Question to all pushchair / pram experts!

[Maria2007]

Hi girls,

I want to ask a question. I'm Maria, 21 weeks pregnant (it's my first pregnancy), and I'm starting to think about the dreaded pram/pushchair issue! I call it 'dreaded' because I have no idea about different makes of prams/pushchairs & so I don't know where to start looking, and yet I think it's time to start researching. Here are the few things we want in our pram/pushchair, and perhaps you could suggest some nice models that might cover our specifications?

1. we don't want a very big/flashy pram/pushchair as we have a relatively small flat, and the pram has to fit in our door & not take too much room when folded (so none of those with huge wheels, and no three-wheelers)
2. we don't care about cars / car seats because we don't travel by car & don't own a car
3. we travel by bus / on foot / on the tube and on planes (when we travel abroad), so we want a pram/pushchair that is good for travel in cities. One thing to note is that both me & my partner do a lot of walking around the city. We don't really go for walks in the country that much, so it's more a city pram we're looking for
4. we don't want THE most expensive make on the market, but also not THE most cheap. Somewhere in between is good
5. I (and not we, as my partner doesn't care about this specification!!) also want an elegant, cute pram!
6. it needs to work well for a newborn, and then to work also well as a relatively light pushchair, so I think I would prefer one that can take a carrycot, or one that works well if used flat (for newborns)

Quite a high order isn't it!! I hope some of you pram experts out there can help enlighten me & suggest some models so I can start looking
Maria

I completely agree the Maclaren Techno XT is a fab pram, I bought a huge travel system for DD1 but bought an XT when she was 8 weeks as I realised the travel system was totally impractical for living in a tiny flat in London.

I got a lovely sheepskin and it was really cosy and lie flat from birth, easy to get odd and on buses, used to live in our tiny porch in the shoe rack. It's been on buses/trains/tube/planes and the boot of the car. It's now on DD2 and still going strong. You can get a funky cosy toes to jazz it up if you like.

Hi again girls,

Wow, this is getting overwhelming! I think it's probably as hard to get a pram/pushchair as it it to get a car lol

Well... I think I'm now between the Loola Up & the Mamas & Papas Pliko Pramette. The Maclaren is probably what what we'll end up getting after a while anyway... as most people seem to do lol, from what it seems. I don't want to get the Maclaren from the beginning though because I would really like a carrycot-type pram! I'm sure the Maclaren would be absolutely fine for newborns, but I really want to be facing the baby at the beginning, plus I just like the looks of prams... We live on a 1st floor flat by the way, but there is a lift which is quite a wide one, so that's no problem.

I think what I'll do is visit the Mamas & Papas store on Regent street, and perhaps some other store too, to see these prams/pushchairs real live! And then I'll make a choice about where to buy them from. Would you buy your first pram/pushchair off E-Bay? The prices are fantastic... but then again there's no guarantee is there. But it does make sense to spend less, as long as it's safe & advisable to do so (you ladies surely know more than I do about that).

Thanks again,
Maria

Hi again girls,

Wow, this is getting overwhelming! I think it's probably as hard to get a pram/pushchair as it it to get a car lol

Well... I think I'm now between the Loola Up & the Mamas & Papas Pliko Pramette. The Maclaren is probably what what we'll end up getting after a while anyway... as most people seem to do lol, from what it seems. I don't want to get the Maclaren from the beginning though because I would really like a carrycot-type pram! I'm sure the Maclaren would be absolutely fine for newborns, but I really want to be facing the baby at the beginning, plus I just like the looks of prams... We live on a 1st floor flat by the way, but there is a lift which is quite a wide one, so that's no problem.

I think what I'll do is visit the Mamas & Papas store on Regent street, and perhaps some other store too, to see these prams/pushchairs real live! And then I'll make a choice about where to buy them from. Would you buy your first pram/pushchair off E-Bay? The prices are fantastic... but then again there's no guarantee is there. But it does make sense to spend less, as long as it's safe & advisable to do so (you ladies surely know more than I do about that).

Thanks again,
Maria

go to John Lewis rather than M&P as they have all the brands to choose from, not just one.

I'd certainly buy online, though possible not from ebay - check Kiddicare and similar discount nursery places (avoid Two Left Feet though, it has a shocking reputation and has been on Watchdog)

I think you are right, I personally don't think there is one pram/buggy which will be ideal from birth to toddler hood.
If you can get what you need for a good price and then sell it on it's not so bad having to buy more than one pram/buggy.
The Loola is lovely for newborns, the carrycot is so comfy and can be used overnight too as a moses basket. The Loola chassis is also easy to fold and store, I'd probably get the buggy part new and consider a used carrycot, the buggy is more likely to go wrong with all the parts so you might need the guarantee, less so with the carrycot.
I do have a Windoo carrycot no longer needed if you are intestested.
And the Glasgow Pram Centre has a very good offer on the Loola Up at the mo:
www.glasgowpramcentre.co.uk/shop/product.php?product_id=2281
HTH and dont panic, you'll get there!

i would get the pliko pramette tbh i am in a simular situation don't drive do alot of city walking but need sumit small the techno xt is nice but the pramette is better on the whole really cos it does more is sturdier and u can put loads of shopping on the handles with the help of a set of buggy weights and u can fold it up with one hand if u need too and then maybe look into getting a techno for when the baby is a bit older

One not mentioned is the Jane Carrera Pro. I got one after having to sell my lovely Mutsy (still traumatised) due to DH new company car & boot issues. Its really sturdy, hood that stays up and stops showers, got deacent sized wheels, easy to get up and down, lovely to push, reclines, removable washable seat covers, the list goes on. I believe you can get a carrycot for it but mine was for a toddler so can't be sure. I have had no problems with it at all but I can't stand the two separate handles on maclarens etc.

