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Pushchairs

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Original poster

Am I going over the top here?

31 replies

HowAboutNo · 04/01/2014 12:47

I'm between the bugaboo bee and the uppababy vista. Same price bracket (sort of) but majorly different in terms of usage.

Anyway, my other pregnant friends are only spending £250 max as they say anything over is excessive and a waste. What do you think? Do I need to go for a cheaper pram or am I buying into quality products that are going to last? Don't want to spend money I don't have to. Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Thurlow · 04/01/2014 12:50

My.experience is that needs change as your baby turns into a toddler. I know a lot of people who changed to an umbrella stroller after a year. Those are both good pushchairs, but if you can only afford them by not buying another pushchair for years, I would.probably recommend a slightly cheaper pram.

17leftfeet · 04/01/2014 12:52

Unless you walk miles everyday, spending a lot of money on a pram is pointless

I don't know anyone that was still using the same pram by the time the child was 14 months

Mumraathenoisylion · 04/01/2014 12:56

I made the mistake of getting a cheap pram with dc1. It made my life very difficult and I had awful backache because of it, I had a mothercare my something or other. It broke a lot, was really difficult to get in the car and tough to manoeuvre anywhere.

I now have dc2 and bought a stokke which I LOVE! I can push easily and turn with one hand, it has had no issues and is really easy to collapse.

I would say if it is something you will use daily or even every other day it's worth it.

Boobybeau · 04/01/2014 13:08

We got a cheep push chair 1st and I hated it and ended up getting the bee anyway so it cost me more in the end so its a total false economy. I love our bee, it's so easy to push and just as easy to fold down as an umbrella push chair IMO, it just doesn't fold up as small but it's still quite compact. It lasted us years and I never felt the need to replace it and now still using it for dc2. I also love that it can be rear facing so we can chat as we're walking along. I'd totally recommend it and would by it again. Hope that's helpful.

whitewineforme · 04/01/2014 13:23

I think you generally get a better quality pram when you buy one of the more expensive brands but I'm sure there are some exceptions. I would rather spend more and be 100% happy with my choice than try and save money on something you will be using constantly. Not everyone changes to an umbrella stroller, I haven't and my DC is 19 months now. If I were you, I would just go with what you want as long as you have researched both prams and tried them out to make sure you are happy with your decision. Doesn't matter what your friends think or what they want to spend if you are doing what is right for you and your budget!

jumperooo · 04/01/2014 13:27

We bought a Vista and have used it for 15 months. We don't have a car so it gets used a lot. It's a dream to push and DD loved being in it. But its big. I wouldn't want to fold and unfold for a car several times a day. I tried other pushchairs and nothing compared to the Vista for us, even a more expensive bugaboo, icandy, etc. Had we been on a smaller budget I would have probably gone for a bjcm, though they don't parent face and are not as nice quality as some other brands.

Am selling our Vista now if you are interested!

Thurlow · 04/01/2014 13:34

Yes, I think you have to think about your lifestyle more than the pushchair. Will you be putting the baby in a car seat every day? If so, will you still need a pushchair every day too? Will you be walking into town every day? Would you be going on public transport a lot? etc

Awakeagain · 04/01/2014 13:45

We got the oyster and carrycot and car seat that all interchange
Ds has just turned 14 months and we still use it
We have got a cheapie 2nd hand second one to take to Cornwall with us in the summer as the oyster takes up too much boot space

stargirl1701 · 04/01/2014 13:48

We bought a Stokke Xplory and have used it every day since DD was born (16 months). Hands down, our best purchase. No-one else I met at baby groups is still using their original pram except us. Just a fantastic pram, I guess!

CrazyOldCatLady · 04/01/2014 13:54

We went through a few different buggies with DD and in the end a second hand Bugaboo was what suited best, and stayed with us for DS. And when we were finished with it, we sold it for what we'd originally paid for it.

MiaowTheCat · 04/01/2014 13:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HorraceTheOtter · 04/01/2014 14:03

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Original poster
HowAboutNo · 04/01/2014 18:36

Thanks for the responses... Really need to figure out what and when I'll be using it.

