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This thread is a little old now, and some of the product recommendations are out of date.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"

Mothercare urban detour 2 in 1 is nice and so is the Britax 2 in 1, both face rearward with older babies too.

I agree with everyone who didn't like the quinny buzz.
I live in the country and it is really no good at all for off road, neither is it practical for shopping. It's heavy, hard to steer and mine is really hard to fold down.

My son is 2 and I'm expecting another one in June, I'm planning to get an out 'n about 360 single buggy instead. It's really light and has 3 big wheels (the quinny's two small front ones are what lets it down off road).

The travel system thing seems like it'll be brilliant but it's something you use for such a short time compared with the life of your pushchair. Much better to get a really good standard one.

I have a cheap supermarket buggy which is not great either but it's much more practical than the quinny and I don't use it.

However, if someone out there wants to buy my quinny then let me know!!!!

Has nobody mentioned Jané ?

I've got a Jané carrera pro and I've been very happy with it..

Lightweight and easy to fold and folds up small.

You can buy the travel system, so pram to lie flat in, car seat and buggy.

Works well sort of off road ish, steers easily.

Crumpets I might be selling a red Nipper 360 if you would be interested? Looking for £70 delivered.

nappyaddict you're right - my DS is young. And also undersized (!), so maybe I shouldn't rave too much until I've actually used it until he walks...

I'll easily get a year out of it, though.
Sorry about the split post - eating and typing = hitting buttons at the wrong time.

Shiraz - the Ip Op looks lovely - can you tell me where you got it?

Sorry if this question has already been asked on this link but i keep being told that newborns have to lie flat when in a pram etc but the pram i like is the bugaboo Bee which is not 100% flat - the other pram options seem huge and I am living in a city will be managing stairs/ public transort etc.. SO do they need to be 100% flat on their back or am i just working myself up into a frenzy for no reason?

They don't have to be 100% flat - 170 degrees is preferable.

re flatness, it depends on what you want to use the pram for - i took dd out with us in the evenings, asleep, for say 4 hours, and I wouldnt have liked to have anything there than something completely flat, so they can sleep properly rather than nap. thats just me though.

current health advice is no longer that 2 hours in one stretch in anything that isnt flat up to 6 months. BUT hundreds of children do this and are fine.

I would recommend:

Bugaboo gecko/cameleon - if it's wihin your budget (or Ebay is awash with them) and you're not folding it too often - although the new bee looks FAB and is more affordable.
otherwise
Maclaren Techno classic - as better for folding, and size.

However, haven't checked out all the funky new ones.

Good luck.

nappyaddict Is the Mutsy 4 rider light ok for public transport i.e. buses?

Bugaboo Bee. Both my 2.5 year old and my baby love it- I swap them between it and my wrap sling,and 2 yr old walking. They both sleep well in it.
Forward and rear facing, very adjustable and comfy, easy to push, you can stuff a suprising amount of junk in the bottom of it. Handle folds in and out really easily- great for parking in tight spaces. Folds flat. Lightweight. Not for extreme off road, though. But if I could only have one of my prams, this is the one I'd keep.

Have not used car seat as a buggy at all with this baby (number 3) hardly did it with my other two very rarely. I think they are much more comfy in pram or sling, tbh.

I didn't get the baby nest, just the footmuff as I swap between the two DC, and the baby was fine in it- with a bit of extra swaddling.

Don't go for the Bugaboo Gecko to save money like we did. The handle does not adjust in height and won't be tall enough for your dh. Wish I had bought the Cameleon....

What is your budget OP? If you try to consider every pram going, you will go bananas.

I treated it like buying a car. Compiled a list of must haves, then looked at budget (luckily I didn't care about that because my mum gave me the money, but they do vary a lot in price). Like a car, you won't find the perfect pram I'm afraid. Also what some people like, others will hate.

So the must haves I think are:

• ability to have baby lie completely flat for first 6 months, i.e. with proper carry cot. Maclaren does not lie completely flat, nor do many others that claim to fold flat.

• ability to connect your compatible car seat to it.

