Best prams for maneuverability and storage

[sarah96]

Hello, my name is Sarah-I'm just new. I'll be honest, I'm not a mother, I'm a student engineer looking for some information about prams, buggies and car seats, and I wanted to speak to the people who know best. I will try and get a survey going some time soon, if I can, but at the moment I'm just looking to discuss if anyone's got a spare minute-I know you'll all be busy.
Anyway, I'm looking to find out how you find the prams, buggies and car seats you use. Do you like them? And what would you want to add to them/change about them? I noticed a lot of pram/buggy wheels can be quite sticky- has anyone found one that's easy to turn? And how do you find using prams and buggies on public transport? Parents, carers, grandparents etc-anyone welcome to chip in, I'm be delighted to hear from you and discuss.
I hope this is not completely out of order, I don't want to inconvenience anyone!
Thanks in advance
Sarah

Hi Sarah - from what I've learned from using Mumsnet finding the right pram really depends on your situation! I've found everyone here really friendly and helpful :-)
In terms of pram I can only recommend my ICandy Raspberry - really light and easy to push but with loads of storage in the basket, I use a lot of public transport and the fact that it can stand on it's own when folded is a real bonus.

Thank you NishyM! wow, it's a gorgeous looking pram!
I hope it's ok if I ask you a couple more questions?
Some reviews said folding was a bit fiddly, how do you find it? Someone also mentioned the suspension- waking their newborn because it was bumpy? Do you find it ok on different kinds of surfaces? And if you had to change anything about it, what would you add/take away?
Thanks again- I really appreciate your help :)

I really liked my Mothercare MyChoice pram because it had one seat unit that could be a carrycot but then with a couple of straps you could fasten it up and it became the seat for an older baby and toddler. So there was no need to find space to store the part you were not using.

Using prams on public transport is easy if you accept that you need a small, lightweight buggy that you can fold with one hand if needs be. A Maclaren stroller is ideal, I'd never have tried to get on a bus with my big Mothercare pram. It's when parents think they have a 'right' to get on a bus with a massive pram that they can't fold up on once piece that the problems start!

hi AliceMum09, thanks for your help :) I hope it's ok if a ask you a couple more questions? But no pressure!
So a pram which is multi-functional is a good idea, where the seat part can be removed and it sort of grows with your child. Is a pram which can face you and face forward something that's important to you? And do you find three wheels is easier to steer than four? The MyChoice looks, from pictures, to have quite a small storage basket- how did you find it?
With strollers, did you find there was enough storage space? Or was that something you were prepared to compromise on for the reduced weight and ease of folding?
And are there any features you would want changed or added (as inventive as you like!) if you were buying a new pram/buggy now?
Thanks again for the feedback.

hi AliceMum09, thanks for your help :) I hope it's ok if a ask you a couple more questions? But no pressure!
So a pram which is multi-functional is a good idea, where the seat part can be removed and it sort of grows with your child. Is a pram which can face you and face forward something that's important to you? And do you find three wheels is easier to steer than four? The MyChoice looks, from pictures, to have quite a small storage basket- how did you find it?
With strollers, did you find there was enough storage space? Or was that something you were prepared to compromise on for the reduced weight and ease of folding?
And are there any features you would want changed or added (as inventive as you like!) if you were buying a new pram/buggy now?
Thanks again for the feedback.

I have a mountain buggy nano, great for in the boot quick trips into places and taking a child into groups. I can push it with one hand. takes 2 hands to fold. I got it as I am a child-minder and wanted a pushchair that would fit in the car with double if needed. My single pushchair is a otis 4 I got it as I am not in the uk and wanted one that could face me, take a buggyboard and lied flat. It also fits my britax carseat as the stealcraft adapters fit on it. I is easy to push and fold except it oly folds in one piece if the seat s facing out. The other thing is the seat is short they have now fixed this with a taller seat on newer model. Kids seam tall here and the 18mth only just fits in it for a nap if out.

