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Pushchairs

Join our Pram forum for pram advice. Plus read our round up of the best pushchairs currently available.

Original poster

First time Mum, literally so confused.

54 replies

Honeybear30 · 07/04/2014 17:27

Hi all, hoping you will be able to help me!

My first baby is due in September, which I know is a while away but I feel like the pram/travel system is likely to be my most important and biggest purchase so I've been thinking about it quite a lot.

I really don't understand what I need? It's so overwhelming! I assumed I'd need a carry cot, car seat (like a maxi cosi) and pushchair all in one, but DH asked me why I needed the carry cot and I couldn't come up with an answer? I live in a village so will have to drive to get anywhere, and as baby is due end of sept I don't anticipate being outside all that much (too cold?).

I'm not looking for specific brands or anything at the moment (even though I know I'll need something quite specific due to a small car and hyper mobility in my wrists!) but just some detail about what bits get used when?

Any advice would be really helpful to get me started in this mammoth pram buying journey! If I need to give more details please let me know!

OP posts:
Original poster
Honeybear30 · 07/04/2014 20:26

tribble thanks for the reassurance about three doors! Some people say I'm mad but it must be possible right?!

Also great advice that the pebble has a base, will definitely look at that as would like to avoid the seatbelt if possible. DH says my fiesta doesn't have isofix which is a shame.

Will look at the scoot as well!

OP posts:
Thurlow · 07/04/2014 20:35

The only thing I would recommend is to not bankrupt yourself with the first pram/travel system. I know a lot of people who moved to an umbrella-style stroller at about 1yo as it was just easier. IMO it's worth not spending so much that you feel that travel system has to last for three years, and if you do put it away after 12-18m and get a lighter stroller for £100 you don't mind too much.

lanbro · 07/04/2014 20:43

My piece of advice would be to buy second hand. I had two different travel systems for my first then dd2 came along 18m later so had to change again for a double. I also have an umbrella fold stroller! I only got the car seats and stroller new, the other three second hand, saved a fortune.

Also definitely get a base for your car seat. There are loads of different ones, not just isofix, and start from £25 upto a couple of hundred depending what you go for.

My babies were small so the carrycot lasted ages, even used it as a bed for a weekend away instead of taking moses basket, but for a bigger baby it might not last long. Prams suitable from newborn lie flat anyway so a carrycot is not a necessity.

A trip to mothercare is your best bet!

Thurlow · 07/04/2014 20:49

Actually, if I was starting again now I'd get the M&P Sola for the first year and then a Maclaren Quest or Techno XT when baby was a little older.

But I am probably biased as I think our Maclaren Techno XLR is the best purchase we've ever made and had DD in there from 3mo Grin

Bithurt · 07/04/2014 20:52

I bought a travel system which included a seperate pram and used it once! My son cried in it most of the time as he's so nosy. The buggy part does lie flat. If we were to have any more kids and we got a new one, I wouldn't pAy for the pram again.

Isisizzie · 07/04/2014 20:53

I would go for a bugaboo bee plus. Very light and folds in one piece which is better than having the wheels then a carry cot to fit in. The other thing you could look at is a sling. Close caboo or mai tai. About the size of a small carrier bag when not in use. You get lovely cuddles and you know that baby will be nice and warm next to you.

simplynails · 07/04/2014 20:54

Hi honeybear30

Just wanted to reassure you about your car. I've always had a 3 door and panicked like mad when I got pregnant that I'd need a new car (which wasnt finacially possible) I actually find it easier than my DHs 5 door. For the first 10 months while DD was in a car seat she was up front with me (airbags switched off) and now she is in the back forward facing. I find it easy to climb in and secure her in.

3boys3dogshelp · 07/04/2014 21:08

Argh just wrote a big post and lost it. Anyway the jist was
Independent retailers more knowledgeable than mothercare.
Make sure you leave room in your car for shopping or luggage if you go away weekends
Expect to buy a stroller (or baby jogger city mini! I love mine) once your baby is happy facing out. Nearly everyone I know has done this as they are so much easier to store and push with a toddler in than a heavy travel system.
I live in a village and have to drive to most places but I was surprised how much I used my pushchair first time round. Hence bjcm - it folds one handed in a second so brill for getting a toddler in and out of the car next to a road or on a car park.

