buggy advice - who's the best??

[BigEarl]

i've been looking into buying a pushchair/buggy for our little one, seems there are a lot of options and i've got a few questions, can anyone help?

Really like the Silver cross POP (£140)and it seems to do it all and cost less then the maclaren XT (£200 seriously!!) whats the difference?? and what about M*P buggies?

Seen lots of cheaper buggies too but i am worried that they may break??

ALso when they say these buggies are suitable from birth does anyone use them for that? - we have a second one planned and am wondering if from birth on a buggy is the right thing for an baby!! ---- what features are really usefull and what ones dont we need?

Aftersales, who is the best, just read about an issue with maclaren lifetime promise. Do you buy direct/web or from shops (face to face)? which brands are good to deal with?

Silver cross pop is rubbish, on paper same spec as xt but nothing like it at all.I personally would not use either from birth as I like a carrycot. I used my xt for my son on monday and he screamed the place down as he couldn't see me, he was six months on mon.

aftersales - Boots were amazing. we purchased a maclaren triumph on line from Boots.com and the brake broke after 7 months, I rang them up and told them and they picked the broken buggy up from our garage the next day (I was out) and delivered a new Maclaren XT the day after (obviously we paid the difference) I was so impressed with the service that I refuse to buy a buggy from anyone else now!

I have an Obaby Atlas Sport Plus.

Suitable from birth as it lie's completely flat and the footrest comes up so it makes a kind of snug carrycot if you addded a footmuff.

Basket is fairly big and the hood has a large window in it so easy to see the baby.

It has a heag hugger for a newborn as well.

So far I've used it on all surfaces including sand and it pushes really well.

Cost me £80 from mothercare.

Haven't had any problems with it so can't tell you what their after sales is like.

No way would I now spend all that money on a big name like Silver Cross or Maclaren when by Obaby buggy is perfect and has actually been lent out on a couple of occasions to friends who have maclarens but prefer mine.

Silver cross pop is crap, I much preferred the Maclaren.
To be honest, I wouldnt put a newborn in a buggy. Not without a carrycot in it. Possibly psychological but they just dont look as cushy as a proper pram. And far more importantly, they dont rear face. I wouldnt have a child under a year old in a forward facing pushchair. But thats just me, I'm a bit PFB about rear facing for babies.

I agree with faddle about newborns in buggy's, even one's that are suitable from birth. And Rear facing.

I mentioned about mine being suitable from birth because occasionally you do go somewhere where a buggy is needed as opposed to a large pram so having one suitable from birth is a good idea.

Like I said my Obaby buggy is brilliant!

Maclaren all the way and i've had alot!

they push so much nicer, fold easier, all fabrics come off to wash, nicer quality. They just are better imho. Resale good too!

Personally i like carrycots for newborns for as long as possible.

You can get a carrycot for the maclaren xlr and a carseat too

I personally don't like Maclaren. We have an M&P Ziko which I LOVE. If you want something suitable for newborn I would go for the Luna - it's a nice wide seat (without being a huge wide pushchair and is easy to push) and you can get a carrycot for it.
The fold is clever too, nice and small.

I prefer the Micralite superlite to a Maclaren - just as easy to use and useful - but with the big air tyres at the back - that bit more versatile (better for bumping down steps - or snow - or moderate off-roading if you lock the front wheels).
The Superlite is lighter than some maclaren models - and with a car seat or cot attachment it is useable from birth.
I buy a fair bit from www.kiddicare.com and have had no problems. They're a long established company and I have found customer service fine (when I needed a new hood for a maclaren I tried - that the hood turned out to be faulty on)!
Micralite superlite is only £129.99 with raincover and footmuff (really nice footmuff) included at www.kiddicare.com

I recently sent a highchair back to boots and their customer service was poorish. They requested I drop it off at the post office (rather than them arrange collection). The item was then lost in post and I had to wait 3 weeks - then post them a copy of the post receipt (1st class signed for - for which I was not refunded!), then they refunded the highchair. Very dissapointing.

I find Mothercare customer service to be good.

But - usually there is a better bargain at kiddicare so more often I will end up shopping there.

www.amazon.co.uk are also good on Customer service - and often have highchairs cheap and send post free.