any advice on what pram to buy?

[babyc]

First baby and I have no idea where to start! Ideally we would like something that is a pram and car seat, and where the baby faces the person pushing - but there are so many variations, some seem to do everything and can face front, back and go right up to age 4. It is unlikely we will have another baby so we would like to just get one pram to see us through until baby doesn't need it - is this possible?
We live in a first floor flat, so it needs to be lightweight enough to do stairs, and I'm really short whilst dh is well over 6foot, so do any prams come with adjustable handles?
Long list of requirements I know, but any advice would be welcome. Thanks

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Hello,

This thread is a little old now, and some of the product recommendations are out of date. We've spent weeks speaking to parents and testing prams and pushchairs, here's our round up of the best pushchairs on the market right now and what to look out for when buying one.

Hope that helps!

MNHQ"

If you have stairs to negotiate, weight is going to be the deciding factor - would suggest a sling for the first couple of months and then a lightweight folding buggy (that hopefully you can leave at the bottom of the stairs after that - and which will also be easy to sling into your buggy).

Have lost count of the number of friends who bought bugaboos/quinnys/etc when on first, second etc floor flats and spent the next couple of years cursing the buggy while they were having to lug them - and heavy child - up and down the stairs...

And I wouldn't buy a pram without a shopping basket, it would drive me bananas.

You can go up and down stairs on the big hind wheels of a Bugaboo. I did it all the time.

I would have thought it easier to use the big wheels up stairs than an umbrella fold? My friend tried my quinny buzz as she lives in a first floor flat and wanted rear facing (and I hated the buzz, ugly, heavy, sold it and bought bugaboo) and she found it very easy to bump up the stairs. However she bought a Loola and finds it horrific as it is soooooo heavy.

Do not buy a big bebecar thing if you are planning to bump up and down (if babe is asleep or something) as it is too heavy and really quite dangerous. If you live in a flat you need to think about storage for the buggy too, unless you can leave it outside.

Depends on how wide your stairs are and how many corners you have to manoeuvre - try going down several flights in a tight staircase with several turns with larger buggy and its a nightmare...

Though sounds like the original poster has found the right pushchair for her needs

I'd get the lightest buggy you can find and a sling - maclaren quest are great. Get a separate car seat and leave it in the car. Don't be smoozed by posh prams - I really don't know what they're useful for and I've had two ds's - ds2 went in buggy from birth with no problems.

Original poster here Dinky - and am still checking back to read all the advice and then checking the buggies out on the internet!
Finding all your advice really helpful, especially regarding stairs, so please do continue to offer advice - I am listening to it all and using it to narrow down the search

Thanks x

I too live in an apartment on first floor. In early days im planning on leaving the frame down stairs until husband gets in and i can take baby up in car seat/carrycot. Wheather this will work or not im not sure!! Also if icve been out in car pram will stay in car.
Over 12yrs exp of being a nanny, so althou this is my 1st baby i have used lots of prams/travel systems.
I would never put a newborn in a maclaren, they dont look secure enough, offer no padding, shelter from wind and would rather baby face me for first few month. I vow not to buy a maclaren but thats just me, i do think you can find a pram that you can use until 3yrs (or beyond if needed)
Prams i have disliked are-
Maclaren buggy-For reasons mentioned.
Silvercross 3d-Lovely to look at and ok to push but v heavy for loading in and out of car, car seat heavy too.
Stokke-Really wasnt keen on this, past baby stage toddler looked too big to be in and was too high up.
Loola-I do like this but can be heavy
Bugaboo bee-Just my opinion but dont like look!!
Dont like plasticy, cheap travel systems with car seat on top of pram seat
I like-
Bugaboo cam-Used afew times with children of different ages and suits them all, always a dream to push.
Phil&Teds-Love this pram althou baby not directly facing you (coccon when newborn) and then can use as double if need (althou op mayb not require this option)
Quinny buzz-Sturdy, does everything you need it to, again used with diff ages.

Has anyone on here used a mothercare own Trenton deluxe travel system. I like it and it doesnt cost loads but there must be a catch!!!

