Someone please help; me and DH are confused!!

[Writerwannabe83]

I'm desperately in need of pushchair advice because me and DH are going round in circles.

We don't have a big income and paying out hundreds and hundreds and hundreds is impossible for us. We were looking at various Hauck travel systems as they were more in our price range but most reviews we read were very negative and focused on their poor quality.

We are now thinking about getting something 2nd hand (as much as it upsets me that my baby won't have its own fresh pram) but if that's what we need to do in order to get a better quality system then that's what we'll do. But we have absolutely no idea what's a good brand and what isn't? Whenever we start looking we get overwhelmed by all the different makes and options etc that we just leave the shop.

Can someone please advise on what brands are recommended?

Thank you

Normally depends on your needs. Do you drive? Walk a lot? that kind of thing.

As your looking to buy second hand it really opens up your options and second hand can be great, I've got a good few eBay bargains I'm more than happy with

Firstly what do you need the pram/pushchair for? Urban living with public transport, small car boot, or more rural use with long walks and off road?

Then dismiss worries about secondhand. I have owned three buggies, one was brand new ans we have just sold it for £250 with car seat, pram, buggy and only slightly scuffed chassis - cost over £800 new. Another we bought with vouchers. Another I bought third hand which is a robist heavy offroad pushchair which works for us now. Imho always important to view beforehand or have the option of opening a dispute via PayPal if item isn't sold as described.

Poor NCT friend paid cash upfront for a pram, collected it and it stank of smoke. Because it was via gumtree she had no way of getting money back.

Try out plenty of buggies. We have a secondhand shop near us and they are always happy to let people browse.

After I quick google I see haucks at 200-300

You can get a good pram for this IMO

My m&p zoom was £250 for chassis, seat unit and carrycot

It's been great

They now have an offer on where I thjnk you get a car seat too 300

They currently only have it in in black but they do lots of funky seat liners and footmuffs

Hi Writer....sounds like a great idea. We have a Stokke and it's been fantastic.
Dp is really tall so loved it compared to all the normal ones.
Love the versatility of all the seat positions and being able to wheel it right up to table in restaurant saved using Mingy high chairs when dd was little.
Totally love it only drawback....not the lightest to put in boot etc and you need a decent boot. Amazing to push though.
When we come to Ebay it someone will get a great deal....it's spotless.

I think if you can fall on a bargain which has been looked after then go for it....

Thanks everyone.

We would definitely like something that starts off as a parent facing pram and then transforms into a pushchair as needed - preferably one that can face parent or face forward. I know a lot of systems come with car seats that click on to the chasis but that isn't something he and OH are particularly fussed about.

We live in your average urbanised town and although both me and DH drive I do envisage wanting to take baby on lots of walks. I would like something that is quite light to push as I'm having a csection and don't want to be struggling too much.

My DH has a big boot but I have a Peugeot 206 - so although it isn't a tiny boot, it's not massive either.

Look for mothercare my 3 or my 4 on eBay . They go really cheap and they are so good. They go from prams to forwards or parent facing pushchairs . I have one and it's been brilliant . You won't want one after about a year and will move onto a stroller no matter how much you spend as it's muh easier so don't spend loads if you don't have it ... In case you don't know mothercare do a pay monthly scheme do you can save up for what you want if you want to go that way .

^i agree that many people do move to a stroller, but not all. I have a big Mountain Buggy and my 3.5yr girl uses that many times a week, she isn't as comfy in our umbrella type affair and they are the devils own to push! My sibling has a m&p sola and her dd is 2 and she uses it every day still.

Although not fussed about the car seat option (we used with our first not with second) it can be quite useful if baby is asleep and you want to make the most of them sleeping and nip into a shop etc.

If you buy a secondhand one and don't like it you can always sell it and try another. Some people have hundreds!!!!!!!!!!!

Forgot to say the mothercare one takes a maxi cosi or mothercare car seat at the flick of a switch .

Id go for a Bugaboo Bee, secnd hand. Meets all your requirements, is nippy, lovely pram, and you can resell afterwards.

I don't think you necessarily need to go second hand if it really bothers you, it widens your options a lot but there are reasonable things to be had for relatively little money. The graco evo is great and has been on offer several places recently, full price is about £250, kiddicare had them under 200 recently. I have had a joie chrome, it was really good, nice to push, good features like fully lie flat reversible seat and parent facing fold. I like the look of the my child floe too, the convertible seat makes for a huge carrycot plus it's compact, light and good value.

Do try to look in shops if you can, to get an idea of how you want your pushchair to be, taste is definitely a factor and people definitely do like and want quite varying things. Admittedly it can be hard to know until you're using something every day what is really important to you.

