pushchairs - help!

[natalies]

I'm absolutely bamboozled by the range of pushchairs on offer - I'm due to give birth in August, so still at the checking out stage ...

Has anyone got any tips? I need something that's suitable from birth, foldable and lightweight (don't drive and will be using public transport and live in a small flat up stairs).

Go for an umbrella style pushchair. They fold up with one hand (nearly!), extremely lightweight, and, as they fold up, take up minimal room. I have just bought the M&S pram they do, which I think they say is from birth, at £125. It is very similar to the MacLaren Techno Sport (all the rage at the mo!) but I MacLaren's brakes are absolute rubbish and as I often go on the tube, bus, etc, I wanted a set of brakes that worked (oh, and the M&S one is £35 cheaper!). This is a bit of luxury though and any of the cheaper umbrella style ones are also very good (including MacLaren if you can overlook brakes).
I remember being completely confused and going for a travel system one that was lovely but didn't fold up and so I couldn't get it on the bus, etc, very easily, avoid this.
I'm sure there are other umbrella-style from birth but if there isn't then definitely consider getting a sling for the first 3 months and then go on to this pram. (I loved my sling as it enabled me to be totally mobile with both hands free and always totally close to my daughter, loved looking down at her and seeing her little face!).

I've got a mothercare buggy which lis back flat, umbrealla folding, can be used from birth, cant remember it's name but it's bright green/blue checks, comes with a rain hood, any cosytoe fits it, its on its second baby and cost me a grand total of £79. I would HIGHLY recommend it. I too don't drive and use the bus a lot, aand this has been brilliant. I'll track down the name from the caralogue if you want?

I agree with the others, go for an umbrella folding one that goes flat, cos they tend to be the smallest and lightest. The disadvantage is that you might have to pick baby up out of the pushchair, eg when you get home, but if it's lightweight, you may be able to carry the whole thing upstairs with a sleeping baby still inside. Are your local buses pushchair friendly, ie can you get aboard without folding the pushchair up? another thing to consider is how will you manage in the supermarket. Umbrella folding ones can be stowed inside trolleys, which is an advantage, but may carry fewer carrier bags.
I've heard that three wheeled pushchairs give a very smooth ride, but otherwise are just for swank value, but have never had one so can't say from personal experience.
Have you considered the alternative to a pushchair, ie a sling as suggested by Janus? The diagonal ones are easiest on your back, and they are a lot more handy for hopping on and off the bus than a pushchair, though of course, you can't hang shopping on them!

Just to add a bit of an echo to what's been said. It's difficult at the stage you are at as you are trying to imagine everything with a new baby. I, too, found my sling invaluable partic as ds had colic for the first 7 weeks and started to wail everytime he was put in the pram. Once your child can sit supported at about 3-4 months your options open out again.

I would regard the pushchair that you need for the first 12 weeks or so as a temporary one. So, if you could borrow or buy a secondhand one cheaply you can gain some time and experience before you get your main option.

If you have a chance, look up the 'What I wished I'd never bought' (or something similar) thread for some amusing insights.

If you want a pushchair you can use from birth a Mamas + Papas Pliko might be a good investment. The lie-back positions are very easy to use, and smooth, the seat is well-padded but it is heavier than the Maclaren type buggies. After 3 kids I think I've tried most prams and this is the only pushchair that does seem ok from birth-4ys. The MacLaren buggies are fantastically light but IME not great for younger babies (under6m) despite what they may say. That said if you do see yourself as a sling-type mum Maclarens are fab when a baby can sit-up.

I saw the Pliko in John Lewis and was very impressed with it - it seemed much better for young babies than the Maclaren equivalents. The only downsides are the expense, and the styling - the one I saw looked a bit like a wheelchair, clunky old metallic bars. But it was very light, and looked very cosy and supportive.

I also think the pilko mammas & pappas is fab. Enid, do you think it's old fashioned? I got mine in John Lewis and it's fab, khaki & beige, very urban! They also do denim and black ones. It's light, the wheels swivel or lock for going over bumpy surfaces, the handle extends for tall people like me (or dh's), You can get a decent amount of shopping down below and it has a little groove on the handle where your handbag handle can catch on and not slide all the way down and get tangled in the wheels: v. important. Also, my ds has been sitting up in it since 4 months, easily, although he is quite big and strong backed. It also has a restraining bar which not only keeps them in when older, but makes a fab place to tie toys on to for them to play with when out. AND it's suitable from bith until they don't need one anymore.It was £150 or so, but we asked my parents for it in place of clothes etc. if you think it's too expensive, why not ask close family to contribute to it on the basis that you will get lots of clothes from everyone else, the baby will wear nothing but babygrows for 3 months, you'll just have to take back half the stuff anyway etc. etc. Oh, by the way, I don't work for them!

Hi Natalies - I'll add my vote for the Maclaren Techno (Janus, apparently they have better brakes on the newer models). I think its brill, so light and folds really small - you can fold it with one hand while holding baby in the other with no problem at all...

Re: Pliko, I did think it looked a bit old-fashioned, although I thought the colours it came in were really nice. I would like to get one for new babe but just can't bear to spend all that money, even if grandparents were to contribute! But if this were my first baby I would definitely have gone for one - it was easy to fold too so would have made a good toddler buggy I think.

thank you for your top tips!

malmomum, you make a very good point about temporary pushchairs. I spent £30 on a baby rocking chair and my daughter howled the place down whenever she was put in it. I'd've been even more upset if that had been a £150 pushchair!