Help me find a pram (exciting thread alert...)

[AlexaChelsea]

Yeah, so I'm sure most people have better things to do of a Friday evening, but I need some advice/recommendations for prams so, let's go.

The things I want:

Easy to fold
Easy to fit in boot
Easily moveable handle height (DH is massive, I'm small)
Pram to pushchair facility so it lasts the whole buggy-life of the child
Maybe takes a car seat? Don't know if it matters..
Good for going for walks

The things I don't care about:

Going on public transport
Space for shopping

I don't want to say 'money is no object', because that would be wildly overestimating our account balance. But I am prepared to spend money on a good pram.

So, let's have it.

[MrsFlorrick]

Cameleon is bugaboos standard "big" stroller (ie lots of features and costs). Bugaboo donkey is a double side by side stroller which converts to a single stroller- you only need this one if you have twins or baby and toddler. The Buffalo is their newest stroller out only a few weeks. It's like the Cameleon but its one handed fold without taking the seat unit off and it's got 4 off road wheels.

The Stokke Xplory is the all singing all dancing Stokke. The scoot is their compact urban one handed fold stroller and the Crusi converts to a double stroller.

I guess you don't need a double so forget about Crusi and donkey.

[MrsFlorrick]

Bugaboo also do a Bee. It's a very small stroller and good if you go on buses etc. it didn't appeal to me. Lots of people rate them though.

[AlexaChelsea]

Yeah, I like that stokke scoot fellow.

[AlexaChelsea]

I'll never be using a bus. Or if, for some reason I did, it would be a one off. So I can rule out bee.

So buffalo is a better version of chameleon (for me, I'm all about this one handed fold) so I can rule out chameleon.

I only have one internal child, so I can rule out donkey and crusi, as you say.

This is getting better.

So, scoot, xplory or buffalo.

[MrsFlorrick]

Morecars. Get a Donkey!!! Even if its second hand on eBay. It saved me after DS was born. I had a new born and a 2 yo. It made my life easy. Plus good storage basket meant I could bring all the crap needed for both DC and shopping home.

Not only does it have cool features but DC love sitting next to each other. It's practical in every single way.

Best thing. It's exactly 69cm wide when in double mode. Why important? Well because all shops and public building must conform to disability regulation for wheelchair access and that is 70cm width. So that means Donkey goes anywhere.

I loved it.

[MrsFlorrick]

Alexa. If you want one handed fold. You are down to buffalo and Scoot. Stokke is easier than the Cameleon but not one handed and seat has to come off to go in car.

I would go to see the scoot in Mothercare or Kiddiecare. And then to John Lewis to have a go with the buffalo. It's the only way to decide.

[AlexaChelsea]

I will do all those things.

Thank you, immensely.

[morecars]

You're a bad influence MrsFlorrick . Just not sure if I can be arsed with the fold on the Donkey every day... How tedious is it?

Alexa, I know you're trying to narrow it down, but have a look at the Versa and Vista as well, JL will have both. Good luck!

PS have you seen www.bestbuggy.co.uk? It's tiggywunkle's site (she's a MNer) and it's really really helpful.

[MrsFlorrick]

Morecars. Not tedious really. The Donkey folds better than a Cameleon IMO.
I could lay the seats flat and fold the wheels and get it into the boot of the car like that. Admittedly only just.

Oddly that worked best in the BMW 535 and not so well in the X5. Mainly because you would have to lift it higher off the ground for the X5.

[Tiggywunkle]

My ears are burning
Thanks Morecars :)

The iCandy Apple is a pushchair that springs to mind with a very adjustable handle. The Bugaboo Buffalo has a very adjustable handle too but I am finding it heavy to lift as a one piece into my car - I take mine apart now. I have to say, I love my iCandy Peach - its so easy to use. I can't wait to see the Easywalker MINI - I am wondering if it will be as good as I hope. I think the Mutsy IGO would be worth a close look and I like my Britax Affinity.

The best advice I can give though is to get to a really good independent pushchair shop or two and have a good play. Once you have narrowed the field down then read some honest reviews :)

[Tiggywunkle]

Oh and definitely look at the Baby Jogger Versa too!