Hi Sarah :) glad you like the way it looks - that was what hooked me too! In truth I did find the fold a bit tricky at first but I soon got the hang of it, I think I was trying too hard to collapse it down when actually it doesn't take much effort and folds really smoothly. I don't find it too bumpy when I push it, but I only tend to use it for trips around the park and to the shops. I wouldn't change anything with it but I think my OH would have preferred it to have only cost £100!!

Hi JellyTipisthebest, thanks for your input! I hope you don't mind if I ask a few more questions?
The mountain buggy nano looks like it folds really small- you said it takes two hands, is it a smooth action or a bit of a struggle? How do you find the storage? The basket doesn't look very big, could you hang a bag over the handlebars without making it awkward to push?
As for the Otis4, would you buy another buggy board stroller? It seems like a good idea to have something that you can change seats on etc.
You mentioned the folding problem when the seat faces out and the size of the seat- are there any other features you would want to add/change if you had the chance (to either buggies)?
Thanks again for your help :)

Hi NishyM
Haha! Yes, I had no idea how expensive prams and buggies are! I'll be about fifty before I can afford to have any kids!
So the folding action was fine, but maybe needed arrows or something. maybe made more intuitive? I feel like loads of products should have way more instructions on/with them than they do.
This may be a ridiculous question, but do prams and buggies need to be assembled when you buy them, or does it just depend where you get them?
Thank you so much for your help- everyone's so nice on Mumsnet! :)

The fold on the nano is getting easier with use. I have arthritis and that is why i found it tricky both my kids can fold it youngest is 9.

The otis I would have a good hood like the baby joggers or a good net sunshade. The bootcover would be better if it clipped on at uses the bumper bar but you really need the crutch strap round that. The only other thing is the rain cover it would be better if it attached it just slips over. It hardly rains here so you only really need it if you get caught out or have to go out. A cover that was more like a paka jacket would be good.

hi JellyTipisthebest,
Thanks so much, my design team are actually having a look specifically at the ease of use for people, like yourself, with arthritis and other physical health problems. Especially folding mechanisms where (although I'm sure most folks find ways of managing) it would be good to have something which is smooth and easy to fold/move straight off the bat, so that folks don't have to find ways of making it work for them.
So a hood which is lightweight, but waterproof would be good?
thanks again for your help :)

Sometime folding things would be easier if the button was on the other side. The carseat I had when my first dd was born had the button on the side nearest the child's feed so your thumb had to press it in to make the handle move. To put it on the pushchair you had to move it so it was horizontal with the ground but to but in the car you had to put the lap part of the seat belt across then move the handle to rest on seat back by the child's feet. In then end I was finding it so hard and no way round it I had to buy a new seat.

so rather than at the feet end of the carseat, have the release button on the head end? Would a small lever be easier than a button do you think?
that's a pain having to buy a new one- they are so expensive.

Sorry for the delayed reply!

So a pram which is multi-functional is a good idea, where the seat part can be removed and it sort of grows with your child. Is a pram which can face you and face forward something that's important to you? No, not important really. It might have been with my first baby, when you have all the time in the world to consider your choices and then only one child to look after, but with babies no.2 and 3 I just wanted to get from A to B and have a pram that was easy and quick to use!
And do you find three wheels is easier to steer than four? I had a 4-wheel MyChoice, I have previously had a 3 wheel pram but didn't like the way it could tip from side to side when you were going up and down kerbs.
The MyChoice looks, from pictures, to have quite a small storage basket- how did you find it? It was ok size-wise, but the design of the opening was a pain! It had a 'door' that you could shut, so it was nice to have a totally enclosed basket, but the hinge was at the top so sometimes when you opened it things would fall out. It would have been much better if the hinge had been at the bottom and it had opened in the manner of a car glove box if you see what I mean. Also it was very hard to access the basket with the pram in older baby/toddler mode and the seat facing you. Having the seat facing away allowed easier access.
With strollers, did you find there was enough storage space? Or was that something you were prepared to compromise on for the reduced weight and ease of folding? I think there is enough storage on a stroller, but you do have to watch how much you cram in because too much stuff coming up the back of the seat means you can't recline it! But then I always used a rucksack changing bag, so I wasn't relying on having to put a changing bag under there. I also had a different, really fab, changing bag that hung on the back of a stroller without making it tip, even when the child got out of the pram.
And are there any features you would want changed or added (as inventive as you like!) if you were buying a new pram/buggy now? I'd probably want one pram that was a combination of all the best bits of the 9 I've had! Things I liked were the numbered folding instructions on the MyChoice chassis, the one-hand pull strap fold of the BabyJogger City Mini, the big extending hoods on the BabyJogger and also the Maclaren Techno XT. I also like a quality well-made pram, which I think the Maclarens and BabyJoggers are. The Mothercare MyChoice was really good too, the chassis was manufactured by Dorrel (who have lots of brands, including Maxi Cosi and Safety 1st) and it was very sturdy. I don't know who makes the Mothercare prams now, but they look very flimsy and not half as good as the MyChoice was.

