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Original poster

Arg, prams are so confusing, please help!

28 replies

NikNakF · 24/02/2008 16:13

Hi guys,

Just started looking at prams and really confused - we need something from birth to three or five years, safe, with travel system option also.

DH likes the style of a Quinny or P&T but we have no real idea what is good.

It'll mainly be used for travel around town (I plan to get a sling too) and needs to be compatible with the boot of a fairly small 5-door car.

Any ideas? What's the 'best'?

Thanks,

Nik aka V Confused

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lennygrrl · 24/02/2008 16:23

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ThePFJ · 24/02/2008 16:29

I got the most expensive Graco travel system I could afford. I found it a bit difficult to fold it up but apart from that I really love it. You might want to decide if you want one of those pram/systems that options the baby/toddler facing you (as you push it) as well as the normal facing the pavement option. The ones that offer that are normally a bit more expensive. My Graco pram (black and silver) cost me about 120 pounds, which I thought was a good price. Plus Graco are supposedly one of the best at making car seats. (Theres one in the travel system)

But I would think if you have lots more cash to spare then there are loads of really REALLY EXTRA nice prams/systems out there too.

How much do you want to spend? Let us know, as this really does affect your choice.
Good luck.
xxx

hatrick · 24/02/2008 16:31

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MrsBadger · 24/02/2008 16:39

don't bother with travel system - better to get a seperate carseat that fits your car properly, and if it happens to fit the chassis of your choice that's a bonus.

My MX3 goes in the boot of the Saxo (not much room for anything else though)

cosima · 24/02/2008 16:40

My new baby loves his mountain buggy, he falls asleep instantly. Travel system is not necessary, even though we live in london, cos even if he wakes up when you get him out of the car seat, he goes straight back to sleep when you put him in the pram. I have read some bad reviews of quinny's and must admit seen a few people out and about with them cursing them for sticking wheels, broken and can't put up put down etc. Read all the reviews ansd try them all out. I was totally sold on a bugaboo even though I thought they were chavvy, then I tried one out and was in tears after 40 mins ofd trying to put it down. I think p and t looks good.

hatrick · 24/02/2008 16:44

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littlebeezz · 24/02/2008 16:59

we've had 2 weekends of pram shopping and its a minefield! The one we liked was the i candy cherry (cheesy name!). It comes with a car seat and carry cot. The main frame can be laid flat, facing towards or away from you, it goes from 0-3yrs, its compact, light, washable and for someone with a bad back very very easy to put to and take down.
hope this helps

pigleychez · 24/02/2008 17:29

Hi NikNak,

As a fellow first timer i understand the nightmare that is pram shopping! DH and I have spent many a weekend looking at loadsa different prams and still coming away completely confused!

After chatting to some already mummy friends they told me what they wish they had on thier buggies, things that we good etc.
From this I learn that things to look for are :
*-Carrycot,seat that lays flat or changes from pram to seat. Best for babies to lay flat rather than scrunched up in car seats for long periods.
*-Seat that can be reaward or forward facing - ie looking at you when you push or facing the pavement.
*-Travel systems are useful but not essential.

From this we have bought this one:
www.cosatto.com/products.asp?pid=108&catid=1&subcatid=107 here
Its in Mothercare for £499 but can be bought cheaper on ebay- We got ours for £350.

Babys not here yet so cant say what its like to use but gets good reviews.

My friend got bought the silvercross 3d which she says is ok although very heavy.But now her LO has outgrown the pram mode and faces the pavement, she doesnt like it. she has just been and bought another £250 pram that does face towards you.

I really understand where your coming from and hope i may have helped in some way.

cass66 · 24/02/2008 17:46

Hi niknak. we have a mamas and papas one, a chassis onto which fits a car seat or a pram that totally reclines for baby mode, then sits up into a push chair, either front or back facing when bigger. has done my 2 babies and will do a third.

M and P seem a bit old fashioned now (bought it 6 yrs ago!) in this era of quinnys, bugaboo and P and T, but it suits me fine. bought a cheap mothercare one for travel etc, as the m and p is a bit big for a boot with other things as well.

went to one shop, found one I liked and bought it. didn't have the time or energy (or internet access!) to trawl round lots of shops!!

babylove21 · 24/02/2008 20:49

Does anyone have a silvercross linear freeway ?? I quite like it but dont know if it would be as good as i imagine.

Original poster
NikNakF · 25/02/2008 10:13

Hi guys,

Thank you so much. I really need to just look at them a bit more. Reassuring that travel system isn't strictly necessary!

