Should I buy Bugaboo Bee or Maclaren XT?

[jennycd]

Hi all- I need a buggy that will last from birth for as long as possible.
I walk around London a lot and need something durable - for both city streets and parks - but, will also need to carry it down three flights of stairs at our tube stop frequently.
I see that the Maclaren XT is lighter than the Bugaboo Bee and have been told it performs better on uneven ground. But, I think the Bugaboo Bee looks more secure for little babies.
Thanks for your help!

XT totally fantastic - all I ever needed. Perfectly secure - though I didn't have to carry it down big flights of stairs with a tiny baby - someone will help!

XT brilliant, though, just to conclude.

I had the maclaren xt from DS1's birth, it was a good overall buggy but not particularly sexy design-wise! It wasn't great on uneven ground though - it wouldn't have gone anywhere in the snow we had over the winter. I had the phil and teds sport by then so we were still mobile - if we'd just had the maclaren we'd have been stuck at home for weeks! I wouldn't say its not secure for little babies. If I had the choice again I might have gone for a Baby City Mini Jogger though, they look good.

How important is it to have your newborn face you? I see you can have him face either way with the Bugaboo Bee but only outward with the Maclaren Techno XT. Is that a problem? Thanks again! Very useful messages so far :-)

My baby liked looking out on the world, and had so much other face-to-face time that I never considered it a problem that she didn't face me in the XT.

I used a Maclaren XT from birth. I did use a very fleecy cositoes/insert from John Lewis inside it that made it into more of a nest, which made ds look less small in it. He refused to sleep anywhere else for the first few weeks...

Baby facing outward only with the XT - you can still look over and see him, and it's not like they're making eye contact when that young anyway. I figure they get plenty of time looking at you and looking at other stuff is more fun - and often in the pushchair I was going out and predicting ds would sleep, so really not an issue!

XT is much better for being carried up stairs - I can still do it myself with a near-2yo in it. Isn't the Bee only for tiny babies so you'd need to upgrade it at some point?

Let's just say that over half the buggies at ds's nursery are Maclaren, mostly XT. They now come in more colours than grey but honestly, you'll have all those colourful baby toys, just attach lots to the buggy to personalise it!

Thanks everyone! I'm glad to see that everyone has great reviews for both prams. Since I walk a lot and would like to have the baby face me, I think I might splurge on the Bugaboo Bee Plus and get a cheap, superlight Maclaren later on (if I even need to since the Bee Plus appears to last until the child is around 3). Thanks again-

Can fit my 6y old in the bee plus. Okay she looks silly but just saying the seat is plenty big enough on the bee plus!
Having tried both, i'd choose the bee plus for durable fabrics, better suspension, and parent facing option. You can fold bee with handlebar extended and hook over your shoulder to carry.
You will need a sling to put your baby in while carrying buggy i think. Look at the connecta baby in solarweave. You can pop baby in or out the top by loosening the shoulder straps to access!

notcitrus did you find the XT Ok then for a newborn - it seems massive tbh. I have one already but used it from DD being 6 months old not newborn.

I have ordered a Sola but not currently in stock so will probably have to use the XT for now. Have washed the covers, shortened all the straps and bought a nice liner so baby isn't lying direct onto the buggy material.

If it works out - may cancel the Sola and save the dosh!