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Original poster

Help! Pushchair advice desperately needed!!

29 replies

MissTea · 30/01/2009 14:10

Hello there,

I am having real trouble finding a pushchair that ticks all the boxes, and would really appreciate any advice. I am pregnant with my first (due in May) and new to this!

My requirements are as follows:

  • Must be super light (I live in a flat and have a bad back, so need to be able to carry it upstairs)
  • Must be suitable from birth (or have a light carrycot option)
  • Must be parent-facing (for both baby and toddler)

Ideally, would also have height-adjustable handles (as my DH is 6 foot)

Would also be good to have a travel system that I can attach a car seat and carry cot to (is this generally a good idea, do you think?)

Any suggestions, or am I being too difficult?

So far, I?ve the following travel systems seem the closest match, but each has drawbacks:

icandy cherry ? non-adjustable handles, and sounds like it might be prone to faults - lots of negative reviews saying wheels fall off and bad customer service etc.

Bebe Confort Streety ? non-adjustable handles and doesn?t fold with seat in rearward facing position

Bugaboo Bee ? not sure it?s suitable from birth, and doesn?t seem big enough for toddlers either, also very pricey! The cameleon is an alternative but even pricier and looks quite heavy

Does anyone in a similar situation have any of these, or any other models that would work?

Thanks very much for your help!!

OP posts:
nappyaddict · 30/01/2009 15:06

Bugaboo bee.

ChristmasPenguin · 30/01/2009 15:09

have a look at mamas and papas ones - some of them have lightweight carry cots and quite a few are fairly light too.

nappyaddict · 30/01/2009 15:25

The other solution is having big air filled wheels so you can bounce the pushchair down the stairs.

Look at M&P skate, M&P Joolz, Mutsy 4 rider (or lite rider as it is sometimes called), mothercare maiu, any of the teutonia pushchairs, gesslein f2, gesslein f6, gesslein future and gesslein vision s.

Original poster
MissTea · 30/01/2009 15:36

Thanks!

nappyaddict - do you have a bee? And what ages is it good for? I.e. is it OK for newborns, and up to what age?

ChristmasPenguin - had a look in mamas and papas yesterday. The Pliko Switch was the best they had, but it was quite heavy.

OP posts:
Original poster
MissTea · 30/01/2009 15:38

Ooh, nappyaddict - just saw your second post! Will have a look at those other ones. Thanks!

OP posts:
nappyaddict · 30/01/2009 19:22

I would say bugaboo bee fine up to about 2 years.

naomi83 · 31/01/2009 19:52

Don't get a mamas and papas p3, it's relatively lightweight on the shop, but a pain in the arse to carry up stairs, esp if you get with carseat/ neborn bassinet, also very heavy to push toddler in. If I was doing it again I'd go for a micralite fastfold or toro, I've heard they're lightweight to carry, big wheels for bumping down stairs, and can take basinet/car seat. Also push like a dream with heavy toddler in. Not adjustable handle as far as I kjnow, but no pushchair is perfect.

nicolamumof3 · 31/01/2009 21:22

the toro does have an adjustable handle if that helps.

sorrento · 31/01/2009 22:57

I would look at either the Bugaboo Chameleon, my all time fav, not heavy at all or the Bebe Confort Loola which is now compatible with the maxi cosy car seat, again excellent.
I don't like the Bee the seat unit is tiny.

PrincessButtercup · 31/01/2009 23:00

I'm considering the Maxi Cosi Mura which ticks all your boxes, I think and looks very comfy for baby..

nicolamumof3 · 01/02/2009 08:27

mura is v.v.heavy tho? i think its over 12kg?

loola is very heavy to lift up kerbs etc, prob ok for a tiny baby but not once they get a bit older. i had a bebe confort streety which is lovely too. chassis looks quite like a bee. i did find it heavy to lift up kerbs tho one handed.

NorktasticNinja · 01/02/2009 08:39

The Bugaboo Cam ticks all your boxes (it really isn't heavy), it'd be well worth looking for a second hand one.

misdee · 01/02/2009 08:45

i love my be. but am having to sell it to raise cash. its on for sale here

NorktasticNinja · 01/02/2009 10:03

Oh, I've not used it so I'm not sure how similar it is to the Cam, but I still the old Bugaboo Frog around a lot here (Holland). As far as I can tell there isn't much difference, a second hand Frog would definitely be cheaper than a second hand Cam...

Bugaboos really are a fantastic design.

Northernlurker · 01/02/2009 10:05

The cam certainly isn't heavy and the carrycot is excellent - dd3 slept in it for five months.

Original poster
MissTea · 03/02/2009 12:42

Thanks everyone! Sounds like the Bugaboo Chameleon might be the best bet. Just wish it wasn't so expensive! Although if you can sell it for 200-300 after a few years of use then I guess it's not so bad. Will also look for second hand ones, although then you don't have a warranty if it breaks...

That's great that the carry cot can double as a bed for the first few months, saves me buying a moses basket!