TribbleWithoutATardis · 07/04/2014 21:24

Well I did a three door car through two pregnancies and one of those was hoiking a heavy toddler in and out of the back. There's actually more room to maneuver in a three door when putting kids in and out of the back, I find my five door a bit close now.

Anyway, I'm alive.

Original poster
Honeybear30 · 07/04/2014 21:27

Oh so many suggestions thank you!

What is an umbrella stroller please?

OP posts:
Thurlow · 07/04/2014 21:34

Something like a Maclaren, what you might think of as a pushchair like this sort of thing.

I know a lot of people who have changed to this sort of pushchair as it is often a lot lighter, which is important when you have a toddler who is heavier and wants to walk a lot! Also I think that around 1, if you go back to work or your DC is in childcare, your daily needs for a pushchair change.

MaryWestmacott · 07/04/2014 21:38

Umbrella stroller, like the Mclaren - basically the fold is like the fold on an umbrella.

Be warned, lots of people on here rave about the fact that everyone will buy one by 1 year, in my experience, it really depends on your lifestyle, only one of my group of 'mummy friends' moved onto a Mclaren - I used the travel system/pram until DS was walking, and now DD is in the seat unit. I have used a Mclaren, but I found it hard to push, much more of a work out!

I would recommend getting a car seat you can put on the frame, makes life a lot easier, lots of buggies do this now.

For the pram, it really depends on your lifestyle, if you drive somewhere for 30 minutes, then walk around for an hour and drive back, you've hit the 2 hour window that DCs can be in a carseat, so you might need the option of having them lie flat.

For me, a rear facing buggy was important.

It comes down to how you think you'll live, if you are the sort of person who drives everywhere and doesn't do a lot of walking, then something cheap and cheerful then a mclaren would probably be fine, if you are likely to walk up and down hills for a few hours, you'll need something easier to push.

If you are going to be driving a lot, then something like the bugaboo bee would be perfect, it's rear facing, suitable from birth, folds in one piece and very small, and takes a car seat on it if you want. If you go somewhere like John Lewis, they sell them and they normally will take one out to the carpark so you can see if it fits in your boot.

Ijustworemytrenchcoat · 07/04/2014 21:41

What does the hypermobility in your wrists entail? Does it mean a lightweight pushchair would be better, one that folds easily?

I have the Vista and have to disagree with PP and say I find it awkward and cumbersome. I find it hard work along uneven payments and difficult to lift and carry once folded. I'm switching to a Baby Jogger City Mini. Not sure about your boot size but it filled the boot of our Polo, one reason we switched cars in the end.

A carrycot is nice but if you get a suitable from birth, lie flat seat you can get a cocoon. I've never used one so can't say if it would be cosy enough over winter and protect from the elements.

Couldn't agree more with the poster who said don't bother with a travel system. So many people said this to me when pregnant, I wish I'd listened.

MaccaPaccaismyNemesis · 07/04/2014 21:51

I'm not sure about the Vista, my friend had one and it just seemed big and bulky, and when I tried to push it in JL it seemed heavy even without a baby in it.

Original poster
Honeybear30 · 07/04/2014 21:57

I can see now that my lifestyle will dictate a lot. Trouble is I don't know what life will be like once baby is here! I will have to drive a lot, since nothing is in walking distance, but would like to get out and about as much as is reasonable I guess.

The hyper mobility means that my wrists are prone to bending too far and straining so I have to be very careful with maintaining a neutral position and not pushing them too far one way or the other. Having a baby is going to put a huge strain on them and I know I will really have to try pushing various types of pram to see what is going to work for me.

It's good to know that shops will allow you to try in your boot, I had wondered about this!

