Pushchair Help...Please!

Sammy_Girl

Hi there,

I am hoping some of you lovely mums (and dads) can help me with some pushchair advice as I'm driving myself (and DH) crazy by going round in circles!

First baby is due in March and I wanted to decide on and purchase my pushchair by the New Year before the VAT increase. I seem to have a list of increasing must haves:

• Must have a carry cot option for 0-6 months
• Pushchair style must have option to be forward facing
• Must be suitable for off road - fields, parks, tow paths and the like - we have a dog
• Preferable to have a car seat option that fits onto the chassis - although this isn't a dealbreaker
• Must be available in a colour other than black - due to aforementioned dog hair covering anything in black

Size isn't really an issue as we have a big enough car boot due to the dog and I sometimes take a train - but not often, so not worried about portability.

So, with the above in mind - I'm thinking a 3 wheeler with decent suspension may be the best option, and this is what I seemed to have narrowed my search down to.

Does anyone have any experience or recommendations for the following or any others that I may not have thought of:

http://www.mothercare.com/Jane-Slalom-Reverse-Transporter-Molten/dp/B00429S3O0/sr=1-3/qid=1291394956/ref=sr_1_3/279-4694302-8462742?_encoding=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=42805041&mcb=core

http://www.mothercare.com/Quinny-Buzz-3-Wheeler-Storm/dp/B003O7T9Z8/sr=1-8/qid=1291395018/ref=sr_1_8/279-4694302-8462742?_encoding=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=42805041&mcb=core

http://www.mothercare.com/Britax-B-Smart-3-Three-Wheel-Pushchair/dp/B0030SNY70/sr=1-1/qid=1291395091/ref=sr_1_1/279-4694302-8462742?_encoding=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=42805041&mcb=core

http://www.mothercare.com/Quinny-Speedi-SX-Wheeler-Bluestone/dp/B00365MR2U/sr=1-68/qid=1291395194/ref=sr_1_68/279-4694302-8462742?_encoding=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=42805041&mcb=core



Any help or advice would be very much appreciated

ymcas

The only advice I would give is to think past the first six months.... most of my friends spent a fortune on a nice pram and then bought a cheap and chearful buggy after 6 months. We got a Phil and Teds and are still using it 2 years on, with a second seat as we now have another baby. Ok it was a bit of a compromise for the first 6 months but we will hopefully be using it for 5 years or so.

Counting_Pennies_2

Personally I would say go for a proper Mountain Buggy.

The fact I say this is you are looking for off road, and I would say those listed aren't good contenders.

I have had a mountain buggy and it has been in regular use for 3 years. You can have a carrycot, car seat option which look very nice.

Off road there is no competition for this buggy.

It turns on a penny, and out performs the Mclarens of this world.

It easily fits on buses in doorways and round aisles in shops. It has a fixed wheel option so is great for off road. It glides over sand, while you see others dragging theirs backwards.

The only thing it doesn't do is face you, but by the point they are out of the car seat option they often like to sit forwards and see what is going on.

I would definitely recommend this, and not any of the other 3 wheeler immitations.

hth

http://www.mountainbuggy.com/urban_jungle.htm

Also purchase your pushchair with puncture proof tyres. I have to say I never once had to blow up or change a puncture on my Mountain Buggy because of this, which is a regular thing with the other types out there.

over_flo

I would definately second the mountain buggy.
I would say try to get a good 2nd hand one if the budget won't stretch to a new one as they last very well.
Look on ebay and search 'nearest 1st' as many are pick up only.
Accessories like a carrycot are often available 2nd hand in excellent condition as they are only used for a short while.

Sammy_Girl

Many thanks.

I have looked at the Phil & Ted, but wasn't keen on the carrycot option.

Actually, I have seen the Mountain Buggy being pushed by other ladies, but not seen in the shops. Any idea where these are stocked so I ca have a play around?

skintchick

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

The only thing it doesn't do is face you, but by the point they are out of the car seat option they often like to sit forwards and see what is going on.
.

Couple of things about this point.

Firstly, they shouldn;t be in the car seat for too long (I think the recommended maximum is two hours at a time), so hopefully the OP isn;t going to use the car seat on top as a mian way of using a buggy.

Secondly, I dispute that children like to face out! At 6 months I tried my DD facing forward and she didn;t like it so I turned her back to me. She is now 16 months and every time I try to face her out, after a while she makes it clear she wants to face me again, so I love the fact that I can do that with my pushchair (Silver Cross Sleepover, no good for the OP as not off-road).

I agree they like to see things, but I think they need parental input as well to help them make sense of it all, and I like to think my DD prefers facing me because of the commentary and songs she gets!! :rotfl: Anyway, at 16 months she has well over 60 words and is making short sentences, so I like to think that facing me has had a good impact on her.

Slightly off topic but thought I'd shove in my thoughts

esio_trot

I have the B Smart 3 for my 5 month old and love it. Reasons why and things that could do with improving below.

It has the three big wheels with the front one lockable making it good for off road (I use it multiple times a week along a very muddy path and through a park). Suspension on it makes it seem a comfy ride for my LO. It also feels light to push, especially with the adjustable handle

It forward and parent faces (parent facing was particularly important for us). Seat recline positions really suit my LO too (from lie flat to upright). I also like that the seat can be used independently of the chassis as I use it for LO sitting and sleeping in when we visit family.

It has the carrycot attachment and is compatible with the baby safe range of Britax car seats (I have neither as we got it when my son already had a car seat). I'd love the carrycot attachment as it can be used in the car and would definitely buy it for any future children. I suspect the carrycot could also be used in place of a moses basket when baby is tiny though you'd have to check that out.

The seat is quite large which, as good as it'll be when LO is bigger, I feel he rattles about in it at the minute. Problem solved by buying a lambskin pushchair liner. An additional £45 but makes all the difference. The harness is also quite short as it is two arm loops joining into a crotch strap rather than a true 5 point harness. I do have a few concerns about how well this will fit when LO is bigger. Last improvement could be the basket which is very low at the back. That said, I'm yet to lose anything out of it and I use it daily.

As I said, I love it despite the few improvements that could be made. That was a bit of a ramble. Hope it helped some

ooobedoo

I bought this buggy when my daughter was dinky and it was the best £100 (as it was then) I have spent. Good from newborn, My daughter is now 4 so we don't need ours anymore. If you are near Portsmouth you can have mine if you want, it's the black one


http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3753842/Trail/searchtext%3EMAMAS+AND+PAPAS.htm

clearingout

whatever you get, consider the size of your car boot above everything else. Something I never considered. At the time I had a Punto - the travel system I chose (6 years ago now) filled the boot. Going supermarket shopping with that in the boot was a nightmare! Had to remember to take it out - which inevitably I didn't. Needless to say, the expensive travel system looks like new 6 years later and I am using a cheap buggy purchased 6 years ago for £15 which is still going strong (albeit a bit dirty) 3 children later.

mummyroysof3

i have a beat buggy too, i have 3 children and have had 15 pushchairs, never spend much as i got them all second hand. my advise would be to maybe buy a cheap pram to start with and wait till you are actually using it to see what will be most suitable for you, looking at the links you gave the quinney buzz i found was horrible on any uneven surface.

hth

lyndsay1986

with my youngest son we got a silver cross linear sleepover system and was amazing

my son has just turned 3 and we not long sold it!

http://www.silvercross.co.uk/prams-and-travel-systems/linear-sleepover/

the car seat just clips onto the frame too

ours was a beige colour ..but there are more colours ...