Help, not bought a pushchair for years - no idea what's about nowadays!

[BobandBenway]

Help!

I'm currently pg with no.4, but not due till July. My other kids are older and I haven't bought a pushchair for over 8yrs, so I have no idea about all the brands that are around now (God, I feel so old!).

Anyway, this is what I think I'd need:

We do a lot of walking in the woods etc, also we have an allotment, so something that can cope with rough paths. We also use public transport a lot so something that can fit on buses, trains etc. Sometimes we might go by car so nothing too massive that won't fit in the boot (though I suspect we won't be going anywhere by car lots that would then involve use of buggy, but you never know - so maybe not that important!). I'm also thinking of buying a sling, but no idea how I'll get on with that.

Basically, we go on lots of days out, so need something suitable for public transport, that's not going to be heavy & awkward to push about all day, has enough room to carry all our bits & bobs in it, can cope with all sorts of terrain, and of course is comfortable for baby!

I'd like a biggish basket if possible. Also needs to be suitable from birth. If possible, I'd like a rear facing option, though I suspect this may put it out of my budget!

I'm not afraid to buy second hand (and I think I may have to as finding something that meets all this is likely to be one of the super-expensive ones!), but I need to know what I'm looking for, as I said, it's been a long time since I bought a pushchair!

Any help or advice much appreciated!

Bob & Benway

Hmm have a look at the Baby Jogger Versa GT. Is that in your budget?

bob - go to a local sling meet, i have a moby, baby is 5 weeks, my fancy travel system is still packaged, i cant believe i didnt find slings before - so so easy

I would have suggested uppababy vista, but I am not sure about public transport. It folds v easily and can cope with rough terrains (not woods though, not sure what can apart from a sling or a babybjorn)

of course you could buy my pram, which meets all your requirements

I am not sure if I would want to be digging up potatoes with the baby in a sling !

you would be surprised what dedicated sling wearers (not me I am new to it) do with slings.

Thanks everyone!

Tiggy - I had been looking at the BabyJoggers, but wasn't sure if they were any good or not! I like the Versa, but it's only from 6 months, so I'd need to add a carrycot which I wouldn't really want to buy (and then it would be slightly over my budget too!). But worth considering! It reminds me of the pushchair I had for 1st dc (bought second hand for 50 quid 14 years ago!) - you could remove the seat and flip it round so could be parent facing or outward facing - can't remember what make it was, but I loved it!

Also, what's the difference between the Versa and the Versa GT? Is it the wheels? I can only see the Versa online.

I quite like the look of the BJ City Mini GT - do you think that would meet my needs? It also looks like it will be quite a decent size for an older toddler (though then perhaps it will be massive for a tiny baby!). It reminds me of the Graco I had years ago with big wheels & massive basket!

What about the BJ Summit XC? Or would that be overkill?! (thinking it might look a bit ridiculous just going up to the shops??) How big is it (think I should maybe go into town and have a look!)? It's hard to tell from online pics.

And then there's also the BJ City Elite???

I like the Uppababy but way out of my price range sadly (seriously, I don't remember pushchairs being that expensive last time around! ).

Letme - it was the Moby wrap I was thinking of!

You know, thinking again about what I'll need. Baby isn't due till end of July, and we don't really tend to go to allotment, woods, days out etc in Nov/Dec/Jan, so perhaps I could get away with the wrap for those first few months then the Versa would suit from Feb onwards? I'm presuming we'll be at the allotment in autumn but chances are, once the baby is here I won't be arsed! Maybe I could get away with the wrap? But then, I think I'd still need some sort of pushchair? I'd like the option of being able to put baby down somewhere safe if need be, and also somewhere to carry our stuff! What do you do if out with baby in a sling? Do you take a rucksack as well? Not sure how I'd manage all our stuff if out for the day!

I've got plenty of time to think about it though, but at least this is a start! Initial thinking is the BJ City Mini GT - any pros & cons?

Thanks!

Slings are great, so useful but for full days out with 3 older children plus all the stuff you need... it's a wildly different experience to one newborn

Things that spring to my mind, same as Tiggy really, Versa GT, City Mini GT, a MB swift if you're not bothered about parent facing beyond the carrycot stage. The Versa has by far the best basket, it's huge, the city mini and swift much less voluminous. You could always add hamster bags or side nets or something though, smaller basket is probably the easiest problem to get around.

If you don't buy a carrycot (or maybe find a bargain 2nd hand one on ebay perhaps, then sell on and recoup when you're finished with it) then a nice footmuff on a BJCMGT would make it snug enough for a baby, although I suppose july is an awkward month for snug... a sheepskin perhaps? I have a cotton covered memory foam liner that would be great for something like that, as a sort of seat minimiser.

My feeling is you wouldn't go wrong with a gt, esp with the days out and public transport because if folds so easily and so flat.

I have 3 under 5 so I'm not sure where that came from.

I find the sling easier with the 3 of them than a buggy

Yes I take a rucksack if out for the day - if DH is along we have a battered janepowertwin that we use for "stuff" but mostly I just take a bag - we don't take much stuff though, a few nappies packet of wetwipes, spare pants and a clean babygrow - dcs (3 and 4) both have little rucksacks for snacks and things.

Only time we have used Powertwin is when we went on holiday for a week last week.

Seriously I haven't unpacked my travel system - its all still packaged up - that's why I wondered if you could manage without.

When I am alone with DCs I find wrap more practical - I tried baby in pram once - screamed place down, even dh has to wear him.

By pram I mean Powertwin not lovely one I got for baby

Ooooh impressive, I would totally combust for full days out especially! Just goes to show what works for one doesn't work for another I guess. I seem to do it the other way round, shorter stuff, day to day sling and others on foot is good but all day with youngest on me and the other two free roaming plus carrying coats, picnic and stuff like that is making me panic slightly.. even just sitting here :-/

Okay... so it could go either way then! Two people on this thread, same number of children in basic age bracket (3 under 5) and TOTALLY different experiences. Seemingly you can totally get by without a pushchair, so maybe that would work for you OP.

I really couldn't use slings full time and deal with the older DCs and keep my sanity. Hats orf to those who do

There should be a hats off emicon actually...

I dont think you will go far wrong with a Baby Jogger City Mini GT. I have had all the Baby Joggers apart from the Summit - a bit like you I think its overkill for nipping to the shops with but it has good suspension and for off road its hard to beat. It doesn't look quite as big when you see it out and about TBH. I have an Elite and like the lift up calf rest for a baby, but I have to say I think the GT is the best. If you dont want parent facing, then its an excellent choice.
If you want parent facing, then look more at the Versa. The Versa GT simply has the chunkier wheels on, but also has less suspension. There's information here on it. Oh and it also has a black frame rather than the gun metal grey.
Its a limited edition at present because the importers were testing out how well it sells before ordering more. So only certain shops hold stock. So if you want one, you need to grab one. Try Ladybugs, Winstanleys, itsababy or Peppermint for stock.