BJCM vs Graco Evo Mini (do I need a carrycot?)

[LightTripper]

Hi there,

Have been looking at buggies today for the first time (expecting our first in April!)

Need something small and lightweight as we use buses and trains a lot, sometimes hire small cars, and I have a slightly dodgy back. Am planning to use a sling, but want a buggy too for longer trips where she might need a quiet snooze (or my back might need a break!) while we're out.

Went to look today expecting to go for the BJCM, which I did like a lot, but found myself surprisingly impressed but the Graco Evo Mini. Very similar. Pros: noticeably lighter, bigger basket, I prefer the straighter handle shape, and no safety straps to hinder the one hand fold. Cons: slightly lower handle (we are tall) and slightly less easy to use one hand fold ignoring the BJCM safety strap issue (though still very easy!) and no little viewing panel in the hood. Both were very easy to handle and manoeuvre, seemed comfy to use and well padded for LO, etc.

The Graco Evo is also about £100 cheaper than the BJCM when you take into account that it includes the rain cover.

So I think I would go for the Graco EXCEPT I don't know what to do about a carrycot. The BJCM has a carrycot attachment, whereas the Graco Evo Mini hasn't. I originally assumed I would need one (e.g. For her to sleep if visiting a friend or out for lunch/coffee), but saw a couple of very small babies today sleeping happily in a BJCM with no attachment, just laid flat in the harness under a blanket I also found the compact carrycot very hard to fit into and get out of the BJCM attachment (actually impossible, but my OH managed it) - but I don't know if the one at JL was just damaged maybe. If the carrycot isn't an easy fit, that makes the easy fold seem kind of pointless in the first months at least...

So now I am torn. If I really need the carry cot, then it has to be the BJCM. Otherwise I am tempted by the Graco Evo (maybe with a soft cot for longer trips if I can find one to fit). From what I read, lots of babies seem to be out of carry cots by 3 months anyway, and I wonder how much use I would really get from it?

Also tried the Bee and Armadillo, but wasn't as keen on either (both seemed a bit more of a pain to fold and heavier).

Any thoughts/experience?!

Have also just noticed the Evo is over 10cm narrower, which would be good for the bus!

Iirc the evo mini is quite a bit lighter than the bjcm? I'm all about narrow, I would choose narrower almost every time. I had a bjcmd when dc2 was born, she was in that from birth and slept fine, they didn't do a carrycot at that time. If a petite star soft cot would fit in the evo mini and could be secured well then it's something look into, the graco soft cot is okay too but smaller inside and the zia one has a soft harness.

Basically imo as long as the pushchair lies flat and is secure (ie a carrycot with sides or seat with harness) then for daytime sleeping, visiting friends etc. that should be fine.

Thanks for the reply!

Yes quite a bit lighter (only 6.2kg for the GEM versus 7.6kg for the BJCM) as well as narrower (GEM 48cm versus BJCM 61cm - mainly because the rear wheels aren't as far apart) and smaller folded up (GEM is 794822 vs 786125 for the BJCM). I had assumed it would look very cheap given it's so light weight and small size relative to the BJCM - which I already thought of as a lightweight model. But when I saw it in the flesh I was pleasantly surprised!

Reassuring to know that you have found a flat pushchair with straps OK with your DC. I think I would definitely get a soft cot to try with it aswell, but I can't guarantee they will work together, so I need to be confident that it would be OK without if I can't make the connection secure. I did see a couple of people with small babies on flat pushchairs at the weekend, and they looked perfectly snuggly and comfy, but I wasn't sure how old they were and was a bit worried a newborn would be swamped/uncomfy!

I guess if she arrives early and/or is very tiny we may have to rethink, but going without a hard carrycot seems OK as a plan A.

Although of course now I saw your reference to the Yoyo 0+ in another thread and having looked at their amazing video, and am thinking maybe I should wait to see that before I decide... too much choice!

She is giving me a kick now ... maybe she wants to communicate something important about her pushchair preferences, but I'm afraid I can't translate!

Because the yoyo 0+ thread got bumped it reminded me too.. I would totally have had one of those, one piece fold, teeny tiny, light, parent facing...

There are all kinds of footmuffs, body supports, baby nests etc. that you can use in the event you feel that the baby looks exposed in a lie flat seat

Can I also add the red kite zumi to your list of things to look at? It's a great mix of lightweight, small (52cm wide) but with large wheels and comes with maxi cosi adaptors. If I was having the imaginary 4th baby I would look into a soft carrycot for this, or one that fits via maxi cosi adaptors to go with the illicit imported from the us valco air tyre kit I have on it that is in no way safety approved. It works well with a buggyboard too and folds with it in situ. This is my personal unicorn, 52cm narrow, single handle, air tyres, big hood, good basket, works with buggyboard, reclines flat... the only thing missing is parent facing but dc3 is almost 2 so I'm happy to forgo that now. For a newborn I wouldn't be.

Look at the baby zen yoyo 0+. I think it's due out end jan

Thanks both! Will definitely check out the yoyo 0+ and red kite!