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Original poster

Help - what puschair not bugaboos?

Summerhols · 2009-12-12T17:35:43+00:00

Hi I am probably thinking about this a bit early but... Starting to look a pushchairs on the 'tinternet and though I love the look of bugaboos/bees there is no way we can afford one. So can you lovely ladies on MN give me any ideas for alternatives. Basically I hope to get: - Facing forward and back - Needs to fold up as small as poss as we only have a 2 bed flat so not much space to store. - I don't really use public transport as walk everywhere or drive long distance so not fussed about manoverability on buses etc but it seems obvious - it needs to be good to walk with.

44 replies

Summerhols · 12/12/2009 17:35

I am probably thinking about this a bit early but...

Starting to look a pushchairs on the 'tinternet and though I love the look of bugaboos/bees there is no way we can afford one.

So can you lovely ladies on MN give me any ideas for alternatives. Basically I hope to get:

Facing forward and back
Needs to fold up as small as poss as we only have a 2 bed flat so not much space to store.
I don't really use public transport as walk everywhere or drive long distance so not fussed about manoverability on buses etc but it seems obvious - it needs to be good to walk with.

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Original poster

Summerhols · 12/12/2009 17:36

Thank You!

OP posts:

Mishy1234 · 12/12/2009 17:54

Your best option for a forward and rear facing pushchair which is compact, imo is the Bugaboo Bee (in my limited experience)!

Have you looked into getting one second hand? I've seen a few come up on Gumtree (which is better than eBay as it's local and no postage and you can also go and see it). If you do, make sure you get the brackets for the brakes sorted out before you purchase it.

Other than that. I know it's not rear facing, but the Maclaren has a lie flat model which has an umbrella fold. Maybe you could combine that with a sling when the baby is really small?

Sorry not to have been more help, but I know there are loads of pram/pushchair experts on here who can give good advice!

lucy101 · 12/12/2009 18:27

We - very luckily - have been given a Bugaboo frog by a friend who is emigrating. I have to say it is brilliant and I can't see that the cam has many advantages over it (which is what I was considering). It is lovely to push too (I am a London walker so this was important to me).

They really aren't very expensive at all on ebay compared to any new pram... and of course the resale value holds very well for whenever you want to sell it or if you don't like it.

Also, the extra bits you might want for the frog are much much cheaper than the cam. I have picked up extra bits I needed for only a few pounds here and there.

sh77 · 12/12/2009 20:30

Here is a NON BUGABOO suggestion as requested - Quinny 2009 model. Lovely colours, well made, light and easy to fold, front and back facing.

IMoveTheStarsForNoOne · 12/12/2009 20:35

Not a quinny buzz - heavy, massive and difficult around the shops.

difficultdecision · 12/12/2009 20:37

icandy cherry - ours just arrived and is lovely. We are in a two bedroom flat aswell and it lives in the boot of my corsa - not much room for anything else but it fits. Can't get them online but John Lewis do it for £284 (carrycot is extra - not sure how much).

I would recommend using a sling for the first few months though - much easier and saves the need for the carrycot part. The bugaboo bee looks nice and is compact but ndehow long ii ouldlast - our near two year old is short but would never fit in it.

sleepysox · 12/12/2009 20:42

Have you tried the pushchair topic area? The ladies there will have loads of ideas.

Mine are:
Britax Vigour 4+
It ticks all the boxes, except it's a 2 piece fold, so takes up more space than a one piece when folded up. I have one and think it's fab and I;ve had 14 prams in 4 years!

Inglesina Otutto- ticks all the boxes, and it can fold in one piece when it has the seat unit on- forward or rearward facing.

HTH

sleepysox · 12/12/2009 20:43

Oh and the M&P Pliko Switch

5inthesleighbed · 12/12/2009 20:54

Babystyle Oyster folds when in rearfacing mode.

This pram, otoh, is exactly like a Bugaboo,same frame, seat and carrycot. I know a few people who have had this and a bugaboo, and they have said there is no difference. Only "problem" is that the car seat isn't UK standards, butyou can get a maxy cosi, and bugaboo parts work on them as well.

MumNWLondon · 12/12/2009 21:00

We have the jane buggy with the matrix car seat. I love it. Buggy folds up nice and small and with the matrix the baby faces you either lie flat or incline. With the buggy it faces forward.

AvadventCalendar · 12/12/2009 21:05

5in, that Miwheels, is it made by Bugaboo? If not am surprised it's been allowed, complete rip off!

