Newborn with limited space

[anthonys]

Hi,

I'm trying to decide on the best options for a baby that will be spending the first few months of he's life in a small flat.

I'm thinking of either getting something like the Uppababy vista to use for transport as well as a cot when home (turning in to a stroller later).

Or ..

Buy a smaller pushchair (like the babyjogger city mini - I understand can still be used to transport newborn?) combined with a sling for short trips and a separate cot.

Would both solutions work? The first is more expensive but maybe use less space? Any advice of which would be better? We plan to move to a larger flat 3-6 months after birth.

Thanks.

[mamadivazback]

How about the petite star njoy bubble, its a lightweight umbrella stroller which faces both ways and folds pretty easily for travel and a graco petit basinette travel cot which is fab from 0-6 months

[Tiggywunkle]

I would probably say get the Baby Jogger City Mini - I think you struggle to beat it. If you have a larger budget though (which I guess you have if you are looking at a Vista) then consider the Uppababy Cruz which is smaller, or the Baby Jogger Versa which woud give you the parent facing option but still small fold.

[forevergreek]

Try the Phil and teds smart with bassinet added

[ChunkyPickle]

We were in the same position - we used a sling (meitai - baby hawk style thing) until he was 9 months, when we finally bought a cheap umbrella fold so his grandparents could easily take him out (although in practise he was walking by then, and didn't want to go in it.....)

We were lucky though, because we lived in a city, and didn't need a car seat/attachments so saw little point in getting the whole rig.

If you use a car, your best bet is probably getting one of those frames which take the carseat (since you'll likely have to store that anyway - people don't seem to leave them in the car).

I sound very lentil weavy, but we co-slept so didn't need a cot, although I used a pack and play once he was mobile and had to be contained.

[anthonys]

Thanks for the advice. Yes sounds like a smaller pushchair is the better option, combined with a sling for short trips. Are the city mini and petite star suitable without anything else for a newborn? I'm thinking a sling is best for bus travel, which would be the most common form of transport for us in inner city London..

[forevergreek]

I'm not sure about those ones but really really look at the Phil and teds smart.

It's a reasonable price
Baby can be rear or forward facing
The bassinet will allow baby to sleep in for up to 6 months ( you can also buy a folding frame for this peanut carrycot to sit on as Moses basket)
Small enough and easy on and off London buses
Can fit car seat if needed

The bassient fit a lot of other Phil and tedd also so a good
Resale of that when baby is too big ( sold ours for £10 less than we brought it for)

Also get a sling though for tubes/ stairs etc

( we used in small 1 bed central London flat- bounces uP stairs fine if needed)

[mamadivazback]

The petite star is suitable from birth with no extras although I'd add a footmuff or sheepskin for extra comfort.

The city mini is a fab pushchair I'm prehnant with dc2 and would love another city mini but really want rear facing without the carrycot. Although it is suitable from birth as it lays flat Burt would again add the footmuff or sheepskin for padding.

[anthonys]

Yes, I too would prefer something that can be rear facing so unfortunately have ruled out the city mini even though the reviews are good and tried it out in John Lewis the other day and was about the right size!

The bugaboo cameleon seemed like a nice sized, light option too - just seemed overpriced for what it was. There are too many options.. The search continues.. :)

[Ihateparties]

Are you still trying to decide whether you want a full pram set up or try to get by with something smaller so you won't end up making a second purchase down the line.. or am i misunderstanding?
Someone not long ago was looking into which carrycots are truly suitable for overnight sleeping and it was really hard to find out. I will try to re find the info...
There are quite a few small size cots available now too, kiddicare do one if not more, there is also one called the alma bloom that I saw in a shop the other day which folds up when not in use. Also comes in cool colours (if you care about that sort of thing!)
Hmmm, suggestions

• Moses basket/compact cot in the house and bugaboo bee (small enough to keep using indefinitely plus parent facing newborn friendly seat). I would love to know of a genuine competitor to the bee for small narrow parent facer, the njoy bubble isn't here yet and the one I saw although it says it's suitable from birth it is by no means a flat seat.
  

Or

• Cameleon, Gecko, Vista etc. as all in one solution. I would have said ICandy Peach too but it's really pretty heavy and maybe not that suitable for a flat. Lots of very nice condition used bugaboos if you're willing to look second hand.
  

ChunkyPickle I had a nice little chuckle reading your post and imagining trying to conduct my life with a walking 9 month old with me

[anthonys]

Ok, the saga continues.. I never thought there would be so many options available! I constantly look at pushchairs in the streets now. Seems central London is full of Buggaboo Bee+s and Mclaren strollers, suspect that's because they are popular brands and not many people want to research?

I've done some more homework and written down my requirements:

• Light weight for easy use on public transport
  
• Reversible seat
  
• Preferable no need for an extra carry cot (if required then at least one that can double as an overnight cot)
  

These are the models I've got on the top of my list (cheapest to most expensive):

• Jane muum matrix light 2 £450 (carry cot can be used overnight)
  
• iCandy strawberry 12kg £450 (John Lewis attendant said could get away with no carrycot?)
  
• Easywalker June £550 (looks like no need for carrycot?)
  
