Is the Bugaboo Bee really suitable from birth?

[Bagabee]

Product info says so but the Which? guide doesn't.

My friend's new baby looks very happy in her cocoon but as my DS2 due in June, wonder if he'd like a bit more wiggle room in a proper carry cot.

Looking at Chameleon (friend has parts) or Maclaren XLR with carry cot (long story, don't ask).

Recommendations much appreciated x

Yes the Bee is suitable from birth. Seen as babies don't move much in the first 4-5 months, I don't think wiggle room matters at all. It's safer for the baby to be strapped in as it's not unheard of for a pushchair to tip going up or down kerbs, or when too many bags have been put on the handles, and for the baby to fall out if in a carrycot.

I prefer my baby strapped in. There is plenty of room to move in the cocoon. My baby was in the Bugaboo one happily until approx 10 months old.

Yes, DD2 is lovely and comfortable in hers and she hates the carrycot on the other pram.

Hi Bagabee
We looked at the Bee in JL this week. I'm also due in June and the sales guy said you couldn't use the cocoon in the summer as it's too hot. For summer newborns they say you just use a sheepskin with baby strapped on to it. This put me off a bit, but I guess it's down to personal preference and the Bee does look great in terms of compactness and manoeuvrability!

I used mine in summer. I simply buttoned down the top. The fabric inside isn't like fleece, and to be honest he was a July baby but by the end of August it was cold and windy!

Mine hated being strapped in as a newborn, but then he hated fecking everything at that age and I carried him 99% of the time.

He's 15mo now and it really came into its own as a buggy. Very manoeuvrable. Great for cities.

Apparently you can use a Quinny Dreami carrycot with the Bee, unfortunately I am not entirely sure if this is accurate but I thought it was worth a mention just incase, I have the Bee and intend on using the cocoon.

I have to agree with you nappy to be honest. We bought the Cameleon from birth for DD1 and now have the Bee for DD2 and I am hankering after another Cameleon. We used our Bee Cocoon in everything and anything though!

I used the cocoon in los angeles all last summer with my june born baby and it wasn't too hot. I didn't do it up on sunny days, just used the bottom half as it unzips. He was lovely and cost, it gives really good head support as well. I got the breezy sun canopy and think it is perfect for hot weather as it is spf50 and totally covers the baby even when lying down. Love the bee, we just turned him to face outwards for the first time today as I like to see him.

Cosy not cost!

I loved the Bee for DD1. It gives the the same security as being swaddled. I have the P&T double buggy now with their cocoon/basket. DD2 definitely seems yo sway more going up/down curbs on rocky paths. I miss the Bee! Good for taking on public transport too as it's so small and nippy.

I have the Cameleon. The Bee just looks too spindly and weak to me, and I wanted DD to be able to lie flat. I've never had any problems with it tipping over and DD falling out! It's a very sturdy, well made piece of kit.

Funny isn't it. I detest the Cameleon. It felt clunky and awkward and looked super ugly. I went for the iCandy Apple over it which felt much more solid and was a smoother ride (and folds in one piece) but much as I love it, the Bee still wins.

It is the lightness that I dont necessarily like about the Bee - its great for nipping in and out of places, shopping malls etc but if you get on a camber or try to go up a slope or go over anything bumpy or something that isn't straight forward and flat, the chassis moves sideways and I have struggled at times because its not a solid sturdy pushchair. Moving to the Oyster this week was a breath of fresh air on the school run. Plus having the basket at the front I find a bit odd. I think the Cameleon is a better all round pushchair and the Bee suits certain circumstances / urban living.

Just to let you all know, the Micralite Toro Carrycot fits perfectly onto the Bee+ frame with the maxi-cosi adaptors.
The Quinny Dreami Carrycot fits, but tilts backwards slightly.
Personally I wouldn't put a newborn in the Bee, but I couldn't get rid of mine - so searched far and wide for a solution, and the Toro Carrycot is the answer!
I can assure you all 100% that it fits and is safe.
The carrycot is lovely and roomy, and you can also pick them up cheaply on eBay as they cost around £120 new, I think, but I managed to get a perfect one on eBay for just under £40.
Feel free to ask any questions or PM me :)

Thanks Kate, that's very useful to know.

Have used bee from birth for both DC quite happily. V happy with it highly recommend. Lightweight, portable, collapses small, nips around narrow shop aisles like nothing else I've seen.
Be wary of Chameleon unless you have a huge 4x4 type of boot on your car. Also you have to completely dismantle the bleeding thing to collapse it. No joke when you're trying to get the shopping home in the rain!

I'm getting my bee on Thursday - looking forward to a one piece fold!

Gwendoline my DH refers to cameleons as the scholl sandal of the pram world - practical but damn ugly .

You don't want to know what he said about the P&T which was my other option for my 7m gargantuan ds which is why we've ended up with a bee!