Ooooh New Graco Symbio

[earplugs]

Just back from our usual Sat browse around Toys R Us with ds and saw this. Apparently very new and exclusive to them only at the mo but wondered if anyone else has one or knows someone who has?

It looks similar to the Bugaboo frame (don't they all!) and the Q Buzz but not as wide as the Buzz, lighter, easier to move about and the handle can swing over the seat to make a rear or forward facing option without removing the seat. The forward facing seat can also be upright unlike the Buzz.

So far the only downside I can see is that I think it is only compatable with the Graco car seat and not the Maxi but don't know for sure if this is the case.

I think i'm impressed (also cheaper than the Buzz) but would love to hear any opinions!

[earplugs]

Britax strider looks quite nice and I could justify getting a second hander off of ebay if I were to use it as a 'long walk' pram!

I know I'm showing ignorance here, but what is the problem with bucket seats? Is is the posture thing similar to car seats and does this matter so much once the get to 6months?

[AvadaKedavra]

Britax Strider?

[FlightHattendant]

Ah not rear facing though...

Teutonia spirit is a rear facing 3 wheeler. VG quality. Big tyres etc.

[FlightHattendant]

Just get a mountain buggy! It's the nearest thing to the 'one' you need. A bee will be hopeless on a walk. BIG tyres quite important for any kind of unusual surface really, and they are much easier to push especially with a bigger child.

Comfier for a baby as well as they absorb the bumps. A Bee is a shopping mall type of pram.

[5inthebed]

The new Britax vigour's don't have bucket seats.

[horsemadgal]

Bee not the best for country walks. Better than the pramette though

You'd need a 3 wheeler with air tyres really. Maybe a cheap Powertrack 360 or similar for that? (In addition to Bee of course LOL!!)

[AvadaKedavra]

Not sure a Bee would be that great for offroad but not ever having had one may be wrong there

[earplugs]

Thanks Ladies, off to John Lewis I think for a look at the Bee. It would be nice to have something that could also cope with the odd country walk (pramette great for town but not good on a rough path) but I realise now that there isn't such a thing as a pushchair that does it all!

I can see why people have 'pushchair sheds' now!

[horsemadgal]

Bugaboo Cam, Frog and Gecko all ahve bucket seats.

The Bee seat isn't bucket though. If I was you I'd use the pramette when they are tiny and move into a Bee when they are sitting up.

Most of the rear facers with big carrycots all have to have the seat removed before folding. They are fab for newborns but such a nuisance for in and out of car when in pushchair mode.
Bee folds with the seat unit on and is nice and light, smallish for in and out of car.

[nappyaddict]

The Bugaboo Bee doesn't have a bucket seat.

Neither does the loola up, pliko switch or the chicco trio for me if that's what you're looking for.

[earplugs]

Do you know if the Bugaboo has a different type of seat unit that isn't a bucket?

I've always said that I didn't want a Bugaboo just because I wasn't going to pay that sort of money for a pram but the more I look, the more I realise they are pricey for a reason! All the other copies don't seem to have the functionality or flexibility that you get with them, even if they do look hideous IMO! (with the carrycot on, don't mind the seat)

I'd be happy to stick with my pramette for newborn stage but was after something rear facing that could cope with the odd bumpy path.

Oh bugger, looks like I'd better get saving!

[AvadaKedavra]

I like it for a Graco

Everyone seems to be doing a Bugalike nowadays.

[horsemadgal]

I quite like this, very impressive for Graco.

I love the carrycot as you can raise the head end.

The reversible handle doesn't impress me as once you switch to the other side then the big wheels are at the front, so no swivel. Much easier just to lift the seat unit off and on again (as long as your child is light though!!)

Car seat doesn't bother me either as I never put the car seat on buggy.

Bucket seats are unfortunately the norm for rear facers. I used to really hate them but my DS2 doesn't seem to mind.

[nappyaddict]

Not keen personally as the seat unit is one of those bucket seats.