Which pushchair/travel system/pram- baffled!

[dollydaydream72]

Hi,

Hope someone can help me. Our first baby is due in April so we've been researching what type of transport we want. The range of mind boggling.
The type we want is like the M&P Pliko Pramette, which is a lie-flat pram which converts to a push chair and also has an optional car seat which clicks into place.
The system we choose needs to be pretty versatile both around town and also down at the stables (which I'm not sure the Pliko pramette will be), something not too heavy due to my back problems, to fold easily and quite compact to fit in a Suzuki Jimny and a VW golf, and something to suit 5'2 me and 6'2 hubby.

A lot to ask I know but the perfect one has to be out there somewhere! Any tips/advice/suggestions appreciated. Thanks

is there a John Lewis/Peter Jones near you?? they have nursery consultants who go through all the equipment you will need for the baby and you get to test drive the prams/travel systems.

Mothercare world also has a very good selection.

I also read an article in Junior Magazine www.juniormagazine.co.uk which tests/compares 6 'top of the range' prams/buggies/travel systems from birth ...

We went for a fantastic 3-wheeler (twister XT) for our first (heavy and too big)but now have a Maclaren Techno XT for the second.

Good luck and have fun!!!! i remember the joys of choosing a pram....

Ya, John Lewis is a good bet. It can be a nightmare - I remember how I agonized and then picked something rather inappropriate! Have you checked out the pushchair reviews on here? Of course you have to try out in person, but it just adds a bit more fuel to the fire. A couple of things that I have found useful - I do think that big wheels are good - better ride for the baby and easier to push. Whatever pram you choose, you will have to compromise on something. Might be worth getting one that is very comfortable to push and is your main pram and later when the babby can sit up getting a relatively cheap lightweight easy to push around pushchair, like the Maclaren Volo. This type is good for public transport if you ever take it, and folds up small. Alternatively (and you probably don't even want to think about this now) but if you are considering having more than one child with a relatively small gap between, think about an adaptable pram like the E3 Explorer. This does fold down well, has big wheels (3 wheeler) and cleverly adapts to carry a second child if needs be.
I do think the extendable handles are very useful (I am 5'3, DH is 6'0).
Good luck!

We love our Mountain Buggy Urban. It is relatively light, but isn't a travel system as per but you can unclip and clip on all the different attachments as you need them which keeps the weight down. We used it from newborn dd looked tiny in the pushchair part but we bought a sheepskin to go under her rather than paying for the pram attachment. You can buy a car seat attachment which is about £30 and a couple of different car seats which you buy seperately can then click directly onto the buggy such as one of the maxi cosi's so you can use it as a cary cot type thing.
It folds up relatively well but is a squeeze in a small hatchback. I'm 5"6 and dh 6"3 and my mum was fine with it at 5"1.
There are so many of us who feel passionate about our buggies but I wouldn't have anything else.