My youngest child is nearly 4 and I have had many buggies over the last 7 years.

For manoeuvrability - Nipper 360; light, good swivel, largish air tyres get over most terrains easily (snow, mud, sand, bridle ways). Decent size storage net and optional extra shopping basket - I could get a weeks worth of fruit and veg in!! Downsides are that it is not that simple to fold (not excessively complicated though) and large to store, both folded (ie in car boot) or unfolded (ie in hallway).

Best for public transport - Baby Jogger City Mini - the one handed quick fold thing impresses the most grumpy of bus drivers.

Most important thing missing from my stroller is a cup holder. I have a cheap stroller I got from the 2nd hand store when the airline lost our nice stroller (citi select). It lies completly flat and has 2 cup holders, a tray for the kid(s) and a little spot to put bits on. While it is a single stroller I can fit both kids in if I need to by lowering the seat so it's flat.

My cheapie is a million times more practical than my stupidly expensive one.

Can you please invent a double decker bugaboo bee? It's so easy to push (on pavement anyway) and doubles are so heavy.

Hi AliceMum09!
Don't be daft! That's great, so much info!
Thank you so much (and everyone else too) for taking the time to answer my questions- I really appreciate it :)
I won't ask you anything else (don't want to push my luck!) but if you think of anything drop me a message. I'm hoping to get a survey up soon, if I can figure out how to go about it ;) Thanks again!

Hi BikeRunSki
Thanks so much, I hope you don't mind if I ask you a couple more questions? No pressure though :)
Do you find the air tyres to be prone to punctures? And if so would it be easy for you to get a hold of spare ones- I saw they sold them on their website but is there anywhere nearby you could get them?
How do you find the three wheels, AliceMum08 found her threewheeler had a tendency to tip going up kerbs?
Thank you!

Hi Want2BeSuperMum
Thanks for your input! Could you tell me the make of your cheaper stroller?
Prams and Strollers are extortionate!! I had no idea :o
thanks x

Hi WaitroseEssentialPancetta
I'll definitely have a look at doubles prams/buggies- hoping to take a trip to John Lewis and try a few out- especially the ones that have been suggested here. I'll be able to see how heavy the are-granted without a child in it which I know will make a big difference! But I don't think I'll be able to get a hold of someone's child for testing purposes ;)
Thanks again

Hi everyone- another general question:
What are your preferences on wheels?
I've included some pictures in case my descriptions aren't very good!

double wheels (1) where there are 2 wheels attatched together as one wheel
single wheels (2,3)
wheels with air tyres (2)
hard plastic wheels/wheels without tyres (3)
Do you find the size of the wheel affects the steering? What's best on different terrains? BikeRunSki mentioned air tyres being good for a range of terrains.
Thanks in advance :)

I prefer foam filled tires. Low maint and a really smooth ride.

The brand of my cheap stroller is Hauck. 2nd hand it cost me £15.

Re tyres: I am a lifelong cyclist, do confident at changing tyres and fixing punctures, but I "slimed" the wheels of any buggies I had with pneumatic tyres.

I loved three wheels, maybe because I did a lot of walking and running off road. Never had an issue with kerbs.

In the photos of wheels I prefer the middle types (2) of wheel. Pneumatic tyres give a smoother ride than solid wheel. Larger wheels get over bigger bumps more easily than smaller ones . I think there is info about this on the BabyJogger website.