All my DCs have slept in their carrycots until they were too big to fit

i have a loola i dont like it i have a bad back due to suffering spd in pregnancy i find the loola heavy and quite bulky i also find the straps are too short my daughter cant use it with her coat on and she is a small child so i have this brand new sat ready for sale on ebay lol i was lookign at the 3d thanks ill give that one a miss. i am seeking a good light stroller with a bumper bar now and im actually gettign fed up of looking i must be getting old lol anyone help whats the best stroller with a bumper?

Second vote for the icandy cherry!

Don't buy the Loola it weighs a ton! My friend had it for 2 months then sold it and bought a Micralite Toro with the carrycot it's really nice and easy to use! Not to expensive either. It folds with one hand is very light although it's not the smallest when folded but it's great for walking too.

i would say a mamas and papas pliko pramette would be ideal it is luvly for a newborn not to heavy smallish whenit is folded i don't actullay find much difference between the maclaren techno and pramette folded imo it is luvly to push for a long time walking i use it walking to town and back which is bout 4miles and it doesn't hurt ur hands and u can get a real cheap one off ebay and when u come to sell it they keep there price

Do you have to go up stairs to your flat? if so big wheels are actually fab for bumping up and down steps.

my favourites at the moment are:

traxx ecuador, mutsy, mamas and papas skate, urban detour quantum, maxi cosi mura, gesslein f2, gesslein future, gesslein vision s, mia moda allegria, mia moda atmosferra, petite star whirl, petite star dot, luna, mothercare vesta, bugaboo bee, jane carrera, jane solo.

I would recomend the P3/Pliko, Chicco trekker/C1 for a newborn, though I do love the Techno XT, but it depends on how much you want to carry - shopping, baby bag etc, it will tip if you load it too much, it has happened to me. The other 2 carry loads.
Just get a cheap moses basket for the new baby to sleep in to start with, as some carrycots are not suitable for whole night sleeping, just for daytime napping, ventilation issues etc.

we love our pliko p3, we bought it from peg perego, colours are better and it takes a click on hard carry cot, which we used as a moses basket as well for first 6 months (winter baby was very snuggly, and raincover kept it dry on wet days) We still use it now for our nearly two year old (folds small, and relatively light, not as much as Techno, but not enough to warrent switcihing to maclaren) Only thing is it is a pain with stairs. If you have to do a lot of stairs I'd go for something with big wheels like easy walker or baby jogger or micralite toro, or alternatively take a look at baby jogger city mini. Its gorge, had great city steering, lightweight and folds like a dream. I think it's suitable from 3 months but you might find yourself using a sling/baby bjorn during this time anyway. Kiddicare and Babyworld have great deals and stocks most of these brands.

we did the follwing- got a Bebe confort elite pushchair off ebay and a new windoo carrycot which we used as a moses basket too (this was brill btw- could take pram away and have instant bed with us). Then when busbs was bigger migrated to a mountain buggy (kindly given to us). I loved the bebe confort stuff but even the loola up is quite heavy for buses etc. I am faily sure the micralite has a carrycot option but not sure if their carrycot is ok for overnight sleeping (it has to have vents). The best solution might be in getting the red castle umbrela puschair (like a maclaren, but its called a citylink) and get the carrycot that they do for it. Thus having a pram bit for first 6 months and then a maclarne type pushchair there after. I reckon they are good value as you get all the rain covers etc included and they are frances leading brand so should stand upto lots of wear.
I know you don't want a 3 wheeler but the absolute best thing to push bare none (ask anyone who has one) is the mountain buggy and it is suprisingly light, they do a carrycot for this too. There are v expensive new but 2nd hand ones are good (they are bullet proof- ours has been through 4 kids and still goign great).
here is the redcastle link if you want to check it out www.redcastle.fr/fileadmin/img/Images-Produits/CITYLINK/Livret/Livret_Citylink_vf.pdf or www.redcastle.fr/nc/en/red-castle-home-city/red-castle-h-c/?tx_ttproducts_pi1%5Bcat%5D=41

I think the streety is a good option for you.

Faces both ways and compact fold.I know you have said that you won't need a car seat but it won't hurt to have one incase you need to travel in a taxi for instance.

I know that it's legal to travel in a cab without a car seat but it isn't safe.

Hi Maria just thought I'd ask how you got on with everything? Just incase your on here you know