Rear facing pushchair for large toddler-expertise required!

[bluefootedpenguin]

Hi! I have a 20 month old DS who is being very laid back with his language development. I have finished using my double and want to have a rear facing single but don't know what to get. Looking at second hand unless there is something new and truly amazing!
I have had a chameleon but didn't think it felt very sturdy with a larger child. I loved my 4 rider light and thought I might go for another mutsy. Also considering the maxi cosi Mura, Jane solo reverse and the britax b smarts and vigours. Any advice would be much appreciated, and any suggestions too!
Needs to have a good sized seat unit as DC is on the 98th centile for height.
TIA

[Tiggywunkle]

Hurray for having made a decision. I hope you like your Apple.

[bluefootedpenguin]

Just to let you know, I have bought an apple after much deliberation, heavier than I would have liked but DS will fit comfortably for a while at least! Thanks for all of your wonderful advice!

[bluefootedpenguin]

I really loved my mutsy and have seen you can buy the evo on its own in mainland Europe. Maybe someone could order it for me...

[Tiggywunkle]

My daughter who I think is probably about 104cms tall cam lie flat in the Evo. It is a pain you have to buy the carrycot as well. The Evo handlebar goes up to approx 111.5cms - its tall!

[bluefootedpenguin]

I know the canopy provides extra height but the seat back on many is so short when they are laid down, and he does sleep in his pram often. I have looked at the evo and have been tempted but I can only find it as a package with carrycot in the UK. I am going to try and have a look at a vigour and the I candy apple too. I need an adjustable handlebar , we are both fairly tall. Maybe find an evo to play with too.... Thanks again for all the replies!

[Tiggywunkle]

I don't know if this might help? Real life children in 10 pushchairs with reversible seats? The girl is tall for her age and its clear where she has room under a hood and where she doesn't. Also look at the new Mutsy Evo. There's bags of room under the hood and the seat faces both ways even with a heavy and tall 3 and a half year old on board. Its an excellent pushchair.

[Ihateparties]

I wish I had put a child in the Muum now before I reboxed it. I'm pretty sure 61cm from bum to top of head is pretty long. I have babyhome emotion xtreet which is also bizarrely 46cm seat back and 61cm from seat base to canopy and my

[kellykateneedsaholiday]

I had a Quinny 4xl for my youngest son, it had a good size reversible seat, adjustable handlebar (hubby is 6'3" and had no problems with it)etc. It was big though but I loved it, doesnt seem to be many of them around now though.

[bluefootedpenguin]

I think I am going to struggle. He is tall and also has a long back like both of us. He just looks a bit squashed in under the hood of most pushchairs. I shall keep looking! Has anyone had the Seed pli? I bought a bee+ last year thinking it would be great but sold it immediately, I thought it felt very plasticky and flimsy, really disappointed after the cam. Was I too hasty? Are they worth looking at?

[bluefootedpenguin]

I think I am going to struggle. He is tall and also has a long back like both of us. He just looks a bit squashed in under the hood of most pushchairs. I shall keep looking! Has anyone had the Seed pli? I bought a bee+ last year thinking it would be great but sold it immediately, I thought it felt very plasticky and flimsy, really disappointed after the cam. Was I too hasty? Are they worth looking at?

[HypatiaTheProcrastinator]

46cm is about normal for a rear facing pushchair. Some taller ones are: Cam 50cm, Joolz 55cm, Seed Pli 55cm, BJCS 48cm, Bee+ 52.5cm, Cherry 50cm, Strawberry 50cm, Pinto 50cm.

[OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere]

I am a big fan of vintage silver cross. You can pick them up for a song on eBay.
I don't mean 1950s style just older models. The one that ome with detachable carrycots the you swop for a buggy seat.
I have big toddlers and I like to have them facing me for as long as I can get away with :)
The seat is so easy to swop around and there is loads of room for shopping small dogs in the tray underneath.
Look out for Country Classic.
Not so good for popping in the back of a small car though.

[Ihateparties]

To clarify the actual seat is back 46cm but the shape of the hood means there is an extra 15cm of headroom above up to the hood. For lying down purposes then 46 is what you have but for sitting up head height then it's nice and high It's defo worth going and looking at one somewhere if you could, see if you liked it. I say this particularly as you've had a cameleon and it is similar in the sense that there is some movement in the handle. It's the one thing I don't like as I seem to spend my life tipping my pushchairs up curbs. It folds all in one piece with the seat facing either way tho, which is a pretty rare thing.

[Babylon1]

I've got a M&P ultima system and seat will face both ways, my toddler age 2.8 still uses it and can comfortably nap in it if she needs to - lots for sale on eBay too!

[bluefootedpenguin]

That Jane muum has the longest seat back I have seen on a rearfacer, many are less than 50cm.

[bluefootedpenguin]

Ooh thanks for those! I was really disappointed when I sat him in the mutsy today to see that he is too tall already. Will definitely check these out. Thanks.x

[Ihateparties]

I'm staring at the new Jane Muum in my living room trying to decide whether to keep it... The seat is really roomy, 90cm full length, 46cm backrest, 25cm seat and 19cm leg rest bit (there is no footrest as such, it just stops). In addition there is 61cm from the base of the seat back to the canopy. 30cm wide up the seat back and 27cm wide on the actual seat. I'm not sure how this compares to other things as I have nothing else here to measure just now, it just looks large and really quite comfortable!

[NeverKnowinglyUnderstood]

old fashioned in comparison to others
but
we had this M&P system for the boys and it was brilliant for rear facing. nice and long and sturdy for larger toddlers. goes almost flat if they still have a nap and you are out and about but has a good upright mode as well.

Great storage underneath fo shopping.

ps we sold ours ages ago the link is just one I found of a picture on google.

[LadyofWinterfell]

My 2.7 yo tall DS fit comfortably in our Vigour 4 when we had the bad snow in feb, and you can get them for peanuts on ebay! (lovely adjustable handle too.)

[Daisybell1]

Do you need an off-roader? My herqules is a tank! But it does have a big seat and it's incredibly strong.

[HypatiaTheProcrastinator]

Also look at the Joolz Day. The seat's really high and very tall so he should fit well in it. It's really lovely to push and has a more solid feel than the Cameleon. It looks really big, but is actually only a tiny bit wider and a tad bigger folded than the Cam.

[bluefootedpenguin]

Secondhand I should imagine. Will have a look at the oyster too!

[tiredteddy]

I loved our Mutsy and it lasted well past toddlerdom until DS really shouldn't have been in a buggy any more. A dream to push and as you say great for still rear facing. Are buying new or second hand?

[bluefootedpenguin]

Thanks for the suggestions! I need an adjustable handle, I am nearly 5'10", so the cherry is out. I got the impression from reviews that the I candy seats aren't very big. Would like to pick something up asap. It doesn't matter about the large fold on the mura. Tempted by the mutsy still tho, can anyone compare the Mura and mutsy for me? Any preferences? Thanks

[Tiggywunkle]

The Mura has a fab seat, but the chassis is large folded and it has wide rear wheels, and poor access to the basket. But fab child comfort and lovely to push. The Vigour generally seems well liked. I am a little wary of the B-Smart as my toddler didn't sit well in the B-Dual. How about a second hand iCandy Apple, Cherry or Peach (differing prices) or a Babystyle Oyster? Or do you like 3 wheelers?