What pram should I get?

[dorothybythesea]

First baby, clueless mum and overwhelmed by options!

Live in Central London (Zone 2), no car, so not fussed about travel system or fitting in boot. Also not planning a second baby soon so no need for doubling up/board options.

Hoping to primarily use sling/carrier for transporting the baby but also would like option of pram for exercise/park walks and popping to shops to pick up bits and bobs. Due November, so should be able to manage on pavement and wintry, muddy paths with some gravel but likely no off-roading (most adventurous likely to be Hampstead Heath). Also have a beagle who'll be walking with us if that's any consideration? Our tube station doesn't have a lift but do use the bus frequently. We have a wide entryway at home so will pop stroller there when not in use, no stairs or narrow corridors to navigate. I imagine I'll switch to an umbrella when the baby is big enough (but that is not until 1 year? Really clueless here...)

I've been looking at the Bugaboo Cameleon or the Uppababy Cruz as they seem good all purpose chairs that will fit from newborn until toddler and seem to age well, but perhaps they're too wide for London buses? Also a bit concerned that the Cameleon seems to have such a small shopping basket below. The Babyzen Yoyo seems a bit flimsy for the amount and type of walking I'm hoping to do.

What else should I consider? Planning to browse John Lewis (may end up buying second hand, unless that's not advisable) but not sure what exactly to look for and compare. Any other advise appreciated

Bugaboo doesn’t have a one piece fold which could be a nightmare on buses if you need to fold it up- you literally have to take the seat off, fold the chassis and put the seat on top/next to the chassis. A great pram and would recommend it if you weren’t using public transport but imagine it would grate on you after a while.

The new Bugaboo Fox is a one piece fold, as is the Bee if you want the Bugaboo brand- I doubt you will get a Fox second hand reasonably if that is a consideration as it’s a very new system- but you can get a Bugaboo bee for a decent amount.

You can use it with a car seat and/or a baby cocoon/carrycot for a small baby. It is a urban pram though but will manage on normal pavements/through a Park in winter weather.

HTH.

I have the Mothercare Journey it comes in a variety of different colours and it's so simple to use and put together, plus the seat unit converts into a carrycot and seat so no bully carrycot to try and store anywhere! It comes with a car seat and adaptors too which are handy and very cosy for the baby with padding! Give it a look it's great value for money only 299

Depends what buses you travel on op. I have the Vista (second hand) and it was too wide for a couple of buses with my first, but haven't encountered any of these w/DC2. I love the big baskets on upperbaby prams - would buy second hand through!

I love my Babyzen YoYo. I can fold it up one handed whilst holding my baby if getting into a bus etc and preforms just as well as my all terrain silver cross in terms of ride. I got it when my little one was 6 months or so but I believe you can get a newborn pack so they can lie flat. It is a bit pricey but I barely use our big pram now. Love it :-)

Mamas and Papas Ocarro have a new khaki colour out and it’s fabulous!

I love my Ocarro - so easy to push, big ish wheels for any terrain really (will cope with London winter) and a big shopping basket.

Congratulations x

Have a look at the Baby Jogger range. Really easy to fold. Love mine.

I'm zone 2 and had similar requirements to you. I have the Bugaboo Cam 3 and the Yoyo. The Cam is great for everyday walking etc and walking around Common, London streets, jumping on buses . The Yoyo would drive me bonkers if I had to push that all the time. It's too light and as I am tall (5'10) it's too short for me. You could get the Cam and then the 6 month + Yoyo. You don't need the newborn option on both. When my kids were sub 6 months if I was going on tube I tended to use the ergo carrier.

Another vote for the Occarro. We originally looked at the Uppababy but found it too wide. DD is now 8 months and the Occarro has been brilliant

Uppababy Cruz all the way. Light and nimble enough to go up pavements/steps, sturdy enough for pebbly paths the list goes on. My DD is almost 2 and I've never fallen out with mine!!

I have a baby jogger city mini gt that I LOVE and folds one handed. You can get carrycots for them too but don't know how that affects foldability as I got my pram when babe was 10 months

Brilliant feedback, thanks! Now even more options to consider

I like the look of the carrycots, especially for bundling baby up on wintry walks, was also thinking of using for daytime naps and such in the lounge, would that be alright?

@Gierg, love the sporty look of the city mini, but is it not too long to fit in the buggy space of the bus? I'm almost always on double deckers, not sure if their buggy area is any smaller or larger than the single deckers?

Gladly accepting any other feedback and opinions

Think about where you want the baby to sleep during the day. We just used the carrycot on the pram which saved buying and storing a moses basket.

I have the uppababy vista and love it, I'd recommend the Cruz in your shoes. The carrycot can also be used overnight occasionally (they can't all, bizarrely) which is handy for travel in the first few months.