We have a baby on the way. Spent hours in Mothercare today getting confused. We want a pram that can be pushed by both a 5'1" woman and a 5'10" bloke, trundle over rough tracks, and folds well. It doesn't need to have a car seat attachment. Any recommendations appreciated.
mothercares range is rubbish, go to a few independent pram shops.
no point in recommending anything to you as it'll be entirely down to personal preference what suits YOU best.
Silver Cross. 'Nuff said.
From your description I'd say CityJogger. We've had ours for almost 2yrs and it also folds-pops up using just a strap pull. It also folds down smaller than travel buggies
Just make sure whatever you buy includes the following functions:
Proper pneumatic tyres not plastic ones.
A single bar for steering with one hand so you can open doors/answer phone/smoke fags with the other.
3 point harness so the little angel can't escape when you aren't looking.
The colour and design that makes your wife happy.
Get your wallet out
Hi mate we have a phil and teds buggy great but of kit. Will work from a new born to as bug as they will get I had our four year old and two year old in it yesterday. Very solid and great on the rough stuff. It's ability to be a double is good too.
[url=philandteds.com/products/push/classic]This is the new version of ours[/url]
It's only bad point is it won't fold as small as some but it's a great all rounder!
Oh congratulations by the way!!!!!!! 😀
Coupla points I'll make are that the best thing we ever bought was the dock that stayed permanently in the car, car seat just clicked into it ( never had one got first kid and couldn't believe how good/easy it was) no messing with belts etc every time you used it, and also, we spent a lot of money on the first one and it was worth it, they get a lot of hammer!!
Two points:
Unless you are a multiple-drop baby delivery service you don't need a travel system. in a typical week you'd wouldn't be driving your baby around enough IMO to justify it. 😉
You really don't need a large SUV or MPV etc. A decent steering and balanced car is far safer than any SUV/softroader etc as you/driver error can easily get you in trouble.
Currently Ford Puma, pram in boot, baby seat and two adults.
I've also comfortably had the above plus another adult in a hire 107.
All in my own experience of course.
mothercares range is rubbish
It isn't. Mothercare My4 copes with height differences and rough-ish terrain - and more stable than 3 wheelers.
Unless you are a multiple-drop baby delivery service you don't need a travel system
Another very subjective statement. You might need a travel system, or rather your wife might. Your call tho. We needed one and it was a godsend, having the base in the car to clip in and out of and just popping the seat onto the chassis was great.
We had a Quinny buzz with the Maxi Cosi car seat adaptors. When we were just using it with that, it was a great bit of kit. Not having to wake the baby up to get them out of the car and into the buggy was great.
The pushchair frame soon turned to a slightly ropy, dodgy steering, rickety, collapsing when trying to bump up kerbs mess. I'd avoid!
Hora. I've been to Leeds festival in a proper mini cooper with 3 other Lads and all the crap that accompanied the trip. Just because you can, doesn't make it right!
We inherited our "off road travel system" so I can't help much there. But I will say it is also worth getting a light pushchair as well (once baby has head control) as big buggies are great but are heavy and take up a lot of boot space (or baggage allowance!).
For our "travel buggy" we got a MacLaren Quest Sport:
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Weighs just 6.5kg, folds small, suitable from 3 months till 15kg.
Our sprog is 18 months and this is her every day pushchair. We never use the full travel system now.
£126 from Mothercare.
we went for the most economical solution..
shop around a bit and try some different stuff is the only advice I can give..
There's some very reasonable stuff in the Graco range but it's not 'on trend' so to speak.. If you're practical types though and don't need the hippest technology it's a safe choice..
+1 for getting a lightweight pushchair for when they're a bit bigger
Quinny freestyle, great off-road and as a travel system with Maxi Cosi components has been faultless.
Sorry OP I was goimg off-topic 🙂
Many thanks all. Hora - my whole world seems to be going off-topic at the moment. All useful stuff.
Consider secondhand. I recently bought a spotless bugaboo gecko for £81 on eBay. They are £600 new.