I'll let you know what I go for!

OP posts:
izzybiz · 25/02/2008 10:45

Im probably going to get the Micralite Toro.
I had the fast fold for Dd and its the most fantastic buggy. Looks weird but can be folded one handed, and stands alone once folded, can be pushed one handed, it can be used with a carrycot and the Maxi cosi car seat.

Definately worth a look!.

julesmb · 25/02/2008 12:26

Hiya,

we've just bought a second hand P+T for £50, its pretty tatty but we figured it'd do the job for a while and then we can always get something new in 6 months when we have more experience and don't need the lie flat option anymore..
Ebay's a good place to look - i know its not ideal but they are so expensive and its not something I'm precious about!!
Plus dd isn't going to care I shouldnt imagine...
I'm with you though - its really confusing!
good luck

katewilson13 · 25/02/2008 13:04

My top tips - get one that faces you for the first 6-9 months. And then a Maclaren for after that. And think about what you do most. I use the bus a lot - so couldn't have a 3 wheeler as they are just too big. Will you be doing a lot of walking? Driving in the car? Camping? But whoever posted about needing 2 is right, 1 for the first 6-9 months and then something for after that. Personally I don't like travel systems - baby can spend too long in a slightly bent position (rather than lying flat) and I didn't have any problem in leaving a car seat in the car and taking baby out and putting him in a pushchair. But it really is horses for courses - each family is different!

Yankunian · 25/02/2008 13:11

I feel your pain. Just went through this meself as babe is coming in may and almost went out of my mind researching and testing prams. Was initially interested in Bugaboo, Quinny and Mamas and Papas Plikko, but in the end we went for the Maclaren Techno XLR and are very happy with our decision (though, of course, no baby yet!)

My concerns were that the pram be reasonably lightweight and fold up compactly, be easy to put up and down and good on public transport but still suitable for a newborn - the Maclaren fulfilled all these criteria. Also, it is a pram you can really use until the kid is walking, which was a big sell for us as we didn't want to have to buy two. I heard good things about their customer service from other mums, and at under £200 the price is very reasonable... we were just not going to spend £600+ on a pram.

I hope this helps!

trixymalixy · 25/02/2008 13:30

I have a micralite toro and it is fab.

JFly · 25/02/2008 17:09

So glad to hear you like the Toro trixy. We've bought one and now just waiting for LO. Love that it stands up on its wheels and is streamlined, easy to fold and not super heavy. Good alternative to bugaboo IMO.

trixymalixy · 25/02/2008 18:17

IMO the toro is miles better than the bugaboo because it folds in one piece, doesn't take up too much room in the boot and I've yet to see someone else with one!!!

hatrick · 25/02/2008 18:24

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trixymalixy · 25/02/2008 18:37

You're absolutely right hatrick (your DDs are gorgeous btw). I am terrible for going for something that looks better rather than for the thing that does the job best, but in this case it does both.

I am about to buy a techno for my Mum as she has been struggling with my cousins monster travel system when she looks after DS as they are the sensible option IMO.

hatrick · 25/02/2008 18:40

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beckmo · 26/02/2008 18:30

Everyone told me to get a Maclaren Techno when I was preggars. I didn't listen and got a bugaboo gecko because I wanted a pram and for it to be forward and backward facing. 3 months in and she refused to lie in the pram. 6 months on she refused to face me. 9 months on and I'm buying a Maclaren Techno!Could have saved myself alot of cash just getting one in the first place.Especially if I had got a Techno XLR...they are the business.

lennygrrl · 27/02/2008 14:00

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PrePG · 27/02/2008 18:07

babylove I'm also wondering about the Silvercross Linear Freeway. Anyone have any info?

moaningminnie2020 · 27/02/2008 19:54

I have the Silvercross Linear freeway - excellent for newborn as it's a proper carrycot and can be used for overnight sleeping with the stand, no need for moses basket. Not that DD actually did much sleeping overnight [worn out emoticon]

Got the matching carseat which clips onto the chassis, fab carseat, DD nearly 1 and still fits in it comfortably, she is weeny though.

And can be used forward facing or parent facing as a pushchair. But... when she was 5mo I bought a Maclaren Techno and have never used the Silvercross in pushchair mode because its much more compact - I can fit the shopping AND the pushchair in the boot with the Maclaren.

Got my silvercross from Glasgow pram centre, good price but had to get the carseat from Kiddicare as the pram centre didn't have it in the matching colour.