Please can anyone help with pushchair advice before I go insane!!!!

[Baconbaps]

I'm 37 weeks pregnant and have ended up completely confusing myself looking at pushchairs.

I don't drive so no car seat needed. (My SIL has given me one to use for bringing bab home though) I will be walking and using buses a lot so I would like it to be:

• fairly lightweight
• easy to fold
• rear facing
• use from birth
• large shopping basket if poss
• £150 - £200 max
• footmuff, raincover etc inc if poss.

I would rather have brand new, but not too bothered about fancy colour schemes etc

The trouble is finding something that doesn't come with a car seat but that doesn't look too stroller-ish and sparse either. Plus it will be getting a lot of use so it needs to be fairly sturdy. Heh, I'm not asking much am I?

I've seen a Hauck Esprit Infinity on Kiddicare for ?199.97 it looks really good and comes with carrycot, bag and footmuff.

However I've also seen a Chicco 0.4 CT stroller for ?90 with extras on BabiesRUs which I could buy along with the travel cot/bassinet I wanted for less than the Hauck. The Chicco looks pretty basic though. And if I buy the Hauck I can use the carry cot and buy a proper cot later on. See what a pickle I'm in??

Any advice about the above models or any others you can recommend will be greatly appreciated!!

hauck infinity is good value for money. i had one, not with carrycot, just the seat in blue. loved it. basket isnt that fanastic though, is quite small. its easy to fold, isnt as heavey as some i have tried.

can you not go for a sling, at least for the first few weeks?

that will give you time to get used to what you actually go with your baby, what you need, etc

Having a sling with a tiny baby makes you a lot more mobile after the birth which, IMO, is a very good thing.

How about looking at the Loola, or a very similar style. They have a lovely sleeping bag type thing rather than a footmuff, so baby is all encased and snug. Also, the seat can go forward or rear facing. Shop around and it doesn't have to be as expensive as first looks!

It's a minefield buying a buggy... I've had 5 pushcahirs, and only just found the right one!!

I'd make a list of everything you want, say for example swivel wheels. My first one, a graco three wheeler was great, except the front wheel was just on forward, so it was hard to get around shops!

I have the Loola and would not recommend it if you are wanting a large shopping basket. It does fold up fairly compactly though and is quite lightweight.

hmm, the shopping basket was abit of a downfall wasn't it? Still, something along those lines might be worth a look?

(have had to sell mine due to needing a double for baby3s arrival!)

Word of warning about the Chicco, they are only guaranteed for 6 months and if they break after that, customer services were appalling IME.

I use public Transport and have tried several pushchairs, but end up back with a Maclaren every time. Not sure which ones are from birth though.

regards the carrycot - you mention you are considering using it for sleeping till you get a cot. It's best to check that it is suitable for night sleeping as some are only suitable for use on the pram and are not constructed to the right standards for long periods of sleep.

Ta for your thoughts so far. I don't think a sling would be too practical for me because if I go out it will be for shopping and it's bad enough shopping and getting buses while I'm carrying it inside me never mind a sling! Plus it's one more thing to buy that would end up not being used much.

Oops didn't see your post cupcakes. I didn't know that so I shall bear it in mind. Thanks!