The mothercare Trenton deluxe travel system is very similar to the Graco Tour Deluxe travel system, which we have. IMHO, advantages are that it is VERY good value for money and it's quite comfy for baby right up to toddler - plenty of room in the seat. Plus I liked the tray too for toys and snacks. There's a very generous sized basket and the front folds down for easy access - access is a major prob for most pushchairs when the pushchair is laid flat for sleeping. Good maneouvouring and handy console and drink holder. Very sturdy and folds easily.
Disadvantages are that it is quite big and bulky and heavy. I managed ok on buses but I didn't have to use them very often so it wasn't a problem. If you have to lug it up and down stairs (ie like the op) then would not recommend! The seat itself isn't very padded so would really need a foot muff which I believe is included anyway.
A very good all rounder

You will see them everywhere as they are good value for money. My best mate has one and she has been very pleased with it as it includes the car seat, bag, footmuff etc. I have no clue though why you would want such a 'big' pushchair when you can not use it as a rear facing pram? There is a liner thing that you can use for a few weeks but most people use the car seat so it can rear face and that for me is a total no-no.

Personally I do not like them, very plasticky and heavy and colours are not great but as you see them everywhere I must be in the minority!!

Not used the Trenton but im not a fan of this type of pram, as carrielou says lots of ppl have them thou...

Best advice [unfortunately!] is to go and try some pushchairs and really roadtest them in the shop.
I liked the look of the Bugaboo but I didn't like it when I tried it out....when I needed an umbrella fold stroller, I had talked myself into a Mac Quest Sport [both of these, a lot of people rave about and there are a lot about] but after trying it out, I really didn't like it....it didn't handle very well (IMHO) and it didn't feel very sturdy for the price

You've got to just pick one that suits you and not be too swayed by popularity - just because something's expensive, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's a quality item

Don't know if anyone has said this but if you have stairs maybe get something where you can detach the carrycot from the chassis and take the baby in in it if it's sleeping?

I agree there is no perfect pram!! i want a carry cot to start and buggy from around 6mths.I had graco travel system for dd1 and 2in1 emmaljunger for dd2, this time im going for the mutsy urban rider, we went and test drove loads at the pram centre and it was but far the best for what i need right now. love the way it turns on the spot and the big wheels for comfortable ride, and the handle adjusts hight as well and the car seat lies back flat so when you attatch it to chasais the baby can sleep comfortable. but i do like to have a buggy as well so prob go with mclaren or m&p p3 when bub is about 6mths as well.

As an ex-nanny I've used many many different types of buggies I would say the best I used were the Bugaboo cameleon.
Its light and can gently bump it up stairs without much stain, I'm short so being able to position the handle bar was a positive, the basket was also fairly decent. The Maxi-cosi car seat also fits on it.

For a decently made stroller that will do you from birth till toddler I would recommend Mama and Papas Ziko Frankie, a sturdy stroller that is easy to get on/off public transport, get in the car boot, get into shops.

festivedolly - m&p p3 pramette not very good as a buggy. still quite heavy for an umbrella fold and also heavy to push.

don't go for the loola (heavy in rear facing mode), silvercross 3d (heavy to push) or quinny (seat unit not suitable until 6 months and baby may grow out of carry cot before then), M&P Aria (wonky wheels), chicco liteway (front wheels lock and bend), graco quattro (veers to one side when pushing one handed), mothercare pick and mix (wheels buckle), graco mosaic (wheels lock), ziko herbie (heavy up kerbs and steps)

Prams/pushchairs with a solid 'bar' are by far the easiest to push with one hand.

Wow nappyaddict - you are the oracle on prams/pushchairs!! Have you personally owned all these or have you just managed to roadtest a few

Some i've owned myself, some friends of mine have owned.

Bugaboo is deginitely a good option - having switched prams with friends in the park it is the easiest to push, plus the moses basket bit which sits on the top is probably on the bigger side for most of the travel systems so will last longer for baby. Mamas and Papas and I think it was Micralite had small baskets and babies grew out of them more quickly. The Silvercross travel system is tiny too.
The iCandy is difficult to push - I switched with a friend in the park and the Bugaboo in comparison is like having power steering vs manual car...
The Bugaboo fabrics are also all machine washable - great for baby stains and more...
As they get older, the pushchair element is nice and high up so they can see lots.
BUT...what I prefer won't necessarily work for you. Go to John Lewis/Mothercare and test some out - make sure you can collapse your chosen travel system for the car and get the car seat fitted easily. See if you can try it out in your car or go round to try out at RL friends if any have kids already - some people we know did that and found it really useful...

Good luck!

I love my iCandy Apple but it's very heavy. DD is extremely snug and warm in it and, although I have a Techno, I wouldn't use it for a newborn, it's just not padded enough and babies deserve a bit of warmth and comfort!