Firstly, only you will be able to consider what your needs really are so all advise is pretty pointless. That said, you almost certainly don't need a travel system and babies ate tiny so assuming mummy hasnt had a caesarian, the chances are you don't need a pram of any sorts for the fist 6 months.
As others have said, get down to the shops and check out what's available (John Lewis is good) and choose what you think best, BUT DON'T BUY IT.
buy a sling (we've got one of [url= http://www.kari-me.com/ ]these[/url] which is brilliant, others seem to rave about baby bjorn ones) And put the £500 saved in a jar. If you later decide you need the pram you can get it in an hour because you know what you want, but I'd wager you'll make it to 6 months before you need anything. Then you can buy a light weight folder as above for £80 or so and have cash leftover for a Croozer which will be useful for years!
Don't think the City Jogger would be suitable for rough stuff due to small wheels. Take a look at the Nipper 360 - light, proper tyres, easy to push. Doesn't have adjustable push bar though.
We bought a Bugaboo for number one, easy to use, light etc etc. Within two weeks of our second we bought a Phil & Ted's. I'd look at the P&Ts and you have the option for further kids should you ever get to there. Our two aren't far off 6 and 4 and they get no use, they have served us very well though, when I get my act together they'll be sold.
Bear in mind that Mothercare is about to close about 30% of their stores (IIRC - it's a large percentage anyhoo). If you buy from your local store which then closes down and you have problems with your pram, you might have a long drive to get it sorted. Slim possibility but some like to have the peace of mind.
Avoid the three wheeled thing if you like your kid, theyre unstable when getting on and off public transport,the front wheel usually goes sideways,resulting in abject panic for the parent as the thing tilts sideways
As your picking up your baby from hospital make sure the car seat arms are locked in place. Ours wasn't and hora junior swung fwd/upside down in the seat. Luckily he was strapped in 8)
Ps. On the car - you don't need a new 'safer' vehicle. You do need a new bike though to celebrate.
Get drinking now and enjoying sex. Both will end for a longtime afterwards....icky but true.
project - Member
Avoid the three wheeled thing if you like your kid, theyre unstable when getting on and off public transport,the front wheel usually goes sideways,resulting in abject panic for the parent as the thing tilts sideways
POSTED 2 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST
Can't say we have that problem and ours is a twin so much wider and (presumably) inherently unstable
Quinny Buzz from birth here. Not the lightest thing to pack away but perfectly durable if you want to go off-road. In fact, our's has probably done more off-road miles than road (pavement 🙂 ). Loads of accessories and enough storage space/flexibility for most. Car seat slots straight in, plus the 'next size up' seat ships with it. Prob £350-£400 new but can easily be gotten for less than half that on ebay etc.
Maclaren (Triumph?) from 10 months, but only for road trips. Ridiculously light/compact and opens up/folds away in 2 seconds. Brilliantly manouverable, i.e can turn on a sixpence with a single finger. Crap off-road though, hence keeping the QB.
Very subjective though. Bit like asking "What bike for ..."
Can't say we have that problem and ours is a twin so much wider and (presumably) inherently unstable
Our QB is a three wheeler but with a twin on the front. No stability problems here.
I think there are times when you need to 'take the weight' of the buggy when 'putting it down' on certain surfaces, otherwise risk sideways movement etc. So I can understand why some people may struggle if they don't have the strength.
Spud - MemberWe bought a Bugaboo for number one, easy to use, light etc etc. Within two weeks of our second we bought a Phil & Ted's. I'd look at the P&Ts and you have the option for further kids should you ever get to there. Our two aren't far off 6 and 4 and they get no use, they have served us very well though, when I get my act together they'll be sold.
Are you me?!!!
Quite literally exactly the same here - have number 3 on the way now but have sold the Bugaboo and are keeping the P&T as it's far better offroad.
I would say that prams are like bikes, either you buy 2 or more depending on the purpose, or 1 do it all that isn't perfect for everything.
Buying 2nd hand is a really good idea, but I found 2nd hand prices can stay quite high, especially for the popular brands like Bugaboo.
I would recommend buying 2, one for comfort, walking, off road, and the 2nd for city/traveling.
