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Original poster

Which buggy...help :)

26 replies

mamazee · 01/03/2008 21:31

I know how much Mumsnetters love a good buggy so i need some serious advice.
i got a quinny zapp before my DS was born not knowing that i would want to wear him in a sling. so it has gone pretty much unused.
now he is a bit bigger i need the option of a buggy..but what choice !
was about to buy an icandy or loola as i liked the idea of DS facing me or away from me. but am now thinking that maybe a basic maclaren is the way forward ?
we have a big, cumbersome very heavy mountain buggy which is fab on beaches or festivals but a no go popping to the shops.
my ds is 11 months and quite a big boy and the quinny looked small to me. also don't like the fact that it did not recline AND i had to battle to get it up and down.
i am gonna keep using my ergo sling but need a break from 24 lb babe some days...also mum in law going to start having him for couple of hours and cannot wear sling.

what to do ? what to do?
do i get a Loola or icandy ?
do i stick with the quinny ?
or maclaren ?

worth mentioning that i am not willing to spend loads (my car was only £500...price of a bugaboo i believe !)

also that my ds has not been in a buggy more than 4 times in his life so am not even sure if he will go for it

there are also SO MANY bloody buggies and i am already exhausted from looking ...

any advice would be fab..
thanks for those of you that stuck with this ramble...well done !

OP posts:
Original poster
mamazee · 01/03/2008 22:19

...anyone ?

OP posts:
pamplemousse · 01/03/2008 22:32

If you are not too bothered about him facing you, and at 11 months mine prefered to face away and see what was going on, then I would just go with the maclaren, its cheapest and if its just for nipping about and mil's use then its not worth spending the extra on the others imo. I have an icandy cherry and am considering getting a smaller buggy (amongst other things, its so hard to decide isn't it?!) just for nipping about as the cherry isn't small and doesn't fold in one piece. Also dd wants to walk now and driving a larger buggy with one hand and having dd's hand or reins in the other hand is a faff. If it could be driven one handed or folded and carried easily that would be good. Don't know a great deal about maclaren's, but my friend has a triumph one and its fine, basic but does the job. One thing I would look for is a reclining seat though as my dd still loves to nap in her buugy at 15 mo.
Phew, that may help or may confuse you further...!

PaulaYatesBiggestFan · 01/03/2008 22:34

well my youngest is 2 and i cannot cope with him facing away
i forever go round the front to keep checking him

i still use bugaboo so would go for a rear facer if i were you

Original poster
mamazee · 01/03/2008 22:36

thats great...the basic ones just looks so uncomfy and low but maybe i am being a neurotic mum

OP posts:
Original poster
mamazee · 01/03/2008 22:37

the reason i mention the facing me thing is that he is used to being in a sling and knowing where i am etc...
god this is so difficult !

OP posts:
pamplemousse · 01/03/2008 22:45

Well you aren't being neurotic, you know your ds the best! I look over the hood to see dd, when its up I admit to going round the front to check her!
I think the plus points of a loola are it folds in one, the minuses are the shopping basket is rubbish, its heavy and imo expensive. But all the minuses only apply to some people iyswim, like if you don't shop with ds in a buggy, you don't have to heft it into car/up steps to your front door etc. I know several people with one and they love it.
The Cherry is fine, it all works well usually, currently it is as new because the front wheels got bent, but the pavements around me are shocking and I walk a lot mainly through the park where the pavements are even worse. Overall I think its a good pushchair - shopping basket is huge, its very light to steer, front/rear facing is easy to change (often dd is happy to look outwards on the way into town but gets bored or wants a 'chat' so I turn it round later.) To be honest I am thinking of selling it as I want a small buggy now dd is walking so much!

Original poster
mamazee · 01/03/2008 22:55

well you know where to come if you decide to sell
love the idea of changing to face me 1/2 way through walk..that has kind of decided me although i am changing my mind daily.
is the icandy cherry a particular model or are they all called it ?

OP posts:
PaulaYatesBiggestFan · 01/03/2008 22:56

there is a new pliko that faces both ways i think

Original poster
mamazee · 01/03/2008 22:59

what do you think about the quinny buzz?

OP posts:
pamplemousse · 01/03/2008 23:00

The cherry is the newish one came out may 07 i think. It has 4 wheels faces both ways etc. The apple is 3 or 4 wheeled and more expensive and probably does other stuff! There is also a pear although I have no clue what this is all about!
If I decide to sell it (would have to get something else first, hence why I am being so slow about it!) I'll advertise it on here and then ebay if no joy, so keep your eyes peeled!

