Pram choice - Head or heart?

[redlou123]

I am really struggling to decide between the Silver Cross Reef (in Earth) or the Uppababy Vista V2 (colour undecided). We whittled it down to these 2 as both are all-terrain, the carrycots can be used for overnight sleeping, good storage underneath and seemed fairly easy to fold down (all of which are important to us).

I prefer the look and style of the Reef and before going to the shop to see them in person thought that would definitely be the one we get, however the Vista has additional functionality that it can easily be converted to carry 2 babies/toddlers. We would like to have a second baby but struggled to conceive this baby and have had 4 losses before making it this far (currently 26 weeks) so it may be difficult to have a second.

The Vista seems to be quite well-established and is really highly rated. The Reef is still really new so has limited reviews, although what I can see is very positive. The Vista seems to be more readily available so wouldn’t be an issue to order later, but the Reef has a bit of a wait to get so would need to order ASAP.

I’m really struggling to decide between the two. My head is saying the Vista but my heart is saying the Reef. If we got the Vista, I don’t know if I would always regret not going with my heart and getting the Reef whenever I looked at it, but then if we got the Reef and I did end up pregnant again, would I regret not being sensible and going for the Vista? But then if we got the Vista and I couldn’t have a second baby, would that make it worse? Agghhh!!

Any advice on which you would go for - be sensible and follow your head or after everything we’ve been through to get here, follow your heart and get the one you love?

I would go with the reef. I have a silver cross and absolutely love it, but also going for a pram just because it's easily convertible I think adds a lot of unneeded pressure on yourself. We suffered a loss before my son was born and had always said we would like 2 children, but now he's here he's all we need and we have chosen to not put ourselves through the process of trying again etc xx

Go with your head. Its a pram. You honestly won't care once your child is older. No one lovingly reminisces about their children's pram.

I do 😬

Thanks Dspx. I'm so sorry for your loss. That is a really good point, I guess I don't know how I will actually feel about trying for another until this baby is here safely.

The ability to convert isn't the only reason to consider the Vista, and it does tick pretty much all the boxes for us, but I think the convertibility is the main thing making me think about it. My husband actually prefers it and I admit it does seem slightly easier to fold down, but I'm sure we would get the hang of the Reef. I think deep down I know the Vista offers everything the Reef does and more, I just love the look and style of the Reef. Does that make me really shallow to prefer it based on aesthetics?!

I would go with one which is easier to fold down and get in car etc. In a few years you will not even remember what pram yo had. Also they will probably quickly out grow it (even if they say up to age 4) and you will get a light weight stroller.

I have a Cruz, and have one specific problem with it which may or may not be relevant to you.

DH and I are both tall, (6’2’’ and 5’10’’) and so our baby is tall. At three months she’s nearly outgrown the carry cot, I’d imagine I’ll get another week out of it and then that’s that. Like you, the fact that the carry cot was rated for overnight sleeping was important as we’ve a few weddings to travel to this month, so was intending that she could sleep in it while we’re away. I’ve also used it a lot for day time naps.

So maybe carry cot length could be a deciding factor if you’re likely to have a taller baby?

It also depends how big a gap you want between kids. If your first will be 2.5-3 when baby number two is born then you may find that DC1 refuses to go in the pram and a double buggy is pointless. Does the reef have a buggy board option?

Folding is crucial though, you say you think you'll get the hang of it but I'd go back and try the reef again and really think about whether it is a fold you can do when exhausted and holding a baby.

I don't think you are shallow for caring about aesthetics, but practicality is much more important than looks with a pram in practice.

I had the older version of the uppababy when my daughter was a baby and loved it. Know people that have silver Cross prams and love those
There is a market for second hand prams so you could buy the Reef then need a pram for 2 children later on sell it and buy a different one.

Follow your heart.

I chose my baby's 3 in 1 based on how gorgeous it was and how it ticked every box.

I nearly didn't go with my preferred colour as it was pale which I thought wouldn't stay clean.

Used until he was 2 and it was the best choice ever and I love seeing baby pics of him in it.

I’d go with the Vista. I follow a YouTube channel called The Stroller Workshop, which I highly recommend. It’s hosted by a man who repairs strollers, so has a very good base for how strollers work, what makes them good and what makes them not so good. Also means he’s not trying to sell you a pushchair like the many baby shops which review pushchairs.

He is a big fan of the Uppababy Vista in terms of the child comfort, ease of use and longevity. He’s not reviewed the Silver Cross Reef, but his general views on Silver Cross aren’t too favourable: generally believing that they trade on the their good reputation but their modern pushchairs are underwhelming. Silver Cross have all the fashion and style features, but their pushchairs just aren’t well built enough to justify their price point.

We got the Vista but I desperately wanted one of the brightly coloured Bugaboos. What I loved about it though - apart from the things you've cited - was how high up you can put the pushchair if you use the extenders. Pretty much facing you and it's lovely.

