Bugaboo Chameleon and 15 stairs

[SunSparkle]

Hi

I'm looking for a new pram (currently have a Mountain Buggy swift). The MB Swift is great at going up and down the 15 steps to my house (has big air tires) but the seat is really basic, and my daughter isn't overly comfy in it. I also doubt it will last her as long as it says it will as the seat is short and she's very tall.

I was thinking something like a Bugaboo Chameleon could be good as it has a more substantial and upright seat and has big wheels and a decent suspension. Daughter is 7 months so something that will last to toddlerhood. I will be buying secondhand.

If you had to bump a pram up and down 15 stairs a couple of times a day, what pram would you choose?

I've got a bugaboo bee. It's very light and easy to carry. I collapse it and carry up rather than bumping though. It's light enough I can carry my toddler in one arm and the pushchair in the other. I'm up a flight of about 15 steps too.

My mum also has a oram that I borrow. An out n about little nipper. It's amazing and I love the look of the slightly more compact GT model too. That's easy to bump up and down and has a fab seat. Very roomy.

That’s an option for sure. My baby resta her head on the side of the frame and the bee seat looks quite shallow on the edges so I’m not sure if she would be comfy. I want something a bit more padded and enclosed for her if possible. Was wondering whether a pram that has a two wheel mode like Cybex Priam might be good for the steps but it weighs a ton and my babe is only going to get heavier

The nippa is super similar to the MB swift in terms of seat style. Might be a bit longer. I just wanted something a bit more substantial for the seat eg not a sling seat that uses fasteners to recline but more of a proper full seat that comfy padded for sleeping in.

I’d recommend either the out n about nipper (had a double that I loved), or a baby jogger (the city elite has big wheels). Both considerably cheaper and smaller/lighter than the bugaboo. The baby joggers have a single hand fold mechanism so carrying would be easier once she gets bigger.

Are you using the main seat now on mountain buggy or the parent facing seat still?
I swapped Ds over to main seat around 10 months and he has lots of space in main seat at 17 months and taller than average, I think it will definitely last him until pram not needed at 2.5-3 years.
We also have 15 steps to front door it gets bounced up and down daily.

@Caspianberg

Are you using the main seat now on mountain buggy or the parent facing seat still? I swapped Ds over to main seat around 10 months and he has lots of space in main seat at 17 months and taller than average, I think it will definitely last him until pram not needed at 2.5-3 years. We also have 15 steps to front door it gets bounced up and down daily.

I’ve only ever had the main seat. I didn’t buy the bassinet that converts into the parent facing seat. She just doesn’t seem comfy. When she’s sleepy or a bit bored she rests her head on the metal frame at the side and gets jiggled about on it as I walk. If I recline her that’s better for sleeping but for just general out and about she doesn’t seem well cushioned. It’s got height left on it don’t get me wrong but I’m not sure it will last her past 2ish without the sun hood brushing the top of her head. It’s so good on the stairs though - the air tires are amazing. I’ve got an additional footmuff but it doesn’t help w h the metal frame issue.

Ah ok. I think maybe it’s just a temporary thing then of in main seat and maybe a bit wobbly still at 7 months, hence leaning to side?
We were still using parent facing seat then with sheepskin footmuff that covered any metal.

We did borrow friends bugaboo buffalo to try ( the older large whee version), but I found it way to heavy to use on our stairs. I think the mb is only around 9kg and the bugaboo buffalo about 13kg

We have a babyzen yo-yo and I would dare bounce that on the stairs as I think it would break, so I would say you definitely need large back wheels still

@Caspianberg

Ah ok. I think maybe it’s just a temporary thing then of in main seat and maybe a bit wobbly still at 7 months, hence leaning to side? We were still using parent facing seat then with sheepskin footmuff that covered any metal.

We did borrow friends bugaboo buffalo to try ( the older large whee version), but I found it way to heavy to use on our stairs. I think the mb is only around 9kg and the bugaboo buffalo about 13kg

Yeah I think it will get better as she gets older but just wondering whether to get a 2nd secondhand pram now to tide us over. She was a lockdown baby and no shops were open to go look at prams so it was so hard to make a decision!

I think the Chameleon is around 9kg as well (surprisingly light for something so big) hence thinking about that. The other one I could try is the M&P Flip XT but not sure the tires will be right as they seem hard plastic and I don't think they will manage the stairs. Anyone with a M&P pram that uses stairs - please reply!

I had originally thought to get the yoyo and just fold it up and carry it up the stairs but someone pointed out I wouldn't want to do that with a newborn and they were right!

Or maybe I should just get an umbrella stroller and carry her up and down the stairs - it's just a pain when you've got shopping in the basket and a bag dangling off the back - I walk everywhere so I'm so reliant on my pram to be a real workhorse for me.

I use to live in a 3rd floor flat with no lift (48 steps 😣) and use to bump my icandy peach up and down the stairs daily, even when it was a double.

@PoolNooodle that’s impressive!! You must have really strong arms! Did the chassis cope with that on the iCandy?