Prams, buggies, travel systems 🤯

[Margo34]

I have no idea where to start.

In lockdown, when you can't go and visit a store to see/push/try anything, and you're a FTM without a clue what you'll need or want, how do you decide what to get and where to get it from and when?! I don't want to get one too soon, or too late if it takes months to process an order and deliver!

And.....the prices!! Oh my.

Help!!

I can imagine this would be a nightmare. Luckily, I’m expecting DC2 so already have all the big stuff.

We have the Uppababy Cruz travel system (bought in 2013) and love it. We bought the Maxicosi Pebble car seat and adapters which worked perfectly with the travel system. All bought from John Lewis.

What sort of lifestyle do you have? Big car? Storage space to put it (we leave in car). Do you use bus regularly? Flat smooth pavement use or walk the dogs off road?

Yeah they are mad prices.

I think first and foremost - think about what your lifestyle needs out of a pushchair.

Do you walk in the woods or the town's more? Do you use car/bus/tube/taxis/walk most? Do you have level access into your home or a flight of stairs etc?

This will narrow down the list. There will be best types for your lifestyle.

Then decide what you are prepared to pay and whether you will buy second hand. This will narrow it further.

One other to think about is your hight, we needed something with a very adjustable handle because I’m 5’2 and dh is 6’

Haha as a FTM it's overwhelming enough without lockdown!

If it's any help we've got the following
Maxi cosy pebble pro car seat
Silver Cross pioneer monmarque from John Lewis (it was a special edition from there)

Don't know how they are to use yet as we are waiting for little one to arrive!

A few things to hopefully help you narrow it down...

Do you want a big basket? What terrain? (City/country/towns) Potential to extend to a double? Where will you store it, is size and issue? Car boot size etc

I found watching youtube videos of reviews helped massively.

We decided on the Uppababy Vista, with the Uppababy Mesa car seat.
No need for adapters etc.

Pram is incredibly easy to use (much more so than 2nd choice bugaboo) Hubby loves it too. And as a bonus, the bassinet is approved for overnight sleeping

Should add:

We bought the Uppababy Cruz because it fitted our needs and had great reviews. It was a ‘city’ model so slightly smaller than the Vista version of the same system. We don’t do off-roading so didn’t need big, chunky wheels. The basket underneath was a great size (the Vista had a bar across it which split the basket in two so the space was restricted). I’m quite short and DH is significantly taller than me. We were both able to push it comfortably. It came in a range of colours but we chose black because it would be less likely to show dirt.

Yep, what they all said!
first you need to figure out your main usage.

So for example I live in London, don't have a car and (in life before covid19) usually ride the bus and tube around. We don't really go away much and I wanted something that was light and simple to fold. I also wanted a carrycot attachment (which was kinda unnecessary in the end) and the ability to face the chair either way. So we ended up buying a bugaboo bee5 which we've been really happy with. This was 2.5 yrs ago so I'm sure there's other options now.

My sister though lives in a town and drives a lot so wanted something more rugged and stable that had loads of storage and gizmos, that her car seat could click in to. She bought a travel system and is equally happy with hers.

Also I used the sling a lot which was much easier for London living as you don't have as many issues on the bus etc.

I'm in the same position. I had twins 15 years ago and buggies have moved on a lot since then, plus I was restricted to double buggies so missed out on travel systems.

I have no clue what I need. I like the look of the Bugaboo Fox 2 and the Uppababy Vista/Cruz but that's purely cosmetic. Do you need the car seat attachment option?

I remember with my twins that I regretted the pram I bought and ended up going through 4 others before settling on one for the long-term that was much lighter.

I'm a FTM too and agree it's a minefield! I was lucky I got to visit a few shops and try a few out and ended up buying just a day or 2 before lockdown.

I second the advice to really think about how you will use it, what your personal needs are.....will you be in and out of a car a lot? will you be walking on different terrains? will you be using public transport regularly? do you live in a city or countryside? etc etc. It makes a difference.

For example, I don't have a car so will be mostly walking so decided against a full travel system. Instead I will buy a car seat separately for occasional use which can easily go in and out of different vehicles. Attaching it to the puschair frame isn't important to me and I doubt I will ever need to do that, but if I did, you can buy adapters to allow most car seats to attach to most pushchair chassis.

Because I walk a lot, I knew I wanted a carrycot and not just a lie flat pushchair. They're bulkier and heavier as the frame won't fold down as small but, as i'm not going to be in and out of cars or on public transport everyday, that was less important to me.

For me personally, It was more important that it was sturdy and substantial with good quality wheels suitable for walking on different terrains and, as I'm quite tall, adjustable handlebars/a higher chassis were a must too.

I went for a Joolz Day 3 in the end and I love it.

If you find one you like but are put off by the price, you could consider a good quality second hand one. I bought second hand but it was under a year old and was in immaculate condition.

Happy pram hunting!

I have no clue what I need. I like the look of the Bugaboo Fox 2 and the Uppababy Vista/Cruz but that's purely cosmetic. Do you need the car seat attachment option?

