help me choose a pram

[AleenaM]

I got a tarvel system as a hand me down, but it's quite budgety and it shows, especially the car seat, baby is crunched up and his head flops, it's an Evo from Infababy ( Uberchild). So I have decided I want the i-Level car seat from Joie, and will buy a pram that's compatible with it, and not all are. From the options of compatible ones, I am considering a Bugaboo or UppaBbay or BabyJogger, the compatible ones are Buagoo (Buffalo, Cameleon3, Donkey, Bee, Fox), Baby Jogger ( City Select and City Tour Lux), and UppaBaby Cruz and Vista. It also fits onto Joie prams and pushchairs.

Car seat also fits onto Babystyle® Hybrid, Oyster, Oyster MAX, Oyster Zero and mamas & papas® Armadillo flip XT2, Oarro, Urbo , iCandy (Orange, Peach, Raspberry, Strawberry, Apple2Pear) but don't feel particularly attracted to these, but could consider some.

So far I am attracted to the UppaBaby ones, but for no reason at all if that makes sense?

My requirments are : I only walk near my home maybe 1-2 times weekly, the rest of the days I would drive. I live on the second floor and do not carry the frame/carry cot/car up seat up as I am unfit and have back issues. The system would stay in the car, so needs to be easy to fold and lift, considering back pain as above. I have a saloon car, but not very spacious boot ( 2009 Lexus). I would either spend on smth good with good resale value like Bugaboo or UppaBaby, or go more budgety like Joie ones. I drive a lot and as the car seat is lie-flat, I would even maybe consider buying a system without the carrycot.

I live in Scotland, but don't do much countryside walks, don't use public transport that much either.

Suggestions? Thank you.

Bugaboo,great pram really well made and retains good resale price on eBay
The big wheels and suspension make it great for paths,beach and out and about
Canvas covers and bag are machine washable so look fresh

We have an Uppababy and it's fantastic.

Love love love our uppababy! 5 years old still going strong

@LipstickHandbagCoffee which one do you have and recommend ? Any downsides?

@peachgreen and @toddlermom which one and which year do you have ? I wonder if older models still go with the seat I want with maxi cosi adapters, as seat only came out in the last years ? If so, I could buy a used uppababy

I have an Armadillo Flip Xt and it is lovely and sturdy but v heavy so I wouldn't repurchase if I had my time again. I bought a second hand bugaboo bee and it is lovely and lightweight and very nippy. Love it!

I would go for a budgety pram. If it's staying in the car then I predict that when baby is about 8 months the size of the thing will wind you up and you will want a decent buggy (such as a maclaren). You then get a lot more use out of a buggy.

I had the uppababy vista. It was awesome, I tried a bugaboo bee but the baby was so low to the ground and the handle wasn't high enough. Wish I'd got the cruz though, but that only came out after I'd bought the vista (my babies are not babies any more!)

I've not used it yet, but we went for a used uppababy vista. It was in the family anyway and only been used for one child who is now five. Still in great condition.

If it's going to stay in the car it's a great option for you. We are going to use the bassinet for downstairs sleeping, and I've got the snugseat accessory to be able to use the regular seat from birth.

We have a bugaboo buffalo. It’s absolutely brilliant but it’s heavy and getting it in and out of a car on a regular basis with a bad back would be hellish.

I would buy a car seat that remains in the car rather than slots onto the frame, they can say rear facing until 3 or 4. Make do with the pushchair you have at birth(assuming it fully reclines) and buy a decent umbrella buggy eg mcclaren ideally one that reclines, they take up far less space in the boot, can be taken easily onto public transport even planes and are light to lift. I used my buggy from 3 months with a car seat head cushion.

If it's going in and out the car then you want something that isn't too heavy and is quick to fold up. The Bugaboo Chameleon is definitely a pain to fold up and get in a car boot, as is the Uppababy Vista (friends have them).

