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Pushchairs

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Parent facing pushchairs that fold in one piece?

28 replies

AnEcumenicalMatter · 23/02/2012 20:21

Apart from the Bugaboo Bee and the imminent Babyjogger City Versa (which I hear has had it's release date delayed from April/May to 'sometime later in the year' Hmm ), can anyone point me in the direction of pushchairs that parent face, fold in one piece and are suitable from birth, please?

OP posts:
HypatiaTheProcrastinator · 23/02/2012 21:27

The Versa was never planned to be out that early, I'm not sure why some retailers thought it would be.

Some are better shapes than others folded parent facing:
iCandy Strawberry
BabyStyle Oyster
Joolz Day
Jane Rider
UppaBaby Vista
Mutsy 4Rider
And I'm sure there's a Maxi-Cosi that does, but I can't think which.

Tiggywunkle · 23/02/2012 22:13

I agree with Hypatia.
The M&P Sola and Urbo also fold with the seat on but I think just forward facing. There's the Buzz too, and the MyChild Pinto / JL Travel System. The I'Coo Pii folds better parent facing than outward facing. I think theres a fair few around.

AnEcumenicalMatter · 23/02/2012 22:33

Thanks. Lots of options there to look at.

Wish there was a confirmed date for the BJ Versa.

OP posts:
mamasunshine · 23/02/2012 22:37

Quinny?

Tiggywunkle · 24/02/2012 00:25

Baby Jogger US are saying mid July on their Facebook. I think it will be into late August / September here at a guesstimate as the earliest. Some shops are taking preorders though eg Ladybugs, Winstanleys and Bambino Direct. Baby Jogger are fiends at sending only a few through with the first shipment, so if you are interested then I would preorder.

Meanwhile I have just literally got through the official UK measurements for the Baby Jogger Versa:
(L x W x H in cms)
Assembled: 110.5 x 56.5 x 96.5
Folded with wheels on: 86.5 x 56.5 x 22.5
Folded with wheels off: 65 x 49 x 18
Weight: 11.9kgs

The weight is exactly the same as the City Elite which is a tad disappointing as the Elite feels quite heavy. The City Select single is a little heavier at 12.7kgs but the City Mini is only 7.6kgs. The Versa is 10cms longer than the City Mini but surprisingly the same length as the City Select which I find interesting, because the single City Select felt long with the sockets for the front seat above the front wheels. But given the Versa is a kind of City Mini and City Select hybrid, maybe its not so surprising really :)

Tiggywunkle · 24/02/2012 00:25

Dont forget the Easywalker June as well.

HappyAsASandboy · 24/02/2012 02:07

The maxi cosi (or Bebe Confort) is the Loola.

I have two Loolas for my twins (when there is an extra adult!) and they're great.

The Loola is classed as 'from birth', but they also have a carrycot/car seat option as the seat unit doesn't quite lie flat.

The Loola footmuffs are so so cosy. I've never Sean anything like them Grin

FidgetPie · 24/02/2012 03:50

I had a 'Loola Up' and loved it. You have the option to face them away when they get a bit older, and it works with a maxi cosy car seat (with adapters).

Shangers · 24/02/2012 04:13

I loved my loola (marketed as maxi-cosi, bebe confort and quinny depending where it comes from). It doesn't fold as small when facing parent but it was still pretty good - and for me a million times better than the bee that we replaced it with when the airline broke the loola! The windoo carry cot fits it and is really good and the car seat goes on and off v easily and the wheels are tiny if you're just using the car seat.

PessimisticMissPiggy · 24/02/2012 05:36

How on earth does the loola collapse when parent facing?? Blush

SuiGeneris · 24/02/2012 06:22

Mamas and Papas (peg perego) Pliko Switch: it is an umbrella-fold that goes completely flat and, due to the substantial hood and footmuff, works like a pram. The seat can be parent or front facing and is sufficiently large that my v tall 2-year-old still comfortably naps in the fully-reclined pram-style version.
You can also buy a carry-cot for it, which is lovely and quite big, so lasted until about 7 months. It is a 2-piece fold when the carrycot is mounted though.
It is cheapest when bought under the Peg Perego brand: I got the entire travel system with all accessories (changing bag, rain hood, foot muff, carrycot cover, fabric hoods, etc) for less than the Mamas and Papas pushchair plus carseat price...

HappyAsASandboy · 24/02/2012 06:35

The Loola just pushes down (that was descriptive!).

The chassis folds the same way whhether the seat is parent facing, forward facing or off - the chassis just folds underneath the seat and the seat is left sort of perched on top. The chassis folds smaller if there is no seat on it, but I think it folds to the same size whether the seat is forward or parent facing.