We have the uppababy vista. Really great. You actually don't need the bassinet - you can buy a newborn insert. Our baby never liked lying flat in the bassinet so once I discovered the newborn insert which goes in the buggy section, we never looked back

We have the out n about nipper 360 I love it though it is a job to fold up, you couldn't do it alone holding a baby under one arm, but its ideal for the taller parent, pneumatic tyres, available in a few colours includes the rain cover has humps of storage space ect. And not majorly expensive either.
Gosh I sound like a pram sales rep
Definitely have a good look round, there's loads of choice both new and second hand, second not too bad you can find a bargain as esp round here people change their buggies more times than they have hot dinners
Just do your homework and do definitely review because owners will be honest in reviews whereas a seller may not be x

I'd definitely second the Mothercare MyChoice (there is a 3 wheeled and a 4 wheeled version - I had the 4).

It was a lovely pram, and I sold mine in mint condition by advertising on Preloved. It's got air-filled rear tyres, these wheels flip off really easily if you need to do this to get the chassis in your boot. It's great for bumpy pavements and walking on grass. It was brilliant in the snow too.

The seat unit is a combined carrycot and pram seat. In carrycot mode it is the same size as a Moses basket (I bought a Moses basket mattress for it because I knew DC3 was going to be spending a lot of time in there (during school and pre-school runs, numerous ones each day!), then when the baby can sit up you just fasten a couple of straps underneath and it becomes the pram seat. The seat can face either way.

You can put a Maxi Cosi Cabriofix or Pebble infant carrier on the chassis without needing any adaptors. The car seat just clicks onto the same place that the seat unit clicks onto.

Definitely worth a look. They don't sell them anymore in the shop, but if think it was one of Mothercare's better offerings. The chassis was really well-made, I think they were made by Dorel (who make Quinny), certainly the chassis handle and the foam bumper bar on the seat are exactly the same as a Quinny Buzz.

So does the Mothercare My Choice come with a car seat or do you have to buy a separate one? We aren't supposed to use 2nd hand car seats though anyway are we??

You will probably get one as a package I you look .. As a rule you arrant advised to use a second hand car seat but you can take the cover off and look to see if there are any cracks if you do.. You can literally pick up mint ones for £50-ish on eBay and maybe save your money for a car seat. It fits the mothercare car seat too which is cheaper if bought new ..

Whereabouts are you ? I have one I can show you if you are anywhere near me . I keep it for a spare as they don't sell for much . We paid a lot for it bit thy are discontinued now I believe which is why they go so cheap .

I paid under £300 total for a (new) Graco Evo with pram, carrycot and car seat from mothercare. Baby isn't here yet but have tried it with toddler and I absolutely love it! Very light, big shopping basket, one hand to push / fold, but DS tells me it's very comfortable!

I got a bugaboo frog for £100 on eBay and it is excellent! As light as the Bee but sturdy wheels like the chameleon. It has a gorgeous carrycot lined in cream, bugaboo accessories fit it. It's forward and parent facing. If you consider eBay just decide what you want first and ask lots of questions about the condition. I would never pay hundreds fir a buggy now. It seems so important before baby comes but ultimately it's just something to push them round in. Yes it needs to be functional but I do think the manufacturers are having a laugh.

Thank you everyone for all your responses - I've been scouting around on ebay and there are definitely some good deals - it is just so difficult with them being absolute miles and miles away. Me and DH need to work out how far we are prepared to travel to collect one.

I won't lie - I still feel overwhelmed by the whole thing - how can it be so complicated? I'm trying to work alongside your school of thought thatsnotmyfigure when you said: "...but ultimately it's just something to push them round in..." Because you're right. I'm sad me and DH can't afford anything new and fancy but we just have to be practical.

Bish - I'm in Leicestershire

Don't be sad that you can't afford new things, as long as your baby has you and DH he/she doesn't need to be surrounded by lots of shiny new things (some of which you don't even need anyway!)

I can't be the only one who looks after my prams, and cleans them every weekend like a middle-aged man cleans his car, can I?! I've sold 4 of my prams in mint condition, the only wear and tear has been on the wheels. I'm sure you will find something lovely on ebay that has been well-looked after.

Thanks Alice - a friend of mine has recommended the OBaby ZeZu Multi-Travel System so I'm going to look into that. We may even be able to afford a new one of those

And remember your second baby will always have 2nd hand stuff . Not fair if your first has different in one way.

Sorry no were near me .. I would echo what someone else said , don't be sad .. Some people change their minds about buggys and sell them on quite quickly so there are bargains to be had .... My son is 2.7 and I have had about 7 different buggies ( dont ask) .. I currently have a mountain buggy which are very popular and therefore are loads second hand but for some reason the mothercare isn't ( I suspect very strongly because it isn't a brand ) and therefore it's cheap second hand but it's very good am really is just a copy of the most expensive brands but I think better in terms of what it's gives you .. The pram bit is fab and it's lovely to push .. My only negative is that it's two parts to put in the car but a lot Of travel systems are and that's why people go onto strollers ..

I will just add my son is globally delayed and doesn't walk at 2.7 whcih is why he still needs a buggy before the get rid of buggy at he 2 police turn up ! ;-)

I looked at the zezu before I got my zoom

I opted for the zoom as I didn't need a car seat to attach, and I preferred the shape of the carrycot and wheels