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Original poster

How important is parent facing?

29 replies

IJustWoreMyTrenchcoat · 18/12/2013 01:06

Hello, I've just posted a thread on Babyjogger vs Maclaren but am also wondering how important parent facing is and how long I will have to stick to my travel system for. How long is it generally recommended to have a baby parent-facing?

I don't really use a pushchair a great deal and often use a sling instead, but am hoping I will as my baby gets older and I buy something I like more than my current Vista. A bigger concern is if I get a Babyjogger or a Maclaren that is suitable for a newborn will I be able to use it with my next baby as well?

OP posts:
Ihateparties · 18/12/2013 10:38

Imo parent facing totally up to you, I like it up to 18months and beyond but only in a small package. If the pushchair is bigger than I would like it to be I end up using a sling or small, narrow forward facing pushchair (currently a red kite zumi or babyhome emotion xtreet but over the years there have been many others).

I'm totally with you on the Vista, it's huge. I have the same problem with the baby jogger personally, it's just too wide. The features, the quality and everything else is excellent but I can't live with the 62cm width. The versa is narrower, 59 or so but it's also a large pushchair. A lot of people don't have an issue with it the width of the city mini, it's only the fact you've already mentioned how the size of the vista is putting you off using it that makes me think you may not get on with another pushchair that is almost as wide.

I reckon from what you have said you'd be best off looking into smaller parent facing pushchairs, like the bugaboo bee, babystyle oyster, icandy raspberry (when it comes out). Perhaps an easywalker mini. Especially if you're thinking of using it for another child the investment becomes more worth it and your Vista should be worth a good amount when you want to selll it, especially if little used.

Original poster
IJustWoreMyTrenchcoat · 18/12/2013 11:15

I really regret not going for the Babyjogger Versa all along to be honest. As for the city Mini I'm not sure I would mind the width if it looked Smaller than the vista if you see what I mean. I feel like it looks so tank like.

The Oyster was one I looked at in a shop when I was pregnant, I don't think I can face buying it now! I did consider a Bee, but the price put me off for a second buggy and there's not a great second hand market whee I live. I wasn't aware of the iCandy raspberry so will definitely google that now.

OP posts:
Original poster
IJustWoreMyTrenchcoat · 18/12/2013 11:30

Arrgh, I am getting more and more drawn towards a Bugaboo Bee. It will work out expensive though unless I can get a second hand one by the time I add a canopy and footmuff etc. I actually searched for threads on mumsnet about using one with a newborn when I was pregnant but decided against it.

My trouble is there are so few places to try out pushchairs anywhere near me, and almost none with the makes I like.

OP posts:
mistlethrush · 18/12/2013 11:37

I never had parent facing - went straight to a mountain buggy to cope with the dog walking. DS doesn't seem to have been adversely affected - he can talk the hind legs off a donkey and has done for years. He used to like watching the dog chase her frisbee and generally look at things on walks too from a very early age, so I'm sure he would have been craning his neck to look round if he had been forward facing. Mind you, some people might have thought I was mad as I often used to talk when pushing the buggy - or sing.

MrsSteptoe · 18/12/2013 11:42

I really regretted not having a parent-facing, and I know a few other mums who have said the same thing - don't know if that helps! DS was also quite slow to get talking, but if I'd had a parent-facing, the same may well have been the case - you never know, do you? He was such a constant extended napper, that's the most likely reason why his speech was a bit delayed - always snoring his head off instead of listening to me. *pauses to consider parallels with DH

cathpip · 18/12/2013 11:44

I second everything that mistlethrush has said! we have a mountain buggy because of dogs and both my children prefered front facing,they like to see where they are going. Am hoping baby no3 is the same! Also worth mentioning is that my ds has a hearing loss for which he wears aids, his speech is age appropriate, and bearing in mind that he is very visual the front facing buggy has not hindered his progress.

Patilla · 18/12/2013 11:45

I find it really useful when doing school runs at times that don't always suit DD. no more peering around to see what is going on and DS can walk next to me and we all chat and face each other and love it as a result.

But that suited our circumstances

Original poster
IJustWoreMyTrenchcoat · 18/12/2013 11:46

Ha ha, my nearly 5 month old is a nosey Parker now. Always looking over his shoulder at what's going on around him.

It's so hard to decide whether to go for a fixed forward-facing or something that can do both. I'm scared I'll make another mistake.

Ihateparties can I ask if the Bee would be suitable for my next pushchair until it's no longer needed? I mean is it small and lightweight enough? I've had a look at dimensions and I like the smaller width. I might just plough on with the Vista now and consider city mini/bee/raspberry when some reviews of raspberry are out.

OP posts:
JoinYourPlayfellows · 18/12/2013 11:47

I like parent-facing, but all my children wanted to be front facing once they were old enough to express a preference.

