Parent Facing Buggy Wanted

Moonbeam

Hi - I'm looking for a buggy for my new baby (due April 07), but want one that can face me...

I've seen the Loola and the Quinny Buzz and would be interested in anyones experience of these - or if anyone has any other suggestions.

Had a McLaren buggy with my son, but hated that he faced into all the traffic/strangers as we were walking and couldn't see me.

Any help/advice out there?

kmeast

I have the Quinny Buzz & love it!!! It was great when DS was very small as we could use the maxi-cosi car seat on the chassis, and he still likes to be facing me rather than outwards in the pushchair. Also it can be reclined flat which is good when he falls asleep.

The downside is that it is quite heavy, and sometimes I find it fiddly to fold down, so i would recommend giving one a test drive.

I would recommend finding one you like on the high street, but you can definately make savings from actually buying online.:D

Carmina_Piranha_3

i think most travel systems have baby facing you, so that would be for at least 6 months. after then baby might enjoy watching people and traffic.

my boy loves the laclaren, but then he's the kind of baby that likes to flirt with strangers :rotfl:

congratulations on your little one

BargainBabe_3

:j Congratulations on your forth coming bundle of joy! I had the Chicco Trio Travel System and it was fab. Carrycot for birth to 9 months-ish dependant on babies size and also the car seat that face you. Then it turns to forward facing buggy for little one to explore the wider world around them. Can not fault it at all lightweight ( Had to have early c-section ) great for public transport and rally suspension for walking and really neat little package. Hope this helps. BBx

super41

I love my Mamas and Papas travel system with carry cot for young baby and then pushchair for 6 months+ . Can face either way so you can have a choice! It's higher than a buggy so gives baby a better view. Now using it with 2nd baby and its still going strong.

I wanted one that had baby facing as I believe it is very important for you to see them, make eye contact, chat etc. It's good for their speech develpment IMO. Facing away from them, you can't see what they're doing and its very difficult to communicate. Also in a low buggy they end up being on foot/leg level which I always think must be disorientating.

However I find my Maclaren buggy fab for the few times I venture into our local city as it's easy to fold etc.

code-a-holic

Also the LOola. A umbrella folding buggy and the seat unti can face either way. I noticed its in the new argos but has been in independant baby shops for a year or 2 now.

persontypething

Hi Moonbeam- I'm due in April too and getting a tad stressed as I have quite a lot of the "little stuff" but no pram, cot or nursery furniture yet. Have you seen the Hauck Infinity (comes in various versions, also called the i'coo or Jeep Infinity). I have been considering this, as it has a carrycot, pushchair seat that faces in or out + carseat you can buy separately or as part of a travel system.
I have trouble because we don't have a car and my partner is blind, so I needed something not too heavy with one pram bar, not stroller type handles. Unfortunately I lost my first child late in pregnancy, and I am determined to get a rear facing pushchair seat, so I can see and communicate with my little one when he gets here at long last!
You might have seen the campaign currently being promoted by the Child Literacy Trust about the great advantages in having the baby face the parent for longer http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/talktoyourbaby/pushchairs.html

Well hope you find something that really suits you and bubs- please let me know what you plump for- I'm getting stressed out trying to find something suitable (we're both 6'0 tall too, so some pushchairs are too little) and would love to hear how things go with your pregnancy and birth. Best of luck!!

shirlgirl2004

I've got the Loola, Buzz and Xplory.

I do not like the buzz at all in fact mine has only been used 5 or 6 times. It feels insubstancial and even with the optional basket you can't fit anything more than your changing bag. It's also quite bulky and heavy to lift into a car. Being short the style of adjustable handlebar doesn't suit me I found I kept kicking the buzz box (bag).

The Loola is quite good. The bar above the shopping basket is a pain but you get used to putting individual items in the basket rather tham one supersize bag. It can feel quite heavy to get up the kerbs and the handles aren't really height adjustable despite what they say.

The Xplory is fantastic although expensive. Not only does baby face you but they can be up high so you can really chat without struggling to hear what your little one is saying which is especially good when they first learn to talk and understanding them is difficult anyway. The handlebar goes really high & low too.

I've also owned the infinity. I really like it but it is quite heavy and you have to take the seat off to fold it if you have in the parent facing position.

Pushchairs are a very personal thing so you do really need to try them out for yourself.

Moonbeam

thanks for the replies so far - still doing some research although the Quinny Buzz seems to be winning at the moment - cheapest I've found it so far is £249.99 on the toysrus website - trying to find out more about other brands now though. I agree with the literacy information - I just think that it's much nicer if children can see their parents and it must help them learn how to talk. We had problems with our son initially when he starting talking and spent a lot of time talking to him in front of the mirror to try and resolve it all.

will let you know when I've finally decided.

Ta again

maypole

Have you heard of the STOKKE system? supposed to be good, but very expensive, it's swedish I believe, my son wants one for his impending baby. you can go to their website. The baby faces you and it is higher than a normal pushchair.

Moonbeam

I've seen the Stokke system - looks a bit mental and is quite expensive, but would probably be good if I lived in a city....Not sure how long the child can actually face you for - I've seen pictures of it facing forward and away....

I live out in a wee village though and as a money saver not sure I can justify £500+ on a buggy, particularly when my salary is about to take a nose dive:o

I'm going to head off to Toys R Us this weekend hopefully and have a look - see if I can test drive some of them....

Thanks for the advice though - I agree that the Stokke system looks the biz and if money was no object would definately be a contender.....