Advice please! wheels just fallen off pushchair - i need a new one!

[fasterthanthewind]

Help! On the school run yesterday the back left wheel completely came off our very well used McLaren XT (bought 2008, survived 2 children). So I need a new pushchair.

It's for DS2, aged 12 months - final child.

We have a Quest which I keep in the boot of the car, but it's ancient (off free cycle!) and just too juddery and light for the battering it's going to get here.

So I need something that will:

• survive for 2+ more years, carrying a fairly chunky medium-tall boy 3-5 miles/day
• suit 5 9 me and 6 4 DH (tho he seldom uses a pushchair)
• able to carry a bit of stuff (school bags etc) without falling over immediately
• recline enough for naps
• bus friendly

It doesn't need to fold enough for the car - only really used at weekends and we have the quest for then.

Definitely doesn't need to be new! V up for second hand.

Key question - should I bid on ebay bugaboo bees? will they last (i.e. be big enough)?

The seat on the bee is extendable, but I'm not sure you'd get two more years of use out of it. My LO is just 2 and is looking quite big for it really. The basket isn't brilliantly big and only really accessible from the front. Also its getting more difficult to push and less manouvreable as LO gets heavier. For the money a second hand bee will cost there are better options IMO. Lots of people swear by the baby jogger city mini, I've not used one as I have the city elite but the build quality on baby joggers is really good. I'm sure someone else will come along with more options soon!

Thank you! Yes, the people who love the bee all seem to have little ones (small toddlers, or babies) and I reckoned there must be A Reason.

Will have a look at the Baby Jogger - City Mini or City Elite?

Am now wondering if there's any way to mend the broken wheels on the Maclaren: problem is that I think the bit that sticks them onto the chassis has broken as well...

I hate change!

Baby Jogger City Mini. They are really highly regarded, and perfect for what you need. Although if you really like the maclaren xt you could buy a second hand one of those! Then it would only be a little change not a whole new pushchair!

Don't maclarens have a lifetime chassis guarantee? Might cover this.

I have a babystyle oyster and both I and DS adore it. Quite similar to bee but cheaper, he's only 17m but off the chart height wise and fits fine.

baby jogger is a 3 wheeler, is that right? just looked it up. Isn't it a nightmare to get on buses?

I'm going to get DH to have a proper look at the Maclaren to see if it really is totally dead - would much rather resurrect it than buy anything else. In the last few days buggy has broken, phone has been cut off, and washing machine has broken. And am suffering mystery stomach pains... Not the moment to enjoy browsing for a new buggy!

Baby Jogger City Mini but the GT for long term use, or the Elite, or look also at the B-Agile (not if you are tall) and B-Motion.

Baby Jogger City Mini. I used one from birth for my second DC until last year we took it to Florida and my 4 year old and 8 year old made use of it round the parks! It has a roomy seat, the hood comes right over to block out the sun. It is a very quick fold, just pull a strap on the seat and it folds, to open just shake it out. My husband who is 6 ft could comfortably push it. It's so easy to push one handed as well. It lasted 4 years and I was so pleased With the choice.

Baby Jogger do 3 wheelers, but the city mini has 2 small wheels at the front. It is not a nightmare to fold.

Baby Jogger city mini :) my 5yo has to be evicted from it to put dd2 in. It's a fab pushchair.

You can get a 4 wheeled bjcm.

The mini is quiet long on London buses I find though if that's where your using. When in recline it sticks out quiet far and due to handle it doesnt fit in behind pole on bus. Ie will only fit on if no other buggy there.

For this I would go for a bugaboo bee as the handle drops down and it really does fit in small spaces. On a London bus you can fit 3 bees but only one city mini due to handle/ wheels. The bee also fits very easily down bus aisle even when full. We don't use ourself ( have cameleon- which also fits better than mini), but friend uses with 3 year old fine, and our tall 2 and 3 year olds still fit so I would think it would last until not needed.

Contact a company online called Buggy Pitstop. They are either in or near London. But they fix prams/buggies or send you the bits to do it yourself. They refurbished the brakes on a Bugaboo a couple of years ago and a year later when a wheel shattered they sent me a replacement wheel and DH did it. They do many brands. Wheel arrived in less than 2 days.

that's really interesting re buses - yes is London buses, and every week (not every day) so it does need to work on them!

will have a good look at city mini, bee and def buggy pitstop, that sounds great.

would gladden all the green bones in my body if we can resurrect this one rather than getting something else (even if 2nd hand)