It really is fab Smile The Loola Up (with a bar) is easier to steer with one hand because of the bar, but if you like two-handle prams then the original Loola is good too. Some if the older models have an annoying cross bar over the basket, which they fixed in later models and for the Up, so if you buy second hand, try to check that the cross bar is under the basket rather than over it.

PessimisticMissPiggy · 24/02/2012 08:40

Ah, I thought because I couldn't grab the handle it wouldn't collapse. I feel silly now for swapping it to front facing before collapsing it!

I have both the up and two handled chassis (family member gave me their old one) and I prefer the up model. My only gripe is that they are heavy with the pushchair seat attached. Other than that it's great and the car seat clips for the cabriofix are great. Personally I wouldn't use it from birth, I would use the carrycot because they look so vulnerable and tiny! We used the seat once DD was around 16 weeks and had good head control.

DH hates it and curses it everything we use it. He prefers slings/carriers.

AnEcumenicalMatter · 24/02/2012 09:06

Thanks folks.

Tu head may explode trying to process all this info. I think I'm overthinking the whole pushchair buying process!

Do I really need it to fold in one piece? I actually much refer the Bugaboo Cameleon to the Bee but the 2 part fold is the only advantage the Bee has for me. But in reality, as someone with no experience if using a pushchair day in day out, I have no clue whether it's a real issue. I just think I want a one piece fold but not entirely sure why.

Tiggy Easywalker June is a top contender but with no confirmed release date and no guaranteed stockist local to me (would be wary of buying without getting my hands on it first),I'im trying to identify suitable alternatives just in case neither the EWJ or BJCV are a goer.

OP posts:
HypatiaTheProcrastinator · 24/02/2012 12:29

I think it really depends on the person. I'm fed up of two piece folds, but I don't mind removing wheels to get into a car. Confused I like a one piece fold so it can stand in my hall too, either against the wall or freestanding. I guess it depends how often you'll fold it as well.

HypatiaTheProcrastinator · 24/02/2012 12:30

There's more June info here now.

Tiggywunkle · 24/02/2012 12:49

No, you don't need a pushchair to fold with the seat on. I have several parent / forward facing pushchairs here and the ones that fold with the seat on all have an extra step ie the seat folds first. For the time it takes to do that (and make sure the hood squidges past the frame ok, you may just as well have popped the seat off. Believe me, I far prefer removing a seat than faffing getting say the Bee or Oyster seat into the right place for the fold. Plus having two parts means that you can juggle the bits to fit your boot well ie the seat at the side or on top etc. The Bee nor the Oyster freestand whereas with some of those where the seat needs removing to fold, you can actually fix it back on to store. But flat seats are easier to store eg Cameleon, Cherry, City Select, than say the Mura which is chunky off the chassis.
I have had the Bee and much much much prefer the Cameleon...by miles.....but as always I know others will prefer their Bee to the Cam. Go with the one you like the best and believe me removing a seat takes a second.

AnEcumenicalMatter · 24/02/2012 13:29

Thanks, Tiggy...I'll bear that in mind. My friebd tells me the Bee is very low which may be an issue for gety tall DP. At the moment, the Cameleon is my next preferred option behind the Versa and the EW June.

Going to look at the iCandy Strawberry too as i fidnt tealuse it was out yet and I've found a local stockist where I can go and play with it.

Really hope the EW June comes out sooner rather than later. May have found a stockist but it's about as far away as it can be from where I live and still be in the same country Hmm

OP posts:
Tiggywunkle · 24/02/2012 14:47

Yes the Bee is really low but I would think a toddler sits fine because the seat extends and it's got a good footrest. I haven't put DD in ours to see as yet.
The Strawberry is out, but you could have fun finding one in stock.
Lol re the Easywalker stockist....is France any nearer? Wink

HypatiaTheProcrastinator · 24/02/2012 23:29

Tiggy, the Oyster does freestand if you extend the handlebar.

Tiggywunkle · 25/02/2012 00:48

Ooh does it? I will try it tonight on the way to bed. Its currently laid on its side in the hall! Thank you!

HypatiaTheProcrastinator · 25/02/2012 09:05

I think it even freestands with the seat either way without toppling.

TillyDavidson · 01/03/2012 18:10

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Message deleted by Mumsnet.

AnEcumenicalMatter · 01/03/2012 20:40

Funny you should say that, Tilly...we have just ordered a Strawberry :)

OP posts:
TillyDavidson · 01/03/2012 21:38

Oh, lovely :p Do you know when are you expecting to receive it? What colour?