Sanity-check my pushchair choice please

[MrsMogginsMinge]

The usual story: first time mum, researched heavily, now 6 weeks from EDD and wracked with indecision.

We live in an inner suburb of a big northern city. Pushchair will be used (in rough order of frequency) for local walks (mostly pavements, but a fair amount of potholes and cobbles and mulchy leaves, plus a healthy bit of park/gravel/towpath - but no real off-roading); in and out of a small car (Vauxhall Corsa); tram into town; occasional train journey to see friends/family (including in London). So I want something that deals with all of that, plus is ideally parent facing, and not massive so will last through toddler years. Planning on a second child at some point but not too quickly, so buggy board a useful bonus. Car seat compatibility not that important to me. But otherwise I know I'm after the magical unicorn of prams.

The closest I've found is the Easywalker Mosey, which looks like it does a bit of everything pretty well. My reservations are that it might still be on the heavy side for long-term use. I was determined not to be one of those people who bought a massive pram then switched to a maclaren after 6 months. Am I sleep walking into being that person? But e.g. the Bee seems too flimsy and not that much smaller.

I love the idea of the Babyzen Yoyo 0+ (and would probably get it if I still lived in London) but the forward-facing non-flat seat after 6 months (or maybe sooner with a big baby) is a big compromise and I feel like we might destroy it within months of dragging it about. Plus the newborn seat looks a bit less cocoony without the top cover, which looks too warm for summer. Will I end up buying something else in July because my PFB is too exposed and/or I don't want to put him in the bigger FF seat? But I can see how brilliant it would be for 1yr onwards.

I'm think I'm about to click buy on the Mosey. Someone please tell me if I'm making an expensive error.

(FYI, "buy both" will not wash with my DH...)

I bought the mosey about a month ago for my 1 year old and it's great. Think it would meet all your requirements just check it does fit in your boot as it is quite long. I also have a bee and got the mosey to replace it and it is so much better. I've posted a lot about it with photos on another thread. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pushchair_chat/2217275-Pushchair-addicts-buggy-geeks-watch-out-overdrafts-its-the-return-of-the-shed

There is also info on the mosey and lots of others on www.bestbuggy.co.uk/category/single/easywalker-mosey/

Not sure about whether you will need to switch to a maclaren. I've got one of those too but only use it for holidays. I don't like it for everyday use. My 3 year old fits in the mosey with room to spare but not actually pushed him around in it but sure it would be fine.

I have the yoyo, had it for the last year, DD is two. It's a nippy little buggy but I don't think it will last much longer than another year. Prior to that we had an Uppababy Vista from birth which was fabulous. Probably too big if you need to fold and put in a small car regularly. If I were you I would get a BJCM

Thanks nwilson12 - it was your posts which got me excited about the Mosey! The fact you bought it at 1 year gives me hope as to its longevity. Corsa boot is allegedly 98cm wide so I guess I will be able to cram the Mosey in according to Best Buggy's measurements.

Paddington I feel like I should like the BJCM more than I do. I think the main stumbling block is that I want parent facing, at least to start with, and presume I would have to take the carrycot off to fold? I think that's why it fell off my shortlist although it's all a bit of a blur now...

The babyzen yoyo 0+. We had the bugaboo cameleon for our two children which we liked but heavy and impractical on public transport.

We have our twin nephews very regularly ( they lived with us a few months as sil ill), and got x2 babyzens last summer as travelled with them for 6 weeks. They are great.

It was summer in newborn mode and we brought a sheepskin liner from gabe and grace. Made it non sweaty yet cosy. They sheepskins are great as indoors we used in Moses baskets, then on floor at playmats so cost effective

These gabeandgrace.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=33_68

I reckon the mosey is as close to the unicorn as you'll get. The yoyo is awesome but I know from my different northern city it really isn't one for cobbles or poor surfaces full time. It would be okay occasionally but every day i think it would struggle.

I'm in the same boat, so watching this thread with interest (I'm only 18w, so have the luxury of time).

The Babyzen yoyo 0+ is on my shortlist, so good to hear about that.

What does BJCM stand for??

Don't worry, I've googled it - Baby Jogger City Mini! Isn't that the one that doesn't go all the way into an upright seated position?

I don't think the yoyo would sustain lots of use on cobbles, uneven surfaces etc. I do like it, but I feel it's best suited as a lightweight buggy for walking toddlers, not for all day use. Its great on flat surfaces, folds amazingly and is really nice to handle. And looks very stylish. But it's prone to getting stuck on wet grass, wheels can tip slightly on uneven pavements, it doesn't bounce up kerbs etc, storage underneath is tiny, the rain cover is a bit crap, seat fabrics seem to wear and look old quickly (our hood ripped and the seat pad had to be replaced after 6 months as the Fire retardant stuff came off in the wash,Babyzen were very good about replacing these though). It's a good little buggy though, I tried a maclaren and a quinny zapp for a few weeks and hated them. But I don't think it's worth the full £300 RRP, I got mine as a ex shop demo for £180 and that seems about right to me. If I were doing it all again I would still crave the luxury of the Uppababy Vista, I don't think there's a nicer to push pram out there, but for size/practicality I think that Mosey looks perfect, better than the bjcm.