NorthernLurker · 01/03/2008 23:02

facing two ways is brilliant - dd3 is 10 months and we have a bugaboo. So sometimes she wants to look out and then later when she's going to fall asleep I put her facing me - it's such a fab thing to be able to swap between them as she likes.

mumeeb · 02/03/2008 11:38

We loved our Loola when ds was newborn, (because he could face us & it wasn't too expensive), however he's a big lad and at 17 months the Loola isn't holding up well. Go with one of the other choices.

beckmo · 03/03/2008 17:22

I have a bugaboo gecko and a Maclaren Techno. Recently got the techno with the plan to sell the gecko but think I will keep it for longer walks. The techno is FAB. It has a window in the hood so you can still see your child and the hood zips out to become a sunshade. For these two reasons it is preferable to the gecko. My DD is 8 months and whenever I have her facing me in the gecko she is craning her head round to see in front so she actually prefers facing forward in the Maclaren....it was £139 on Mothercare and worth every penny.

mumo75 · 03/03/2008 21:15

i have a silver cross wayfarer that faces both ways,comes with cosytoes and zip on raincover,in VGC only want £55 you arrange courier

Original poster
mamazee · 03/03/2008 21:38

hi mumo75

do you have any photos please.
thanks

[email protected]

OP posts:
ScotGirl · 03/03/2008 21:43

I second the Maclaren Teachno XT - it has made our facing me Quinny Buzz pretty much redundant in our house.
It is just so good to push and ds is really happy in it. The Techno seat is nice and upright - but also goes completely flat for a nap - not like the Buzz - half reclined in the facing you position and a weird legs in the air position for naps!

Also my Mother in Law hates the Buzz - way too heavy for her to push - the Techno being lighter is a better bet for an older carer I think.

dizzydixies · 03/03/2008 21:47

the britax Vigour ones can face either way and are cheaper than bugaboos - I like mine - I have the 4 wheeled one but you can get a 3 wheel one too

www.britax.co.uk/index.php?option=com_britax&task=showproduct&id=43&groupid=11&Itemid=331

also have a bruin (toys r us) Presto - similar to quinny zapp but has 4 wheels - more stable - and reclining feature - mine is red but you can get them in black/turquoise and pink now

www.toysrus.co.uk/Product.aspx/bruhome/brutravel/brutravelbruin/711047

suwoo · 03/03/2008 22:02

My DS is nearly 15 months and only 21lb and I have just had to sell my loola as it is so hard to push when he's facing me (especially up kerbs). I have bought a bugaboo and LOVE IT, comes highly recommended here.

Original poster
mamazee · 03/03/2008 22:31

Loolas not coming out very well here

cannot justify cost of bugaboo.
the britax and bruin look good but i am liking the mutsy cos of the wheels.

its narrowing..
think we will get a cheap umbrella one anyway as they seem supremely practical.

thanks for all advice

OP posts:
Original poster
mamazee · 04/03/2008 15:39

the mustsy urban rider it is.. (95%)..
can anyone who has one tell me if there are any draw backs ?
also does anyone use the double buggy upgrade ?
is it good ?

Many thanks for your opinions ..it has been fabulously helpful smile

have posted this on for sale section too

OP posts:
dizzydixies · 04/03/2008 18:25

does it not have fixed front wheels?

pamplemousse · 04/03/2008 19:10

It does but the frame steers by a unique system and you can buy swivel front wheels for 'maximum city manuverability (sp!)'.

peachygirl · 04/03/2008 19:14

Have you thought about a Micralite?
I really like ours, after using one for a while (which I broke) we have just got a new one with the cary cot to put away for another baby. It is light you can push it with one hand and it has air tyres so you can off road. The one drawback is that it only has two seat positions , having said that DD (12months) sleeps really well in it.

Original poster
mamazee · 04/03/2008 19:53

peachygirl..they look great.
how far back does the seat go and is it rear and forwrad facing?
many thanks

OP posts:
peachygirl · 04/03/2008 22:15

They are forward facing and the seat doesn't go back that far but it is like a hammock and I think that's what make it more comfy. It doesn't sit bolt upright and then maybe 45 degrees?
They did very well in the Which reports a while back. There is the new Toro which is lovely but was too much for our pockets!!
The hood has a window to see the baby and it is very easy to put up and down.
They are about to bring out some bigger wheels to put on for more rigerous off roading which I might treat myself to.

One thing I really like about it is that it is quite different - not a Maclaren which everyone seems to have.

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