Quinny Buzz or Graco Symbio B?

[abbie81]

can anyone help? I'm a first timer due in December having serious last minute doubts. Back in in June i placed an order for the Quinny Buzz 3 plus dreami carrycot and maxi cosy car seat on the recommendation of a couple of friends.

My circumstances:
I am about to move and will be living up 3 flights of stairs - no lift! Will have to leave chassis and anything i cant carry in boot.
Live in a city but have to use car to reach any amenities.
Drive an Astra which has pretty good boot space.

Mainly shop online so not too worried about basket space.

Like to watch husband playing rugby on a Saturday so some muddy grass to get across.

My doubts:
Now wondering whether we will actually make any use of the dreami carrycot, struggling to imagine me carrying it up and down stairs. Also wondering whether winter baby is a reason for or against carrycot?!?
have now heard lots of bad reviews about quinny buzz and heavier babies, heavy to handle etc Also the 2 people who originally recommended the buzz have since bought an additional zapp xtra for ease!
The graco symbio B converts from a lie flat pram to pushchair - could this solve my problems?

Sorry for long post - any opinions?

I had a Buzz + Dreami carrycot + Maxicosi car seat.
If I had my time again I'd probably go for a Maclaren that can be used from birth (Techno XL?)!

The Buzz pushchair is good, the front & rear facing is great, and DS was very comfy in it. But it's heavy to carry, a bit of a faff to fold up (takes 2 hands), and takes up a load of space in the boot of a car, even an estate car like mine.
The carrycot was excellent though. DS was born in November so it kept him nice and cosy. DS also slept in it till he was about 3 months old and we moved him into his cot.
The car seat was easy to use too, so I'm glad we got that.

When he was about 8 months I got a Maclaren Quest (which is suitable from 6 months), which was brilliant. Folds us small, takes up hardly any room in the car, and is very light. You can fold it up with 1 hand while carrying your baby in the other arm.

Go to John Lewis or somewhere like that, and have a go at pushing and especially folding up the different types of pushchairs. That will definitely help you make up your mind.
Good luck for December.

I hated the Buzz! I think th e Symbio is supposed to be pretty good and presumably the new version is better. Have you looked at the Uppababy Vista? That's where my money would be going. It's light, lovely to.push, good sized seat, comes with a carrycot and maxi cosi adapters and costs about £550. I've not heard a bad word said about it.

vista is fab across fields etc due to the bigger wheels at the front! I LOVE my vista - heard lots of bad things about the buzz - i use the vista daily with my 18 month old and can honestly say I will never swop it for anything else :)

I have a Vista, and I can't fault it either (although I prefer other pushchairs). It's very good with the basics included in the box. In your shoes, I would get a carrycot, because by five months, I would be glad to be able to put the baby down half way up the stairs for a rest. But equally a sling or car seat could be options for that. The Vista carrycot I suspect is suitable for overnight sleeping too.

I used a Buzz for a day and hated it, it felt unstable when going up or down kerbs and did'nt seem very comfy for LO in the big spongy seat.

I would'nt bother with a carrycot if you don't have too, they are handy to have if you will be using it as a moses basket but babies tend to grow out of them very quickly anyway, they can be kept just as cosy with a good footmuff and blankets.

My suggestion would be to get something that is suitable from birth and will stay in your car and perhaps buy a car seat with suitable base sothat you can just unclip the car seat and carry LO upstairs in it, it will get heavy but atleast you can put the seat down if you have to, you can't just put a baby down wherever.

The other option is getting a good sling, many people never use a pushchair and carry there children everywhere, if you get a good sling then it won't hurt your back.

Thanks for the advice, ladies. Who would have thought so much time could be invested into one decision - lol!