City Moms - Which pushchair/stroller sytem do you recommend?

[TinCan]

My head is spinning - I can't decide on a pushchair and this is quite possibly the most important piece of equipment for me. I'm a city mom and do not have a car. I need a stroller that is friendly on bumpy city streets, but also lightweight enough to manage on public transport. Also prefer one that is suitable from birth. What is the solution? I've contemplated the Bugaboo, Quinny Zapp, Mamas & Papas new A3 Pramette, but just can't decide - they all have their plusses and minuses. What have you chosen?

Go for something as light as possible. Heavy buggies are usless when you have to get on and off public transport...

The ultra-light aluminium-frame Maclaren - can't remember its name - works for us

I had to go for a maclaren, I know they're not technically suited from birth but this is all I can fold up and drag onto a bus while holding a toddler and a baby in a sling and a huge bag... non of the other prams were at all practical!

If you have to use buses make sure in advance that all your routes have baby friendly buses or buy a pram that folds down easily (ie one with small wheels at the very least!) also people complain/trip over/you can't fit prams with larger wheels into spaces on trains as easily as other prams...

not sure if that was helpful!

Make sure to buy it in real life and check that you can easily lift your chosen pram one handed, that's my fool-proof public transport pram test!

If you do get a maclaren use a sling while your baby is teeny weeny, they like them more and you can go where you like! I reccommend the hugababy

I promise I'll leave you alone now!!

You need a light buggy that is easy to fold. The bugaboo is not compact/easy to fold, so probably isn't a good idea. There is a Mclaren suitable from birth - the Techno. Otherwise the Mothercare Citilite or possibly Graco Citisport. MClaren's are all easy to fold up as they fold up like an umbrella.

I've got a bugaboo. Very happy with it
+ves its very light, it looks good, its very manouverable, it can be rear or front facing, haven't had to trade it in for a lighter one like my mates who bought travel systems, its built to last, you can use it in the snow and on the beach (we live by the sea).
-ves cost, and apparently they're now being looked down on as chavvy. but i maintain that as they sell them in John Lewis, they are not!

Go somewhere with a big pram department, like Mothercare and John Lewis, and have a go at folding it up and lifting it, to get an idea what it's like on public transport. Will you be going on lots of buses? Provision of buggy spaces on buses varies a great deal from town to town.

Only if they're not full of books/knitting/toys/juice/this weeks food shop though eh MTS

Thanks so much for your advice. Any experiences with the new Mamas & Papas A3 pramette? It only weights 1kg more than the maclaren techno and seems to have more features.

My sis also relies on public transport and bought a Bebe Confort Loola (they are now in the new Mothercare catelogue). The stroller is O.K. from birth and they do a carry cot as well. It folds up really well and hardly takes up any room in her hallway. She is well happy with it.

In a rush to go out tonight but I am sure I once read about a place that you can hire buggies and prams for a bit to try them out and see if they are really what you want. Might be an idea if you are really unsure.
I will have a look tomorrow if can see it on the web for you.

I think you're thinking of Chariots on Hire, but they seem to have folded.
Try here for a list of places that hire out all sorts of baby stuff.

I have a zapp but for a toddler
They bbay is in a car seat attachment at birth
It is a bit hard on the bumps for a newborn in a carseat I feel - super for an older child though I really really like mine.

Mamas and Papas are nice prams but I think after the initial wow baby pram, everyone really prefers a smaller lighter more manoeverable one.
I think bugaboos are great for London
In anywhere else they look ummm out of place

I recommend Maclaren
No one I know with a bugaboo has ever taken it on a bus or tube

Maclaren Techno Classic. I bought one for DS, who is now almost 8 months old. The only draw back is you can't make it into a travel system with infant car seat. But, since you don't drive, that's not a problem for you.

Bugaboos don't fold well IME. At all. Ever.

Watched a very entertaining peformance from a family about to go on the London Eye - it took three adults: one to hold the child, one to hold the seat bit and one to collapse the chassis. Not ideal if there's only one of you and you need to hold shopping and get a bus ticket out at the same time...

also have a look for a good sling as well - when baby is small a sling is very useful, particularly for buses and if you have to navigate the Tube.

the a3 pramette is great, my friend just got one for her ds (6 weeks) and she can't praise it enough, it folds one handed, witht eh seat unit facing either way, and as she uses the bus a lot this was a plus point for her. her only complaint is that when your baby needs to be sat up a bit more it has to be forward facing so from about 4-5 months its no longer rear facing.

after months of dithering i am getting a bugaboo, inever use public transport as the links aren't great where i live and so its easier to walk or take the car so folding etc not an issue.

Excellent feedback - thanks. To answer some of your questions:

1. I mostly use the Tube, but will travel very occassionally on bus
2. I already bought a sling and a baby bjorn carrier - I need all the tranport options I can get!

I'm off to Mamas & Papas this weekend to try out the A3 Pramette. That's my final trial run, then I'm just going to suck it up and make a decision!

tincan-if youre on the tube, you will have to carry the pram up and down many steps so you need something both light and easy to carry, ie not huge.

I personally would avoid using a pushhair on the tube for as long as possible, so would plan to use sling/baby bjorn til 3/4 months at least then think about which pushchair to buy. They might have something new + super by then!

Londoners don't really seem to offer help with pushchairs + stairs, so be warned. Living in the friendly provinces (Londoner by birth though) I find this strange.

Defo get one that folds up quickly and easily, so you don't get stuck on PT if the doors won't open and you need to fold your pram down asap! I speak from experience!!