Pram advice

kettlenic

Hi all

I am expecting my first (a girl ) in October and have been looking at prams...

these are:
a - so expensive
b- so many to choose from!!

I ideally would like one that come with the car seat..

Does anyone have any good and not top end reccommendations?

thanks

Gillyx

First you need to work out what you need from a pram. You will need a lay flat seat or if the pram doesn't have that, a separate carry cot from birth. Are you planning on a second baby while the first will still need the pram? If yes, look for a pram where a second seat can be added cheaply.

Will you be folding the pram up to go in the car a lot? Which would fit into your boot? Can it be folded with the seat unit on or does it have to be removed?

Car seats that can be added are a good feature but be mindful of the fact that small babies shouldn't be left in a car seat for long periods of time, and laying flat is recommended.

Another thing to consider is a lot of prams once baby has outgrown the carrycot, the seat unit is outward facing only, some babies grow quickly, would you be happy to face your 4 month old out the way? Or would you prefer to have them facing you? If so go for something with a parent facing option.

The best thing to do is go to a shop that has loads of different brands and varieties, tell them your budget and have a play about, find out what you like. Don't be scared to really test them, fold them up, fold them down, push them, lift it up as if lifting it into a car, take the seat unit off, put the carry cot on, put the car seat onto the frame. When you do all this you should find the one for you.

I have a Mamas and Papas Mylo, I've used it from Day one and I am still using it at almost 17 months. I love it. If I was buying a pram now. I'd buy the UppaBaby Vista Or the Stokke Crusi but that's only my opinion

butler_helen

I second testing the prams out.

I visited John Lewis 6 times before buying our pram. I asked 101 questions, took bits off, folded it down and even measured them before buying.

Our range was limited though, I'm 5ft9 and partner is 6ft3, so it had to be good for tall people. Also, I plan to walk everywhere, so I got the one with the biggest shopping basket bit. Finally we went for one with the longest seat - so baby gets maximum time in it

Ooooh and we wanted to be able to get it in the back of our car and eventually in the loft for storing until baby number 2 might arrive.

Good luck it is a minefield!

butler_helen

Just to add - we bought the uppababy vista in Denny red with the maxi cosi cabrio fix carseat in total black. Total was about £600.

kettlenic

Oh my goodness so many more things to think about! my poor baby brain!

Thanks for the advice I am going to write a list of questions to take with me to the shops...wow who knew buying a pram was so intense

Gillyx

This is a brilliant website for information.

http://www.bestbuggy.co.uk/

dizziblonde

Go somewhere with loads - go play with 'em, practice folding them up and down and see which ones do that easily, think about if you're going to need to get buses, or carry loads of shopping in the basket (how I miss my iCandy... could have fitted a small country in that basket), check the width of your door into the house and factor in the bottom sticky out lip of the door (I've fallen foul of that one myself), and check your car boot size if you drive anything remotely small (places like Kiddicare tend to help you try them out to check they'll fit in your boot).

I find the car seats attaching onto the pushchair always seems like a great idea for me, then within 2 months the damned thing's irritated me so much (they weigh a tonne) that I leave it in the car and swap to a fitted seat anyway!

Often worth looking second-hand for the pushchair bit (car seat obviously buy new) - can get a lot more buggy for your money there and they're often barely used as people get bored with their buggy or things annoy them about stuff (I've been through three single buggies, and four double buggies as all have had good and bad points to them). Generally though everyone's going to say "I've got X and it's fab" so the actual feedback you get on them is fairly limited - the bestbuggy site, possibly the pushchair forum on somewhere like Mumsnet and going and playing with loads of them is your best bet.

I'd also, as well as thinking about parent/forward facing and if you want a carrycot option etc... does having to take the seat off to fold it down bother you (I actually found it helpful as it meant the chassis folded down tiny, with the seat separate so if you had the car fully laden it offered more possible spaces to pack things). Also if you're doing things like muddy walks you probably want wheels more suitable to that, do you want a three wheeler or four (I have a three wheeler at the moment - but it's not something I'm particularly fond of as a feature)... if you're wanting the facility to convert it to a double later on that will limit you down as well. Adjustable handlebars possibly something to think about - although my 6foot 7 husband's always managed to cope without them - and he's usually the first to complain about anything and everything!

I'd suggest putting something like a heavy handbag into the buggy if you're testing them out for handling as well - they handle differently with a huge lump of toddler in them.

And if you've got tall people in your family so might end up having a tall kid - probably worth keeping an eye on seat sizes... I had a minor fit when my eldests' feet started to touch footrests on things at the grand age of 13 months! (She's just going to have to learn to walk very rapidly cos she's never going to fit in a buggy for yonks!) Both my kids are like 98th centile for height though - I blame their father.

lowlitmemory

Really, really think about what you want it for.

If I was doing it over again I wouldn't bother getting a pram for when baby's born, I'd sling him/her at least for the first few months and think about getting one later.

That said, I love my Stokke Xplory. As above I really thought about what I wanted from a pram and it matches our needs exactly:
we live up stairs - it folds easily with baby and shopping and bumps up/down stairs v. easily
I have a bad back - baby is carried up high so I don't have to stoop
we don't drive - so its large size is not an issue and it's great for public transport
...etc.

I bought a Maclaren buggy recently as everyone raves about how great and lightweight they are. And I hated it. Much preferred my Stokke BUT that is because of our particular needs/wants, e.g. with the Maclaren, I had to empty it before bringing it upstairs which was a mega faff when my child can't walk yet!

So don't be swayed by others, really decide what's most important to you.

kettlenic

thank you - thats given me a lot to think about!!

I will take a look at the website and visit some stores soon to get a better idea x

kitchensink_2

Hi, I would second/third all the advice given. I have an uppababy and love it but just to say i think there may be a waiting list in some places so if you need it in the next few months might be worth checking. Also some shops (like kiddicare) will give you a discount when you buy a few things together or will give you a free cot matress or something ... always worth asking if you are planning to have more than one nipper then i would say a decent pram is definitely a good investment as you dont want to have to buy twice! Oh and off the subject before you think of highchairs consider the ikea antilop - cheap and very good.

good luck.

kerri_dfw

Can someone tell me, other than the obvious advantage of car seat goes in car and onto travel system. What is the advantage of having a car seat part for the travel system? I'm moving to Bristol next month, which I envisage is going to be much like commuting around London...public transport and driving is a nightmare (so the forums agree). So I really can't work out why I would need a car seat and travel system when a pushchair might suffice.