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Pushchairs

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Original poster

Bugaboo Bee Plus Smaller Hood?? What's that about?!

27 replies

LittleCat88 · 07/03/2010 14:49

I'm so disappointed about this - it's quite a lot smaller than on the original Bee, and the main thing I love about it. Mainly because as it doesn't have a carry cot I imagine it is nice to pull it right down over a newborn making it cosy and protective. Considering just buying the old one, but seems silly with all the stuff they've made better. Anyone else noticed/annoyed/got original and think it's a good change?

OP posts:
HelenaCC · 25/03/2010 10:12

Im bumping this post as Im also researching the bee plus. Id decided that the bee looked ideal for my city dwelling lifestyle but would prefer the plus if its 'improved' however not all improvements are good and I wanted to know if there was anyone else ahead of the curve on knowing how user friendly the improved model is? Otherwise I could buy the much loved original at a reduced price i saw in John Lewis.

missytequila · 25/03/2010 16:54

I am just about to order the new bee plus. I think the larger seat, more room for child to grow, better breaks, better harness, easy fold, light weight...

All these new and improved features far out weigh the smaller hood... but thats just my opinion

MumtoSethEdieandDulcie · 30/03/2010 12:21

I absolutely loved my Bee! In my opinion it was ALMOST the perfect pushchair.....and believe me, I have tried most of them! The main criticisms that I had of it were the fact that it was a bit tricky to turn the seat around (forward to rear facing and vice versa) and the hood was too big for an older child to use. Both of these factors have been fixed with the new model, plus extra bits so I think that it will now truly be the perfect pushchair! So much so that I am selling my Cameleon to buy the new Bee Plus!

My husband always used to say that I was the perfect advert for how versatile and easy to use the Bee was! Before I passed my driving test I used to push my four year old daughter with Special Needs (Down Syndrome) in the Bee, carry my baby daughter in a papoose and hold my five year old son's hand to walk to school and back every day! The Bee is so light that I could easily push and steer it with one hand with my 2.5 stone daughter in it, and I could hop on and off the bus with it with no problems at all! People were always stopping me with amazement at how easy to use it was!

I only sold it to raise funds at Christmas because the hood was too big and used to flop on my daughter's head and the seat had got a bit small for her. I missed it so much that as soon as I saw the new design and saw that the bits that didn't work for me had been changed, I decided to get the Bee Plus straight away, no questions!

They are quite pricy but Bugaboo are simply the best, the service and quality of the products is second to none and I have found that once you have used Bugaboo, everything else just doesn't compare!!

missytequila · 31/03/2010 10:56

Thanks for saying that 'mumtoseth..'
I am waiting for delivery of new bee plus and you have made me feel more confident that I made the right choice.. hubby thought it was too expensive for being 'small'... but that is exactly why i like it, small and light and easy for my weak arms...

dollydimple9 · 31/03/2010 14:17

I have also been researching the new bee + ,i currently own a bee and i love it and have just sold my cameleon as i now use the bee all the time but i have kept back my cam footmuff as someone has told me bugaboo will now only do the cam one to fit both bee & cams has anybody heard anything about this? as i dont want to sell my cam footmuff and keep the bee one that i have if the bee one wont fit the bee + if you understand me lol.
Have to say i also love the big hood on my current bee but in all honesty my daughter is now 18 months and i never have it fully down now, so i think i would prefare the bigger seat for her.x

MillyMollyMoo · 31/03/2010 15:01

Hello Bee users

I am seriously torn now because the Stokke seems fantastic for the older child who is interested in the world but with the carrycot it's very bulky for the car and I don't like the whole bedding and mattress flying around the boot thing you get with a separate carrycot.
So I thought I had it sussed with a M&P pramette for the first 6 months, then the Stokke.
Now I've had a play with the pramette I bloody hate it.
Am tempted to get the bee as my car/holiday/newborn pram and then the Stokke for walking but that seems a little mental given the price of both.
Is there any justification at all in my madness ?

dollydimple9 · 31/03/2010 16:20

Millymolly i had the stokke ,bug cam,bug bee & others all at the same time (all bought brand new) lol ,loved them all but i have just sold my stokke and cameleon as my little girl is coming upto 18 months and although they were still nice to push she looked a bit big in them and if i did use them in the car it was alot of messing folding them,i have kept my bee tho as its so lite and easy to use and it goes in my boot without folding it bonus!

