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Original poster

DH wants a Graco

29 replies

pie · 24/07/2003 18:30

DH are kinda at loggerheads over what pushchair to get the new baby.

He really likes the look of Gracos but I think that they are really plasticy and poorly made. Also I want to get a Buggyboard for DD and I think that would be easier with something like a Techno XT.

But anyway, are Graco pushchairs any good or am I being rightfully predjudice?

OP posts:
fio2 · 24/07/2003 19:12

pie if you want to use a buggy board they are better on umbrella fold type pushchairs, is this what a Techno is? I have had a GRACO and it was fine had to get rid of it though when the Beckhams got the same model

Starsky · 24/07/2003 19:14

I have a Graco and it is fine for me. Have only had it 7 months so far, but have had no problems with it at all. Dd seems to find it really comfortable, not sure about buggyboard though.

marialuisa · 24/07/2003 19:15

Friends in the pram business laugh as they sell loads of Gracos (they're pretty cheap) but they think they're the worst pushchairs. Does your DH want to buy American or something? Technos are fab.

Original poster
pie · 24/07/2003 19:29

marialusisa, are Graco American??

How much ware and tear did those of you with Gracos put them through? I don't have a car so they would probably get quite bashed.

fio2, yeah the techno is a maclaren umbrella type.

OP posts:
fio2 · 24/07/2003 19:37

My GRACO took alot of abuse and it lasted really well, and all friends who had them got good wear out of them too. They are cheap but they do the job. The only thing is, if you are having a buggy board your dd would have to stand under the handlebar(might be quite uncomfortable and a squash)but with umbrella fold they just stand inbetween the handlebars (does that make sense. Also is the techno a maclaren with the diagnol handles? because they make using a buggy board awkward too.

Original poster
pie · 24/07/2003 20:08

fio, do you mean those new ergonomic type handles? Here is a picture of it. If those are then I'm stumped as nearly all pushchairs seem to have those handles...

Thanks to everyone for the advice though.

BTW what Gracos did people get?

OP posts:
fio2 · 24/07/2003 20:21

that is just my opinion pie as a buggy board user-dont take it as gospel We looked at getting a similar kind of maclaren but just couldnt think how our dd would be able to stand near it. The only way you would be able to use it would be to space the buggy board further away from the pushchair and then you would be walking around with bum sticking right out IYKWIM. I may be wrong though.

We bought a cosatto umbrella fold from birth and that is fine with the buggy board. The handlebars just stick upright(does that make sense) so there is more room inbetween for dd. Ours was under 100 pound with raincover & cosytoes from Babies R us. I think mothercare do some similar umbrella folds too.

As for the GRACO we had a black Grand Voyager I think.

Bron · 24/07/2003 20:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

eidsvold · 24/07/2003 21:31

my graco has been all over the place and I love it - easy to use and big shopping basket. I take it into town when I have a few hours shopping to do and dd loves it.

We had the autobases and our seat fitted into those( part of a travel sustem). So much easier for getting the seat in and out. In fact we had two bases - one in each car.

However if you want to use a buggy board then you will have the problem with the handle that someone else mentioned

fio2 · 24/07/2003 22:07

I just read eidsvolds message and realised they are handles arent they, not handlebars!

lou33 · 24/07/2003 22:11

After trying to deal with Maclaren about ds2's special needs buggy I'd say buy any make but them. Their customer service is crap.

vicimelly · 24/07/2003 22:32

I had a graco, and it took a lot of bashing because i don't have a car, It lasted really well and i was happy with it. I don't know about buggy boards though

tinyfeet · 25/07/2003 02:42

What's a buggy board? In my opinion, the Maclarens are the most well-made pushchairs. I have the Techno, and it is extremely sturdy. The main complaint with the Techno (and other Maclarens) is that there isn't a good space to carry anything. The Graco pushchairs are not well-made - the wheels do not seem as sturdy as the Maclarens - but the Gracos have a large shopping basket, as someone else mentioned. So it's a trade off. Pie, you should really go to the store and try both of them out and see which one you feel is more comfortable for you.

LIZS · 25/07/2003 08:41

Pie

How old is your dd - we bought a kiddiboard for ds then aged 3 1/2 and have not used it all that often. It makes the pushchair quite heavy to push and slightly alters the balance (may also invalidate the guarantee). He managed to stand within the handlebars quite easily though and hang on to the uprights.

Probably best to go and try out the whole set up for each version although I realise that may not be easy for you at the moment. Also may depend upon your height, child's height and your stride length as to which is better suited.

hth

Original poster
pie · 25/07/2003 08:50

Thanks again everyone. DD is 4 but the same height as a 6 year old. I'm beginning to think that the whole buggyboard is not the way to go, and that would make it slot easier to pick a pushchair.

However DH is trying to get all 'involved' And I really hate to burst his bubble. I (SPD willing) will be doing most of the pushing though unless he undergoes somesort of overnight transformation!!!!

OP posts:
codswallop · 25/07/2003 08:54

you wont need a buggy board for a 4 year old!!

