First time mum starting research from scratch on pushchair... help!

[Zara1984]

Being the frugal uber-research-before-you-buy kind of person, I am starting research now on what kind of pushchair/stroller/whatever the hell you call them to buy. I am due in late October. The range and options are all very scary and daunting so I am trying to narrow down the model (or 2-3 models) that best suit me and then search for a good price/good second hand one from there.

Please help!

Important things:

• I live in an apartment in Dublin, so I do not have lots of space to store a big buggy/pushchair etc in a garage.

I would like one that suits my needs for the whole first 12-18 months if possible.

• I live near a huge park and do lots of walking/running. DH is active too. So a pushchair more suited to active people would be good.
• DH is tall (6ft1) so he has been saying he wants something with extendable handles, if possible.
• Our car is a 2001 VW Golf, so pushchair would need to fit easily in the boot of this plus shopping etc.
• Most of the time during the week I would not have the car as DH drives to work. So to get around during the week I will be walking or taking the bus or the train. This means a light/easy to fold one I guess is ideal.
• In December I will be travelling home to New Zealand for 6 weeks to visit friends and family with baby. Undecided whether I'd just buy/borrow a second hand one in NZ for the trip, but I think it could be easier to take my own. I am unsure whether I will take our own carseat with us as I thought it might be easier for DH's parents to buy one second-hand in NZ that definitely fits their car (do all carseats have standard connector points?)? This is perhaps relevant to whether I would buy Graco Mirage travel system (see below) as the carseat clicks in easily to that.
• I do not really want to spend more than ?500/GBP450ish on everything (rain cover, carrycot if needed etc), but we do not have a tight budget.

My ideas so far/things I know:

• From reading Mumsnet I have heard a lot of recommendations that a sling and a Maclaren is all you need. On the sling/baby carrier front, we should be able to borrow a BabyBjorn from friends (we bought as present for them!). I have heard there are other very good slings out there too, so maybe I would buy one of those instead.
• It looks like a Maclaren Techno XLR is very well-reviewed and recommended. I have seen this package with carrycot on Kiddsave for GBP310 (out of stock but you can pre-order). The carrycot clicks into the pushchair, right?
• Do I need to get a pushchair that can have a carrycot fit it? I think I would like the baby to face me for the first wee bit, but it is probably not a deal-breaker.
• My question above is what has come up when I have been looking at the Graco Mirage Travel System. It looks like very good value but I am not sure about whether people really do have their baby lie flat in it from birth. The Graco Quattro system has got a cot with it too, but it is not clear from any pictures I can find if this is meant to click into the pushchair?
• With the Graco Mirage/other travel systems that seem to have the carseat bit facing you - is this system best if your main means of getting around is with a car? Ie I would not really take the baby in carseat in pushchair if I'm going on the bus?
• What is a footmuff? Do I need it?
• What is a car seat base? Do I need it?
• I like the look of these pushchairs you can use for running with your baby (Baby Jogger, BOB etc) but I understand you're not meant to use them from birth. As I said above I do not really want to have to buy two pushchairs. :( But maybe my desperation to get back to running will make me change my mind!

Suggestions of other brands/things completely different most welcome too!

I have also found a reviewing the Maclaren Techno XLR and its features - this answers my question about whether the carrycot fits into it!

But then I read that the Quinny Zapp and the Bugaboo Bee Plus are very popular too. Is that for a good reason?? Argh help!!!

I'd highly recommend BabyJogger City Mini - brilliant fold, brilliant to push, really light, the only slight issue is accessing the shopping basket. They're excellent value. You can get carseat clips so you can attach a carseat, which is really important. You can also buy a BabyJogger carrycot if you want to. I lurve mine.

Thanks Dame have just had a look at some reviews/videos of the Citi Mini now and it looks very good! Didn't know it could come with a carrycot and carseat attachments, thank you for telling me that!

Is it ok for a bit of jogging do you reckon? Are all three-wheelers ok to take running?

