Any advice - buggies/prams..?

[legallyblond]

I am just starting to choose a pram/buggy (mainly because my MIL has very kindly offered to help me buy one!) and am a bit stuck. I know there a lots of reviews available, most of which I have read - I have narrowed the list down to a few models (based on my requirements) and wondered if anyone has an opinion on which would be best.

These are the things that are important for me (pretty much in order of importance):

• MUST have rear/parent facing option in buggy mode;
• I would like a buggy that is also a pram (eg where you attach a carry cot to form a pram) so that newborn can lie flat;
• I am not bothered about attaching a car seat to the buggy - I don't think I am going to do this at all;
• I will be walking quite a bit, mainly in the city;
• I want space for shopping/acceessible basket;
• I am prepared to spend up to about £600ish (I'll shop around on the internet to get the price if necessary), but obviously I don't want to spend that much if I don't have to!;
• It can't be too bulky as we live in a small flat (but the flat is on the ground floor, so no stairs issues!), but I can live with bulk if its brilliant in every other way;
• we have a VW Golf (so a medium boot size?); and
• Taking the buggy on public transport by myself is not really a big priority, as I hope to use a sling (baby bjorn) for the tube to begin with, but the easier the better I suppose as it will give me extra freedom.

My shortlist so far:

1. Stokke Xplory with carrycot
2. Silver Cross (probaby linear frame with sleepover body)
3. Mamas and Papas Sola with carrycot
4. Quinny Buzz with carry cot
5. Bugaboo Chamaeleon
6. Mamas and Papas Rubix (when it comes out)

So far, I am most keen on the Stokke, the Silver cross and the Mamas and Papas Sola.

So far not too keen on the Bugaboo for some reason....

Any advice/opinions from those of you have have more experience than my zero experience?!

Thank you!!!!

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Hello!

We've noticed this thread is quite old and some of the product recommendations are a little out of date. We've spent weeks speaking to parents and testing out buggies and strollers to find the best of the best.

Hope this helps!

MNHQ

loving the mams and papas herbie - comes with carrycot and seat and its got a great basket - its like the tardis! although with the carrycot, its a little tricky to get stuff in and out, as the carrycot is quite low. with the seat, i can fit LOADS in there.

loving the moby wrap too.

hth

Would def go for the Bugaboo, especially if you are walking around a city a lot- you can always put clips on the handlebar and hang your shopping from there.

I'm having the same quandary! Over on a, ahem, rival site, the posters have done a top ten vote on buggies and prams, and the Jane (sorry thats mean to have an accent over the e, no idea how to do that on my keyboard). ANyone have experience of that brand?

Re wraps/slings, would totally recommend the Huggababy sling - its a padded ring-sling, so they can lie down and sleep when they're little, and breastfeed discreetly.

Hmm... v interesting re Mamas and Papas - I didn't realise that they were viewed as a bit shoddy/they fall apart. Def a factor as I want the pram/buggy to last at least 2 children!

So moving towards Stokke Xplory or Silver cross, or even Bugaboo (but its the most expensive )

I see that from Bambinodirect.co.uk you can but the Stokke Xplory, carry cot and maxi cosi cabriofix carseat + adaptors for £649.95... sems like a good deal. anyone had any experience of Bambino Direct?

My M&P pushchair is fantastic, think it's called a Ziko Frankie or something, but I've been using it for 2 years straight, and it's still brilliant. I've never heard that M&P stuff is shoddy, quite the opposite!

I don't have any experience of any of the prams you have listed. I do have another style of mamas and papas pram and can say that it has lasted well. Their customer service is also pretty good. I needed new wheels as I'd used the pram so much the wheels had given out and they ordered up and replaced the wheels very quickly indeed.

I see that you are considering using Bambino Direct. I haven't used them myself but know that others have. You may want to enter their name into the search engine to get an idea of how mumsnetters have found their customer service!

Lovejules3 - I'm intrigued, why would you find a well designed, practical product like the stokke to be pretentious?

I don't have advice on prams but would also second the advice to get a decent sling, for your sake if not the baby's! I think that a stretchy wrap like a moby or kari-me or sa-be is the best kind for a newborn. The problem is the decent ones don't tend to be sold through the mainstream websites/shops. The choice is improving, but I still think you get the best choice by looking off the beaten track.

I love the Stokke but am leaning towards the Bugaboo Chameleon or potentially the new M&Ps Urbo - at 12kgs, from talking to friends who have it, the Stokke is just a bit too heavy. The Chameleon folds into two 5kg parts and the Urbo has a single-fold one handed system and is 9kgs.

My requirements are pretty similar to yours, except I also want extendable handles as my DH is 6'4 compared to my 5'7 - I don't want him to be stooping! I do love that the baby is up high on the Stokke but for me, the weight kills that idea. A friend of mine bought it and used it for a week before trading it in for a lighter pram!

I had a Quinny, was not great. Shopping basket is rubbish and needed a new chasis after 6 months.
Another point possibly to consider, i fell pregnant again when DD1 was 7 months old so needed a double buggy SO Phil and Teds all the way!!

What about the Britax system? The Vigour I think it is, there is a new version out. Comes in a 3 or 4 wheel option.

Have you looked at the iCandy cherry? Does everything you want and everyone with it seems to love it and carry on using it when others are in Maclarens.

Would like to add Britax Vigour 3+ to your list - loving mine and DD is 17 months now.

Very light to push, corners on a penny, faces back or forward, has cot part you can attach, really easy to walk with for miles, basket does me fine, has been very tough wearing taken on planes etc, fitted in our toyota yaris boot (tiny, tiny, tiny), cot or pushchair parts just clip in without any effort, nice rounded handlebar which I often push one handed.

Just in case you get a chance to push one round the showroom

I see someone has mentioned the iCandy cherry, I love those prams and also the iCandy apple. They both seem to tick off everything on your list. Am looking myself for our first baby so can't particularly talk from experience!! My sister has a bugaboo chameleon which she loves!

I have the apple but think it might be a bit wide for OP in a flat (we have to vault over ours in the hallway) and also on bus/ tube in town. However I think it is a fab pram and am so glad with my choice!

My requirements with my first baby were almost identical to your checklist and we went with the Bugaboo Frog (the predecessor of the Chameleon I think). It was completely fantastic and served me brilliantly for two children, and I then sold it 4 years later for nearly half of what I'd paid for it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one again for potential third child.