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Pushchairs

Join our Pram forum for pram advice. Plus read our round up of the best pushchairs currently available.

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Original poster

Bugaboo Bee or Silver Cross 3D

22 replies

takethatlady · 05/02/2011 09:08

Hi!

I am 20 weeks pregnant (scan on Monday) and thinking about what pushchair to get. DH and I went to Kiddicare in Peterborough last week and decided that our budget is £300 and that the Silver Cross 3D was the best value for money in that category. We have a small car and a small house so we need something that will fold down quite compactly, but we liked the fact that the 3D had a proper pram feature and not just a soft carrycot. The Pistachio colour looked really nice too and was reduced to £260 including all the accessories (footmuff, changing bag etc).

They don't have the Bugaboo at Kiddicare and I've been looking online at the Bee Plus, which I know is more expensive. But now I'm starting to think it looks amazing and am planning a trip to John Lewis to see it in the flesh. It seems to fold up very small, be easy to push and lightweight, it's really stylish, and I can't find a bad review of it anywhere (unlike the 3D).

On the Mothercare website it is £440 for the chassis, £40 for the canopy, and £67 for the cocoon. Is that all I'd need? I know there are other accessories like the parasol/cup holder but they don't seem 100% necessary.

My brother gave us a £50 Mothercare voucher for Christmas and I found a 20% off voucher online, so that brings the overall cost down to £387.

So my question is, is the Bugaboo Bee worth the extra £127 we'd have to fork out, or am I being dazzled by its looks and the Silver Cross 3D will do just as well?

Thanks!

OP posts:

cupofteaplease · 05/02/2011 09:13

Yes, I think it is worth the extra, and I've not even had a Bee!

I had the Silvercross 3D in pistachio with dd2 and although it was great when she was a small baby, it became very rickety and cumbersome as she got heavier. I ended up hating it, couldn't sell it on eBay or even Freecycle it- It was like a curse!

Anyway, we managed to give it away in the end and I bought a 2nd hand Bugaboo Gecko for £200 which is fantastic and which dd2 still uses occasionally at 3.

I would get a Bugaboo Bee for dc3 without hesitation, as I have pushed one around JL and it is weightless!

GwendolineMaryLacey · 05/02/2011 09:17

I have a Bee and would definitely buy it again if I was starting out. It ticks every single box and it's the only pushchair to do that. Average sized DD still fits in her original Bee at 3.0 years and the seat on the Bee+ is bigger.

Original poster

takethatlady · 05/02/2011 09:40

Thank you ladies - such quick replies. Got to convince DH that the extra money is worth it!

That's great information about the 3D, and about the size of the Bee. I think Mothercare only sell the Bee + now (it says 2010 model, which I think was the Bee +).

OP posts:

GwendolineMaryLacey · 05/02/2011 09:46

Yes, Mothercare will only sell the newer one. However, if budget is an issue there will be bargains to be had on the old model which is still a damn good pushchair.

Just to sway your DH a bit more...

The seat is rear or forward facing, it's light, turns on a penny, brilliant for buses as it takes up very little space, folds up nice and small, has a flat recline and friend's baby looks lovely and snuggly in the nest and it takes the car seat if you are so inclined.

I bought an iCandy Apple which I really love but for all its beauty it was heavy, hence the Bee.

Original poster

takethatlady · 05/02/2011 09:53

Thank you so much! I am drip-feeding him this information and he's responding in half-enthusiastic monosyllables at the moment

We're about to go into town, so I will swerve him into John Lewis for a browse :)

OP posts:

gree · 05/02/2011 09:53

I had a silvercross, not the same one you are looking at, that needed to go back to jl after I had used it a couple of times then it feel apart not long after I got it back. It just wasnt safe.

So personally I would never touch silvercross again, I dont think they are the brand they used to be. And I like dd to face me and she still does at 20 months I dont think you can do that with the 3D.

Original poster

takethatlady · 05/02/2011 09:55

PS - any idea where I can look for the older model Bee?

OP posts:

suzie38 · 05/02/2011 13:51

EBay for the older style Bee...Most people really look after Bugaboo's so most will be in great condition...I have a Bee Plus and i personally would recommend those for the simple reason that the seat is larger so should last you, your buggy days whereas some children can get too big for the original Bee especially if you and your DH are on the tall side...Plus i personally am not keen on the very large hood and i prefer the look of the spoked wheels...You can get companies to make things like coccoons which are cheaper than the Bugaboo brand or buy a coccoon off eBay, usually lots available.