OP posts:
Thurlow · 07/04/2014 22:00

I know that the iCandy has a really easily adjustable handle, so you could make sure it was the right level. You could get one second-hand too, lots are sold.

birdbrain21 · 07/04/2014 22:05

If you don't want to get something with a carrycot best to get a pram that lies totally flat for a newborn as a newborn shouldn't be in a carseat for more then a couple of hours at a time and I know a couple of people who's babies had problems from being in a car seat for so long.
I personally got a carrycot as I wanted it to put the baby to sleep in downstairs during the day so I wasn't leaving her upstairs in the crib by herself and also I knew we were going away not long after she would be born so it was good to have a carrycot instead of a big travel cot for a newborn. If your not planning on using a carrycot much so don't need a seperate one you can buy prams where the seat converts into a carrycot until the baby is old enough to sit up as opposed to just being on a pram seat lying flat so guess it's supposed to be more comfortable, something like this maybe
silvercross it says it's a travel system but that just mean the car seat attaches to the chasis, or maybe this one mothercare
I looked at both of those when I was pregnant as I had friends who reccomended them, in the end I went with a seperate carrycot but both of these are very good. I think it's called a pramette when it converts from pram to pushchair seat....

Good luck and congratulations Smile

birdbrain21 · 07/04/2014 22:13

By the way the sort I've linked to in my last thread are not suitable for overnight sleeping so you would need a seperate moses basket/crib.
I have a mamas and papas sola (somebody linked to it upthread). I've been really happy with it, I chose it because I could have the seat facing towards me. I did buy a seperate carrycot because I wanted to use it instead of a crib but actually the seat lies all the way so is suitable for newborn and it can face you so you will be able to keep an eye on your lo which you wouldn't be able to if you buy one where the seat is not parent facing.
It's reasonably priced and seems to be good quality. My dd is nearly one now and I don't drive so we do lots of walking and have taken it on countryside walks on holiday as well and seems to manage fine everywhere.

TribbleWithoutATardis · 09/04/2014 06:54

Have you thought of a sling?

WhatWouldCaitlinDo · 09/04/2014 07:06

If you plan/ hope to have more than 1 child, I would get a Phil & Teds Navigator. You can get a carrycot with it so the baby can lie totally flat, then when you have a second you just clip on a second seat, rather than having to go buy a double.

Artandco · 09/04/2014 07:29

Bugaboo bee

  • folds in one piece so easy in car
  • no need to downsize later
  • snug cocoon for baby
  • parent faces all the way through
  • light weight
  • single handle good for hyper mobility
  • can fit car seat if needed
Ihateparties · 09/04/2014 09:34

I agree. Bee. Or icandy raspberry which may or may not be better when it arrives.

We had a three door family car through three pregnancies and babies, bit of a pita but not a massive deal. Worst bit being when someone parks very close to the side and you struggle to open the door enough to get in. I preferred having a static space in the back when it came to fitting seats. A base would be a help if you choose an infant carrier though, we got isofix retrofitted on one side (it was a focus so same old Ford problem of it not having been specified at the beginning) it wasn't expensive iirc. If I was starting again I would buy a from birth erf seat rather than an infant carrier then stage 1 seat. A 3 door car is one of the few situations where a fancy swivel function like britax dualfix would actually be genuinely useful.

LilyBobtail · 09/04/2014 09:41

Definitely get a base it was the best thing I bought. I got one on eBay for £40 that fixes with a seatbelt but you can get both seatbelt and isofix ones. I got isofix fitted in the car and it was £50.

Artandco · 09/04/2014 10:27

Take a look at the cybex sirona seat. Won't fit on pram but lasts newborn - 4 years approx and can rear face all that time, forward face, and rotate to front/ side for ease of access. Ie you could strap newborn in then spin rear facing

It's usually far easier to just take baby out rather than car seat anyway so no actual need for car seat to fit in pram. Like you have read they shouldn't stay in car seat more than needed anyway due to spine/ airways

I agree bugaboo bee or look at icandy raspberry

broodyhen2014 · 09/04/2014 17:40

Graco EVO is the best one ive come across for small boot space kiddicare has offers on them :) entire set for less than £350 i think you dont need a carrycot i think aome parents take the term lie flat waay to seriously if you were to get lie flat umbrella buggy with cosy toes and a little newborn insert if needed thats more than fine dont let people pressure you into lie flat prams and expensive brands just because its wht they have and they find it great :) go to a pram store and ha e a good look around its the only way to truly know which is good for you asking on here wont get you far