I second that on the Babyjogger City Mini. I have had mine for 15 months and have never regretted buying it. It folds with 1 hand and is light enough. We had the attachments and fitted a maxicosi car seat to it - perfect. Reclines fully so my LO slept in coffee shops etc. We chose to buy one of those cheap umbrella-type pushchairs for a holiday abroad - what a mistake. We spent the entire holiday mourning the loss of our babyjogger. I have a VW Polo and it fits in the boot perfectly. LO is now 15 months and I have just bought a little tray (because he doesn't like being strapped in, so he is still safe and has easy access to his water or snacks on the go). Love , love, love mine. My sister in law has been through 5 pushchairs in the same time until she saw the light and got a BabyJogger too and hasn't looked back. My husband is 6ft 4 and has no problem pushing it - it doesn't have extendable handles though. Did I mention it is also one of the cheapest ones around? :) Good luck.

I live a plane journey from my parents so have been a frequent flyer from both DC's being 4 weeks old (they 3 and 6 now). I bought a maclaren techno xt (which is practically the same as the xlr, just doesn't come with the footmuff and the colours weren't as nice). I also used a connecta baby carrier. I found this combination worked fantastically through the airport. The carrycot wasn't out when DC2 was a baby otherwise I would have just used this instead of having a pram system as well, the maclaren was a panic buy for travelling with originally but turned out to be one of my best buys.

I would totally recommend the maclaren, they are really hardwearing, durable pushchairs. I don't think it would work for jogging though but it is a good all rounder that my DC used until very recently and still has plenty room in it. It is also has a carseat that goes with the xlr.

Thank you so much for your responses so far, I really appreciate it. Been doing more research this morning so now in addition to the Maclaren and the Graco systems I've got the Baby Jogger City Mini and the City Elite (or the Mini GT - both due to the extendable handlebars) on my shortlist.

Clippedwings good to hear that your husband is so tall and the City Mini is fine - I will ask DH about the measurements but he is a bit of a princess at times so I can imagine him demanding something with adjustable handlebars.

The higher cost of the Baby Jogger package (including carrycot, carseat adaptor etc) seems to be quite heavily tempered by the ability to take them for light runs (the City Elite, at least).

Have found an Irish stockist of Baby Jogger but seems cheaper to get from the UK (has anyone used pushchairs.co.uk?)? Where are all of you buying your pushchairs from?

None of the above are any good for jogging.

Baby jogger again (though you might want the one up from city mini as it has extending handles) I'm tall and needed a high push chair and also have similar space issues. Best thing about baby jogger is the folding, I travel a lot with DS and sometimes you just don't have a spare hand/ foot to close a pram quickly. The folding action on this can't be beat.it is wider when folded then umbrella style pushchairs but I still find it very easy to store and it folds flat. Had a Quincy before and hated it, also have a zapp but it's no good for tall people

Also try eBay 1st as often better deals there even for new

oneofmyturns would you suggest then getting a proper jogger later on (say when baby is 6 months) is the more realistic option?

Baby Jogger seems to be winning so far... that one hand closure is very very impressive, I didn't know there was a pushchair that could do that!

Someone is selling baby joggers on eBay new for £95 delivered with warranty. That would make the component parts under the other option.

Graco's are generally considered plastic shite, you do want the baby facing you it helps with their speech development that's proven it is also helpful as cot death doesn't just happen in cots and I know of a baby that was sick and choked not to death thank goodness but was in hospital for a few days because he was in a buggy forward facing and nobody noticed. So easily done when you're going around the shops or for lunch.

Yes I saw those ANTagony but are those Micro ones different to the City Mini? They seem more lightweight ie suited to older kids.

Heswall for the forward-facing it looks like the Baby Jogger City Select might be the ticket... and it also has the ability to convert into a double (DH and I are thinking of having a second very soon after the first).

My brain hurts.

Sounds like a plan

I've only read the op so apologies if anyone has said this already:

DO NOT BUY A SPIN PRAM!