• Silvercross surf (or elevation) 11.3kg £600 (no carrycot)
  
• Stokke xplory 10.5 kg £725 (no carrycot and doubles as a high chair)
  

If anyone can help me cross any models out I'd be grateful, the less options I have now the better! :)

[Ihateparties]

Do you know if you will need to fold it for public transport? If so then it might be worth taking a sling out with you so you can put the baby in there when you need to fold (as so few things are simple enough to fold whilst holding a baby).

A while back I ordered a Muum on a bit of a convoluted whim (waiting for the Twone, the double version which has same frame but different seats) and it's very light, the seat until was really lovely and does lie flat even though it says suitable from 6 months?? It is on the larger side though, It felt long but it does fold and freestand all in one piece whichever way the seat is facing, which could be a big bonus. I ended up sending mine back only because I simply won't use a single as DC2 and 3 are just too little.
Tiggy and I saw the June a while back, it looks really brilliant. Bit heavy to lift but really seems to have everything we want in a pushchair. I suspect you do need the carrycot for a newborn though but check that out, I could be wrong. This would be my pick though, if I was starting from the beginning.
Can't really offer much on the other 3 options except to say I have heard that the Stokke is seriously lacking in suspension and the surf is a bit spindly and not great on terrain either.

The proliferation of bees I think is because it's the smallest parent facer you can get

[forevergreek]

Phil and teds smart as mentioned :)

Seriously has been a lifesaver here

There is a carrycot from birth but is suitable for overnight
Plus from 4 months can have main seat facing you and then out whenever you like.

£250 total including carrycot

[forevergreek]

philandteds.com/uk/Products/Push/smart#Overview

Is 8kg also so light

[Tiggywunkle]

The Phil&Teds Smart has the most horrible hand position ever! Your wrists practically touch and I felt like a duck walking with my elbows in the air!

The Easywalker June and Strawberry both definitely need a carrycot. The Surf has a snug insert but I have to say it cuts into the baby at the sides and also the baby is left very exposed on the surface of the seat unit. I wouldn't have used it - and would have bought the carrycot.

I have been doing a lot of research on carrycots and here in the UK and I have been told by two manufacturers there is no safety regulation that specifically says a carrycot is safe for overnight sleeping or not here in the UK. There is a regulation surrounding moses baskets which some carrycots conform to, but it still doesn't mean its safe for overnight sleeping. I have discovered there is a certain height between the mattress and the top of the carrycot which makes the carrycot safer but there is still nothing here in the UK that says it is safe to use a carrycot for overnight sleeping. Bugaboo and Uppababy have very well ventilated carrycots for example and iCandy sell mattresses for certain carrycots, but it is a very very blurry line. I think its safe to say, some carrycots definitely should not be used, but its equally true to say that no carrycot here is 100% certified as safe for overnight sleeping. But I think there's lots of SIDS guidance plus well ventilated carrycots are not dissimilar to moses baskets so I think some manufacturers have done their best to make carrycots safer but its all very much for the user to decide where they want their baby to sleep. After all its not that long since babies were put in the bottom drawer to sleep!!! LOL

Just to add, I wouldn't worry about using the Stokke as a highchair - TBH in a restaurant you may well be forced to leave the pushchair away from the table, plus you probably wont want your pushchair getting filthy with food throwing all over it, and we travel a fair bit and all the pushchairs we have used lately all pushed under the table and were the right height for feeding anyway. The Surf and Strawberry would both be fine. The June may be too low. But we also just have a clip on highchair seat which sits under the pushchair if we are going out.

Did you look at the Baby Jogger Versa?

[forevergreek]

Really? Iv never had that problem. Used by people 5.4" and 6.2" so not sure height makes a difference either

Suppose that means someone should try before they buy incase they find that

( we took abroad and 4 friends have now sold previous buggys and ordered due to the ease of use)

[anthonys]

I did look at the BabyJogger Versa, and it was on my list - removed it because it's heavier and about the same price as the EasyWalker June..

[anthonys]

Actually just discovered yet another model at a shop down the road, Mutsy. I'd never heard of it before but apparently made in the Netherlands and quite good reviews?

mutsy.com/gben/4rider-single-spoke/

[mamadivazback]

Mutsy are good but they are mahoosive beasts!

How about britax b smart (£216), suitable from birth and faces both ways.

Or Bebecar £299 and as above.

I got these prices at //www.preciouslittleone.com

[Tiggywunkle]

The Mutsy Evo is really neat and tiny folded with the seat off. it's not really like the other Mutsys and is fab value for money and is hard to beat as a pushchair TBH.

[anthonys]

You're right, just went and tried the standard mutsy frame and it's a lot bigger than I expected!

[milk]

anthonys - any idea which pram you are going with?

[upleduff]

When is the oyster gem out as it looks good

[BikeRunSki]

You won't go wrong with a Babyjogger City Mini. It is suitable for a newborn, although I used it with a P&Cocoon to make it snugglier, as DD was born in October. It was a perfect fit. I got my BJCM for my older child when he was 2 - it is suitable from newborn to walking and is nice and compact.

[anthonys]

Milk - not really :p Top of my list are the June, Muum and keep coming back to the Cameleon ( because of its size/weight ). I can't find anywhere in London to try the Muum and waiting for the June to be released.. Baby due in 4 months so still got some time. I'm also wondering whether something like the njoy would be acceptable.

Thanks bikerunski, the BCM looked great but it's not reversible and that was one of our requirements.

[Tiggywunkle]

If you have the money and space get something like the Cameleon or June rather than the Bubble. There is no comparison.