Pancake · 25/07/2003 09:06

Our Graco Travel System has seen us through two ds and it's still looks great! It's a bit heavy for getting in and out of the boot of a car but overall I've been really chuffed with it!

momochan1974 · 25/07/2003 09:54

I am an American, so I know all about Graco pushchairs, they are the most popular pushchair in the states. I agree that they have changed in the last few years, I got one when my 5 year old was born and it quickly became the place my dd napped as there has no way I would lug it out of the house to have it steer badly! Now they are much lighter and better made. I think when you have a tiny baby you want something that acomodates the carseat/carrier thing, and all those baskets, cup holders and things look so nifty. The novelty soon wears off and you feel like you are pushing a bus down the sidewalk! If you will lugging the pushchair on and off the tube and bus(imagine with a toddler!) you should go for something like a maclaren. Right now I have a mothercare maclaren look a like and there have been times that I have to fold my pushchair up to get on the bus, and I am amazed at how much junk I have to pull out of the little basket to get it folded up I can't imagine doing it with a pushchair with a large basket But most times I can get my pushchair on the bus and it is small enough to fit with another stroller in the place where strollers are meant to go. There have been times when I have been on the bus and someone has this huge stroller and I can't get my stroller in!! I am sure all of you who usually do not take the bus have no idea what I am talking about!

Also have you checked out a mamas and papas puchschair? They have these little squares on the back for an older child to stand on. I actually think that is better then a buggy board. We have a buggy board and my daughter(who is 5) is always on it, where I meant for her to use it when she was especially tired. I think with the mamas and pappa one it is there if the child needs it they would use it but would not want to get on it all the time as the child must hold on and balance.
wow that's long!
I hope that makes sense!

Original poster
pie · 25/07/2003 10:01

Thanks momochan...I'm not really worried about getting a car seat as we don't have a car, but I know what you mean about getting on the bus and someone else having a huge pushchair...

With DD I had a Bebecar 2 in 1, a Mamas and Papas, a mothercare 3 wheeler, a graco citisport and now the Maclaren techno (the old model that doesn't lie flat) Out of all of them I preferred the techno and then the citisport because they were the lightest easiest to handle when getting on and off buses.

The gracos that DH likes are those huge bulky things that I think I will have a nightmare with. And for no apparent reason he hates the techno. But then he hardly ever goes out with DD and a pushchair so I have no idea what he is on about

OP posts:
Starsky · 25/07/2003 10:56

My Graco is a Sterling travel system. I have had no problems with steering at all, as people have said before it has a really big shopping basket. It is bulky when folded, so I use it as my main pushchair from the house. However, if going out in the car, on holiday etc I have a Maclaren triumph which is good, but nowhere near as comfy.

EmmaTMG · 25/07/2003 11:12

Just to add along with codswallop early comment. We have a buggyboard for DS1 whos 4 and the whole thing is simply impossible to push with him on it. Admittedly DS2 is now 2 so quite abit different to a newborn but he(DS1) really does make the buggy too heavy.

We've got a cosatto buggy by the way and it's been fantastic and really taken a real beating but still looks good.......obviously excluding the biscuit and crisp crumbs, chocolate finger prints, juice stains etc etc etc.

badjelly · 25/07/2003 15:30

Our Graco Mirage has taken hell of a pounding over the 8 months we've had it and is still fab!

don't know about buggy boards though!

wellikins · 25/07/2003 16:06

I've now been through the debate as to buy a Techno Xt or a Graco. I'm also just on public transport, so have had to way up all the pros and cons of weight, durability, weather proof, easy to manouvere etc etc.. I must have stopped and asked 100's of mums with both types of pushchairs before I made my decision. The response I got was as follows:
Techno XT.
Everyone I asked had a positive response to it, all saying they loved it, is light but sturdy and the baby's are very comfy as it is completely draught proof. The reflective parts was a good safety touch, which really work. Everyone I spoke to highly recommended them.
Graco.
A mixed response, most had them as a second 'lighter' pushcahir for shopping. No one recommended the citilites as an everday puschair but brilliant for popping to the shops. The bigger Graco's weren't very manouverable, however they did have large shopping baskets. I was told by alot of people that they don't last more than 6 months.

I don't know whether this helps at all, I have no idea about a buggy board, but I personally feel that a Graco chasis doesn't look strong enough to withstand one for long without ruining the suspension.
Oh and my first pushchair was a maclaren, and would definately recommend them for durabiity and customer service. As for Cossatto, i have found it difficult to find suppliers as all the nursery shops I have asked say they do not stock them as their customer services are terrible.( I emailed Cossatto with a straight forward question, and it took 8 weeks for a reply)
I have gone for the Techno XT, my baby isn't due for 2 weeks so I can't give a personal opinion of the pushchair just yet.
Hope this helps.

happycat · 25/07/2003 16:08

I think the person who is going to push it the most should make the final choice.

misdee · 26/07/2003 21:21

i dont like maclarens, i find if u have a big baby then they dont sit comfortably in them. (my dd2 is around 28lb at 10 months and about the height of an 18-24 month old). i dont like the way they steer, the small shopping baskets or the handle bars (i'm fussy lol). i have a big urban detour 3 wheeler which has a large foot rest which u can sit a 3 year old on (i have done this a lot), or if your baby is sitting up u can put the larger child sitting behind the baby whilst the buggy is in the lying down posistion. the only problem is its too big for buses and takes up car room. so i have also purchased the GRACO citi sport plus. it has adjustable handle bars so the kids dad can push it comfortably, lies flat, is easy to fold, lite to push (even with 28lb baby in it), babys feet are not too close to the floor so i know she isnt going to get too tall for it too quickly, and i can get it onto a normal bus (not the low floor buses with buggy spaces) and park it between the seats that face each other at the front of the bus.
shame its just not as easy to push as the urban detour..........

sarah