An affordable parent-facing pushchair? Any alternatives to Stokke, Bugaboo, iCandy etc?

[Crunchyside]

I want to get a new buggy less than £300, ideally meet the following criteria:

• suitable from birth, just needs to lie flat, doesn't have to come with carrycot or car seat attachment, I tend to use slings a lot in the early days anyway.

• ideally parent-facing this time, as I did struggle with a forward facing one with my first baby!

• steers well and isn't too stiff and heavy to maneuver around shops etc.

• compatible with a buggy board for my 3 year old to stand on.

At the moment I've got on my shortlist:

Babystyle Oyster 2 (would probably have to get a second hand one)

Cosatto To and Fro

Cosatto Yo 2 - not actually parent facing but I do like the design

Would love a Stokke, Bugaboo, iCandy but I'm being made redundant so should really be a bit more careful with budget, even the second hand ones aren't cheap and I don't know if I like the idea of spending £200+ on a second hand buggy that is all scratched up!

Any suggestions much appreciated!

I have a M&P Sola. Not as expensive as some on your list and does the job.

Thanks, will take a look at that one. God it feels just like buying a new car! Trying to get a shortlist of about 10 different ones so I can get DH to help choose.

I'm looking for similar and have taken to the Mama & Papas sola2. Some of the buggy prices are ridiculous.

I've got a mothercare xpedior, second hand in fab condition for £20. Not sure what it's like to push as baby isn't here yet but my friend had one and loved it

My maxi cosi mura was that kind of budget and I loved it - still going strong for baby #2. I think it's still around in newer versions.
It was that or an icandy and I decided I wanted the money for other stuff not just a pram.

I had a Joie chrome, it folded up really neatly.

Fb selling groups for all your favourite brands. Icandy apples have a really low resale value (weeps looking at her cherished Apple)

We have a mamas and papas armadillo flip. Fits all your criteria and we love it

I've got mamas and papas urbo2. It fits all your criteria (I assume it's compatible with a buggy board but I don't actually know).

I got mine brand new for over £150 cheaper than on their website/mothercare/etc because I found a place selling last year's colour editions (which I happened to like more, so the discount was a bonus!) it was from a website called something like preciouslittleone.com or .co.uk It was exact same model and spec etc just black fabric rather than navy.

So, actually, if you're looking to save money on any brand, find out the names of previous year's colour schemes or limited edition runs and google them. Some of the smaller independent retailers may well be trying to get rid.

I have just bought a oBaby Chase https://m.online4baby.com/obaby-chase-3-wheel-2-in-1-pramette-mars-black-red and I love it, but baby isn't here yet so haven't used it properly. I used to have the oBaby Zezu which I loved which is why I chose this one

I would look at a mamas and papas armadillo flip, zoom, Sola etc. They are very good value for money.

Also came on to say M&P Sola was great and not too pricy (though it was a few years ago when we bought ours)

Another vote for M&P, although you can get a good deal on second hand stuff on eBay. I just sold our iCandy Peach in excellent condition with carrycot, footmuff etc for £300. Tiny scratches only.

We have a mother care orb and it's brilliant. It lies flat but with a few clicks turns into a toddler seat so if DD1 is tired of the buggy board I can sling DD2 and put her in it for a nap. Brilliant!

Can you get a buggy board on the new Armadillo Flips? I have an old style one and can't get a board to fit.

I had a look/good play with the mamas and papas one and although I didn't buy it thought it was excellent for the price compared to the others we were trying out

I honestly wouldn't rule out second hand. I got a brilliant bugaboo bee for £100 on eBay - looked like new apart from the wheels.

We got an almost brand new iCandy peach for £300 (needed the light weight frame) it's amazing!

Another vote for the sola, used mine for both children and used buggy board with it. You don't see many of them around but I feel nostalgic every time I do!

I bought a second hand stokke for £200

I second the M&P Urbo2. It's fab.

M&P sola, I had the 3 wheel version that came with carry cot, car seat and seat all for £300, I believe you can also purchase without the carry cot

I loved that pushchair, so easy to manoeuvre,switch between carrycot/car seat etc

I had a britax one. It was brilliant. Did two babies over seven years!

Quinny Buzz is great. Secondhand go for £100 or less.

The Cosatto to and fro was based on the design of the pushchair we had for 2 years and completely loved. Really easy to use and DS loved it well past when he should have been using it and continued to squeeze himself into rear facing mode until he was well over the weight limit!

Minor drawbacks were that the basket was small and awkward and the seat a little narrow. Hope that helps.