Baby jogger city mini

I would say Easywalker Mosey too as you will be using the car, I don't drive and am still using my humungous Emmaljunga now my daughter is 22 months and don't plan on changing anytime soon although I do have a BJCM that gets used occasionally if we're getting a lift or using public transport but I walk at least 6 miles a day and it'd kill my back using it full time as its heavy to steer despite being 5kg lighter than the Emmaljunga and having swivel wheels which the other does not.

The seat doesn't sit bolt upright but I got a strap for £5 on eBay that just poppers around the frame and holds it straighter than any pushchair I've had before.

Thanks everyone, this has been massively helpful. I think part of the problem is that I haven't quite got my head around our recent city move (although I'm very happy with it!) and am picturing myself on the Central Line at rush hour or swishing through Terminal 5 or folding the Yoyo to the amazed gasps of fellow cafe customers. Am feeling more zen about the fact that there is no perfect pushchair but, if the Mosey isn't the magical unicorn, it is at least a nice horse with a fancy hat?. That plus a sling for extreme off-roading/commuting should hopefully see us right. And the second hand value should be sufficient to purchase a Yoyo in 18 months if I'm wrong is this how pushchair addiction starts

In return I wil add my views to those of nwilson12 once it arrives, for all those Mosey watchers out there...

This is totally how it starts..

Its how I started with my first :o

And if you don't get addicted to pushchairs you could always do slings... I'm a little bit in love with my Connecta

Well obviously I do now need to find the unicorn of slings

Anyone know a robust yet lightweight yet simple-to-use unisex sling which will fit from birth to age 4 with front, back, side and upsidedown carry options and which will allow me to breastfeed, tap dance and juggle? For less than £109?

I'm a BabyJogger addict (now have a BJCM 4 wheel, a Vue and a CM double - DH is not impressed) so I'm sad you have discounted that one. I guess I was never in a situation of having to fold it on buses etc while using the carrycot - although it was always easy to pop the carrycot on and off. DS was a diddy prem so he was in the carrycot parent facing until 6m anyway. People often gasp with amazement when I fold it up one-handed with a flourish

On the sling front, I think Ergos and Manducas have infant inserts so can be used from pretty early on. I love Connectas too (I have three now ) so I recommend that a bit later on, as they fold up really small. Getting to grips with a woven wrap is really worth it too though, so versatile. DD is due in a couple of months and I can't wait to get my sling collection out again

Sling - boba 4g

Baby jogger versa allows parent facing for longer and appears quite compact to fold, I reckon it would fit in a corsa.

Bondolino is my sling of choice although I prefer the close caboo for the first two months. Bondolino is suitable from birth though assuming baby is not teeny tiny.

I'm also thinking about the Mosey (despite posting about Mutsy) so am watching with interest :-)

Have an uppababy vista which I loved but did struggle to get in in the boot of my Peugeot 107 and have now moved on to a stroller which fits in my boot. No experience of the other buggies.
Slings there is a huge choice would say a stretchy is best for newborn (I have a close caboo) and now I have a Lenny lamb buckle carrier. If your in Manchester there are a few sling meets around to try a few.

I love my Connecta, have been using it since DD was 9 weeks old (she was only 9lbs then), fastens with 3 Buckles and is superlightweight, comes in loads of designs and only costs £70(ish). I also used to breastfeed on the school run but there was a knack to it at first.

A stretchy wrap would be good for the first few months though as you can just put baby in and out without fastening and unfastening.

The Uppababy Vista is totally lush but sadly my car boot says no.

Everyone who has a BJCM seems to utterly love them so there must be something in that but the two part fold (and then getting it all in the boot) during the carrycot months is too much for me. Hmm, maybe a little BJCM as a car boot stroller in a year's time might be just the ticket. it begins

Thanks also for the sling recs - it seems I probably will need two rather than one magical unicorn sling of dreams so I'll get myself a stretchy first and see how we go. To the internet! ignores pile of work to be finished before mat leave

If it helps i have bjcm and love it BUT bought for ds2 as a toddler. Bought carrycot and tried to use it as a travel system when ds3 was born. I lasted 2 weeks before i sold the carrycot and bought a bugaboo cameleon! It just didn't feel sturdy enough for a newborn. Now ds3 is in the seat i use both. Can't beat the bjcm for chucking in the boot if you're rushing or for public transport.
One word of warning would be to put the pushchair in your boot before you buy it. Can you fit your shopping in too? Or travel cot, changing bag and overnight bag if you travel to visit family and friends?

Your unicorn sling might be a manduca! Newborn bit inside so can be used from the start and I still sometimes carry my 2 and half year old in it. Tried a close caboo to start but didn't like it, so just went straight into manduca.

Manduca for the sling and icandy raspberry for the buggy!