Help me! No one ever told me it would be so hard to choose....

[amyboo]

Can anyone help with some advice? I'm due with my first child at the end of March and we're trying to decide on a pushchair. I live in a city, don't use the car a huge amount, and use a fair few busses and trams. We drive a Peugeot 206 (possibly to be upgraded to 308, but not sure yet), so need a pushchair that can also fit in a relatively small boot. I was leaning towards a Maclaren XLR (possibly with carrycot), but I'm not sure if I'll miss having a proper "pram" as it were. We've already bought a second hand baby carrier (Baby Bjorn Active), as we figure that will be quite handy for use on public transport, and we were given a Gracco car seat by sister-in-law, so don't need a travel system. We live in a first floor appartment, with little storage space in the cellar, so want to avoid having too many "bits" that will need storing once baby can sit up, and need something that can be stored in our hallway fairly easily.

So, my question I guess is, can anyone recommend the Maclaren XLR (and anyone used the soft carrycot?) or suggest other alternatives that might work for us? I feel so lost with all the choice.

P.S - eBay not really an option, as in-laws want to buy the pushchair as a gift for us.

I bought a Maclaren XT for my baby (born Aug 08) and haven't once regretted it. I did feel initially nervous using it when my DS was newborn because it didn't seem as comfortable as a proper pram but someone bought me one of those sheepskin liners which did the trick perfectly. It's so much easier as well on buses/trams than carting round a massive pram. Go for the Maclaren I'd say!

I loved my bugaboo bee. Very small and lightweight. Easy to put up and down. Very easy to shop with.

I love my XLR, tis fab. I do like prams for babies though - but if you have no space and want one to do then XLR is fab choice with carrycot. I also have a lodger bunker on mine and it is soooooooo cosy. Wish I had discovered those when DS was small, he is 2.3 now though and cosy as a cosy thing My xlr with lodger bunker on is here

maclaren with soft carrycot would be a good choice for you, or if you fancy similar thing but with a parent facing option/more pram like there is this

Thanks for all the advice. I do really like the Maclaren, and am definitely leaning that way. I just haven't seen the carry cots on display anywhere so don't know what they're like. Has anyone used one, or seen them "in action"?

I love my Bugaboo Bee, it is so easy to push and lightweight.

Wonder if Mothercare world will have them in? Worth asking them. or could always order from a catalogue to have a look at it?!

Will you be doing much walking as well as using the car? If so it may be worth having a bigger pushchair for walking and a smaller one for the car? Here are some to look at:

traxx ecuador, maxi cosi mura 4, pliko switch, loola up, mutsy 4 rider or light rider as it is sometimes called (not urban rider that's an arse to push), any of the teutonia pushchairs, mamas and papas skate, m&p joolz, gesslein f2, gesslein future, gesslein vision s, mothercare maiu, bebecar ip-op, bebecar vector, mia moda allegria, mia moda atmosferra, bugaboo bee, jane solo, luna, petite star whirl, petite star dot, petite star zia 4, obaby (not the circles one though), maclaren XLR, and of the new Britax B-range or Britax Vigour

yup- have seen the carrycot in mothercare, looks very snug and covered, plus easy to get on and off and light to carry on it's own. Worth going into a bigger mothercare to have a play with one....

OOh - thanks for the extra comments! I will be doing a fair bit of walking around (live in the middle of a city), but we've got a sling as well. I don't really want to have 2 pushchairs as we don't have much storage space (2 bedroom, 1st floor flat with limited basement storage space). Thanks for the comments regarding the carrycot hettie. We've only got 2 Mothercares in my city (Brussels, Belgium) and they both have the pushchair in but not the carrycot, so i haven't been able to see it yet. It looks good though, and I've seen good reviews for it, so I think I'll go for it, once I've measured the car boot!

Will you be able to store the pushchair downstairs or will you have to carry it upstairs? If you can store it downstairs I would try the Loola Up as well but it's heavier than the Maclaren so I don't think I would like to carry it up a flight of stairs. If you can afford it definitely look at the Bugaboo Bee. It's roughly the same weight as the XLR but can rear face as well.

I think we'll probably have to store it in our flat. We can leave things temporarily in the downstairs hallways (for example if I went out a few times in one day), but the rules of my building state that the hallways should be kept clear, in case of fire. I might have a look at the Bee. I'm a bit put off by the fact that all the bits (raincover, etc) have to be bought separately, but I could be persuaded...

Sorry I meant in the basement not in the hallways.

Went to a big baby superstore place on Saturday and asked if they had the carrycot in stock, as they didn't have it on display. Luckily, they'd just got 3 in stock, so we were able to try out the XLR with the carrycot inside. The carrycot is lovely - very soft and has a nice hood and a cover to keep baby warm. It clips securely into the pushchair and faces the parent, which is great. I've definitely made up my mind! Phew.

Thanks riven. I practiced folding it one-handed in the shop (holding a catalogue, not a baby). I like that with the Maclaren XLR you essentially kick it twice and it collapses, and only weighs 7kg, so you can lift it without too much hassle. I liked that you can also put it up one-handed, by basically shaking it and then pressing down on the foot thing at the back. I'm sold for sure! I know some people say Maclarens are no good for newborns, but with the carrycot attachment, I think it'll be fine. And I've got a Baby Bjorn for use on public transport, etc anyway. Phew. Now I just have to order it!