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Pushchairs

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Original poster

Compact, dual-facing pushchair for country walks. Mychoice?

13 replies

fififrog · 17/06/2011 09:08

I am looking for a new pushchair as my current second-hand one can't have baby facing me and isn't great on unpaved surfaces. Can anyone recommend one?

Requirements:
Dual-facing
Must lie flat
Compact when folded (got to fit in Renault clio boot!)
Good size (pneumatic?) wheels good on gravelly/tow-path type surface

I was quite interested in the mothercare mychoice if anyone can comment? Particularly whether the 4-wheeler is OK off-road (not planning any fell-running!)?

OP posts:
aswellasyou · 17/06/2011 12:08

When you say you want it to lie flat, is this for a newborn? Or would pretty much flat do? If so, the Babystyle Oyster could work. Or a Bugaboo Frog/Gecko/Cameleon depending on your budget assuming you'd buy second hand again. They come with a carrycot canvas that you attach to the seat frame. Or a Bugaboo Bee/Bee Plus which is suitable from birth as it is.

Original poster
fififrog · 17/06/2011 15:56

DD is 3 months, oyster says suitable from 6 which would miss the summer but it looks great otherwise - do you think it'd be ok younger? I'm not planning to use it as a bed and she's long for her age.

Not planning to spend more than ~250 new if poss obviously will look second hand though I have mothercare vouchers to spend £150...

OP posts:
Original poster
fififrog · 17/06/2011 15:58

Oops meant to say thanks aswellasyou!

OP posts:
Allegrogirl · 17/06/2011 16:12

I bought a second hand My4 for £75 as I never had a rear facing pushchair for DD1 and really wanted one for DD2 who doesn't get so much attention. I have to admit it's a disappointment compared to my Urban Detour. The front wheels some to a grinding halt sometimes and buckle on curbs. The rear wheels seem to go flat quickly too. It's nice to have a rear facing pushchair but I'm looking forward to going back to the Urban Detour when DD2 is older. I wonder whether the 3 wheel version would've been better. The seat is very easy to put into fully flat mode with the baby asleep though.

aswellasyou · 17/06/2011 16:17

My sister started using hers at three and a half months. She says the second hand carrycots go really cheap on eBay so you could buy it and then get rid of it when your daughter's 6 months. Have a look here. You could have a play with one in Mothercare to see what you think. Remember that they price match so find a cheap one online and then get them to price match to that one.

FriggFRIGG · 17/06/2011 21:03

how about

britax vigour
or
bugaboo bee

BaaBaaHerdwickSheep · 20/06/2011 14:29

MyChoice is very heavy and difficult to load in and out of the car for info.

Original poster
fififrog · 20/06/2011 20:55

Thanks all, I like the sound of the Oyster - it actually seems to fold smaller than my current pushchair. Mixed reviews as to its durability/suspension etc but it's fairly cheap and I'm going to check one out later in the week.

Thanks for info on mychoice ladies, it's also a lot wider which doesn't appeal. Britax new model BSmart seems much bigger than the old Vigour - can get one second hand but hard to tell how much use they've had when for sale on ebay - I bought my current one for a tenner from a friend which was a bargain but it is knackered and I'd be worried about buying a second hand one unseen.

Cheers all!

OP posts:
suzie38 · 20/06/2011 21:13

An Oyster wouldn't really work on country walks as the wheels are too small...You can buy air tyres for the back but the front wheels have too loose suspension in my opinion and have a tendancy to 'buckle'...Mind you it's a lovely looking buggy and i've just bought a black second hand one...I've bought 3 Vigours with no problems at all...They're lovely pushchairs...Yes the B Smart seems massive in comparison but i think a lot of that is the hood rather than the actual frame...I briefly had one but the seat isn't upright enough for my DD so i sold it straight on...

suzie38 · 20/06/2011 21:14

PS...The Oyster isn't that small folded...I need to take the seat unit off to get it into my Meriva.

Guildfordnanny · 20/06/2011 21:27

Have you looked at the iCandy Apple Jogger? I don't know much about it. There's also the new Peach Jogger but it's not cheap whereas I bet there are second hand Apples around.

Original poster
fififrog · 23/06/2011 19:29

After much Internet trawling and which reports etc, i have bought the oyster. Went to the shop this morning and I was very impressed by how easy it is to use and how stable it feels. Also coincidentally sat next to a lady with one this morning and she was clearly happy with it. I think it will be the right mix of town and bus friendly and just that bit better on gravelly paths, tow paths etc than my old 'banger'. Solved the lying flat issue as I got a great deal on a shop display one which gave me the carrycot for £30! Also bought sone pneumatic tyres which will help with paths.

Now I've just got to hope it lasts well!

Thanks for all the suggestions though, I did look into them all. For future reference Vigour replacement BSmart is much much longer when folded so wouldn't fit in our boot.

OP posts:
saoirse86 · 27/06/2011 12:10

Well done on that bargain carrycot, you can only just about get them for that price second hand on ebay!

Where did you get the pneumatic tyres from and how much were they? I'm thinking of getting some for my oyster.

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