Pushchairs/Prams?? Where to go??

mum2twinsx2

dantheman2010 wrote: »

Good morning all,

My partner and I want to purchase a pram/pushchair suitable for a new born but that perhaps if possible will be suitable for them up until about 3 years old.

Most of the ones at Argos seem to be forward facing, we would prefer if the baby was facing us.

The ones at mamas and papas seem to be interchangeable but dont have very good reviews.

Where and what would you guys suggest we go for?

Thanks

I would too heavily go on others review. Your thoughts on something may be totally different.
I remember looking for a double pushchair first time round and a particular place I was reading slated this pushchair. But after trying it out myself I found it was perfect for me.
I also had other way round where was great for others but not for me.
Go to mothercare/toysrus/mamas and papas. Have a good play fold adjusting etc. Then as said get online and find it cheaper.

JenniMc

We had the Bebe Confort Streety travel system (I think it's now made by Maxi-Cosi). The pushchair part flies flat so is suitable from birth and you can make it parent facing or forward facing. It's really easy to fold and unfold and isn't a heavy pushchair. It also folds up reasonably small so would fit in most cars (it fitted in the boot of my fiesta with room to spare). There is quite a big basket at the bottom of it so you can fit in a few bags of shopping.

The carseat that comes with it is 0+ which means it can be used until the baby is approx 13kg approx 12/13 months compared to group 0 seats that only go up to 9kg (around 9 months). The carseat is lightweight compared to most so I didn't find it difficult to carry my son in it when we took him in and out visiting etc. The carseat can click onto it if you take the pushchair seat off so if your baby is sleeping and you don't want to take him/her out of the carseat then you don't need to. We sometimes used it like that if we were popping into Tesco for a few things as it was a lot easier. We made sure to use the pushchair part if we were going to be a while as it is better for a baby to be lying flat as it's better for his/her spine.

You wouldn't need a carrycot as the pushchair can be used from birth but there is a carrcot you can buy for this travel system if you wanted one.

It also comes with the rain cover and footmuff so you don't need to pay extra for these.

The only negative I have to say is that it could feel a little heavy for bumping over high kerbs (I sometimes had to put my foot down on the back of it to help it over) but it's plus points make it worth it.

http://www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10751&langId=-1&productId=98250&source=froogle&cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Shopping%20Sites-_-CPC-_-Froogle

missiemog

i've got the babystyle s3d.

a v good piece of kit, however not fab if you're in and out of cars every day (chassis folds umbrella style or flat depending on which one you've got, however you need to remove the seat unit) - this is a tad impractical.

if you're mainly walking/shopping it's great.

my advice on this one would be to ignore the carrycot and just go for the seat unit as it lies totally flat and is removable for forward/parent facing. this will also save a bit of cash!

it is a minefield. 20 years ago when i had my daughter i had a great M&P one where the seat just popped out and round for for forward/rear facing.

there is one i saw in mothercare where the handle moves rather than the seat, which i thought was a good invention! no idea on reviews of it tho.

good luck, and shop around - a lot.

dantheman2010

JenniMc wrote: »

We had the Bebe Confort Streety travel system (I think it's now made by Maxi-Cosi). The pushchair part flies flat so is suitable from birth and you can make it parent facing or forward facing.

JenniMc, I have had a look at this and it is really nice.

Can you confirm that it can be forward facing and parent facing without the need to use the car seat? I have seen some can only be parent facing if you attach the car seat.

Is the car seat any good? I was looking at the Maxi-cosi carbrio one.

Thanks

Agutka

mum2twinsx2 wrote: »

I would too heavily go on others review. Your thoughts on something may be totally different.
I remember looking for a double pushchair first time round and a particular place I was reading slated this pushchair. But after trying it out myself I found it was perfect for me.

:T Hear hear. My pushchair has terrible reviews and is worth a pittance on Ebay, but I love it. It's the Urban Detour jobbie from Mothercare, I paid £150 for it with all the accessories including a carseat and it's currently carrying around the second baby and a toddler on the front footplate. Everyone is surprised how easy it is to push and how much luggage it takes. It even fits in the boot of my old micra with the shopping.

