Second Baby and Can't Decide on Pushchair. Help!

[Redstar2015]

Hi All,

I thought it would be so easy to pick a pushchair for my second baby, as I know more what I want. However, I planned to get Joie Versatrax because it is still inexpensive and works with our old Joie iGemm carseat (still in good condition from last child), but I don't like how Joie has changed the wheels and the cover and brake felt stiffer than I remembered. I just wasn't in love at all. The fold also seemed hard, though this could be that the salesperson didn't know what they were doing with that model.

I want a few things in a pushchair:

-can parent face (really missed this with our Joie Litetrax 4 despite loving it otherwise)

-brake easy to use (tried FlipXT2 and 3 and both were such a faff I literally was messing up my shoe compared to an Uppababy Vista which was a cinch)

-lie flat from birth (we will use sling at first so carrycot, etc is really useless but option to use lie flat mode if tired of babywearing is nice)

-folds up pretty compact and without too much difficulty (we do have a bigger home now but some pushchairs are just so bulky or very hard to put away)

-doesn't cost the world (happy to wait for a sale as baby due in July and could probably manage until Black Friday sales to buy our perfect pushchair)

Any suggestions? I have tried quite a few pushchairs and just not finding one that ticks all the boxes. I was honestly so disappointed I didn't love the Versatrax as thought this would be so simple.

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Oh, probably also worth mentioning I had use with Joie Litetrax getting a squeaky wheel. I'd replace it and same thing would happen again, even with cleaning wheels and greasing, which drove me NUTS.

problems not use

Would you be open to good condition secondhand uppababy or bugaboo? If the annoying gripes (frustrating brake pedal, sticky wheel etc) are a priority to avoid, then I'd buy a 2nd hand bugaboo or uppababy. They tend to be less prone to the annoying stuff. You could pay the same amount for a new-ish model with a professional clean for the same price as a Versatrax. Really wish I'd followed the same advice for our travel pram!

Bugaboo have adaptors for Joie car seats - I imagine uppababy would be the same.

Bugaboo bee. Can use main seat from birth lie flat, no carrycot needed. Parent faces, lightweight, handle brake.
Natural baby shower has sale often

The Bugaboo bee is being discontinued so might be worth waiting if you're considering that.

We have the fox 3 and love it. The new fox 5 is meant to be even better! I suspect the fox 3 will reduce in price due to the new model being released.

@Widowtoaworkaholic - the fox can’t be used from newborn with low flat seat though that Op wanted, it’s a carrycot the first 5-6 months. I like the Fox also if Op wanted larger pram

the bee is on offer probably as it will be discontinued soon, so chance to get a bargain https://www.naturalbabyshower.co.uk/products/bugaboo-bee6-complete-pushchair-black-black

Sorry I thought the bee was only suitable from birth if used with the carrycot similar to the fox. I must have got it wrong. I haven't been able to find a lightweight stroller with forward and rear facing options that I like. I briefly considered the cybex eezy twist and the bugaboo bee.

@Widowtoaworkaholic
You can add this cocoon nest instead of carrycot, or a sheepskin liver to make cosier for newborn. But can be used without anything also
https://www.bugaboo.com/gb-en/accessories/baby-cocoons/bugaboo-baby-cocoon-MI001262.html

But yes the bee goes flat and parent faces. In fact it was its main feature when the first bee was launched years ago. Since then they have made a bee carrycot, so you don’t see it advertised as much. If you go to a store like John Lewis they might have one in you can see.

The forward /rear facing and compact is tricky.
The mountain buggy swift can lie flat but you can buy a carrycot that turns into a parent facing seat at 6 months but then it can only forward facing once you have outgrown that part.

I have a mountain buggy swift and terrain but the terrain is massive.