• ability to keep it long term, and have it last for say 3 years without feeling the need to replace it because it has become trashed, too small or whatever.

• as light as possible.

• can have it face different directions, forward and back.

• wheels that don't get punctures.

• ability to double it up if you have another child.

• nice colours (yes I know that is ridiculous).

• adjustable handles as I'm short.

• something rugged enough to hopefully take for walks in the country.

Once you've made a list like this, you may well find you're only looking at a few models anyway.

In the end I only really looked seriously at icandy and bugaboo and eventually chose the icandy peach, which is the lightest in their range (although it still feels quite heavy to me). Having said that my baby's not born yet, so although I think it looks great, can't comment on functionality yet.

You can make an appointment at John Lewis to have their nursery adviser go through and demo all the models they have in stock for you. Its worth doing. There is no obligation to buy from there, if they don't have what you want, or want to get a particular model second hand.

Don't get the Luna Mix - it veers to the right even when pushing with both hands.

Oh and the Pliko Switch is heavy and awkward to push so don't get that either.

Having our first baby and the Silvercross Linear Freeway keeps catching my eye. I love the traditional look of the pram for when the baby is tiny and it claims to last until around till baby is 2 1/2 or so as it converts into a pushchair. Would intend to use it for a 2nd baby in the future also so would hope it is long lasting and hardwearing!!

Has anyone any experience of this pram? Good/Bad etc...

We were given a M&P travel system, which is heavy, but was perfectly manageable when DS was small. Now he's bigger, he's in a cheapo umbrella fold pram, because they're lightweight and they work fine.

So focus on what you need for a small baby. A little extra weight will be a nuisance to carry upstairs, but by the time your baby get big enough for it to really be a problem, you'll probably be switching prams anyway. Don't worry about having one from birth to four, because buggies are very affordable.

With that in mind, i would say to go for something secondhand, as you know that you won't get any reuse from a subsequent child, and that they'll only be in it six months to a year or so. (Though that time will drag if you get a pram you hate, so it's worth paying a little extra for the ease of lifestyle!)

Can't say I muck like the threewheelers, because there's not much room for storage, and having worked in retail, I can tell you from sitting on a till all day watching mums that they will tip at the checkout if you load up the handles a little. Depending on what your apartement is like, making multiple trips to carry a pram up will be something you probably get used to - you won't get a pram and all the weekly shopping up in one go anyway. So don't rule out the bulkier ones that come in two parts, because that last part of your jounrney is a lot shorter than pushing around a pram that is stiff, or too low or high, or doesn't have anywhere to put a changing bag. We have a very narrow door, and getting the pram out was a pig, but when we actually were out it was a dream, despite being a bit heavy.

It's all about compromise in the end, but you can at least cut down on cost by getting one secondhand (and see if family members have old prams lurking, because you'd be surprised...), or looking on sites like freecycle. Just because it's not brand new doesn't mean it's no good. (And it's simple enough trying out models in mothercare then wandering off looking thoughtful if you want to be sure before you bid on eBay or elsewhere!)

Caz it is a lovely lovely pram but weighs a ton, folds in two pieces and is huge for most car boots. Fine for a new born, but as soon as your little one starts sitting up it's a bit like weightlifting before you have even loaded it up with your shopping. I also found the plastic wheels not very hardwearing. If it had air tyres it would work. Dreadfull resale price too, you woudn't have enough to buy a maclaren for holidays/sling in the car etc and maclares really do last!!

Nappy - re-other thread question, bee came yesterday and is much much much easier than the switch (though I do love the switch and would keep it if I didn't aleady have the cam) to push, just like the cam, literally just glides

Oops left out with the silver cross, lovely to have with a newborn but impossible to push one handed whilst holding a toddler's hand and can't use a buggy board.

Thanks carrielou - really useful to know how people find these things in real life! Sounds like its pretty to look at but not the most practical. I will make sure I have a good play with a load of different prams!

carrie I know someone after a Linear too. Is it heavy to push when they get older or is it OK? What's it like to steer with two hands?

Oh another one I've just thought to avoid - the Britax Zeta - also heavy to push.