How important is parent facing?

[IJustWoreMyTrenchcoat]

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?

[mistlethrush]

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.

[IJustWoreMyTrenchcoat]

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.

[IJustWoreMyTrenchcoat]

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.

[Ihateparties]

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.