First buggy - your top advice!

Hi ladies,

This month in Practical Parenting it's the big one! I'm looking for mum's tips for buying your very first buggy. 

I know there's lots of buggy fans here on MFM so I'd love to know what you think are the most important things to think about when you start shopping around for your first pra.

And what are your favourite brands/particular buggies?

Any things to check a the shop/ask the assistant?

Thanks!

K x

Hi there!!!

Our first pram for our daughter was a Graco Mirage Travel System in blue/grey. We were bought it by the in-laws. It only cost £120 at Mothercare in the Sale (should have been over £200!)

It came with the buggy, footmuff, rucksack, car-seat & base & raincover.

It did for Sophie & for our second daughter Holly 4 years later & it has been the best Travel System I have known.
We have now given it to my husbands's cousin who is due her first baby in June.
It was the best present we could have had!!
Hope this helps!!!!

i bought a graco Quattro tour sport travel system, and have had lots of problems with the car base!! When installed into the car to come home from hospital, my newborn son's head fell forward as the car seat was extremely upright when inserted into base,so had to use the seatbelt around the car seat,i have recently tried base again, my son is now 4 month, and again, when he's asleep, his head falls forward out of the head support. Graco said i should have checked the seat fitted before purchase as it is not suitable for all cars. i own a FORD FOCUS which is THE MOST POPULAR family car!!! parents please be vigilant, especially if there is no one in the back seat to observe the position of your babies head. Im very disappointed as i have previously had one of these systems for my daughter, now 5, and bought the travel system because of the base made such a difference getting out and about.

If your getting a travel system always check the car seat fits comfortalby in your car. Super important that it has all the features for a comfy baby & the other bit... have a real good, long push of it round the shop. it's one thing testing out a buggy for a minute or two but when you're on a mission to get somewhere there is nothing worse then dreading going out because the buggy gives you back ache. Ones with adjustable handles are awesome, especially if there is a bit height difference between mum and dad. I bought a double buggy that was the easiers to get in the car boot and the bit for the newborn baby was so hard we had to take a few blankets everywhere for padding and the straps were so loose. I'd say inspect every bit of it and if the shop gets narked with you paying so much attention to detail then go elsewhere. I'm not really a big fan of Mothercare, however, their staff were excellent with picking out our first buggy. We got a travel system which the girl tested the seat in our car (I'd never thought of it before), we had a teddy bear from in the store strapped in to show the snug fit and wandered all over the shop for ages with the display model. Also, just because it costs a fortune doesn't mean it's the best. I think there is was too much buggy snobbery and some if the big stores own brands are incredible value. I wanted a Gracco (forget which model) but it was huge when it folded down. Far too impractical for getting about. The weight is super important too. When you think that you might be lugging a buggy, baby and shopping it can make all the difference. Oh, one last thing. people buying a travel system, look out for the car seat shape inside as some of them nearly bend your baby in half. Instead of a slight curve with some seats, others leave your baby in a sort of V shape. I'd highly recommend testing a teddy bear in it. Sounds a bit loopy but it gives you a reasonable idea.

You never know what you will need when you buy the first buggy. I got a Qunny Buzz but soon realised it was no good for someone who liked getting trains/buses. 5 pushchairs later and I am settled on a Bugaboo Bee Plus it's fab and I love it! I recommend any new parent makes a list of what features they need it to have and not to have. Ten go out and do some research. I dread to think how much money I have wasted trying to find one I liked.

hi i got the uppa baby vista its great!!

I agree with the lady above about making a list of things you want and don't want.  It helps when you go out looking to narrow the search.  My Dad came with me (he hates shops normally) as he's an engineer.  He told me not to get a pram with pneumatic tyres as you don't want to be out and about with baby and have to change a flattie!  He also advised against 3-wheelers as they are more unstable (especially on uneven surfaces).  We went for a Concorde.  It's not a brand that is well known in the UK but it has won all the awards in Europe for safety etc.  The Concorde car seat is the equivalent of the Britax in the UK but doesn't need a huge plastic base to be fixed into car.  Our daughter will be 3 next month and although we mainly use a light-weight buggy (costing £4 at an NCT sale) the Concorde is still in use at my parents house.  It is still in excellent condition ready to be used for the next child.  Don't just go for the latest trend or what your favourite celebrity is using as you have to go for what will suit your lifestyle.  I also agree with Sym about having a good trial in the shop.  Don't be scared to take your time - this is what your baby is going to spend a lot of time in (our daughter even slept in the carrycot for the 1st 9 months of her life) so it is very important to get it right.  We went to 1 shop where they had a very extensive range but no-one seemed interested in us so we walked out and went to another shop where we spent a long time with the shop assistant.  Get them to show you how to fold it, how to change from car seat to pram to pushchair and get them to show you every knob and button and pocket.   They should know what they are selling.  Don't be scared to haggle either.  My Mum managed to get a carrycot mattress and a few other things thrown in.  Once you've decided on what you are going to buy get prices from a few places so you have a bargaining point.