OP posts:
Bagoffrogs · 04/01/2014 18:43

With the benefit of hindsight I would have just bought the Bugaboo which DH deemed to expensive. Two DCs -- a Pliko Pramette system, Baby Jogger plus various accessories for both AND a stroller for holidays, I think we've ended up spending almost the same. The Pliko was fab, but I couldn't steer once DD2 came along when DD1 was 2.9. Buy something you can steer one handed Wink

cantthinkofagoodone · 04/01/2014 18:47

We've used a babyjogger city mini from birth. Ds is 18 months old. It was £160 from kiddicare

pinkandsparklytoo · 04/01/2014 18:51

I used a Bugaboo Cameleon from birth right up until DS2 stopped needing a pushchair. I've just put it up the loft for DC3 when they are born in a few months. I bought mine second hand off Ebay and definitely wish I had gotten one for DS1, would have saved loads

Alanna1 · 04/01/2014 19:00

I have a bee. Once my DC1 was c.12m, I mainly used my mclaren - partly as DC1 was heavy and the mcl is much lighter, partly for the size and ease of folding at nursery. I now use the Bee with DC2, & really appreciate how much easier it is to steer. But one downside of the bee is no separate carrycot. When both kids were under 6m, I envied the chameleon. I don't now as the bee is a lot more nimble for city streets, shops, buses, tube etc. The reality is your needs change.

If you are planning a second DC, I have two friends, one who bought a phil and teds, one a donkey - planning ahead!! - for the single baby stage (but without all the doubles stuff), then bought the rest with DC2. Which gives you a heavier pram for the first 6m, but saves you c.£700plus longer term.

So yes, I now have three buggies, and use all of them interchangably. And otherwise trip over them.

FurryGiraffe · 04/01/2014 19:12

I love my Vista. It's a dream to push: today I was one handed in the rain (other hand for umbrella!) with a pretty fully shopping basket (and the basket is huge!) MiL (childminder with many a pram and pushchair under her belt) loves it too. I have a spinal condition and was really worried about the strain that prams etc might put on my back, but I haven't had any problems at all.

The thing that really put me off Bugaboos when I was buying is how low to the ground the baby is in them. The baby is really quite a long way away from you which makes it harder to interact. The Vista is a nice height for chatting- both to me and to random people in shops and at pedestrian crossings!

Only1scoop · 04/01/2014 19:17

We had a great deal on a stokke xplory and got heaps of use out of it. Especially good if you are tall. So yes I would probably spend a little more.

Ihateparties · 04/01/2014 20:00

I'm on the fence... on the one hand the quality isn't quite the same when you spend a lot less but on the other you can get a Graco Evo from kiddicare atm for well under £200 and it's a great pushchair. I have had others in a similar price bracket, such as the Joie Chrome, that have been fab and others that have been next to useless Hauck I'm looking at you here.

StarsUponThars · 04/01/2014 20:12

We had a Bugaboo Bee, and used it until DS didn't need a pram any more. It's a nice little pram, miles smaller than most other from newborn prams.

Original poster
HowAboutNo · 04/01/2014 23:22

I am warming towards the bugaboo bee, just because I think it may suit me a little better. I'm thinking of the places I go currently and the fact I'll be alone a lot because of DH working, so I'll need something light and no fuss, though how low the bee is does put me off.

OP posts:
SantaisnearlyhereIhavebeengood · 04/01/2014 23:46

i have a bee didnt have it when my dc where new born though. they can be a little open for new borns. you will need a cocoon or a nest to put in it. Bugaboo make them or you can get some very pretty custom made ones check out e bay.
what i love about the bee is that you can change the hoods so you never get board with having the same pram.

you get what you pay for with prams the same as with everything else. there is no comparison between a cheap stroller and a bee.

i also have a stokke xplory and the height in it is fantastic my dd loves it.

DisneyAddict88 · 05/01/2014 00:01

the bugaboo bee is one of my best buys - so light and easy to push my dd is 18 months and still using parent facing.

I did start with a second hand bugaboo gecko which I loved unfortunately there was a fault with the frame which couldnt be fixed then tried a bugaboo frog (old version of the cameleon) but I couldnt carry up and down to our flat. so settled with bee and very happy Grin

Tiggywunkle · 05/01/2014 00:10

I think looking at what you REALLY need is the most important. If you think a Bee will suit you best through all stages, then you would probably get better value for money from it and never ever want to look at an umbrella fold stroller. Whereas, I could easily see you yearning for a smaller fold pushchair in future if you bought the Vista. This isn't a bad thing though if you are aware it may well happen. Moving away from these two, there are lots of options which may sit somewhere between the two pushchairs - the Vista is pretty big - which may suit.