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

Pram suggestions

35 replies

DoubleGins · 25/07/2022 11:32

Does anyone have any pram suggestions?

Leaning towards Icandy peach 7. If anyone has one and could share their thoughts on it that would be great.

First time mum and first of my friends to have babies, so any tips/advice welcome! Happy to invest, just would like it to be worth the cost.

OP posts:
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blueysmumchilli · 25/07/2022 11:41

We had a silver cross wayfarer and it was a great pram, comfy, a good size and decent storage basket. DSis has an oyster 3 and that's a really lovely pram too, it folds up a lot smaller than the silver cross and is more lightweight.

If you can I'd go somewhere and try a few to see what you like, make sure it fits in your boot too if you drive! A friend of mine bought a beautiful pram which was over 1.5k but never thought to check and couldn't fit it in her boot.

ShirleyPhallus · 25/07/2022 11:43

I’d go to mamas and papas and test them all out

then I’d go on to Facebook marketplace and buy one for 1/3rd of the cost!

JenniferBarkley · 25/07/2022 11:54

Adore my Uppababy Vista. Four years and two children in and still going strong, not a single problem.

ReeseWitherfork · 25/07/2022 11:58

Came here to say uppababy vista. Used it for my 3YO and now using it successfully for my baby twins. It’s got a massive basket underneath. Pull out sunshades. Pretty comfy ride on both crappy pavements and off track. Folds up easy. Car seats clip onto it easily. It’s not that heavy. Only problem I’ve ever had with it is that it doesn’t fit through my narrow internal doors, so bringing it in the house is easy enough but it then won’t fit through the kitchen door (but I don’t really need to be able to do that luckily).

Juno231 · 25/07/2022 13:29

I would try them out at a showroom or mamas/papas (ideally one with a track for different surfaces!). What we thought we wanted vs what we ended up getting was completely different once we got to try prams out and realised some felt too heavy, too difficult to turn, had poor suspension on uneven ground etc.

DoubleGins · 25/07/2022 13:53

So many great suggestions and tips, especially about the car!!

I thought mamas and papas only sold their own brand of prams, so will definitely go in and have a look. There aren't many baby shops near me unfortunately. We're very far away from a John Lewis, although may end up taking the trip if it's a good way of trying them out.

I've been watching videos and it's the ease of folding that I found interesting about the Icandy, it just looked quite light and easily foldable. Will have a look at the others mentioned on here too!

OP posts:
RR1992 · 25/07/2022 14:56

We just bought the icandy peach 7 having tried it out in John Lewis and after a trip to mamas & papas to look at other options. We really like that the height of the handle could be adjusted with one hand (such a silly small thing to be swayed by, but there is over 10 inches difference in height between my husband and I so can imagine we will be adjusting this a lot) and it felt like a smooth ride with a huge storage section at the bottom. We were concerned about it being quite bulky, but having put it up it doesn’t feel that big in the hallway and we liked how compact it was when folded down. I’m not due for a for more months though so really can’t speak to the actual usability with kids, but for what we paid it seemed like an ok pram choice that would last us through another kid (5yr guarantee). We also got it on what felt like a good offer with the cybex infant carrier (the car seat we wanted to buy anyway) from Kiddies Kingdom with all the accessories so that was ultimately what pushed us. I did go into John Lewis wanting the Cybex though and having never even look at the icandy as I thought it was a bit naff so def worth trying to see a few prams in person x

wannabeamummysobad · 25/07/2022 16:03

We have a cybex gazelle which I absolutely love.
However, I'm not here to make recommendations- just wanted to say whatever you buy make sure the toddler seat can lie flat completely. I bought the biggest bassinet/carrycot possible (part of the reason we bought the cybex) because we knew we were having a tall DD and at 3 months old can't fit in it anymore. If we'd bought the smaller prams I'd have been so worried about having to transition sooner.

Derbee · 25/07/2022 16:09

I found the icandy felt quite cheap and plasticky, even though it was so expensive. The Bugaboo Fox felt really nice, so we went for that in the end.
I think the sales lady said the bugaboo is lighter than the icandy, for folding and travelling etc.

Ebonyhorse · 25/07/2022 16:11

Love the oyster. Huge basket.

