Pleaseee help!!! :/

[Thisisreallyhappening]

Hello,

I'm new to all this and not really down with the lingo and abbreviations!!!

My first baby is on the way (woo hoo) and completely overwhelmed and confused with all the prams buggy travel systems (not even sure the difference between)... Know you're all super busy but if anyone has any views on the following criteria, much appreciated:

• Want to be able to walk long distances each day

• Want baby facing me

• Use from birth and as long as possible afterwards (wishful thinking???)

• Would like a travel system I think (if that means a lie bed cot thing and a car seat?)

• A bundle package to make it more cost efficient (is this right?) with rain cover, foot muff thingy and not sure what else?

• Not fussed about:

• Brand/ look - happy to pay for quality but not just for image

• How heavy (no stairs to navigate to our home)

• Going on public transport (I walk everywhere)

• Folding (I'll keep it upright in hall, I don't have a car)

I wish there was a quiz you could take (like what's the best career for you...) where you could tick box and the perfect answer would calculate...

Read so many reviews can't see the wood from the trees and seem to always find a really negative review that puts me off a model when it reads it costs a million pounds and fell apart after an hour... Golly!

This is the only piece of kit I'm really going to invest in so really want it to be right...

Thanks so much for any help in advance. Xxxx.

:-/

Have a look at the zoom

Good starter package for £299, with a 2yr warranty

What's your budget? Will it be used just for normal town walking or will you want to take it off-road? Do you need a large basket for shopping etc?

Thanks McPhee. I'll check it out.

@Rockchick1984 budget can stretch... It's the only piece of big kit I'm going to invest in so happy to pay what I need to just don't want to overpay for the sake of it if that makes sense?

Will be for normal town walking... The off road reviews I've read have indicated that suspension really jolts the baby around (crikey!) so reconciling myself to the fact wouldn't be able to have one suitable for country terrain (although currently walk in country weekly)...

The top end products don't seem to get amazing reviews for quality so don't know whether should buy cheaper version and expect to replace it after 6-8 months or go all out top of the range... Just don't want to be disappointed?!

X

Buy a baby carrier - I've got a Boba 4G & it can be used from birth-4. I honestly wouldn't have bothered with a buggy had I had this carrier from birth.

I had an icandy cherry and used it for over two years, dd2 isnt little either, if I needed one now I would get the strawberry.

m.ebay.co.uk/itm/380559186174

I used the chicco nunu for ds2, relatively inexpensive, though I did buy the isifox base for the car seat (package comes with base secured by seatbelt & carseat can be used without a base at all, but I liked the idea of having a base, & didn't think the seatbelt secured one fitted well in my particular car.

Has pramette mode which I used when he was small & converts to forward facing stroller (with impressive lie flat)

reasonable basket, footmuff, raincover for stroller & pramette option, apron for pramette option, changing bag too.

Stands upright & reasonably compact when folded.

I added a raincover for the car seat (it's fairly big, so took me a while to get one, but found an appropriate generic one at a local independent), and also reins from mothercare to secure him in the pramette - probably not necessary but dd & ds1 also wanted to push their brother in his pram.

I still use the stroller (my childminder walks miles with it & uses it on public transport) & ds2 is nearly 13 months. He's a fairly big boy (I'm buying 18-24 month clothes) but it looks like he'll fit in the carseat for a good while yet.

I no longer remove the car seat as you would with an infant (he'd be to heavy to carry in it), but the isofix base and click fit system mean I know the seat is secure every time without faffing about with the seatbelts or having to check one of the other dc has accidentally unplugged it.

Definitely worth a look. I had a chicco with ds1 & lasted well (& was passed on to another family). Their pramettes seem to be very similar to mamas & Pappas in design but around 2/3 the price.

Still using my bugaboo cameleon with dd who is two next week and will do so for the foreseeable future. It is very easy to push.

I've found the silver cross wayfarer to fit everything you need
It's well made, and really easy to use!

Id recommend the Uppababy Vista, loved it. Its on the more expensive side, but they retain their money for an ebay sale after. Big Basket, maxi cosi adapters for carseat, carry cot, seat either out/or parent facing, dream to push, folds and stands. My LO is really comfy in it. I dont know how tall you are, but this is good for a long stride & its seat is standard table height. I always thought the bugaboo's were so very low and completely impractical for anyone above 5' 4". Whereas the Stoke looks so high for example. Something to consider anyhow.
It has top score on Which as a best buy at 86%, level with Baby Jogger City Mini GT, and 3% below Uppababy Cruz.

Can you get to a shop with a decent selection so you can try some out? Don't put any pressure on yourself to choose one, but just have a push and see how they feel. Put your bags in the basket and take them out again. If there's another parent in the picture, get them to do the same. That might clarify what things are important to you.

Agree with Spindelina - if you can get to a John Lewis and a good independent baby shop you should be able to try a wide selection. I think if you pick the right pushchair you won't need to change it after a year - I have an icandy Strawberry which I still use for DS and he is nearly 2. It's not small but it's a one piece fold which I like and really comfy for him. I also see a lot of people with similar aged toddlers using their Bugaboo Cameleons (like LittleBear has said above) which is another one I would try!

uppababy vista or icandy strawberry. I'm sure John Lewis stock both to have a play with, or are you near a kiddicare?

I've had bugaboo cameleon and whilst its lovely to look out, I preferred the vista.

Bugaboo Cameleon 3 seems to tick all your boxes. I have one and it's brilliant. Pricey though. Have a look on ebay and see if you can get the car seat and everything together As a bundle.

Go to a decent independent pushchair shop and have a good play. Do not be afraid to get pushchairs down, have a good walk around with them and importantly make sure you fold them yourself - not anyone else!

Don't worry too much about finding "a travel system". Most pushchairs these days will take a car seat - you need to just make sure that the car seat fits into your car first. Then decide if you want a carrycot, or whether you are happy with your baby in a cocoon or in the main seat with a wedge / baby nest.

The pushchairs I would send anyone out to look at to start with would be the Bugaboo Cameleon or Buffalo (the latter would be lovely to walk with); the Britax Affinity (lovely suspension and great to walk with); the iCandy Peach - or Peach Jogger - again the latter is fab to walk with; the Baby Jogger City Versa or GT - a cracking all round pushchair which is hard to fault and great value for money; the Babystyle Oyster 2 - especially if you add the rear air tyres - another pushchair in mid range which is hard to fault; the Uppababy Vista - beautiful pushchair which is great to use; iCandy Apple2Pear - very easy to push and feels great. I think if you can look at some of these, then you will have a good idea of some of the best pushchairs there is on the market, and from there you can see which you like the best.

I had a scan today and have missed miscarried. Numb and heartbroken. Thank you for all the replies though. Hopefully next time X

So sorry to hear that. X

Im so sorry

Oh my gosh, so sorry to hear that xx

Devastating news. I'm so sorry