Can’t recommend the Uppababy Cruz enough! I loved it.

In terms of car seats, that will depend. Do you do lots of car journeys? I drive to the supermarket/town centre because my town has rubbish public transport. However, babies shouldn’t be in car seats for any longer than necessary (2 hours absolute max was the limit when DD was tiny) so should be moved to a carry cot/pram to avoid damage to their bodies or suffocation. Having the adapters is great for quick trips into a shop but can encourage leisurely shopping with a baby in a car seat.

Will use the car loads but the advice about not leaving them in car seats long make me think it's not worth it.

Any that has an Uppababy Cruz or Vista - what car do you have?

We have ages to decide on what to go for but liking these at the moment, just unsure about fitting it in the boot!

@LexiM I have the Uppababy Vista and have an Audi A4 estate. Fits perfectly in my boot with the bassinet/chassis side by side.

When DS (now 5 months) was first born I had an Audi A3 (hatchback) and it fit in the boot but I had to put the bassinet on top of the chassis. I also had to take a wheel off (they pop off easily with one hand).

Changed my car when he was 8 weeks old - not solely for the boot but wanted an upgrade. Also planning no.2 relatively soon and think I'll value the extra space!

I love mine. Happy to help with any questions

I am FTM too. I've got a little car but live in a village with rubbish public transport so I will be using my car a lot. I looked at uppababy, iCandy and Bugaboo but they all wouldn't fit in the boot of my car, particularly with the carrycot. I didn't want the seat bit floating around in the car. I looked at oysters and mama&papa's buggies as they fold up very small. I ended up getting an ocarro from mama's &papas. Not had the baby yet so not sure how it will work but fits with my car, has big wheels for off road and can be put down with one hand.
It is so hard when you can't try them out. I was lucky to get it all just before lockdown. Good luck xx

I'm FTM too and I've spent so much time the past week looking into which Pram would be best for my Citroen C1 boot and can't say I'm any closer to deciding 🤯

Wow, OK, lots of advice and also so so glad I'm not the only one feeling overwhelmed by all the options! There are just so many choices out there it just blows my mind!

We live in a city in small mid-terrace, so storage will be massive issue. DH and I will be car sharing between us, car isn't big though so again I guess storage issues! I'll be doing food shopping when I have the car (DH works from home couple days a week).

What's the difference between a carrycot and a lie flat pushchair?! In my naivety I'd assumed a carrycot was a car seat by another name.

How far before baby due date did you get/order your prams/buggies?

We live 10min drive from country and regular go for countryside walks, maybe not so practical with a pram/buggy or tiny baby though?!

Also - thanks so much for responding and your advice!

I'd recommend the Mamas and Papas Armadillo Flip XT. I don't have one (I should add) but my knowledge of it would be that it meets the requirement you have.

It has an easy one hand fold to a small unit which can be stowed in small boots and cupboards. With the seat on. The seat lays flat, in either direction, and has a massive hood for naps. It is compatible with a carseat and carrycot should you use either.

Pressed send too soon. It also has tyre wheels ideal for long walks. The wheels don't need to be removed for it to go into the boot but they can be if you want more space.

@dottydally thanks for your advice.

@Margo34 that’s the problem I have in deciding, we don’t 100% know what we are going to use the pram for. For example we live in the suburbs, generally use the car day to day to go out so definitely needs to fit in there and we will walk to town too. However we might want to use it for walks in the countryside too - I don’t really know until the baby is here! I feel like we should get all all rounder just in case.

The carry cot is attached to the pushchair frame, like this - www.johnlewis.com/uppababy-vista-pushchair-and-carrycot-bryce/p4195316?sku=238156119&s_ppc=2dx92700051922982379&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6_Glvsnl6AIVme3tCh3IsA1oEAQYAiABEgKMwPD_BwE

And then you would change to the pushchair one from around 6 months old. Some pushchairs come with a lie down system suitable from birth, although I haven’t seen tonnes like that and I’ve heard with them you have to strap the baby in.

The car seat that attaches to the pushchair frame but isn’t a carrycot, it’s a different item.

We have an uppa baby vista (2015) and I love it! Dc1 is now 3.5 so not using at the mo but expecting dc2 and looking forward to using it again! It's solid, sturdy and a dream to push. Oh, and the giant basket shouldn't be ignored, so so handy! When we looked at them we went to John Lewis and took some out to the car park and the vista folded and fitted easily in the boot of the 5-door Mini I had at the time. Took up less space when folded than the Cruz and the I candy we looked at too.

@NoNameIdeas hi, I live in London and want a pram fairly light to carry on tubes or go on bus etc. I am considering the Uppa Baby vista as I am very tall and have heard that the handle bars go very high? Is this true? Would you consider it fairly light or is it more bulky? Many thanks -sorry to jump in on the convo!

@mouse1234567
We live in the middle of nowhere so can't say about what it's like on public transport etc but I find it really light and easy to push around town when we go shopping etc. It is bigger than others so not always easy getting through narrow doors but never had any problems with it.