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Original poster

I need the pram that does everything, does it exist?

33 replies

hopefully · 04/04/2008 16:17

I've posted this on the pregnancy board, so apologies to those who've responded there, I'm still looking for advise! I need a pram which does everything, and I'm hopping you wise MNers will be able to help.

My ideal pram:

  • Goes off-road, on the beach and in woods on footpath etc ? I do a lot of walking on all terrains!
  • Is not too enormous to take to town and get round shops in (potentially moving to small city soon after birth, but still doing lots of walking)
  • Is suitable from newborn (carry cot would be preferable)
  • Fits in the boot of our not very big car (Renault Clio - don't mind losing most of the boot space, as can stack things on passenger seat if necessary)
  • Has a rear facing seat option, not just the carrycot, so baby can face me once it's sitting up, not just when it's tiny
  • Travel system would be nice, but not essential
  • I have a budget of up to about £700, but that has to include the car seat, so if it?s not a travel system I suppose we?re looking at about £600
  • I don't have any definite plans, but in an ideal world I'll be having a second baby at some point in the future. I'll probably get a secondhand Phil&Teds or similar when that happens, but suppose potentially a pram that could take a buggy board would be useful?

I had initially considered a 3-wheeler like a Mountain Buggy or a Quinny, but am put off by the lack of rear-facing seat and the size and weight for going to town. Newest consideration is a Bugaboo Chameleon, as those people who use it in ?chariot? form or use snow tyres on the beach say that it?s fine. however, others have said it?s rubbish in mud.

Any thoughts will be eternally appreciated, as I am going to drive about 2 hours tomorrow to go to a massive showroom to try lots of prams, and a shortlist would be helpful!

OP posts:
DarthVader · 04/04/2008 16:20

I think it is a big and classic mistake to go for the one that does everything!
After 6 months you will probably ditch whatever you buy in favour of a cheap maclaren buggy!

hana · 04/04/2008 16:21

god
you need to get pram type thing with big wheels if you're going in woods and on beach, and umbrella fold thing like Mcclaren techno for city and out and about. Techno is fab fab fab
rear facing seats I think are overrated - I mean, you can chat away to your baby at other times

DarthVader · 04/04/2008 16:22

agree with hana
you can store the techno in your boot, doesn't take up much space

Habbibu · 04/04/2008 16:23

I have a M&P travel system, which I like, but which other people think is cumbersome. I would recommend rear-facing seat - dd is 18 months, and it's lots of fun chatting as we walk. If you were to drop a requirement, I'd drop the off-road thing, pick up a sling and later a backpack - much better for all-terrain, and more fun for the baby.

moondog · 04/04/2008 16:23

Phil & Ted your best bet as it will hold a big kid and a toddler (dd is 7 and can still be wheeled around easily in mine-not that i do you understand!)

hana · 04/04/2008 16:23

buggies are getting bigger and bigger - is scary.

DarthVader · 04/04/2008 16:24

Personally would not spend £700 on a pram - get a great 2nd hand one for £100 and save the rest! Then sell the pram on after 6 months.

cmotdibbler · 04/04/2008 16:27

I've got a Mutsy - used carrycot when DS was tiny, and the rear facing seat is great as we like to talk to each other. Goes through mud great, but is reasonably bulky.
We never use our cheap umbrella fold buggy as neither of us like not being able to see DS - round town a sling is much more practical and fun.

moondog · 04/04/2008 16:30

I'm flogging my Phil & Ted for £100.
Get yerself over to North Wales for a speccy.

imaginewittynamehere · 04/04/2008 16:31

I love my bugaboo but it really is not suitable for off road. The small wheels get clogged with mud etc, is uncomfy to pull chariot style (with just big wheels) & b**y heavy with anything more than a newborn in it.

I really think that 2 cheaper prams would be a better way to go.

Bugaboo takes up most of room in my boot (Ren Megane) & I have to take the wheels off to get it in my dad's boot, (206)

Original poster
hopefully · 04/04/2008 16:36

Iiiiinteresting, was wondering if that might be the case.

Have broadly accepted that I will probably use this pram exclusively for a year at most, and then end up getting a lighter model for going to town, but can't really see me wanting to put baby in a sling/carrier for the amount of walking I do (lame, I know, but true!). I guess my top 3 requirements would have to be:

  1. Be suitable for lots and lots of walking
  2. Be suitable from birth
  3. Have a rear facing seat if humanly possible - I know it's impossible to predict how life is going to change, but I reckon I could easily spend 2 hours out of the house, most of it walking (except for necessary cafe/playing/nappy/feeding stops!), and would like to be able to chat to baby for more than just the times we're stopped.

Am more than happy to buy a secondhand pram once I've found the model I like!

Thanks for your opinions, much appreciated, feel free to keep them coming.

OP posts:
vonsudenfed · 04/04/2008 16:54

y wish list was about the same as yours - rear facing seat, suitable from birth, fits in the boot of a Punto and capable of going off road a bit. I got a Hauck Infinity, which I've been very happy with - and I love the rear-facing seat, wouldn't have anything else.

It's not a great off-road pram - was fine for getting to allotment, that kind of thing, but I haven't found that too much of a problem, and it may be the one thing you compromise on.