I know it's not in your choices but don't get persuaded by the fact they it spins round. It may do that, but it doesn't collapse

My friend has the maclaren it is very heavy to lift. Re travelling to nz they can hire a carseat. Lots of people do this from here Or you could take your baby carseat out with you at Christmas but when you go next time take one that goes from 9mth to 12 years with you and leave it there. My friend lives in nz and she took one of these with her last time she went back as car seats either have to meet US or EU standards to be legal

I wouldn't get a Maclaren, Bee or Zapp for anything more than smooth pavements. I'd say you need big back wheels and possibly air tyres. I would look at the BJCM GT, iCandy Peach, Micralite Superlite Classic, Baby Jogger Versa and Easywalker June. The last two aren't out yet.

But where will she store these big wheels, that's the issue.

If you are actually going running/jogging (as opposed to just off-roading) then you need a specialist runner's pushchair and leave off running until the baby is at least 6m (if not 12m if you are running). More details [http://www.livestrong.com/article/364653-at-what-age-can-you-use-a-jogging-stroller/ here]].

Something with 16"-20" wheels would probably be best - you can pick them up fairly cheap on ebay if you look out for them in advance (so maximise your chances of getting a bargain!)

Reading your message the Baby Joggers - whether City Mini, City Mini GT, Elite or Summit are the ones I would suggest to you. As Truthsweet says, I wouldn't use a standard pushchair to run with and it would be worth seperating that out of the equation unless you think say a Baby Jogger Summit XC would suit for the rest of the time?
As for wheel size, wheels are easy peasy to store, its chassis size that is more of an issue, but let me show you something:
Look carefully at this it may look nothing special but the black pushchair is the Baby Jogger City Mini folded, but if you look carefully all is not what it seems - there's some red down the side and something between the handlebars.
This is why.
It was done as part of this set to show that buying a seemingly bigger pushchair with bigger wheels, doesn't mean it is actually any bigger IYKWIM. Yes it is bigger and heavier with the wheels on, but its barely going to make any difference to store. The Baby Jogger Summit is very similar, but just with even bigger wheels. In fact some measurements I believe are smaller than the Elite. But it has a fixed handlebar.

Go and have a look too at the TFK (Trends for Kids) range - they have some pushchairs which are marketed for running. You can also put a skateboard for the mum behind it which looks like great fun!!

I think out of the two the Baby Joggers are easier to use and are the ones I wouldn't mind putting on a plane with me. The huge hoods are great for sun and shower protection. You really wont go far wrong with one - whichever one you think suits you best TBH.

i hate my BJ city micro. it is an arse to get up kerbs and is heavy to push.

i hated my zapp too but i have a zapp extra now thats really great and i will use it with dc2 from much younger - rear facing - flat recline. not as nifty to fold but doesnt take up too much room - i have a fiesta. its very light and doesnt take much space up on buses.

pushchair plusses are totally different depending on whether you are car or bus. for example by big tank of a buzz is hopeless to take in the car but if i am walking from to town i much prefer it - now we dont have any steps up to the house. its a bit chunky on the bus but where i like you dont need to fold unless its rush hour so thats not so much of a problrem. it has extendable handles and exp was fld of that feature. you can load it up with shopping etc its a bit of a work horse.

meanwhile....in my v humble opinion attaching a car seat doesnt count as rear facing - nbs need to lie flat unless its v short periods its bad for their spines. i think carrycots are essential if the baby will be in the buggy for long periods.

when baby is v wee you might prefer to sling for a while - no buggy to fold up :-)

i second that graco prams are nasty. sorry but they are.

mothercare and kiddcar do their own versions of more expensive prams if cost is an issue and you should look in local paper for pram sales - better than ebay as you can go and check out the wares first :-)

v lastly.....if i was starting from scratch again id get a phil and teds - esp if you are planning to have more than one kid. they fold oktoo

Thank you all so much! This has been incredibly helpful to me and DH.