Don't know whether you've seen the research saying how great that is for kids so posting a link. As far as I know, it's the only brand to do it. The next highest is a Stokke one and they're just rubbish.

www.madeformums.com/reviews/forward-or-parent-facing-buggy/

I can’t compare but the VISTA is the best child related item we bought (it’s 6 years old now, still going strong with DC2), I absolutely love it.

Thanks everyone. Lots of think about. I know practicality far outweighs the look and style of them, but as I said, both of these tick all the main boxes in terms of what we are looking for practicality wise. There were others that I did like the look of but ruled out because they didn't quite do what we wanted (eg carrycot not suitable for overnight, harder to fold etc).

I am short and my husband is average height so don't can't imagine we will have a particularly tall baby but you never know. Will have a look at the carrycot sizes.

The folding mechanism on both was fairly easy, they were definitely the top 2 in terms of folding ease of all we tried (and we tried quite a few). Both are designed to be done one handed. The Vista was only slightly easier and to be honest, that could be because we'd already tried a few at that point whereas the Reef was the first one we tried (and was my first ever attempt at folding a pram!).

I might have a closer look at the weights and folded down sizes of them to see if there is much difference there. We have a reasonable size car though with decent boot space so don't think either will too difficult to get in and out.

I know I am probably completely overthinking this, it just seems like a big investment and because it's taken us so long to get to this point, I don't want to get it wrong. Thank you for all your advice.

I would go with your heart!

But I have an Vista. And it's excellent. Covered so many miles over 6 years and is so robust. Recently the frame broke and Uppababy sent a replacement very quickly without issue. The carrycot stage is so short, so don't base your decision on the look or function of either I'd suggest.

I only got a lightweight stroller for flying in planes. Not everyone throws out there prams quickly. I think I had mine for 10 years with two babies, and used it until the youngest went to primary.

It fits in the car so I don't see why you need to use the umbrella fold. We had a maclaren too so it wasn't a cheap stroller. I think it all depends on your situation on where you'll be storing the pushchair, how big is it in your boot etc.

You can use a bugaboo donkey/buffalo hood rods and clamps on the Vista, and a brightly coloured Bugaboo breezy hood

Vista is brilliant! The basket is massive and it's so well made. American company and the customer service is absolutely wonderful, something went wrong with our brake after a few years, so we sent it off to be fixed and they sent it back fully serviced with a new basket and looking great. We bought the 2015 version and it's still going strong!

I will definitely have a look at that, thank you. That is one of my concerns, that the Reef is more style over substance. The limited reviews I have seen of it do seem really positive though and I think they have addressed some of the issues with previous models. That's the difficult thing with it being so new though, the reviews are really limited. Would be really handy if he did a review of the Reef in the next few days!

Absolutely buy the one you like. I chose the most beautiful Egg pram and enjoyed every minute of using it. You will see this pram every day for at least 2 years.

Get the one you love - of you’re anything like me as soon as maternity starts my car keys go away and my walking shoes come out. You are going to be using it a lot. As well as in the house!

I love my pram. Love it. It goes out at least 3 times a day for hours and hours. You have to look at it and use it all day everyday.

If (as you said maybe if) you do find yourself needing another - get a much cheaper lightly used vista and at least you’ve had some time with your dream pram. Also - depending on age gaps buggy boards, scooters and bikes are all wonderful things!

To me, a baby sleeping in a pram was my dream in life. I was so so lucky. I’ve been gifted two from the universe. Both have had different prams anyway as our needs/ situation changed.

Don’t be practical here. You’ll always regret it.

Look into how much it costs to convert into double.

We bought an Egg pram with the intention of converting it to double. When it came to it, the cost of the extra seat and adaptor was £275, once you added on a rain cover and seat liner it was £325!

In the end we brought a second hand double mountain buggy for £100. It only got used for 6 months, before my eldest didn't want to go in the pram anymore. Now that they are 2.5years and a 8 months we use a buggy board on the Egg stroller.

Can't help with the Reef but adore my Vista. It's four years old now on our second child and a complete workhorse. By far the best baby thing we bought.

The Reef wasn't on the market then, but anecdotally all of my friends with silver crosses ditched them ASAP for something lighter but no one with an Uppababy ever did. Around here you never see a toddler in a silver cross. Maybe the Reef is a big improvement though.

I will say we occasionally used the Vista as a double with the carry cot (didn't buy the rumble seat) and it was awful, so so heavy and difficult to steer. We have an out and about side by side that's much better, so I wouldn't choose based on the double.

You can use a Bugaboo canopy on a Vista. Best of both worlds then.

I would definitely choose a Vista over Silvercross.

Have you considered the silvercross wave? That can convert to a double and seems similar to the Reef.

We bought our pram with our first without even a thought of a second coming along so soon. We're now due a 2yr4m age gap and having to fork out another £1k on prams for those just in case or naptimes whilst out moments. If I even thought at the time there could be a chance we'd need a double I'd have definitely made it a priority.

get Second hand! There are some great second hand sales groups on Facebook. People really look after their prams and it’s half the price of new. More money to spend on your maternity leave then