When my little girl was a baby i wanted a pram that had a rear faceing
pushchair seat and found just the right one then as she grew we got a
Buggy for her that is an I LOVE MY BEAR she loves her buggy it is a hard choice getting the right buggy for you and baby do a web search
Or go to stores and try the buggy sometimes you can get a sale price the best thing to do is make sure you have a sales assistant that knows how to show you how to fold the buggy down or to change from the pram
to Buggy and not be forced into buying the first one you see think of the price and what you get for the money

I agree with some of the points above:

1)  Make a list of things that are important to you and get the buggy which comes closest.

2)  Think of the practicalities of life with the buggy, not just how pretty it looks - things like, will it fit in the boot of your car (we have a Ford Fiesta and half the buggies out there won't go in the boot without having to arrange it all very carefully) and can you lift it easily once it's folded down (we were lent a very heavy one which, whilst free, was a real pain to get in and out of the boot).

3)  For me, being able to have a rear facing and forward facing seat unit was very important, so I could see baby for as long as possible.  I guess, once he's a bit older, he'll want to face outward, but in the first few months I wanted to be able to keep an eye on him.

4)  Make sure the seat unit is suitable from birth onwards if that's what you need - some don't  lie entirely flat, which means you'll have to splash out on a carrycot (in my view, an unneccessary expense) or use the car seat all the time until baby can sit up.

5)  Try out the buggy as much as possible in a shop, even if you're going to end up buying online - if you buy something you've not tried out, who knows if it'll suit you/baby.

We've ended up with a Britax B-Smart 3 wheeler (the 2011 version) which is working out really well.  Don't be put off by the negative reviews, they've made the straps a lot longer (although they're still snug when used with the footmuff).

Hi i agree with what you have said you are right you need to have a buggy that is easy to use lightweight and folds down to pop in to a car
And on a bus try before you buy and do not be forced into buying straight away look around for the one most useful for you

I had a GRACO travel system which was amazing! Light and easy to use. Great price too. Eva seemed so cosy in it too.

Hi i had one from ladybird that was a pram then changed to a buggy that could face you or away we then changed to a forward faceing buggy from
Babbies r us the i love my bear range fits in the car sometimes you can use the same buggy for a second child they look so comfy in

I brought a travel system ( mamas and Papas ultima ) as I thought getting the 3 in 1 would be cost efective and easy. Althought I love the style and ease ofopening and closing the system, transportation is a little tougher as you do need a big boot.We have a Vectra so it fits easily but if my son went out with his grandparents whilst still in his carry cot their corsa had to have the wheels in the back and the carrycot on the back seat. It is durable and reliable and will definatley be used for future infants provided we dont have to get a smaller car.
Since having my son in October 2011 the carry cot did double up to use as a pram and as a mosses basket when we first brought him home ( a matress fits perfectly )with the neat little stand available with the system and at first we used the pushchair seat on the stand as a high chair for watching things at the table, but I wouldnt dream of using it now that he is on solids, a high chairs enough to wipe clean!!
The car seat was great at first to move around with him in it but it was big, beavy and bulky with little room as he got bigger and we found we were soon out buying a new car seat.

On hindsight I wouldnt of bothered. I would now prefered to buy a pram as the carry would of then been even bigger on some models, so my son would probably still fit and I wouldnt be looking into buying a travel cot.
I never put his car seat onto the frame as I dont like the idea of him being scrunched up rather than led out flat with room to strech.
I have already been out and brought a second 3 wheeler push chair for taking out with the dogs on walks in the countryside
And now that he is in his pushchair I could of brought a stroller as it would be much easier to tansport, as I have found as his grandparents brought one to fit easily into their little corsa.
I wish instead I had really looked at the money factor as a travel system doesnt save you money at all, in fact its a huge expense at a time you have so much other stuff to buy, when you could spread the cost by buying individual products.
The cost of a proper pram and a car seat, followed by a buggie or stroller when the time comes is no more than these systems.