For off road we have this: Brio Happy
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Or this has a similar chassis: Emmaljunga Edge Duo Combi
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For the city we bought a Bugaboo Bee+, the wife likes it because it looks nice but it's not exactly light and doesn't drive great. I wanted to buy a Maclaren Triumph as they are light, compact and not too expensive (unlike the Bugaboo).
Since buying the Brio I've fancied a Phil & Ted's or a Baby Jogger, but that phase has past and the Brio's chassis ride in my view is better than the rest.
Like bikes, it's a lot down to personal preference, so try as many as you can before you buy.
And check that the one you decide on will fit in your car.
maybe if you're unattractive, shit in bed and can't handle your drink.Get drinking now and enjoying sex. Both will end for a longtime afterwards....icky but true.
We use a Babyjogger Citylife. 12" pneumatic tyres, about 7kg so can be easily carried in one hand, pull one strap to fold it, very smooth and silent in use, lies flat if required, adjustable handle, brakes are a bit broken but that was my fault. Overall it's excellent, and perfect for 1-2 hour off road walks which we do a few times a week. The best we've had, and we've had a few over the years.
Second hand is much, much cheaper than new. We got a Silver Cross for £100, which is still on sale in Mothercare for £350. The handles are adjustable so you and your Mrs should both be ok.
My advice is that you may well not need a travel system - our baby is only in the car once or twice a week, so we don't bother. Keeping a new baby for a long time in a car seat (instead of lying flat in a pram) isn't a great idea, either.
We also keep a smaller, lighter buggy in the car, which is much more convenient than having to remember to pack the big pram, which then takes up most of the boot space.
We bought a Mountain Buggy Urban double off Ebay for about £150. Bit battered, but it's never missed a beat. Easy to push, "proper" tyres that roll over stuff, cot attachment if you need it and loads of room for baby stuff. Best thing we ever bought, and is still being used now to cart a 2 yr old and a 1 yr old around.
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Cons - it's a bit big, but it folds flattish and you can remove the wheels for easy(ish) storage or transport.
Cons - it's a bit big
They are mahoosive! We tried and failed to get one to fit in our Mazda 3 by a loooong way and got a Nipper 360 twin instead (fits with one wheel removed).
Bugaboo Bee here - packs down small, comes in nice colours and has some wikid suspension!
Within two weeks of our second we bought a Phil & Ted's
Amen 🙂
Luckily the 3rd is capable of walking on his own two feet some considerable distance 😉
Chariot all the way. It's a buggy, but it's also a bike trailer 🙂
As father to hoppy jr for all of 7 days I can definitely 🙂 recommend a day to day system and an off road one. We got a Cossatto buggy because it's light, easy to put up/down and is fairly compact and a Croozer trailer/buggy for offside to be rugged and resilient. You don't appear to get that mix in a single system and with careful shopping and ensuing we paid less than a single travel system.
As a single system the Mountain Buggies are about the best I saw but the did seem pricey.
Buy a cheap folder buggy from a reasonable brand (e.g. McClaren) and buy a backpack / papoose thing.
If u can afford it or really need it 2 prams is a good idea( e.g a second "off road" pram??).
For us we found the most convenient is the Mac Laren as suggested by Graham S above. We also have a Phil and Teds but rarely use it as it is SO big and bulky.
The Mac Larens fold very small so are Much better when travelling or in narrow streets , small shops.
The big jogger/off road prams are the SUVs of the pram world and can be a complete pain as they are so cumbersome more hassle getting in and out of cars too a pain all round.
You may not need a pram (unless it's a big one for baby to be put down to sleep in during the day) for a while yet anyway so don't panic. Why not wait a while and see what others in your (shortly to be acquired) group of post-natal friends have got.
To start with you probably only need a car seat (shopping basket type - ours cost about £10 from an NCT sale) and some sort of carrying device ( like a WIlkinet).
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You've probably got a couple of months grace where you can just carry baby around in the car seat.
We also had a bouncy chair at home that our kids seemed to like as babies.
We had one of those mclaren strollers too and maybe used it twice ever - and that was with 2 kids. We used a big old Silver Cross pushchair instead that someone gave us and was much better.