what to look for in a pram...

[justtheoddquestion]

Hi, first time mum here (can't you tell)... Baby due August.
What should we be looking for in a pram?
We aren't going to be spending crazy money but we'd like something fairly compact, easy to fold away, with space underneath for a bit of shopping/changing bag etc. Also something that will 'fit' baby fron newborn until at least 12 months... Thanks.

Hello - congratulations!
Depends what you call crazy money? I have a Bugaboo Bee. We live in London. It fits down the aisle on buses without going through the back door. I can lift it on and off trains / tubes. It folds beautifully and fits in the boot of our (medium size) car. Good basket (better once they're sat up a bit.) We used the "cocoon" rather than the bassinet when he was teeny.
Cons: a number of people have commented that the seat is quite low to the ground. But me and my husband are both short arses, so not a problem
Love it and would buy it again if I went back in time and had to decide again.

I would really recommend a bee too, I had one when I didn't need a double and really miss it. I lived in the centre of a city and took the bus daily, it was the perfect pram for that.

I have an uppa baby vista as I have a newborn and toddler. It's great as have huge basket and can fit two seats on for when I am out with both of them.

I also have 2 lightweight silver cross zest pushchairs (which are also suitable from newborn) it's so light and folds like an Umbrella. We use those if I'm out with two adults so each push one.

If I only needed one pram for. Newborn is be really tempted to get the zest as it's only £150 and is just so convenient.

Will you be using public transport? If so something easy to collapse with one hand.

If in a car how does it fit in your boot?

I'll be in the car mostly. I live in Manchester so maybe on the tram from time to time but not the bus. I drive a little Renault Megane but the boot's a decent size. Thanks.

Unless you're really a car person and don't walk anywhere, you'll need a pram much longer that 12 mo. Around 1 y children walk, but badly, slowly, and irresponsibly. Most prams these days work as travel systems - carrycot up to 6 mo, then seat, and also the possibility of clipping in a group 0 car seat. They differ hugely by price, storage space, weight, and wheel size. We walk everywhere and take public transport, so chose a pram with big wheels which move very smoothly. It is huge and heavy but very easy to push, get on the bus etc, and has a huge basket.

We also have a Maclaren umbrella for traveling, and it's nowehere near as good.

Cossatto giggle 2 - I love it, lovely colours, versatile, light, good handling., goes in boot, very happy with it.

Most modern prams convert from newborn to up to 4 years. It's good value for money to get one of those.

For me important things were:

• wheels that don't get stuck, if there are a few bumps and cobbles (you will need bigger wheels than Bee for that IMO)
• small, standing fold
• carrycot included or modular seat
• parent facing seat

-you can place your car seat on top with easy to use adaptors

We got Mod phil&teds but I also liked a lot of others. It just really fit our lifestyle and we wanted something that is useful from day one until they are old enough to walk lol

not hating bee btw! just really wasn't ofr us :) Living in York so I want to be able to push over grass or mud, if needed

Another supporter of the bee! It strikes a good balance between compactness and robustness. We live in London and take it out to hampstead heath often, and it's sturdy enough and folds up nicely for the (small) London home.