Mission impossible!

[BertieBotts]

I am wondering if you can help me help a friend. She is looking for a pushchair for her second baby, due in the summer. Her first will be 3.5 so able to walk pretty much all of the time. The budget is very small, around £100, possibly slightly over, and she must appease a picky partner who is scrutinising everything she chooses ( but anyway, that's a separate issue)

So:

It must be new, not second hand, not ebay at all, only "real" shops e.g. mothercare, argos, tesco/asda direct, etc.
It must be suitable from birth and last until a pushchair is no longer needed.
It can't be in a "boy colour"
They do not drive, so it should be hardwearing/long lasting, but they mainly walk around town, on pavements etc, and it only has to last for this baby, no future ones planned.

No need for a compatible car seat, but she would like some way of seeing the baby if at all possible, so a car seat might be the only option at that price? Not ideal, I know, but I don't think anything parent facing or with a carrycot will be possible at that price.

...bump? :(

It's a shame they won't buy second hand. We've got a Bugaboo and a Maclaren and spent under £250 on both (combined!). I haven't seen any parent-facing options for less than £100. Could they use a sling until baby is 12 weeks-ish then transfer to buggy? Might give them more flexibility on the buggy they choose as there will be more choice for 3 months+ suitability, and they will have the security of baby being close if it is in a sling initially.

I started to reply last night to say that realistically the budget needs to be £150-200 to get a brand new high street pushchair but I thought that was defeatist of me and was going to have a good search, but I didn't get chance last night. You may at least be able to get a Zapp Xtra which parent faces and probably more. But at least there would be some choice even of which forward facing options there were. Some of which can take car seats and carrycots. I honestly would encourage her to cut costs somewhere else and spend extra or else consider second hand - maybe with new fabrics?

I have had a run around online at Argos, Debenhams, John Lewis, Mamas and Papas and more and to be honest new for £100 the best I could see was an umbrella fold, forward facing buggy. There are quite a few that lie flat so are suitable from birth. By £250 there are some decent options around.

What about this, its not read facing but does have a wee window at the top

That's quite nice. I think rear facing is a bonus rather than a requirement. She has said they don't want a car seat at all now because they already have one (it's a graco). I was concerned an umbrella fold might not keep the cold out very well for a little one, but for a summer baby perhaps not as important?

But thanks, I'd forgotten about kiddicare.

if anyone finds this, please let me know
on another note ha not a chance, she needs to double her budget or go second hand, sorry to be blunt, but it is not going to happen!!!!

They're mad!

My only suggestion is a Bruin/Petite Star Zia which you can get a soft carrycot for. The Chicco LiteWay is a decent stroller and I've seen it on offer at £80 somewhere. I don't have time to search for it though.

That 1 has a cozy toes with it. You can also buy a newborn support for about £15 which make it more snug and newborn friendly. I needed them with the twins and they were great

The "no second hand" requirement means they're missing out on some absolute bargains. Our friends picked up an iCandy with all the accessories (carry cot, foot muff, rain cover etc) in great condition for a fraction of the new cost.

Equally the "real" shops is also stupid. Buy it from wherever is cheapest.

Oh meant to mention that if you buy from an ebay store (not a private person) then the you can still register the guarantee.

Believe me there are so many virtually brand new pushchairs out there that are being exchanged for a fraction of the cost. If they buy wisely they will recoup all their money when they have finished with the pushchair.

I agree with everyone else, they're being completely unrealistic! Second hand doesn't need to mean been-used-for-4-years-and-run-into-the-ground. I've bought several pushchairs second hand. The worst you ever have to do is wash the covers usually.

If there is something they like that new and available in a "proper" shop, they should still look online for the cheapest price and then get a shop to price match. I know mothercare will price match, not sure about others.

I personally think anything that meets their needs and costs around £100 won't last 3 years, and anything that meets their needs and will last 3 years won't be under £100. Something has got to give!

He's being unrealistic. She'd be quite happy to buy my old pushchair of me for slightly under the going ebay price. Sigh. Suspect this is yet another impossible task he's set her in order to watch her get all stressed about it lovely bloke...

Thanks for the tips all :)

What's the Hauck Malibu 11 like, does anyone know?

I'd get rid of the man and buy something nice second hand.

Send him on here to let us all have a go at him read some advice!

tell her to get what she wants/likes and tell him to either find the impossible himself or shut the **up and yes def send him on here, we would love to give him some advise!!!!!!

The Baby Jogger City Mini is over budget if the budget is £100. And the City Micro is only suitable from 6 months.

I think this thread goes to show that he's being unreasonable and unrealistic and he needs to let something give. Or maybe she should let him go!