IsItMeOrSanta · 12/12/2009 21:06

Loola Up (or Loola) does all those things. It folds in two directions, so smaller than most of the other models when folded. Although they don't say it can fold with the seat rearward facing, DH manages it. But I actually prefer it in two pieces for lifting it around.

We had the windoo for when DS was little, and was very sturdy/cosy. You can also get adaptors to use the maxi-cosi cabriofix with it.

5inthesleighbed · 12/12/2009 21:07

No it isn't. There are slight differences, like bigger front wheels, and different fabrics, but to the untrained eye, they look exactly the same! I'd have bought one had they been out when I was pg with ds3

Original poster

Summerhols · 13/12/2009 09:04

Thank you ladies for the non bugaboo sugestions (mishy and lucy - understand what you are saying but I don't want second hand as my first baby and really want to get new).

I had looked at the icandy ones and really like the look of them.

Last night was talking to friends who are not pregs/don't have childre and they could not understand why I was getting stressed about chosing a buggy - I said that it was easier to chose a car!

OP posts:

amarantha · 13/12/2009 09:10

I've got the baby jogger city mini. Ok, its not rear facing but is tiny when folded. It was only £120 on boots (but that was a while ago)

Species8472 · 13/12/2009 09:19

ICandy Cherry - is lovely and easy to push and manoevre round shops, can put Maxi Cosi seat on it and the carrycot bit is cosy (not used the buggy bit yet for our little DD but it can be backward or forward facing).

jellybeans · 13/12/2009 09:42

IBe careful and check if you get the city jogger or bee as some were recalled in the US for repair (brake issues I think) may be just over there but worth checking.

I would say the Loola up or Britax vigour (although not really compact).

GroovyGumdrops · 13/12/2009 10:11

Slight warning about the ICandy Cherry.
My sister hated hers. She bought it for many of the same reasons as you've said are important to you and was really disappointed. She found that as soon as her DS reached a couple of months (and had a little weight about him) that it became really hard to push and manoeuvre round in tight spaces as the wheels kept locking in random positions and trying to go in different directions. It was also next to impossible to push on anything but the smoothest of grass at the park etc. It is of course possible that she was unlucky and got a duff one.

brightongirldownunder · 13/12/2009 11:07

I have an unused icandy cherry sitting in my parents house in the UK. I bought it but was given a bugaboo, so never used it and am now in Sydney!
If you'd like it, I'm sure I can organise someone to pack it up and send it to you. I won't be expecting that much as its 2 yrs old. Pram bit is unwrapped but pushchair still in plastic.
CAT me if you'd like to know more...
Sorry for the hard sell, but my mum reminded me last week that it was gathering dust there and she'd like to see the back of it asap!

Deemented · 13/12/2009 11:55

First Wheels City.

Rear or forward facing, easily foldable and great to walk with.

crumpette · 13/12/2009 15:02

icandy cherry is lightweight and faces both ways, really well-priced.

The best imo is the icandy peach- quite spendy(499 in john lewis) but it's fabulous if you can go that bit further with your budget for it. Faces forward and back, you can attach a car seat so you don't need the carrycot and it has some amazingly clever folding system and almost folds itself and then has a carry handle...

Lionstar · 13/12/2009 15:24

I'll add a vote for the iCandy cherry, have had one for nearly 3 years, and now on to DC2. I have a carrycot and seat, but I tend to just take the seat with me as DS (3 months) is a big boy and looks happy in it (with the comfy fleece footmuff thing anyway), but I can still use it for DD (2.9) if needed and put the baby in a sling.

There was a problem with the wheels and seat unit of the first ones, we had both replaced from the shop we bought from. However I think they've resolved all those problems now.

Haven't tried the iCandy peach, I think it is heavier than the cherry. However it also converts to a twin pushchair if you buy the appropriate seats, so may be a good option if planning on another DC

extremelychocolateymilkroll · 13/12/2009 15:34

We got a Bugaboo Bee when dd was 8 months - used a carrier until then. We didn't buy any other accessories - even got a second hand Maclaren footmuff for £15 compared to the £70 Bugaboo were charging. Still not cheap cheap - £369 - but really light and narrow - great for urban living - and rear and forward facing.

AKMD · 13/12/2009 19:28

I have the O'Baby Zezu and it faces forwards and backwards, folds up into our car boot (Fiesta) and is fairly rugged. Ours cost £189 for the pram/carrycot and an extra £69 for the car seat.

fififolle · 14/12/2009 16:47

Sorry to be stupid, but someone referred to the pushchair thread - where is this?
Thanks

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