Thanks again for all your helpful advice xx

OP posts:
suwoo · 03/02/2009 12:46

Definitely the cam in my opinion (although I have a frog ). It is light and way lighter than the loola (sold mine when DS was 18 months). I also bounce my frog up and down steps easily. So its ok for babies to sleep overnight in the carrycot, Northernlurker? I intend to do this with no 3. Did you leave it on the chassis or could you put the carrycot in the cot?

Northernlurker · 03/02/2009 18:17

Yes the Cam carrycot is fine for sleeping in and it's a really good size. I used to take it off the chassis and put it on our blanket box in our room but you could take the chassis too or put it in a cot.

Original poster
MissTea · 03/02/2009 19:01

What about the Bugaboo Gecko? Does anyone know what the difference between the Cameleon and the Gecko is? The Gecko seems much cheaper and also lighter, but perhaps it doesn't have a carry cot?

Just read the which report of the cameleon and it didn't sound that great - they didn't choose it as a best buy, which surprised me as I've heard such good things about it - see review below...

"The iconic Bugaboo Cameleon pushchair struck our testers as more fashionable than practical; it's pleasant to push but heavy and difficult to fold and unfold.

We tested the 2007 version. It has been updated for 2008 with a simpler handlebar adjustment mechanism, which is more intuitive to operate than the previous version; new foam, rather than air-filled tyres, have not changed its manoeuvrability or road handling on rough terrain.

But there will be no need to pump up tyres and no punctures, hence no mending or pumps to carry. Finally the release for the folding mechanism is now easier to use, but the whole process of folding still requires removing of the seat section completely, so it is not fundamentally easier now.

The pushchair is suitable from 6 months old, but can be used for infants if the optional soft pram body or Maxi Cosi Cabrio car seat and adapters are purchased too. It's very easy to attach and detach the car seat and pram body. It's time consuming and difficult to assemble initially.

It can be used in 2 modes; 'city' with its small, lockable, swivel front wheels forward, or ' rough mode' with the large pneumatic tyres in front. It handles most surfaces well, has a reasonably tight turning circle and the seat unit can face both directions.

The foam handlebar is height adjustable (97-114 cm) but several users found it uncomfortable, and the 2-button seat recline is also difficult for smaller people to reach.

At 13.5 kg the pushchair is very heavy, and folded measures 90x31x59 cm (165 litres) so it's fairly bulky too, which makes it difficult to move when folded and hard to store in a mid-sized hatchback car boot.

It complies with the relevant British Standards for safety, strength, durability and stability. The fleecy seat fabric is difficult to clean and pale food left a noticeable stain; luckily the seat covers are removable.

The large, accessible storage space is a bonus and it's supplied with rain cover, hood, footpath, and apron.

Pros: Attractive, comfortable to push, good on buses

Cons: Bulky when folded, heavy, expensive, must by infant car seat or carrycot to use with baby"

OP posts:
Northernlurker · 03/02/2009 19:07

I don't think the gecko carrycot is suitable for overnight sleeping.

The thing in that review about the bug being heavy is nonsense frankly - it isn't. Try mamas and papas if you want to feel heavy! The folding thing is an issue if you are going to put it in the car often - but I don't drive so hardly ever do and actually for holiday packing we tend to take the wheels off the chassis - the work of seconds and then it is very small.

suwoo · 03/02/2009 20:36

Its fab for going on holiday- I have the travel case and have flown with it a few times. Once you know how to do it, folding it is a piece of piss! How is it with a buggy board is my next question?

naomi83 · 04/02/2009 13:34

what buggies got good reveiw2s from which?

CarGirl · 04/02/2009 13:36

I've had the frog and Cam, the frog is much easier to steer so I would honestly consider the gecko or 2nd hand frog.

Original poster
MissTea · 08/02/2009 18:45

Thanks everyone!

Been to try a few more out and am now quite tempted by the icandy cherry or the bee...

The icandy cherry seems like a smaller, cheaper version of the cameleon. Handle bars aren't adjustable, but seemed a good height for both of us, and I do like having a seperate carry cot. On the down side you have to take the seat off to fold it (same as the cameleon). Otherwise it seems pretty perfect though! Has anyone got one? I know there were problems with earlier models (wheels falling off and the like), which initially put me off, but the lovely lady in the shop said the newer models haven't had any probs so far...

And as for the bee - seems a really good size for public transport and manouvering around shops etc. My only worry is whether the seat is big enough for a 2-3 year old (as some reviews say it's not) and also whether it's OK to put a newborn in the seat which is very nearly flat but not completely... A carrycot just seems so much more secure.

Any thoughts on the Bee / icandy cherry? Both seems to retail at around 350 (although the cherry is apparently going up in price by about 100 quid at the end of feb!), which seems v good compared to the cameleon at 600, and I'm hard pushed to see any benefits of the cameleon that make it worth that extra 250 quid! (Plus I can't work the brakes)

Would be very interested to hear from anyone who has experience of either!

Thanks

OP posts:
nicolamumof3 · 08/02/2009 19:06

i had a cherry in fudge and loved it!!! the having to take off the seat unit was the deal breaker for me, already having a p&t i just didn't have the storage. but it was v.lovely.

bee i looked at as wanted a rear facer one piece fold but just don't think its worth the money and thought the seat looked small for my then 16m old let alone a 2/3yr old?

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