilliant and so much easier to use than a static car seat (it spins). We got a Silver Cross one with our pram but it lasted about 5 months, it was so dinky. It seemed a good idea as it had a handle so unlike the Joie could be carried out of the car and attached to the pram chassis. In retrospect it would have been just as easy to move DS from car seat to pram and carrying a growing baby in a car seat gets pretty hard eventually- my poor mum pulled a muscle!

TLDR: if there is nothing that will do longer term, good quality but not too expensive travel system to start with, followed up by a pushchair (and they’re much cheaper than prams) and a 360 car seat. No experience with a sling here but someone will have! Congrats on the imminent new arrival

Halloweenbabyy · 21/02/2020 12:26

Mee go travel system, very light weight.

Polkadotshot · 21/02/2020 12:29

We've got an uppababy John Lewis sell them comes with pram and buggy. Wheels are wider at back which can be a pain but its so easy to push/ turn if you're a walker too. I use public transport and walking to get everywhere and it fits on bus fine. Had 2 of us squeezed into the buggy bit on the bus yesterday! Its not a small system but it does fit. Its not cheap mind - we got ours second hand. Can get adapters for a car seat to sit on it too. Plus understorage is massive which I think you might need to consider space to carry stuff if you've not got a car to throw stuff in like I haven't.

TildaTurnip · 21/02/2020 12:29

I only used a sling. Much cheaper and easier.

Original poster

wondering7777 · 21/02/2020 12:48

Thanks everyone - I’m liking the sound of the Bugaboo bee as it looks like it’s very lightweight and easy to fold!

Do they last from newborn all the way through to when your child doesn’t need a pushchair any longer?

Also, has anyone bought a Bugaboo turtle car seat to go with the Bee? It looks like they’re compatible!

I was hoping to book an appointment with the nursery department from John Lewis but they’re all booked up this weekend (probably because of this gift card offer!) and I left it to the last minute as always...

OP posts:

Blueroses99 · 21/02/2020 13:18

Going against the grain here but is a lightweight buggy really needed if you use a lot of public transport? On mat leave I walked everywhere and used buses/trains, and I loved having a sturdy buggy rather than a lightweight travel one I have now for DD2.5 which actually feels in danger of tipping and doesn’t manage steps onto buses/kerbs so well.

Also it’s hard to advise on prams/travel systems because each baby and family situation can be so different. I did make use of the car seat attachment to buggy and found it really useful. Some people find they never take the car seat out of the car so not so useful. PP who said the car seat can be used instead of a bassinet is mistaken as guidelines on car seat use limits time to 2 hours and ideally not longer than 30 minutes for newborn. I had a bassinet and then switched to rear facing seat, converted to front facing seat, all on the same chassis. It’s a mamas and papas Ocarro. Not light but easy to fold and masses of basket space

Original poster

wondering7777 · 21/02/2020 18:39

Going against the grain here but is a lightweight buggy really needed if you use a lot of public transport?

Hmm - well I want something I can lift up and down stairs if needed, and that’s easily foldable. I don’t want anything too heavy basically!

Any posters with a Bugaboo Bee - so you find that it’s too lightweight or is it ok? Obviously I want to feel that the baby is really secure!

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Original poster

wondering7777 · 21/02/2020 18:40

do you find

OP posts:

CoolNoMore · 21/02/2020 20:46

I can vouch for the babyzen yoyo - you can fold it up with one hand while holding the baby in the other, which was invaluable. Having said that, as soon as anyone saw me doing this they would offer to help, even in miserable London. There are a few options for carseats that fit on their own brand adapters and then onto the chassis, which is FANTASTIC. Bugaboo Bee looked good too though. Test 'em.

Ktn35 · 21/02/2020 21:30

We went for the icandy raspberry as it's light and so slim (I'm always smug on london buses and tubes!) and can be used from birth with a pod in the seat rather than a carrycot ... It's amazing. She always slept so well in it as the straps hugged her tight. We chose it as it is more sturdy than the yo-yo and you can keep the baby parent facing after 6 months but the yo-yo makes you face them out as soon as you change it to a seat. It also has seat extenders so the baby is much higher up than other babies 😊 x

Ktn35 · 21/02/2020 21:32

We also found the icandy raspberry. Bit lighter and less bulky than the bee. It folds up better for a small hallway 😊 John Lewis have both so go and test 😊

yukka · 21/02/2020 21:45

I have the iCandy peach travel system and the Silvercross Wing lightweight buggy for holidays - I deff wouldn't but a newborn in the silvercross. There's no support at all, the material is like a tent (hence its lightweight). My dd is a small 7 months and just about ok in there now.

Think about what you will really need for the first 6 months. Baby needs to lie flat to nap for safety reasons, and you need to be able to put baby down now and again. Everywhere has lifts these days. You might also need accessories like sun shades etc if you're out and about a lot in the summer. I found it better all round to be able to go out and bring everything I need and go slower/use lifts etc

note current car seat guidelines say not to leave baby in there for more than 30 mins....

DreamingofSunshine · 21/02/2020 21:48

Another recommendation for the yo-yo here. Maxi Cosi car seats go on it with the adapters, very light and easy to use. I live in London and by far the most popular prams are the yo-yo or bugaboo bee.

mynameiscalypso · 21/02/2020 21:54

I have a bugaboo bee - it's great for public transport, folds up small but is also quite robust. We go to parks / places with terrible pavements and it's totally fine. DS sleeps through even the bumpiest of roads! Also, you can just go to JL and they have plenty of staff who will help. You don't need an appointment really (unless you want free cake!)

Jessikka · 21/02/2020 21:57

We bought the Mamas and Papas Ocarro. It has a lie flat option so can be used from day 1 with no need to buy a carry cot to be added on. Though you can if you prefer :)

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