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!!

It helps to assume you will have 2 pushchairs in the end, a pram that faces you & then a stroller once they’re a year old or so.

I had the Cruz which was fab & fit in my 208. Then a baby jogger city mini which again is great but only has a bassinet option as parent facing.

I'm also a FTM looking at this stuff. Does anyone have any knowledge of the nuna mixx? Or nuna pipa next car seat?
Thanks

I've been on the pram prowl every time my DH and I go out for a Gov approved exercise walk, quietly looking for pram owners from a far, brand spotting and observing for ease of practical use! I'm holding back on actually asking owners whether I can try to push any though, feel that may be a step too far (even with antibac wipes in my handbag).
My goodness I must sound like a creepy mad woman! 🙈😂

It helps to assume you will have 2 pushchairs in the end, a pram that faces you & then a stroller once they’re a year old or so.

Unless you get a Bee. Then you don’t need to swap to a stroller as the Bee is already light and easy to fold. (And works great with a buggy board if you have another baby in the next couple of years...) One buggy has seen us through 2 kids, 5 years, oh and I’ve sat in it at the park a fair few times too, it’s very comfy! I do wish it had slightly bigger wheels though, to deal with uneven pavements better.

OP if budget is an issue then look at second hand. Brands like Uppababy and Bugaboo hold up really well.

@Margo34 I go walking everyday, and find myself staring at every pram that goes past 🙈 it’s the lockdown window shopping.

This might be naive of me to think. But is there not a website, where you tick things like; budget, size of boot, typical terrain, travel system, so at the end of it you get a selection that suits your needs?

I live semi-rural, love walks in the woods, put also around the small town. Have a large 4x4 style car, but I have 3/4 steps up to my house, into a small porch. I’m going to be a single mum, so want something that’s easy to use, gets me out, with a travel system so I can easily nip in shops, or settle the baby at friends houses. Starting to explore the minefield...

@DressingGown87 Hi DressingGown, there actually is a new website that does this. It’s fairly new and I discovered it myself the other day. It’s completely free, I completed a questionnaire on the website and then I had a Zoom consultation where they provided me with a list of all my personal recommendations for buggies, car seats, nursery furniture and everything else.

It was so useful especially in this lockdown period and I would highly recommend. Here is the link:

www.bundlebee.co.uk

Good luck

Hello! Stepped foot into a shop today for the first time since March so thought I'd feedback after all the wonderful advice you gave!
We looked at:
Uppababy - they seem huge so we pooh-poohed them pretty quickly.
Bugaboo bee5 and Babyzen Yoyo - both absolutely tiny and felt like they were going to blow away if we sneezed or would snap if we attempted manoueving them up a curb. The seats were also really low to the ground so neither really floated my boat.
Armadillo - lies flat (practically), padded, huge hood, easy fold, light but felt stable and sturdy and didn't take up much space when folded either. This was the winner for us, but only down side we could find is that it doesn't face both ways, presumably the Armadillo Flip does (?) but they didn't have that in stock or online or for pre-ordering.

Before we go for the Armadillo, has anyone used one with a newborn?

Does anyone know about the kindecraft moov brand? Thanks x

Hi @Margo34 I have the flip xt3, is that the same one you’re looking at? If so the seat does face both ways and I used the carrycot for DS when he was newborn and it was great.

This is the one I have

www.mamasandpapas.com/en-gb/flip-xt-kits-dark-navy/p/9456v70

We have the Fox and absolutely love it. We actually live in a flat and it is a dream through the doors and you can handle it with one hand. It also hairpin turns so is great for manoeuvring through/in small spaces.
We walk a lot both on pavements and through the forest and local parks and it is brilliant off road.
I have the 1st fox edition, so I don’t know if the fox2 is different, but it does take up a bit of boot space as it’s in 2 parts.
We have an x1 which has a big boot, and it still takes up around 3/4’s of it.
We love it though and have the ltd edition stellar one which comes with a fab covered basket.
All the best

Really interesting thread. My baby is six months old so I did not have the problem of choosing a pram during lockdown. I found the 'pushchair' topic on here really useful and that helped me choose a Joolz Geo. I am very happy with it, it was brilliant for newborn, I like a proper lie flat carry cot, it's approved for overnight sleeping but we just used it for naps. We now have the pushchair seat on which is really good too and can face either way. We live in a city but it's good on rougher ground. It is not very compact when folded, but manageable. We have used it on the bus. The handle is height adjustable, and the shopping basket is large.

We did not have a car at the time so got a Joie Juva car seat which was also recommended on here. This has been excellent, very easy to fit and transfer between cars. We have the Joolz car seat adapters and will look into a different car seat in a few months.

Good luck choosing the right pram.

@excitednerves hi, no the one we looked at is the Armadillo www.mamasandpapas.com/en-gb/armadillo-folding-pushchair-grape/p/2241ah300.
I think they had to close some factories during lockdown so supply is an issue and now there seems to be even fewer than yesterday 😳

Is the XT3 heavy or cumbersome? We really like the Armadillo but I'm not sure it faces both ways and that's the only thing putting me off! DH is indifferent to facing both ways though but he won't be using it as much.

Ah sorry @Margo34 I got confused somewhere along the way when you mentioned flip and assumed it was the same one with a new name. I haven’t looked at that one so I’m not sure on parent facing.

The xt3 isn’t heavy (I’m sure it’s not as light as some but definitely manageable)

TBH about parent facing, my DS was in the carrycot until 5 months, then we put him parent facing for about another 5 months and now he’s happier world facing. I have friends who only had world facing pushchairs and they were fine. DS probably could have turned round sooner but I liked chatting to him and seeing him 😂

I’ve now got a double buggy as I’m expecting number 2 and I did get one that parent faces but I was much less fussy about it this time round.

@excitednews ah OK that's helpful to know, thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences on parent/world facing! We were hoping to skip the carrycot and just get a lie flat pushchair to use from newborn, mostly for storage purposes (or lack therein) and I'm conscious of wanting to see baby and baby see us! Perhaps that's just more of my need to see baby and want to chat than the other way around... 🙈🤷‍♀️

I will go back and have a look at the flip xt3 as soon as I get a chance!

@margo34

I have the occaro.

It's parent and world facing, not too heavy, folds down really small and the carrycot is large so we used it as our downstairs Moses basket to save me carrying one up and down the stairs all the time.

Look around for deals with your independent shops for M&P - we got the pushchair, carrycot, bag, footmuff, rain cover and car seat adapters for £650 rather than the £1k plus that M&P wanted.

We used "premier baby" who can ship nationwide and we have been back to them multiple times for other bits and bobs as DC has got older.

Is everyone using isofix these days?

Also, does anyone know about sickle bubba moon? TIA

@grumpy19

We use Isofix but only because I wanted to be able to clip the car seat in and out easily.

I know people who don't use isofix ones without any issues - I think it's personal preference

Baby Jogger City Mini GT. Folds compact, large basket great on all terrain. Lie flat but you can also get a bassinet and car seat adapters. Fantastic pram

Has anyone used a venicci. Oh love the love of them, but as first time parents, have no idea if it’s actually any good, or if you’re paying extra just because it looks a bit fancy.