best buggy for country walking with dogs???

[niki1]

hi there, would love to know if anyone has managed to find a pushchair for a newborn that truly is all terrain, as i would like to keep myself sane by still having my nice countryside walks with my dogs after baby has arrived? so far i am wondering about mountain buggy which seema expensive for what it includes,or mothercares urban detour which i worry might not be that good off road?

Get a sling. No buggy can beat two legs and two free hands.

Lots of different types - wrap is my favourite, especially for a newborn.

ditto

i like the look of the mothercare urban detour quantum but don't know if it would be any good off road.

Keep an eye on ebay, I managed to get a Mountain Buggy Terrain with carrycot for £50

youwant on with the large rubber like tyres and suspension and swivel/lockable wheels. something like a phil and teds sport. i have a bebecar and have had no probs with the dogs.
look up all terrain buggies on net.
hth

I have an out n' about nipper and its fab. Lasted with my two ds's and many walks in the countryside. When they were tiny though I used a baby bjorn front pouch which was easier. Then as soon as they were too heavy went to the nipper. I would definitely recommend it.

I know a couple of people with the out-n-about, one twin, one single, and they're both very happy (and go around the country).

I've a friend with a MC Urban Detour (can't remember which) and it does OK cross country, but doesn't look the easiest. There have also been a few quality issues (they've had a complete replacement once and had it sent away for repair at least once) - although she's very happy with it and would buy it again.

I'm a sling girl as well, though - DD now nearly 16 months and about 24 pounds and I'll still cart her around over stiles, etc, with no worries Have a look at www.slingmeet.co.uk and www.thebabywearer.com.

I have two labradors and so need to get out walking a lot. I would suggest a sling when your DC is tiny, then get an Urban Detour. Secondhand on ebay they go for about £50, so good value, and if it doesn't suit you then you haven't spent a fortune.

I'm on my second Urban Detour now (first one was very much second hand!) and have taken them everywhere - beaches, woods, tracks, streams. They are excellent for dog walking as they can be pushed and steered with only one hand, leaving one hand free for leads.

I have a Mamas and Papas 03 sport and is fab! Has a huge seat for bigger kids too.
Has a lockable front wheel, all round suspension and a mahoosive hood and raincover!

i had an xts twister it was great.light,easy to steer one handed,looked very comfy.it was the older style ones.

We used MB urban from 3wks - sling occasionally, but ds quite heavy, and not good for long dog walks.

MB will happily go through foot high water/mud (OK, it sometimes feels as though you're ploughing, but it comes out fine the other side, just good exercise). It goes over everything. It will go through foot high rye grass.

No brakes to get stuck up with mud/grass - wrist strap for steep hills.

Ds in normal buggy from 3wks - no carrycot fitting, and never used car seat add on either (couldn't see the point - not meant to leave baby in seat for too long so time out walking restricted). Just need good winter clothes and or cosy toes for cooler walks.

Only problems we had over 2.5yrs use - 2 punctures and once lost the bearing that held the back wheel spindle (packed flat for holiday packing).

We got the urban so that we didn't have to push the handle down to change direction - but still could put front wheel fixed for very rough terrain (rarely used this evening though we went properly off-road quite a bit). Turns on a 6p and could push (and steer) with one finger.

Ds found it too smooth in MB if we went on the pavement and had to go up and down the verges to make it OK for him to go to sleep

We never got a stroller so MB was used full-time and until ds decided that a bicycle was a preferable form of transport.

We're keeping it, just in case we ever manage to have a 2nd dc!

bethoo have you got the bebecar racer_

ONLYAPHASE- thanks for that i am exactly the same, we have a springer spaniel and a labrador and they need a good long walk every day.(i secretly love it too)! and im hoping the new arrival will enjoy the nice fresh air.
MISTLETHRUSH-thanks for the post,thats interesting you didnt need the stroller part as they are a really expensive extra i didnt know there were any other versions of the mountain buggy though except urban? have you found a different model?
LADIES , may i also ask how old does the baby have to be before using a sling type thing? alot of you have said this also is very good and id like to try one.is there an upper or lower age guide?

Babies can go in a sling from birth but best to get one of the wrap around ones IMO. Wher they lie snuggled up to you rather than being suspended IYKWIM.

My friend has one of these and loves it

My friend has one of these and loves it

Oops sorry for double posts

out n about nipper 360, its an amazing buggy, goes over all terrain.

Very light (lighter than a maclaren!!) Full recline for newborn. Full suspension.....the list is endless, and all positive. I know 5 people with it (including self), all walkers...beaches/hills/dirt tracks and it comes up trumps on every occasion.

My sister bought a phil and ted, and its not a patch on the out n about (plus phil and ted is twice a heavy)...happy shopping

the best sort of sling to get from birth is a wrap around woven one like this. www.littlepossums.co.uk/slings/wrap-slings.htm#hoppediz

Mountain buggy and out n abouts are great, fixed wheels are better than swivel or each little bump you'll be going all over the friggin place

Nippers are brilliant - we have a double for our twins and i'm thinking of getting a single for our new arrival later this year.

I found walking with slings hard if doing lots of uphills. The weight of the baby on my front hurt my back as I felt pulled forward if I was leaning forward into the hill. Pram I found easier as I could lean into it if that makes any sense!

I've got a jane powertrack one for walking with our pooch. I totally love it, bought it off ebay for a steal.

I'm on the second DC that has had a 3 miles walk every day, I agree it's great for them and also for your mental health! Have to admit I'm a total babysling fan, as it leaves your hands free and they sleep so well too... better for stiles and gates as well. You'll be amazed how inaccessible your fave country walks suddenly become, with barriers you never noticed before! I have a backpack too for when they're older as we do a fair amount of walking in the Lakes and no buggy is going to cope with that kind of terrain! For walking on the beach and fields closer to home I have a micralite (contraversial, some people hate them) but I love mine, with the off road front wheels. It is so incredibly light I can carry it over my shoulder if DS feels like walking, I can even lift it over stiles with no problem. It is truly one hand steerable, in case we take a detour on the road and need the dogs on leads. Also it folds down so tiny it slings behind the rear seats in the car leaving the boot for the muddy dogs...I think they are only OK from 6 months though.

MB all the way!

sling can get sore after a while imo, and if you have a dog that pulls on the lead like mine you feel a bit unbalanced sometimes (i do use a sling for shorter walks though)

also if lo falls asleep during walk you can just leave them sleeping in a pram

oh thanks for all the great info.its also really nice to know that people like myself still go out in the country walking dogs etc as when looking at a buggy in mothercare i was asked by the assistant why i would care if it was all terrain as i would never have the time to leave the house for the first 6 months! what a horrible thought for me (and my dogs!!!!)why do people assume we will all sit in the house and our life will end for 6 months!!!im 32 weeks and still thoroughly enjoy a good 3/4 mile walk every day!