pushchairs

crvs

All,

We are planning to buy a push chair for our first baby to be . Please can you suggest whether it is good to buy a new one or used one? Also please suggest good make.




Thanks

Nicki

A secondhand one in good condition will be absolutely fine.

There are lots of good makes. Have a think about what will work best for you and post again and people can give ideas. Some things to think about:

1. will it be used in town or country mostly (ie do you need a rough terrain one or one which works best on pavements

2. do you use public transport frequently (if so you want one which will fit on a bus and can be folded if necessary in one piece)

3. do you have a car? If yes, how big is the boot? Will you want a travel system (ie one where the baby carseat fits in the pram). These are only suitable for the first year of baby's life so not worth it being a deal breaker.

4. Might you have a second child soon? Some pushchairs, eg Phil and Teds can convert to doubles with a kit which saves money in long run.

5. How much room inside do you have to store it? If not much, you might be glad of one which folds up small. If you have space, you might one with a carrycot so baby can sleep downstairs in the pushchair during the day.

dizziblonde

Depends what you want really.

If you've got a car with a small boot that limits your choices, likewise if you're relying on public transport you're probably not going to want something the size of a small tank.

Do you want something with a carrycot option (often an optional extra you have to pay out for) and/or options to clip a carseat onto the frame (sometimes limits your choice of carseats, or requires buying adaptors). Is parent-facing important to you, and are you bothered by something that folds up with two parts where the seat comes off or not?

Once you've got that sort of thing figured out you can narrow down brands and decide what's good new or second-hand from there.

For a newborn you're limited to needing some form of lie-flat option - either in terms of buying the extra carrycot for some types, or getting one with lie-flat seats (it's not recommended to keep them in a carseat on the frame for more than a couple of hours)... it's really worth going to a big buggy retailer and having a play around with things - seeing what folds easily, will fit in your car, has a shopping basket you can live with etc - even if you don't buy from them. Kiddicare's just opened a few stores around the country - always found the staff there really helpful in terms of demonstrating folds (some are seriously blooming complicated to fold down), different options in terms of carseats, carrycots and what-not, and testing out what will actually fit in your car boot!

As for new/second-hand... I've done both in the past - one of the good things about pushchairs are those women who go through different ones at a rate of knots and are forever putting them on ebay/gumtree to get their next fix of a newer shinier model.

For what it's worth I've had a Hauck - hated how it handled and getting the brakes on and off, but didn't half get a lot of additional stuff thrown into the package deal (got a carseat, carrycot and the actual buggy) which made it a decent value for money thing, a second hand iCandy Cherry which I loved (not suitable from birth unless you buy a carrycot extra), a cheapo umbrella-fold stroller that lives in the car for quick spur of the moment trips round shops and walking the dogs that I hate but serves its purpose (again not suitable from birth in the one I have) and now I've got a couple of doubles - again one I picked up new with all the bells and whistles and additional extras for main-use and a cheapo umbrella fold double stroller that I bought second-hand to chuck in the car when space is limited and generally abuse and get covered in dog-walking mud... it just depends what you're after really which you need to narrow down a bit.

crvs

Nicki,

Thank you. We will be using mostly in town. Using in country side absolutely nil. We would like to buy one (forward and reverse facing) that can be used upto 4 years or so. We live in the flat (no lift) therefore easy foldable option is best. We will be driving our car mostly but will occassionally using public transport too.

Thanks

lilymay1

dizziblonde wrote: »

As for new/second-hand... I've done both in the past - one of the good things about pushchairs are those women who go through different ones at a rate of knots and are forever putting them on ebay/gumtree to get their next fix of a newer shinier model.

Or it just takes them a while to find one that actually suits their needs

I've had a Hauck, a Mamas and Papas, an Imax Adapt, and an iCandy peach blossom all of which I have sold at a profit or for the same price they cost me. Got 2 of them through 'lightening deals' with Bounty and the iCandy was 2nd hand. I actually lost £5 selling that one but after 12 months use and a broken handle I wasn't complaining.

Recently bought a Quinny Buzz and it does everything we need it do. Fine for a walk into the village, a trip into town or walking the dogs across hils and valleys. It'll also take my Maxi Cosi carseat if a second baby ever comes along. Took me a while, but finally found one thats suitable.

OP - I don't think a pushchair is something else people can advise on. Perhaps go and find a few you like then come back and ask for opinions on those.

Nicki

If you can find a secondhand bugaboo bee within budget, that would meet all your requirements. It's almost as light as the lightest umbrella folds so easy to carry up and downstairs and is one of the very few around which combine low weight with being forward and rear facing.

They look small when you see them but this is just their styling and they are in fact standard sized. I worried before he was born that it would be too small to last the distance but DS is 3 and a half now and tall for his age and it still works perfectly for him when he needs it.

It's not a country or rough terrain option at all, but fortunately you don't need that.

It also has a collapsible handle so you can leave it up with baby in if you are at home or in a restaurant and it doesn't take up more room than the wheel span which we have found really helpful.

They are pricey new but you might get one at a reasonable price at an NCT Nearly new sale or on eBay if you keep an eye out.

Gillyx

Would second a bugaboo bee. I'd have one if I could afford it. In saying that I love my pram but it is large and living in the city the bee is pretty nifty.

Gillyx

Another option would be the mamas and papas urbo, it folds flat with the seat unit on and is small. It's also very much a city pram.

MissKeith

I love my Uppababy Vista. I don't drive so a smooth ride and large storage space is an absolute must. The carrycot makes it feel heavy but it's light enough for a toddler when the normal seat is on. It was very expensive but we had a good deal on it and the resale value is very good so I felt it was worth spending the money on a pushchair that suits my needs.

Bluemeanie_2

Go to one of those posh shops that has them all, be a complete time waster, try them all, in your car boot etc. Then buy one off ebay or items for sale sites?

lil.smartie

look on nursery value too, they sell 2nds & returns as well as new and are great, quite a few friends have used them too and no complaints from anyone.

Needs to go flat for 1st few months but we used a sling when she was that tiny more than the buggy, I had a mamas & papas luna which was passed on as it was hardly used and I bought a quicksmart as it folded so small & a friend said it was better than their quinny zap!

Kate