I will get my revenge for their rejection of me :o

AnaisB · 18/12/2013 11:48

DD had a parent-facing, but when DS was born I got a forward facing double. His speech is fine! - I'm not questioning the research, but this is just one thing amongst lots of other things that could make a slight difference.

neunundneunzigluftballons · 18/12/2013 11:48

If I had the option I would have liked parent facing for longer. The pram stage faced but the pushchair did not so at 4 mths mine turned around. I bought my buggy 9 years ago so the fact it has lasted I cannot complain but it was actually a crap time for buggies. I would have rathered say 6 months before turning and then I think they get to see the world but it was not possible. In the scheme of things given mine all generally nodded off in the buggy it was not a big deal but I would have preferred the choice.

rootypig · 18/12/2013 11:56

Hey OP, I've had a second hand Bee with DD since birth (paid 250 for a year old, v good condition, in London). Well I've really hammered it! It is really light - I can carry it and 13mo DD in it up and own steps no problem and I'm not a big or very fit person! Funny you are asking about parent facing - I switched her to outward at about 7mo as I felt she wanted to look around. Now at 13mo I am going to switch her back - she's going through a clingy stage, and is also very verbal, so I think it will benefit us. I'm so glad to have the option! There really is nothing but the Bee that is small, light, great for a newborn, and faces both ways.

Negatives: two handed fold (not difficult but you cannot do it with one - the unfold you can though). Small wheels - don't cope with much more than bumpy city streets. It will feel very different fom a Vista.

NotCitrus · 18/12/2013 12:49

I found that when I was using a buggy, either I was walking fast to get somewhere so not watching the baby, or the baby was asleep or nearly, or it was parked so I could position it to look at the baby just as well with it facing forwards. Plenty of other times to pay attention to my face, which I made efforts to do.

Never regretted my Maclaren XT for two babies from birth/six weeks.

TribbleWithoutATardis · 18/12/2013 12:52

Not sure parent facing is that important, I use a sling a lot as well. But both mine have FF from early on (city mini) and they seem fine.

That being said, I would love a versa and that will be my next pushchair if I have my way. Wink

BigWellyLittleWelly · 18/12/2013 12:55

DD1 hated being FFacing and resolutely screamed her head off whenever I tried. She was in a carrycot until 5months then the buggy seat on an icandy.

DD2 also had the carrycot but by then I had a MB (which is my soulmate) so she is often FF from 4months and she seems to love it. We do have a cocoon so I think the being enclosed helps. Best bit about the MB is I can put DD1 (a very tall 3yo) in it ane put baby in a sling if we need to.

BB01 · 18/12/2013 12:57

Don't know if you've considered the iCandy Cherry but it's relatively small and lightweight but a bit sturdier than the Cherry. It faces both ways and we love it!

NoComet · 18/12/2013 12:58

To those of us with 12&15 year olds it's a newfangled idea and something I never worked about.
Just came to wave to the mountain buggy owners as DD1 had a very early one.

No one had seen a three wheeler and everyone called it my baby wheel barrow.

Bloody brilliant, go anywhere wheel barrow.

Original poster
IJustWoreMyTrenchcoat · 18/12/2013 14:56

Thank you all for your opinions, I needn't torture myself about somehow depriving my baby if if face him forwards, as long as I keep up the interaction at other times. He loves looking at our faces and giggles so much when we sing to him, but he is also very curious so would probably love it if I went with that option. It would be nice to have the option though as rootypig has said! especially to use it should another baby come along (thinking of a nice big gap at the moment!).

BB01 I wish I'd trusted my gut about my travel system being too big and gone for something like the iCandy Cherry. Do you think you will carry on using it or swap for something smaller at some point?

OP posts:
BB01 · 18/12/2013 19:01

To be honest I'm just not a fan of smaller umbrella stroller types so we'll stick with it for now. It is much lighter and narrower than most my friends' pushchairs and tbh it's hard to fault. It's not as shiny as the newer iCandy models but it's also cheaper. I loved the Bee but found iCandy wheels better for where we live and found Bee really low too.

dyslexicdespot · 18/12/2013 19:14

The health authorities in the country I am from ( a scandi land) strongly recommend parent facing prams. We chose one for this reason, and because I wanted to be able to see DS.

I love having conversations with him while we are out. listening to his observations and insights make my day.

Of course, it is not possible to generalise personal experience to a wider population, so here are some links that you might find useful.

www.literacytrust.org.uk/talk_to_your_baby/resources/1573_buggy_research-latest_campaign_news

www.theguardian.com/society/2008/nov/21/baby-development-buggies-sutton-trust

dyslexicdespot · 18/12/2013 19:17

We have this pram and love it.

www.brio.net/en/To_Go_Stroller/Prams_and_Pushchairs/Go.aspx

Meglet · 18/12/2013 19:49

It wasn't important to me, the dc's faced forward from birth in their 3 wheeler. They could interact with all the old ladies and didn't have to look at my tired face all the the time.

poocatcherchampion · 18/12/2013 21:18

Ive still got dd1 parent facing now and we love it and chat all the time. she has never been ff in it. she has in the buggy though but we dont use that at the mo because dd2 needs a seat/bed too.

not essential IMO but lovely to have.

hazchem · 20/12/2013 22:40

I have a Techno XT and I really wish we had something that can parent face because DS(2.5) spends his time trying to talk to me so I stop all the time because I can't hear him. I only heard about PF prams a week after we got the XT. I can't buy another pram now but I know I will be looking at something that can PF in the next one. That and a single handle.

Sharaluck · 20/12/2013 22:46

Parent facing was essential imo until around 6 months. I couldn't imagine not having this option and if I didn't I don't think I would've used the buggy much tbh.

After 6 months I used it variably.

After 12 months dc much preferred forward facing and if I did parent facing by mistake they would be twisting themselves around to see what what happening in front!