pushchair v stroller v pram v my mental breakdown - what do you recommend?

[nickie2]

I've now spent two nights on the trot dreaming about the pros and cons of various different prams/pushchairs, so I could really do with finding out what you recommend and to just get some mumsnet therapy. Seriously, sometimes I don't even recognise myself anymore..!

I'm thinking of getting the Maclaren Techno XL and putting my newborn in it. It says that it's suitable from birth. The seat goes to 170 degrees so pretty flat but not completely. Is this OK for a wee one? Also, having read every review for it on the interweb, I think that the suspension may not be amazing meaning that it leads to a slightly bumpier ride than some... but as I live in the city and wouldn't be going offroad or cobble trotting particularly, I think this should be OK. But is a stroller really suitable for a newborn? I get mixed messages from catalogues etc. which seem to lump them in with buggies for older kiddies.

Having spoken to a couple of people, they've said that they've given up on their travel systems/ prams/ big pushchairs pretty early and gone for a lighter more versatile model, so in the long run I think this would be the best buggy, but is it OK for the early days?

Good post Nickie2! I am having the same breakdown!

I live in a big city, depend on public transport, don?t own a car - just use taxis and occasionally hire a car and am very confused about what I should be buying.

I was thinking about the Peg Perego Pilko P3 travel system that comes with all the bells & whistles that should hopefully last to 0 - 3yrs?. Now I?m thinking it is going to be heavy, bulky and redundant as soon as my bub can sit up.

Would the experts (i.e. previous pram/stroller owners) agree I should be looking for a very light, quick & easy fold, very manoeuvrable, fully reclining and multi facing stroller with car seat attachment and sling combo?

Also, does top of the range necessarily mean better quality and durability? Or is it a false economy if I buy cheap and end up having to keep replacing it?

Any other suggestions besides the XLR Techno?

Does anyone recommend any of the Bugaboo range?

Sorry for all the questions. New mother as you can guess!!

Many thanks!

i have Bugaboo cameleon.gerat for public transport, can fit 2 adjacent each other on bus.use on tube too
big wheeks make it maneoverable. up/down
flip the handle bar pop up on bus takes up less room

avoid quinny zapp it tips and ime is rubbish quality.baby looks slumped

congratulations on pg and good luck chosing

personally I wouldn't want to put my newborn in a facing away stroller - I had a really nice compact travel system from Bebe confort. Used the carrycot loads and then it had an almost lie flat pushchair seat that I used from about 4 months - would face either way and dd was in it till about 2. It was a really comfy pushchair and folded without too much difficulty in the back of my small hatchback. I only gave it up because the frame eventually gave way because I had overloaded the basket too many times I think.

the fact that the pushchair was so comfy was great when going out on long walks cos it meant that dd got a really good nap in it even as a toddler.

I like to have one big pushchair for walking and a smaller one for the car. The big ones i like are: traxx ecuador, mutsy, mamas and papas skate, ziko herbie, urban detour quantum, maxi cosi mura, gesslein f2, gesslein future, gesslein vision s.

The small ones i like are: the petite star whirl, luna, baby jogger city mini, bugaboo bee.

buy a sling they are far cheaper, smaller and more convenient and you can sell them afterwards and make back most of what you spent

I love my bugaboo too - I have the gecko which is smaller than the chameleon. It's great, light with excellent suspension. Starts off with lie flat carry cot and then changes to stroller. I don't drive so I use it everyday and I love being able to face my baby. Best £400 I ever spent. Btw, bugaboos hold their resale value really well.

I am looking at the Britax Vigour as I need big wheels (steps up to house and semi rural) but with my other kids I learned these things....

It's really nice having your baby face you (I also got a 2nd hand silvercross pram with DD1 and then a maclaren buggy which was great from about 9 months but the wheels buckle if used all the time and on rough ground, also would get one with a hood as the framed raincovers are horrible)

A pushchair with a bar is sooooo much better than handles. When you LO is walking and you are pushing it with one hand it is just so much easier and safer with the bar. If you have handles make sure they are padded.

My maclaren twin fell apart after a year and became very heavy to push with older twins in, the further the seat to the rear of the pram and the more reclined it looks, the easier to push older kids. That's why I swapped to a 3 wheeler which was sooo much better to push with heavy babies in and over any ground.

Inglesina Zippy - absolutely my favouritest pushchair ever, so light, turns on a tuppence and has carry cot and car seat options. Integral raincover too which is a bloody good idea.