Foldable pram recommendation for train station without lift

[spottycoat276]

We’ve found a house that seems perfect for us in many ways, the only thing is that the nearest station does not have a lift, so requires going up and down stairs to get the platforms.

We’d be doing this journey a few times a week to drop our 1 YO off at nursery on the way to work.

Any recommendations for a really lightweight, easy to fold pushchair that I could easily carry in one hand while carrying a toddler in my other arm?

I don’t want to write off what otherwise has the potential to be a great long term family home because of this (but I am open to being told I would be mad to move somewhere knowing my nearest station is not very accessible with a young child!)

Thank you!

I would probably go for a front carrier rather than a pram for nursery drop-off in your situation. Kiddo will get bigger so trying to one-arm a pram while one-arming a child will get harder. That said it won’t be for too long as they’ll be able to manage the stairs by themselves in a couple of years. If you think it’s your forever home I would think long-term rather than just the next 2–3 years.

Pram-wise we had a Cosatto Whoosh, which was pretty nifty and lightweight though maybe a little bulky for a commuter train, depending on what time you’ll be travelling. (It’s a ‘carry-on’ sort of size but more for BA than Easyjet, as it was slightly too big to fit in the overhead train storage rack.) It had a handle so you could wheel it along like a suitcase, which was handy.

I assume there isn't an escalator?

We had an Uppababy g-luxe which was super lightweight and had a shoulder strap, I would carry DD with buggy slung over my shoulder. Dunno if the same model still exists… this was over ten years ago.

I had a yoyo that was super light. But in most cases someone would help me with child in the buggy rather than the faff of getting them out and in again

Thank you all for the replies! There is no escalator unfortunately, only stairs.

Carrier might be the way to go. I have one and used it loads when DC was younger - less so recently as they’ve got heavier to carry, but still manageable for a short journey.

Will have a look at the suggestions for Cosatto, Uppababy and Yo-yo in case I do find a pram I can make work. I’ve definitely seen people with Yo-yos and they do look very light/compact.

Babyzen yoyo, we had one for travelling and it was fab

I’ve got a maxi Cosi Lara 2 that I still use on occasions where youngest DD won’t want to walk the entire time or for the airport.
It’s a one-hand fold mechanism, is really tiny (fits in an overhead locker on a plane), and super lightweight. Also comes with a shoulder strap so you can carry the stroller and your child if you need to.
Also really easy to unfold with one hand - just set it on the ground, pop the holding clip on the side and lift from the push-handle. It just sort of ripples open like a slinky and clicks into place.
It’s got a really high weight-limit too - 23kg. My average sized 5 year old is still within the weight limit.
I love it 🤷🏻‍♀️

Carrier is a great idea! But also wouldn’t it let me be put off a dream house, as little one will grow and be walking in a couple of years. It won’t last forever, the slightly awkward stair managing!

@MsNevermoreThank you that one does look great!!

City jogger, folds in 3 and is much lighter to carry. Even allowed in the over head locker of an easy jet flight! Could sling baby whilst you carry the pushchair

Silvercross Clic is lightweight with a strap
to wear on your shoulder, I bought mine when I had to get regular buses for a time. Took a bit of getting used to after the sturdy big pram as it’s obviously made of less to keep it lightweight, but once you know what you’re doing you can throw it up and down with no effort

We found the Joie Pact amazing for subway stairs - one hand one manoeuvre fold that is still easy while holding a wriggly toddler on the hip and very lightweight to carry

It is also so lightweight that I could carry it up and down stairs with the baby / toddler still in and I am definitely not very strong

Cybex Eezy S Twist+2 can be carried in one hand, and folded while holding a toddler.

Equally I can just pick the whole buggy up with child inside and walk up and down stairs, but I am quite strong and bloody determined

DC is now 5 and in February I carried him up a flight of stairs several times in the buggy because he was asleep. Equally, I could carry him on my hip and fold/carry the buggy, even now.

I used a back carrier a lot but also loved my britax holiday stroller.

Our nearest tube station has stairs and I just carry my baby up and down the stairs while she's in the buggy (Yoyo). It takes too much time and is too much of a faff to get her in and out (and she would be wriggly and try to escape). Most women of average strength would be able to carry a toddler in a buggy, or if not you just have to play the damsel in distress and wait for a passer-by to help.

I have a Connecta carrier and I’ve mastered the back carry solo (which is so much easier than a front carry with an older baby/toddler) with my two year old. I think I’d find that easier than carrying baby plus pushchair.

i had a Kinderkraft Nubi 2 pushchair. I didn’t rate it for long walks as it was such a compact pushchair and wasn’t super sturdy, but it was fantastic for commuting. It folds down with one hand. It has a shoulder strap attached to it for carrying. I think that, paired with one of those toddler side carry slings (they’re not recommended in the baby wearing world but absolutely fine for a supported carry like this situation) would work well for up and down steps.

Oof, that's a tough one. We live near a tube station without a lift and its a PITA at times. Definitely look for a travel stroller - so something like the YoYo, or Uppababy Minu (a new version has just been released. The minu replaces the g-luxe that a pp mentioned. Its loads better, fits in a plane cabin and also folds one handed). I also tried a Joolz Aer or Cybex Coya when looking for travel buggies, which i liked but as we also have an uppababy vista, we decided to stick with the same brand so we could more easily swap accessories around.

We had a McLaren umbrella fold and it was indestructible, very easy to fold and really light. I had back issues and so needed a really light buggy.

I think we had a volo.

https://strollberry.com/strollers/brand/maclaren/

Thank you for all the suggestions! Going to look into them, especially the shoulder strap ones, I had no idea that was an option!

Remember to test it out not just with toddler but also whatever bags you'll be carrying!

Maclaren have shoulder straps too