Oh my - so many different types of pushchair - thoughts welcome

[Bensonhead]

So, there have probably been six billion threads of this exact nature so I'll apologise in advance.

We are soon to be first time parents and I'm a bit overwhelmed by choice!

There's a whole world of travel systems, convertible prams with bassinets for newborns and strollers that layflat and work from birth and I have no idea what's best.

Originally we went to John Lewis, where the staff have been fab, and had a look and I think we are somewhere between the Uppababy Vista and Bugaboo Cameleon.

But do we even need something like this? What about more compact stuff like the City Jogger range - they say they are suitable from birth, are they really without a bassinet?

For a bit of context we live in a city, though not in London anymore, so taking on public transport is less of a consideration. Ideally folds small as my car has a small boot. Light, easy to steer and navigate. Baby due in Feb if temperature makes a difference!

I'm as baffled as you are!! Let's hope someone comes along with a bit of insight.

Joining the baffled group. I’m considering a mountain buggy nano cos they fold up small and work with most car seats (am not yet at the point of picking a car seat). But that might genuinely be because that was where I got to when I got overwhelmed by the choice.

Glad we are all in it together. I think I was leaning towards the Bugaboo because it was one of the first I saw, and it looks nice and that seemed to be as arbitrary a way of picking as anything else.

Starting from car seat might be a better idea though as I need one that I can put in the front of my little car when also travelling with my dog so then finding one that's compatible with that might be the way to go.

They are, mostly, a fairly hefty investment, so want to get it right.

Hey guys just wanted to give you some suggestions to think of.....
I have 2 DDs 9 & 4 so have come through the pram/buggy stage but my suggestions are

How will you use it most (off road, in shops, up & down the street)

These all make a difference. If you're putting it in and out the car a million times it's got to be light weight or your back will be killing you. Also make sure it's not really awkward to fold with lots of fiddly bits! That will get annoying (and easy access to the (HUGE) basket underneath you will use it!)

If you go walking in the outdoors make sure it's up to the job out n about nipper/baby jogger elite are quite good for this type of need.

If you spend a lot of time at the shops make sure it's reasonably compact (getting in and out of shops and around shop fixtures is a nightmare with a huge pram!) and swivel wheels are a must!

I found the transition between bassinet(carrycot) and seat was a bit tricky as they often outgrow the bassinet before 6months, a pushchair seat that lies flat is good call.

If I was doing it again my top picks would be

Baby jogger city mini GT
Mamas n Papas occaro/flip xt
Out n about nipper
Bugaboo Cameleon?

Hope this gives you guys something to think about or at least help you work out where to start! 😁 good luck

Thats really useful thanks scatterbrainmum

I think if you have a small car then getting something that fits in the boot without removing the wheels is key. It is an absolute pain trying to do this in the rain.m. I got a bugaboo bee for the car as it fits in the boot of my polo quite neatly. If you are walking a dog over grass/ gravel it's not ideal though. A baby carrier might be better for that anyway. I really like the cyber prams as well. My baby was hard to get to sleep so I used my basinette a lot. With them I think something to look into is how big your baby is likely to be as some people say they grow out of them fast so if you are likely to have a long baby maybe go for a model with a big basinette. They vary a lot in size. It's all about lifestyle though as some people say the hardly use them.

I personally wouldn’t want a stroller from birth because

1. I’d want a small baby in carrycot because you can use blankets to keep them warm and easily remove when you go inside without waking them
2. Would want parent facing because you’re the babies whole world when they’re little. Also great for communication.

I also never bothered with the car seat attachments because small babies shouldn’t stay in a car seat for longer than 30 minutes. Plus I don’t like not having a hood as a wind break/sunshade.

Will you be using it off road? Foam tyres are great because they don’t puncture. On buses? Easy fold/small. Where will you store it? Light if you’ve got steps/small fold (I keep mine in the boot because it’s a beast and it’s easier than keeping it inside) All these impact on what you need.

I also don’t like strollers as the basket is tiny and if you hang a bag off the handles it tips up if toddler gets out.

Tips from someone who looked at style over practicality!

Think about what you need to do - do you use public transport? Do you drive, how big is the car boot, do you plan to buy a crib/Moses basket?

I had a separate carrycot which doubled up as a bed for the first 6 months, but it was really heavy getting on the bus (no lift then, several steps!) and then we bought a car and even the pushchair attachment wouldn't fit.

My advice would be to buy something lightweight but fully reclining unless you never use a car in which case a sturdier one doubles up as a shopping trolley!

So to give some more context and answer some of the Qs

I have a tiny car boot - a Fiat 500 but my husband's company car boot is much bigger. Obviously I don't 100% know how car will work and the kind of destinations we will go together with it.

We are walking distance (10 mins) to the city centre. So assume it will mainly be used on walks into town and around.

Off road - probably not, maybe in the local park which is mainly paths and flat grass anyway.

We will store in our hallway, which is big enough for day to day, but would like to be able to fold for tidiness really as it's not the world's biggest hallway.

i have also bought a couple of slings and intend to use those for any serious off roading such as walking the dog etc. He is a bit reactive so we tend to go places that only allow dogs on leads. I had originally thought I could completely do without a buggy but I think that might be a bit unrealistic :)

We have a side sleeper crib already.

Probably won't use buses very often - might occasionally go on a mainline train or to London, but that is TBC really.

I probably wouldnt get the bugaboo chameleon or uppababy vista from what you have said you need it for. they both fodl in two parts , so a bit on a pain in and out of car, they dont fold small so now tidy away in your hallway or fitting in car easily. You have a dog so walk a fair bit, and like in a city so in and out shops etc

I would focud on something that folds in one piece. Getting one that has an additional carrycot the first 6 months if you want to, but after one piece ( as a faff for 6 months is ok, but 2-3 years you will get a tad annoyed)

Suggestions:
Bugaboo bee - folds in one piece, suitable from newborn in main seat. can buy carrycot extra if you like. compact, lightweight, ok on trains etc, would fold up in house if needed. parent facing or out

Mountain buggy swift - lightweight, suitable from birth in main seat. carrycot extra, also parent faces with the extra seat if prefered. folds in one piece, good off road if needed.

easywalker mosey plus - faces both ways, can use with and without carrycot. folds in one piece, compact. wheels decent

Quinny zapp flex plus - smaller wheels than the others, but faces both ways, can use from birth, folds tiny. carrycot extra if you want.

From what you said I'd look at a bugaboo bee or a baby zen yo yo. Fitting the pram in the boot is really important. The bee has a carry cot or infant insert. The babyzen can also have a newborn mode but I prefer parent facing. I'd really suggest trying them both with car seats in your car. John Lewis let you do this.

The Baby Joggers have the option of a deluxe carrycot and car seat adapter which turns it into a travel system. So it’s the best of both worlds

Thanks for all the suggestions and sorry for not posting earlier. We found someone locally selling a nearly new M&P Armadillo Flip and have bought that and I’m really pleased with it.