I haven't tried either of the Babyjogger pushchairs you mention but have tried several of their other pushchairs and they are definitely very easy to fold up and fit into a car boot. Like you, we mostly drive and then get the pushchair out the boot and I'm still using the Vista (old version of the Premier) with my 2.5 year old because it's easy to get in and out and fits in my small boot (a Jazz) leaving space for shopping.

If you go along to a shop to look at pushchairs have a go at folding them up and pretend to lift them as if you were putting them in a boot - if it feels awkward and heavy I'd think twice about buying.

I didn’t find bugaboo heavy or a faff.it was manageable & light

Hi OP, we have the same car seat and we are going for the oyster 3 because you don't need to buy a carrycot. The seat unit is lie flat and it also folds attached to the frame so no faffing!

I have a bugaboo chameleon 3, love it but hardly use it as we also have a Doona car seat that I use daily. Bugaboo is used for dog walks, days out or if I'm out all day.

I just don't think you can go wrong with a bugaboo. We had the chameleon and loved it

@Lantern92 did you have your baby yet/are you already using it? Wow the Oyster 3 folds super small, definitely looks tempting. When out with the car seat would still need to unfold, remove seat, put in adapters and attach iLevel? How does the level sit on the frame, any chance you have a photo? I am worried about the car seat being too snug at the headrest but my baby is super fussy but loves sleeping in the car seat, so that's why my starting point is a lie flat car seat and why I dont want to go for a fixed one @stucknoue

@MagicKingdom so is the Doona your main and only car seat? Does the baby sit comfortably in it/not too squished? I guess I drive far more than I realised. The Doona seems amazing for taking on flights as well and travelling everywhere, but worried about the time limit in it, whereas with the iLevel at 157 degrees I really am not.

The one thing on the vista is that the carrycot handle doesn't seem to fold down, in which case I am not sure it will bit in my car :( I could also buy a vista without a carrycot, just with a snug, even though the carry cots seem so lush, feel I would be missing out on the main thing.

On my second bugaboo chameleon (due to huge age gap between DCs). It's not hard to fold once you get used to it, it's light (had a c section first time round and really needed a light pram). Like someone else said, resale value is high and they are v robust. Looked at a few others (mothercare lady really enthused about the Icandy) but I went with the bugaboo again and don't regret it.

Quick trip to mothercare, the Oyster3 looks great but the iLevel on lie flat looks like it's about tip over forward :( also very tight headrest and my baby is small for his age and only 6 weeks on coming Wed. Might need to go back and try the car seat with other prams, but did like the Oyster

We were torn between vista and the nuna mixx - went with the mixx and still love it 21 months in and haven’t bothered buying a stroller. The seat is suitable from newborn too so you don’t have to buy the Pram part, and nuna and joie are the same company so the car seat should fit.

can't comment on other systems but i've had more than one armadillo and they're pretty damn good buggys for little and bigger kiddies. owned an oyster2 for a couple of months and hated it. looks great, baby was comfy but its just so heavy!!

I have uppababy vista 2015 version. You can fold the carrycot down. I liked it when I used the carrycot, not so keen now with the seat. It is big and heavy. I need to take the seat off and turn it round, then both wheels off to put in boot which is a faff. My sis has baby jogger city mini and it is SO easy to fold and put in car. Only forward facing though. I'd love a parent facing equivalent.

So in the end I am going for a used Vista 2015 when they changed the design, with a Pebbles Plus ( Maxi Cosi) car seat. The baby lies flat in this in that their body is flat, legs in the air, which is good enough for their respiratory system I reckon. The Joie i-Level does not actually sit right on the UppaBaby Vista, plus the fact that the headrest is too snug, I quickly gave this up. I then considered the Cloud Z, but this only lies flat outside of the car, plus very pricey when you add the cost of the base as well.

Hope this helps other people decide. I have not received my UppaBaby yet though, I am slightly worried that it might be heavy and hard to manouver with one hand, but hoping for the best now :)

I see negative posts about infababy, I have been looking at the infababy moto 3 in1 system my friend has the ultimo and loves it, any advice on infababy