I used to do lots of walking before dd arrived, and now I don't - I was too knackered for about three months, and there is nowhere round us to walk with a pushchair - stiles and kissing gates are not my friends. A backpack really is the way to go.

But I also find it too scary - and I think this is a hormonal thing. I would just feel too exposed out in open country with just me and a baby on a track (and before I was pregnant I would do ten mile walks over the hills...). So now I only go out with me, her dh and the sling.

This might just be my mad brain, but I don;t think it's worth making it the be-all and end-all of your pram. Get one that does the other things, then get a backpack or a second hand offroader for when you do need it.

luvaduck · 04/04/2008 16:59

basically i think all the off road ones are too heavy for bus/tube/getting in and out of car too ofen, there lies the dilemna.

if you have the space get a cheaper off road one(xadventure ones look good not too pricey, icandy apple, mountain buggy) and then a cheaper mclaren for popping on public transport. love the techno but theres a cheaper one ok to use from 3 months? triumph.

theres a gap in the market for the perfect buggy...

sazm · 04/04/2008 17:14

how about a britax vigour 3, or a mutsy urban rider, both are good for off roading,have a carrycot/travel system option,and both have rearfacing seat units.

theres a nice new mothercare urban detour one too:

here

Habbibu · 04/04/2008 17:19

To be honest, when the baby is young, you may find yourself walking A Lot on smooth or mildly bumpy roads just to ensure he/she naps, and after 6 months a backpack is much more fun for off road - more practical, and it's good to have 2 hands free. You may find the backpack easier than you think (and you may end up walking a bit less than you think). I'm not terribly fit, and have a very heavy 18 mo dd, and can cope with an hour's walk with her in the backpack pretty well. Had to run for the bus with her in it the other day - not so much fun, but we managed, with her giggling like a maniac in my ear the whole way.

PixelHerder · 04/04/2008 17:19

Why stop at two, I've had about six so far but have Ebayed lots.

If I was starting again I'd go for two - something like a Bugaboo Bee (or similar lightweight rear facing) and a Mountain Buggy Terrain for off road - both second hand off Ebay. I've had a Bugaboo Cameleon and wouldn't recommend it either, it's rubbish off road.

PixelHerder · 04/04/2008 17:20

forgot to say that the Terrain with carrycot would be nice for a newborn, though I think the Bee is also suitable from birth.

Alambil · 04/04/2008 20:10

what about this?

sazm · 04/04/2008 23:46

maybe a jane slalom? the seat doesnt go rearward facing but if you buy a matrix seat you can use it til 18m rearfacing on the pushchair,

nappyaddict · 04/04/2008 23:50

i would go for the i'coo peak 3 or the mutsty.

liahgen · 04/04/2008 23:51

the new Loola Up. faces rearwards, les flat. one handles,

I want one. Dh won't let me.

doublethetrouble · 05/04/2008 00:07

Bugaboo cameleon is the business. Not sure what its like off road though as i've never used it for that purpose.

Bugaboo cameleon is one of the few prams that do actually last baby upto six months mark. Although most say they last up to six months going by friends experience most of them don't. My friend had a loola and although she was happy with it her average sized baby didn't fit the pram after 4 months.

Bugaboo cameleon pram base is great as a travel cot 2. Both mind slept in the pram base overnight for first few months...far comfier than moses baskets!.

Although bugaboos are expensive if you did decide to buy a new one you would still be able to sell it at a decent price when you had finished with it and apparently it the only pushchair pram with a 2 year manufacturers warranty rather 1 year which apeaks for its self.

If Bugaboo did double buggys I would have bought another one again.

I am not on commision!.

mrsgboring · 05/04/2008 17:15

What you are looking for is a sling

But seriously, have you considered going for the mainly babywearing option? Great for off road, towns, public transport, tiny cafes and your DC can look into your eyes, listen to your heartbeat (and pull your hair) until they are old enough to walk.

I believe that there is a little fold up stroller on the market which will take any carseat on it as a travel system (sorry don't know the details) so I would buy that, and then get the best available rearfacing carseat that will fit in your car.

Slings, I would recommend a stretchy wrap and either a mei tai or an Ergo to go with it. Post your questions about slings - there are loads of sling experts around the place.

Lennied · 05/04/2008 21:39

I would get:
-an isofix rear facing seat - the Britax one is safest in Which? trials
-a pram for round town for when bubs is little
-and sling initially then an ergo carrier for walks. We have used our ergo for long hill walks up until now (DD 15 months and BIG). I can carry DD in the ergo for 3/4 hours and I'm not all that fit and suffer from arthritis. You would be surprised how good they are. Between me and DH we can carry her all day. (Although are upgrading to a framed backpack now)

We have a Mountain Buggy (the light one, can't remember what it is called), having replaced the pram when DD was about 5 months and sitting. MB is great for when we need it, but now DD walking we tend to let her walk when we can and carry her when we can't. You can go on much better off-road walks in all weathers if you ditch the buggy.

Travel systems are great in theory but when babies are tiny they shouldn't sit/sleep for long in a car seat so if you are planning long walks you would need to move baby between the car seat and pram anyway. Might be worth bearing in mind.

Lennied · 05/04/2008 21:46

Should also have said that I was put off by lack of rear-facing seat on most buggies, but in reality there isn't much on the market now that rear-faces that is good off-road.