What buggy as an alternative for my mahoosive M&P one?

[shonaspurtle]

I've got a M&P Ultimo MPX which has been good as a pram and I'm sure will be a good buggy when ds is a bit older but...

... I live on the 3rd floor, still haven't got a car and so will probably be buying another small, cheap folding buggy for short trips.

At the moment I use a Baby Bjorn most of the time but he's getting heavy!

Any recommendations?

a Maclaren? fold up small and are comfy, recline right back to sleep and sit right up to look out. I've used my Techno XT to death.

when I lived in flats I found three wheelers perfect, because then if yo get home and baby is asleep you can bump them slowly up the stairs and go and sit and read the paper in peace.

Just got v excited because I googled maclaren and saw the Techno XT from Argos for £19.79. Ooh that's less than I thought I'd have to spend thinks I..

...erm that'll be the dolls pram version

Maclaren Volo look a possibility - anyone used it? The Mothercare Jive one is v cheap but you need to get all the accessories which would make it almost as much.

Can't really afford £150 for the Techno though it does look good.

Kelly, yes we didn't really think the purchase of our pram through properly. A 3-wheeler or the Pramette would have made more sense. Got railroaded a bit by my mum as she was buying it . Very generous but she doesn't have to lug a 14lb baby in a carrycot plus base up 3 flights of stairs...

On the upside I have got very fit

We have a volo - which we got v cheap from Kiddicare. It is fine for an older toddler but does not recline at all. Ours has been used and abused for at least 18 months and shows no sign of wear and tear. We had a techno before the volo which was much more luxorious (reclined and had a hood etc) but much heavier.
I seem to remember the m'care jive to be surprisingly heavy for it's size.

i have a M&P pramette, which i don't really find cumbersome and a Volo for short trips, tube, etc downside is it does not recline so not good for nap times, otherwise good for purpose and cheap

So how much of a disadvantage is the not reclining? Bearing in mind that this would really be for fairly short trips and ds is pretty used to falling asleep upright in the Baby Bjorn (though realise that isn't really the same)?

Is it more of an issue when he's 6 months and less as he gets a bit older or would it make the Volo unsuitable for 6mo?

Much cheapness at Kiddicare!

We got Maclaren Quest for going abroad it is great light weight and reclines to sleep position I think ds finds it just as comfortable as Mamas and Papas pramette great buy.

i wouldnt really recommend a volo for a baby under a year tbh. what about a maclaren triumph, they recline slightly and kiddicare usually has a cheapy one there.

Another vote for a Techno XT here, I had a huge travel system thing but got a XT from Kiddicare for about £100 I think. If you got one you wouldn't use the M&P's again probably.

Thanks for the tips - I've had a look on eBay as well and secondhand is definitely an option for the Techno.

Will look at the Quest and Triumph as well.

Kicking myself quite honestly for not just getting the Pramette in the first place.

get a hoppediz wrap much more supportive and better for baby than bjorn.

don't under estimate the bumping up stairs a la Kelly1978. small wheels are a bit clattery if your babe falls asleep and you are trying to sneak them in the flat so you can get on with something.

Maclaren xt v nice. Good sling pretty good too.

Glad to see I am not the only one who was rail roaded into a mpx 3 in 1 in a flat bloody thing! I got a citisport pretty quickly and also managed to start leaving the ultima in the bottom of the stairwell.

shona, I think the reclining is useful - my DS1 used to sleep in it lying flat until he was about 18 months. I'd go for a reclining one just because I bet once you've got it, you just won't use the other one any more (you could sell it on ebay??)