Bellatrix13 · 25/07/2022 16:16

Do you want a pram or a travel system? I have oyster 3, good on rough ground when walking dog through woods. Nice and smooth. But I rarely attach the car seat part (maxi cosi pebble) mainly coz even though I’ve oiled up the adapters like advised, it’s still really stiff to click in place especially with baby in car seat.

do you have which? I used their reviews when looking for prams, was going to get silver cross as everyone always recommended them but apparently their travel system prams are a bit crap compared to their proper big wheeled prams.

Bellatrix13 · 25/07/2022 16:18

Also oyster 3 lies pretty much flat so you can get away with not needing a carrycot part. My ds was probably around 2 months when we started using this pram (we had a John Lewis own travel system at first but it got recalled so we were able to get oyster 3 as an exchange)

bravotango · 25/07/2022 16:25

I like the look of the icandy peach but think we are leaning towards the lime, interested to hear anyone's thoughts (and yours OP!) on that! Following for recommendations

PermanentlyTired03 · 25/07/2022 16:27

I have the icandy lime. I really recommend it. It's lighter and slimmer than the peach I think. In terms of different terrains I've been over bumpy cobbles and grass and it's fine.

Tigerlily08 · 25/07/2022 16:52

I've got the icandy peach 5 - just had my second baby and have converted it into a double (eldest is only 14 months). I absolutely love it! But as previous posters have said, check it'll fit in your boot if you drive. The icandy peach is large (although I don't know if the new models are different sizes to the 5).

GrowBabyGrow · 25/07/2022 18:53

Another for the uppababy vista. I absolutely love it. Definitely second PP's tips of test driving the travel system in a store. I had also thought I wanted an icandy going into store but really hated how it felt to push and manouvere around.

DoubleGins · 25/07/2022 19:11

This is so helpful, thanks!! Some of these I hadn't even looked at. Definitely going to find somewhere that sticks the uppababy to try it.

Can I ask, for those who got a travel system - how much do you take your car seat out of the car and attach to the pram? Or even just take it out of the car to bring in the house etc. I'd like a 360 base, but some of the seats look very bulky that I'm not sure you can actually remove them? I'm sure you must be able to though as I know there are a few that iCandy state is compatible with the peach, including a 360 one, but it looks very small.

Wondering the benefits of going for a travel system and therefore a car seat designed purely for a baby, compared to investing in a car seat that grows with your child, so will last longer. Some seem to say they can do from birth - 12 years!!! Although I'm sure in reality that depends on the size of the child.

I'm probably overthinking this all, but just keen to make wise purchases!

OP posts:
ArcticRoll2 · 25/07/2022 19:15

I have the icandy lime and haven’t had any problems. Seems like a really sturdy pram and DD is comfy in it.

GlobetrottingPercy · 25/07/2022 19:30

I thought that I wanted the icandy peach and went to a specialist baby store to show DH and ended up coming away with something completely different once we had actually tested it!

I had the car seat adapters and to be honest got a lot of use from them. It was so helpful when I was just nipping into a supermarket after driving there for a few bits or putting DS onto the chassis if he was asleep when we reached our destination. We took the car seat out of the car every day for various reasons, either if he was asleep when I got in and I needed to transfer him to the cot or to put him in the car seat and get him comfy and settled before putting him in the car. We have the cybex cloud z which is compatible with the peach and is 360 degree rotation but only lasts until they are a certain length / until they are 2, whichever is quicker.

My friend has the lime and it is much more lightweight than the peach but coped well over fields yesterday on our countryside walk. It also folds up much smaller and has a carry handle so that you can carry it on your back like a rucksack!

Bellatrix13 · 25/07/2022 19:36

DoubleGins · 25/07/2022 19:11

This is so helpful, thanks!! Some of these I hadn't even looked at. Definitely going to find somewhere that sticks the uppababy to try it.

Can I ask, for those who got a travel system - how much do you take your car seat out of the car and attach to the pram? Or even just take it out of the car to bring in the house etc. I'd like a 360 base, but some of the seats look very bulky that I'm not sure you can actually remove them? I'm sure you must be able to though as I know there are a few that iCandy state is compatible with the peach, including a 360 one, but it looks very small.

Wondering the benefits of going for a travel system and therefore a car seat designed purely for a baby, compared to investing in a car seat that grows with your child, so will last longer. Some seem to say they can do from birth - 12 years!!! Although I'm sure in reality that depends on the size of the child.

