Pushchair for living in a flat

[Katiem1234]

Hi, has anyone used an umbrella stroller for a newborn? Or those who live(d) in a flat, what pushchair did you have?

I live in a flat up one flight of stairs, no lift. We do have a car, but my partner takes it to work so keeping it in the boot of the car isn't an option. So I'm thinking an umbrella stroller might be the most practical option, I'm worried a 'proper' bulky pushchair will make it difficult to get out, has anyone found this to be the case?

I'm looking at the Baby Jogger Vue because it has an option for a soft carrycot and can also be parent facing once they've outgrown the soft carrycot which I like the idea of, and haven't seen any other umbrella strollers that have the option of parent facing! Although also open to other suggestions.

What did you find works for living in a flat?

A baby carrier! Have you any communal space or a balcony?

An umbrella stroller doesn't really work for a new born. I had a travel system and carried it down. I also sometimes left it downstairs.

A Joie Pact would probably be better than an umbrella. You can fold it and use a carry strap.

A baby carrier would also be great!

I do have a sling, but realistically will also be using a pushchair too as it'll be useful at some points to have somewhere to put baby down.
Unfortunately no communal space or balcony, it'll have to be lifted up and down every time its used.
Ces6, did you find it made it harder to go out with a bigger pushchair? I was thinking something that easily folds and in one piece may make it easier to go out. I am looking at umbrella strollers suitable from birth, with a soft carrycot too. But I never see them about or newborns in strollers. I'm maybe over thinking it, I would prefer a travel system, but I just don't know how practical it is.
ICJump, I've just had a look at the Joie Pact, it does look very sleek although it doesn't seem there's a parent facing option which is important to me for at least the first few months.

Maybe a Quiny? They fold down small and are light and nippy.

I used to leave the baby in the flat (in a safe place!) and take down the pushchair and come back for the baby. It depends what the set up is where you live but for me this was safer than carrying down the pushchair with the baby in it and it only took about 30 seconds longer.

We live in a flat with a flight of stairs and like @Ces6 we used to take out travel system downstairs and then go back to get DS and lock up etc.

We had quite a bulky travel system which wasn't the best but the Babyzen system looks amazing for small spaces.

When DS was approx a year we then bought a Mamas and Papas Armadillo city stroller and this has been much easier to use as it's so lightweight and is relatively small when folded down and has one hand opening.

Maybe look at the bugaboo bee, yoyo and baby jogger zip. I have the zip and fold down smaller than umbrella fold but much smoother ride.

Babyzen yo-yo definitely more portable than the bee. The bee is too heavy if you need to carry both parts up and down the stairs. It’s doable just the carrycot part but not the base too. Speaking from experience. Two flights of stairs here 😭

Cybex Eezy s twist is a godsend.
Only a teeny bit larger than the babyzen, but much more like a proper travel system than a holiday buggy iyswim?
It also takes a car seat and can parent face up to 4 and world face too

I live in a first floor flat with no lift and just carry our pram up and down the stairs. It's a bit bulky and heavy but not unmanageable and we tend to take it out at least twice a day, you get used to it.

I like the size of it as its going to last as a pram for quite a while and there's plenty of space for shopping underneath it

Was going to suggest the cybex eezy s twist too!

I have a Bugaboo Bee and find it really easy to carry.

With DC1 and DC2 living in a second floor flat with no lift, I used the Baby Jogger City Mini. I found that easiest, especially coming home as I just picked baby up and held in one arm, and pulled the strap that folds the buggy with the other and carried. Can be used from birth, not parent facing but I quickly discovered it didn’t actually bother me. It’s a good solid structure and the babies seemed perfectly find and happy in there.

I carried baby stuff (milk, change of clothes, nappies etc) in a rucksack, so even if I put it on the handlebar when out when I was dealing with stairs it was very easy to carry. Also made public transport easy as I didn’t have to think so much about what to do if there’s no space for an open buggy on a bus or if I wanted to go to a station without step free access.

I think any buggy with the one hand fold (as many more have this now, compared with when I had DC1 and DC2), and is fairly lightweight (under 8kg but the lighter the better), would be very suitable in that situation.

However pay good attention to the wheels! The BJCM wheels are fine, as are most smaller ones like Maclaren and Bugaboo, for urban living, however if you’re planning on regular trips to grassy muddy places then it might be tricky, plus the super lightweight wheels (Babyzen, Maclaren MKII) can get stuck really easily even in the city. I live in London, had a Maclaren MKII to replace the Volo which was great but the wheels on the MKII are awful. I know people locally that have given up on the Babyzen because of this. I’m sure there are other people who love them, but good to think about where you’ll be using it in addition to portability for your flat.

Bugaboo bee or baby zen yo yo

A pram with a newborn in really isn’t much heavier than without the baby so you’ll be fine to carry it up and down. As the baby grows, so do your muscles!

One flight of stairs really isn’t a lot to manage.

Babyzen yoyo would be great but doesn't allow parent facing once you move on from carrycot which was a dealbreaker for me. We have the bugaboo bee, but no longer have to worry about stairs. I think I could have managed it and the carrycot once the stairs weren't too narrow but I'm not sure what I'd do now, with a hefty six month old. We're currently in a holiday rental where you can't bring the buggy inside due to an insane turning circle in the hall and I'm dropping the baby in to the high chair then getting the buggy. You obviously can't do that with a flight of stairs between you.

You can just about fold the bee one handed but I wouldn't want to do it with a wriggly child in arms. I think you need to try out a few different options, and focus on what you can do with one hand.