Original poster

takethatlady · 05/02/2011 14:50

Brilliant, thank you! We just went to look at the Bee Plus in John Lewis and I can't believe how tiny it is. If it wasn't for people saying it really does fit a baby and a toddler in it I wouldn't believe it! They had a 3D there too and to be honest it was no contest - the 3D looks so huge and bulky compared with it.

We're only 5'3 and 5'7 so it's unlikely we'll have tall children but you never know! I think the Bugaboo Bee Plus is probably worth it just because it's so tiny-looking anyway.

Great tip about the cocoon - I'll try ebay for it :)

OP posts:

suzie38 · 05/02/2011 15:22

Just make sure it's a Bee Plus one if that's what you buy as straps are different in some way...Old Bee you have to keep rethreading them as your baby grows...The Bee Plus straps move up automatically if you make the seat back higher.

LadyintheRadiator · 05/02/2011 15:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LadyintheRadiator · 05/02/2011 15:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

takethatlady · 05/02/2011 18:33

Brilliant! Thank you. Great tips :)

Annoyingly the 20% off voucher didn't work, though I have found another 10% voucher online. And I can't use my £50 giftcard online - only instore. So I'll probably wait a bit for another 20% discount if possible and then buy the chassis and canopy online, and buy the accessories separately instore.

So it'll work out quite a bit more expensive than the 3D but everybody on here has confirmed what I was already suspecting - that the money is worth it. We're unable to sell our house so we are going to have to rent it out and find somewhere pretty cheap (and probably small) to rent near my work, and our car is a Nissan Micra, so size and convenience really matter!

OP posts:

Fantail · 05/02/2011 21:48

Mothercare will do price matching as well, plus for every item you find cheaper you get a £10 voucher.

Original poster

takethatlady · 06/02/2011 11:16

Thanks fantail - I'll check that out because Pramworld have them for £409 including the sun canopy, and then I could still use my £50 instore (plus the £10 voucher) - that would bring it down to £350!

Also need to check if the Maxi Cosi Family Fix base will work in my car with the Pebble (and later the Pearl) car seat, because there are packages for that on Pramworld too with the Bugaboo car seat adapters and it might be worth trying to get the whole lot in one go. I have a 2009 Nissan Micra so we'll see!

I am totally sold on the Bugaboo though now. I can't believe how bulky everything else looks compared with it!

OP posts:

TotorosOcarina · 06/02/2011 11:18

Well worth the extra

ha you considered 2nd had though?

i got a 2010 (bought december 10) Bee plus a few weeks ago, buggy, raincover, canopy, carseat adaptors for £300!

Original poster

takethatlady · 06/02/2011 11:22

Wow totoros that's an amazing price! I will keep looking on Ebay - yesterday there wasn't a lot on there but as I'm only 20 weeks there is time to keep my eye out :)

OP posts:

TotorosOcarina · 06/02/2011 11:56

yup,

check your local 'gumtree' and 'preloved' too

also ask on the forsale board here.

gordyslovesheep · 06/02/2011 18:42

had a Bee for 2 years now - only got it because I had a Mini (tiny tiny boot) I love it and highyl recomend it - DD3 is two now and still fits it I am going to miss it when it goes

cairnterrier · 06/02/2011 22:26

Takethatlady - re the maxicosi seat adaptors. Guidelines are that newborns shouldn't spend more than 2 hrs at a time in a car seat. It seems like a long time but then if you think of 10 mins faff time before getting out of the house, 20 mins drive to the car park and parking etc, and approximately the same on the way home, that only leaves you 1hr to get out and about. I've got a Bee (the original model) and to be honest, it's so easy to put up that I've never used the maxicosi seat adaptors, because by the time the adaptors are on, you've lifted the seat out of the car etc, you could have the Bee unfolded and ready and then no time limits! Best of luck with it all. :)

Original poster

takethatlady · 08/02/2011 19:55

Oh thank you cairnterrier, that makes sense (and saves money!)

OP posts:

ilovebooks · 10/02/2011 16:07

Just wanted to add that I've just gone for the Bee Plus with Mothercare (price matching with Winstanley's Pramworld at £409 too) but using their BabyPlan.

I have put down a 10% deposit and now have until May to pay off the remainder, for a £10 admin fee. Delivery is free and I arranged it all over the phone.

This has been the most affordable way for us to go with the Bee. Am getting the cocoon second hand via Ebay...

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