Buying a pram/buggy

[TYN2019]

Hello, we're looking for advice on buying a pram/buggy.

We've looked at various websites, such as which, but there seems to be too much information and every pram/buggy has lots of negative reviews such as being bulky or hard to fold.We're looking to buy for a new born. Do we need a buggy or a travel system (whatever that may be?). We're also looking for a car seat.

We're in need of help.

Many thanks

I had a maxi cosi loola for my dd, the seat went totally flat and faced both ways, it came with a cocoon foot muff for when they're tiny and adapters for maxi cosi cabriofix carseat (which I think fit the pebble seat too). You could buy a pram bassinet for it too. Now maxi cosi do a lie flat carrycot that you can fix in the car (possibly with a isofix base). It can be very overwhelming, but depends on how you'll be travelling (car or public transport) to what you're after. Also recommend a wrap sling too.

We need more info

• how big is your car boot?
• are you likely to go on public transport?
• are you a one car or two car household?
• do you live in a city or the country?
• what's your budget?

We worked out what was important to us and then whittled down based on online reviews/looking at them in shops/talking to friends.

We wanted a travel system (ie one that can have a car seat, a bassinet, and then a buggy bit on) just to get it all.

We walk in and out of our little town quite a lot so think we'll use it a lot (instead of slings etc), and wanted it to have a decent size basket.

We won't really use it on public transport and have reasonable sized cars so weren't after a particularly small one.

We won't really use it properly off road so went for a 'hybrid' mainly as some pavements are a bit dodgy!

I have friends who have prioritised the basket size (Uppa Baby Vista), the ability to convert into a double buggy (one of the iCandy's I think) and the cool patterns (Cossato).

We have a Bugaboo Fox, it fitted our spec and the bassinet/car seat bit is quite high - we're both tall so I liked it for that reason.

Baby is overdue so can't tell you if any of the reasoning above is a good thing as we haven't used it yet...!

You don't need a travel system. Just something suitable from birth, so a seat that reclines flat, has a newborn cocoon/insert or carrycot.

We're getting the joie every stage car seat. They are from birth to 12! Babies aren't meant to be in them for more than 2 hours anyway and ideally less as its harder for them to breath in them, so didn't want a travel system.

I think someone somewhere will find something to complain about when it comes to a pushchair to be honest. I don't think there's a single pushchair that EVERYBODY loves. Just a case of finding something that'll work for you.

I've gone for a silver cross, I'm not sure what the model is as they don't do it anymore(purchased secondhand), but its lovely. Nice roomy seat, has a newborn insert/cocoon thing but the seat reclines flat so think it'd be fine without but since I have it I'll use it! Decent basket space. It folds in one-piece but the fold isn't as easy as say an umbrella fold but not overly complicated, I can't imagine any pushchair having a very complicated fold. I'll be folding and unfolding regularly, I just figure/hope I'll get used to it and it'll seem second nature quickly enough. I think it may be an older version of the silver cross pursuit, it seems pretty similiar only mine has stroller-type wheels and the newborn liner is a little different. But same sort of thing!

Work put on a spreadsheet what is most important to you e.g. large basket, fold small. What I like about the travel system is that the child can be parent facing. Neither of mine would put up with the car seat as a push chair, so didn't get much out of that.

There are some great ones put there that don't cost a fortune. Ours was less than 300 new and was brilliant, although not made any more. If you are after a particularly pricy one, they are very often available a lot cheaper second hand and in great condition.

What's your budget? Where do you live? Likely roads/paths you'll use the buggy on? Any stairs to your house/building?

I live in London. I have a Cosatto which I love and which I felt was a bargain, but in hindsight I'd have been better off with a YoYo or Bugaboo Bee.