I do have a nice collection of pushchairs too, needed for various holidays... can't get on with them...

Go to pram shops, go to pram centres, even if it's a long drive, spend the day trying them out and you will find your dream one.

Lilium

dantheman2010 wrote: »

Lilium, I was looking at the Bebe Confort Loola Up, from Boots £165 and we can get a Bebe Confort seat to match for about £70, so £235 all in, does this sound right? All the reviews of the Confort Loola seem good.

Yes, that sounds about right. We got the version before the Loola Up from Boots. They quite often have them on sale/with offers...when we bought it a couple years ago it was priced at £230 but in the sale with £70 off and with triple points offer...so we got it for £170.

I think there's two car seats it can take (best check on this as it was a couple years ago we bought ours)...either the Bebe Confort Creatis Fix or the Maxi Cosi Cabrio Fix (need to buy adaptors for this one to work). We got the Creatis Fix and have been happy with it.

dantheman2010

I am very confused.

I can get the Bebe Confort Streety with car seat and base, delivered for £227.00

I can get the Bebe Confort Loola Up with car seat, delivered for £234.00

Or I can probably get a Bebe Confort Loola second hand for about £50, plus a new Maxi Cosi Cabrio Fix + base, total about £230.00 but the push chair will be second hand.

The Loola is better on reviews that the Streety (the wheels on the streety apparantly dont last long) and the Cabrio Fix seat is a lot better on reviews that the Streety seat.

Mind boggles.

Any suggestions on which route to go on the above? I dont want to spend more than the £235 mark all in. Streety can all be brand new but like I say reviews are no where near as good on the Streety than the Loola.

JenniMc

dantheman2010 wrote: »

JenniMc, I have had a look at this and it is really nice.

Can you confirm that it can be forward facing and parent facing without the need to use the car seat? I have seen some can only be parent facing if you attach the car seat.

Is the car seat any good? I was looking at the Maxi-cosi carbrio one.

Thanks

Hiya
The pushchair part can face in either direction. That was one of the main reasons we bought it as I like having the choice. There is a helpful video on youtube about the Streety. Here is a link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ-okYxWNIY&feature=related

It's a good carseat. My son was comfy in it and I found it easy to fit in the car. We used it a lot and didn't have any problems with it. We also didn't have any problems with the pushchair wheels wearing down or anything but my son is just 15 months so it doesn't mean we'd reach 3 years with it.

Are you a member of Which? They have a website with reviews including pushchairs and carseats. I'm sure Streety got a good review on it. I think they do an introductory offer of £1 a month so it might be worth you signing up even for the month so you can check out the different reviews of the pushchairs and carseats you're considering.

If you end up choosing a pushchair that doesn't have a carseat and are looking for just a normal carseat then I'd recommend the Britax First Class. It's a 0+/1 stage which means you can have it rear facing up to 13kg and then refit it to forward facing up to 18kg (approx 4 years). It can be forward facing from 9kg if you want it to be but baby is a bit safer facing the rear so you may prefer to use it that way for longer. We ended up buying it when my son was around 10 months so that my husband and I could have separate carseats for our cars. My son is 15 months and we've only just had to turn it forward facing as that's him just at 13kg despite being a big boy. The Britax site has a search facility that lets you check which of their seats will fit your car.

Do you have any pram stores near you? I'd recommend going along and having a play around to see what you like. You can come home and look online for a good deal or a second hand one but at least you'll have seen them in real life.

Good luck. I know it's a hard decision to choose one.

dantheman2010

JenniMc - I have had a look at the Britax First Class Plus. Looks great. Does it have an easy fit base thing?

I havent seen any sights offering one. Whereas I can get one for the Maxi-Cosi Cabrio Fix seat.

JenniMc

dantheman2010 wrote: »

JenniMc - I have had a look at the Britax First Class Plus. Looks great. Does it have an easy fit base thing?

I havent seen any sights offering one. Whereas I can get one for the Maxi-Cosi Cabrio Fix seat.

Hello
It doesn't have a base. However, you don't need to keep refitting it (unless you're having to move it from car to car of course) as you can just leave it fitted and there is nothing blocking your access to put baby in and out of it. We got ours from halfords and they fit it for you.