The best thing to do whenyou are looking for a buggy is try web sites
for stores like Mothercare Eddershaws Babbies r us and other baby sites
Then go to stores and try different ones it can be hard to decide on the one you want so see how it folds down and all the things that come with it ask if you can fit the style in a car easy and sutible for busses and taking away on planes or ferrys is it easy to push and get up and down a pavement comfy for baby and to use for toddler 2 i aggree
with what you said about a travel system make sure the car seat is good for the car

My parents bought my the Mamas and Papas Ultimo 3 in 1 for my eldest daughter 5 years ago, as I insisted I needed a proper pram for a newborn and a parent facing pushchair, I also had the primo viaggio sip car seat.  After 3 children the fabric still looks in very good condition, the chassis is still good and easy to push, only the wheels are a bit worn but then it has had 4 years of use and was great with a baby and toddler with a buggyboard attached.  I've used the carrycot up to 6mths or able to sit up alone and then gone for parent facing seat unit most of the time with the odd occassion of putting the car seat on mainly to herd 3 under 3s into the doctors safely or the quick dash into the shops as I find the car seat with baby in far too heavy to carry very far with a nappy bag.  We also found that forward facing the pushchair unit is at a great table height for babies whilst eating out without having to get a highchair too.  I found the seat unit has wiped down very well in spite of all the split juice, milk and sick etc that have been on it at various times.  My eldest daughter had reflux and the carrycots adjustable base to raise her to 30 degrees was brilliant, you can also add a harness for older babies to the d-rings and let them sit up.  Newer models come with a stand for at home which I think would have been quite useful with a newborn as my eldest daughters used to take the brake off and push their sister around in the pram.

The only problem I had was that I originally got the pram whilst with my parents in their car and as I drove a Toyota Yaris at the time the carrycot had to go on the back seat and the chassis filled the boot, I now drive a Zafira and it still takes up most of the boot!  I also found it difficult to get a raincover for it 5 yrs ago and had one that clipped onto the chassis and worked whether I used the carrycot, pushchair unit or carseat but was quite rigid frame and hardwork to put on and off.  I eventually found a carrycot cover in a catalogue for my youngest daughter.  It is a big pram and pushchair but very sturdy and great value if you plan on more than one child and can get it in the sale or factory shop.  Mine is an investment that has been used, replaced but always returned to.

I've had a Jane powertwin, phil and teds sport and a mamu stroller but my favourite is still my massive pram!

Hi
I am glad that you went for a good pram and it has been useful for all your Girls that is a problem not being able to fit it all in a car
Or you do not have the space when the base takes up room like the one i had for my daughter was a ladybird pram / pushchair that could face you or forward she had a lot of use out of that i agree with all that you said
So you have moved on from a Toyota Yaris to a Zafira

We have a Toyota Coroller and a Meriva Design and still struggle sometimes to get her buggy in

Now youngmum, thats good to hear. May I use my system for many years to come

Hi Victoria
I expect you could but it could depend on how the child has grown
And if they feel comfy my little girl is 2 and a half and we have used the buggy we have now from when she was just before the age of 1
You do have a big choice to think about when you go for a travel system That is a car seat /pram/buggy
We opted for a pram / buggy for her as her first one so when she was in the buggy i could have her faceing me as mummy and baby love contact
And you do not need to stop to see they are ok
We have the buggy from the i love my bear range

Hi Sarah

My pram was great in the house for daytime naps but if it was wet outside it would have been very handy to have a stand to clip the carrycot onto and avoid wet wheels on the carpets and I found the handlebar restrictive in the house and had to turn the carrycot unit around so I could reach inside easier after a c-section.

We still have the Yaris but have never found an affordable stroller that fits in easily and it was a struggle to get a group 1 carseat to stay tensioned on the back seat so I have the big family car and my husband does his trips to work in the Yaris now. 

When I went shopping with my sister for her pram she went for a bugaboo bee with maxi cosi carseat as she has a very small car and it fits easily but they are not the cheapest around.  I think it looks more like a toy pram next to mine but she has loved it.  My 20mth niece fills it now and seems a bit cramped  and prefers to walk but then my 19mth old daughter almost fills her pushchair seat now too but still has plently of wriggling room.  We spent hours in mothercare and mamas and papas trying all the different styles and checking they folded easily and were easy to push with a heavy load in the seat (recommended by the sales person in mothercare world)

Hi youngmummy
It can be very hard and take a lot of time to decide on a buggy with a
Car seat the cost is a big thing to and the amount of time it can take
How did you find the sales assistant different styles are to much choice
The pram we had first was ok did take up a lot of room in the car
did not have a car seat we had the car seat as a gift and she still uses
That one now has your sister thought about how her little girl is
Cramped up not good for her she needs room and to be safe
From Sarah
Cardiff CM