MillyMollyMoo · 31/03/2010 18:14

I've bid on a 2nd hand one on ebay so if it's meant to bee it'll bee, geddit
Did you get much back for the Stokke, they are bringing out a new model too so there's some good deals around, hence i'm worried I'll loose a fortune.

jennyjenkinz · 31/03/2010 21:58

Missytequila where have you ordered your bugaboo bee plus from? I have tried mothercare and john lewis and they both say it is not on their computer system so I can't preorder yet and they have no idea when it will be available. Seems ridiculous to me that 2 major companies are not on the ball with this.

peppermintkids · 01/04/2010 08:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

kit84 · 01/04/2010 10:31

The website still says 2-4 weeks

fifitot · 01/04/2010 11:39

Is the bee really suitable for a new born? How flat does it go? Would you have to use with the cocoon and if so, does the top of it zip off for when the weather's nice/

Thanks - am researching it at the moment.

MillyMollyMoo · 01/04/2010 11:54

If I buy one I'm planning to get a lambskin for the baby to lie on in June and then get the footmuff at a later date.

Tabitha8 · 01/04/2010 13:04

www.johnlewis.com/230856330/Product.aspx
It's on the John Lewis website as a pre-order. £419 for the seat and chassis and £40 for the hood.
Has anyone seen one in the shops? I've seen an online demo.

xkaylax · 01/04/2010 16:39

I must be the only person who loves bugaboo cam but thinks the bee is awful.

xkaylax · 01/04/2010 16:39

I must be the only person who loves bugaboo cam but thinks the bee is awful.

xkaylax · 01/04/2010 16:40

sorry

xkaylax · 01/04/2010 16:40

sorry

SparklyGothKat · 01/04/2010 16:42

The bee+ is in some stores already, mine will be here on tuesday or wednesday from pramworld. I believe babybabyonline might have some too

Rockbird · 01/04/2010 16:46

Are JL asking for an extra £35 for the hood? What a rip off.

SparklyGothKat · 01/04/2010 16:49

some places are charging extra for the hood I got mine complete with hood for £409 from pramworld, but I think they put their prices back up now

Rockbird · 01/04/2010 17:20

Such a cheek. I know they're expensive but for over £400 you'd expect the basics surely.

I wonder how popular this Bee+ will be... I have a pretty much brand new Bee which DD is too big for so I have boxed it up to put away for dc2. Wonder if I might be better selling it now to replace with the plus when needed... Depends if the plus is that much different in reality. I'll watch out for your review

RuthK72 · 01/04/2010 23:57

I got mine for £409 from Pramworld as well and it arrived today. Am really pleased with it, a bit fiddly to fit the hood (but that is prob just cos I'm a muppet with instructions), but now we are up and running.....

loueden · 04/04/2010 19:02

MillyMollyMoo -you are not mad! You may have seen here before that i have Stokke (fab pram) - but an also considering new Bee for when DS is a bit older and can carry in one hand whilst he holds onto my hand/tries to run away! Neither myself or partner are particularly flush, but when you use something everyday it has to really suit you and baby. The only other stroller i saw that folds in one piece and is half-decent is the Jane Rider Stroller - 'though still comes in at around £450. Unfortunately, with pushchairs, you get what you pay for. Looking at ebay, people tend to get pretty good prices for both the stokke and the bee, so you could look in them as investments! Even older 2008 versions of stokke still sell well.

Good luck :-)

steph1512 · 05/04/2010 21:03

hi just wondered if anyone has experience using the bee i am thinking of swaaping my cameleon (which i love) but now have toddler and newborn and liket he idea of something smaller that i can use for baby and toddler when baby in sling

cant do this with cam once set in carrycot mode!

only concern is i live in a village and althou dont do off road walking do walk on bumpy paths which in winter can be muddy/leafy.

very occasionally might use on grass/gravely surfaces!

is the bee up to the job or will it be too bumpy and wheel get all clogged up???

my cam pretty much tackles anything including the awful snow this yr