I'm probably overthinking this all, but just keen to make wise purchases!

We take the car seat out of car into house as sometimes he’s asleep when we get home so I can leave him in seat while I put away shopping/sort dog etc. Though I leave car seat in car and just carry him into baby class or wherever I’ve gone.

I have maxi cosi pebble 360. Tbh he wasn’t in the i size padding very long, my baby isn’t big (not fat but is long) but his head just didn’t seem to fit. So we took it out after about 2 months and he fitted much better…apparently the padding is meant to stay in until about 6 months …

Geranium1984 · 25/07/2022 19:40

We have the bugaboo bee and I have found it OK in the city but as soon as you go on any bumpy path or hint of gravel it is no good. Wheels are too small. My son outgrew it pretty quickly as he is a big lad.

Fupoffyagrasshole · 25/07/2022 19:51

Well depends - do you live in a city or rural? Do you take public transport a lot or drive?? Do you travel much?

DoubleGins · 25/07/2022 19:55

Fupoffyagrasshole · 25/07/2022 19:51

Well depends - do you live in a city or rural? Do you take public transport a lot or drive?? Do you travel much?

I'm in a small town, but family live in rural areas and we'd visit them often. We do go into the closest city to meet friends/shop occasionally.

Yes, I drive. Would use the car more than public transport, however if we're going into the city we'd use the train.

So a mix of everything really!

OP posts:
Orangesare · 25/07/2022 20:04

I didn’t use the car seat at all on the pram with my first but did with my second.

if you are going to have two close together will you need a double or buggy board.
will you switch to a stroller. I love my stroller (silver cross pop) but I’m back to shoving the bloody double round atm (city mini)
I have a silver cross linear freeway which is lovely and very cheap second hand as well.

BertieBotts · 25/07/2022 20:20

If the car seats you are looking at say they are up to approx 15 months (will be somewhere between 75cm and 87cm limit) then it's the kind you can remove and put onto the pram. In baby shop/car seat lingo these are called "infant carriers". There are a few with 360 bases - Britax Babysense / Babysafe 3, Cybex Cloud Z and the newer version of it, Maxi Cosi Coral 360 and Pebble 360. These are all compatible with the same standard adapters that go onto all the popular brands of pram.

But - they are very pricey IMO - the car seats themselves over £200 and the bases around £200. They will tell you this is good value because the base can take a toddler seat, but beware, the toddler seats that fit into these bases cost £300 by themselves, which is on the upper end of the mid range of toddler car seat costs, and most toddler car seats don't need a separate base, they either come with the base attached or they fit using seatbelt without any base at all. All in all the total cost of the systems are over £6-700, which is a lot of money. £400+ if you just buy the baby portion which again is a lot for something that lasts around a year. You can get an infant carrier and base combination for more like £2-300 if you can do without the spinning function. Car seats do not have anywhere near the resale value of prams as people are advised not to buy second hand car seats, so spend the money if it's worth it to you - don't bank on getting any of it back later.

The seats which are 360 spin which say they are up to approx 4 years or older, don't detach to go onto a pram, they are too big/bulky. There is an exception - Recaro have a couple of models, Zero one elite and Salia elite, that have the spin base and a large seat for toddler up to approx 4 years, with a pop out carry piece for baby up to approx 6-12 months depending on how big your baby is. That can be used on a pram but you need an extra adapter to adapt the seat to the standard adapters, which might be a bit of a pain. But next to the cost of the modular sets with 2 seats 1 base, it looks quite reasonable as only costs around £400.

Otherwise if you're looking at seats 0-4 years you'll want to check how it fits in your car and see if the store have a newborn sized doll you can try in the seat. They can be tricky to get a good fit for newborns. If you're not in the car very often this might not be an issue as they soon fit better as they grow. But if you use the car a lot, an infant carrier is likely to be a better choice.

Personally I wouldn't go for the ones that are all in one up to 12 years. They just don't tend to give as much in terms of performance and flexibility as you'd hope. Better to get something tailored for each stage.

As for prams, look at the Stroller Workshop on youtube - these are a Norwegian company who fix pushchairs and they review all kinds of models for longevity and features and the likelihood that they will last you. They seem to really rate the Uppababy :)