The Mothercare Spin is born out of research that babies need face-to-face communication to develop as talkers, and a rear facing pushchair gives them that valuable interaction. And as they get older they benefit from facing forward and taking in the world around them.
The Spin is a light 4-wheeler that comes in fashionable silver, ink or special edition (and slightly higher priced) black jacquard, and can be used in lie-flat pram mode as well as upright. The seat's removable and it's easy to fold with one hand. There's also a car seat available to buy separately so you can use it as a travel system, called the Mothercare Spin Infant Car Seat, £79.99. You can also purchase car seat adaptors to add Maxi-Cosi or Britax car seats (priced between £19.99 to £29.99).
What we love
First, the shallow stuff: the Mothercare Spin is gorgeous. So gorgeous, in fact, that it nearly caused a riot among my mum friends, who queued up to have a go and admire the colour (silver-grey - so stylish!). And the cosytoes are so soft, you just want to get in there and have a snooze, which is exactly what baby Mimi did on the first outing. This is also because the Spin offers a great mix of a comfortable ride, with just enough ‘bounce’ to lull a baby to sleep.
The function that sets the Mothercare Spin apart from most others on the market is the ability to change your baby's direction with one click - and one hand. At 6 months old, this is ideal for baby Mimi. In just one journey she can go from being happy facing mum to craning her neck the other way to get a better look at a passing dog. And the Spin really does allow her the freedom to do that. All you need to do is twist the handle, lift it and spin it round. No need to remove your baby or even stop for long as it takes less than five seconds. It's so easy.
We cover a lot of miles each day, and the Spin is a real pleasure to push. It's much lighter than our usual pram, and also easier to steer. It did a U-turn in the narrow hall without hitting anything! Another very handy thing is that it doesn't have a lot of sway when you push it with one hand. I got through a 10-minute phone call pushing it one-handed and it stayed straight all the time.
Other great things about the Mothercare Spin include: the handy basket underneath which carries 2kg, the removable bumper bar which makes it easy to get your baby in and out and the fact that the seat can also be removed to transfer your sleeping baby.
What to watch out for
It took a while to get the right angle for the seat - one minute Mimi couldn't see over the bumper bar, the next her blanket was flapping about as she was too upright. But once you get used to it, you find the right position for your baby.
As with a lot of 4-wheelers, the rear wheels are quite wide, making it difficult to squeeze onto the bus.
The Mothercare Spin is easy to fold with one hand, but having to remove the seat every time may not suit you. If you’ve only got a small car, it’s ideal as it folds up to fit in a small space, and you can remove the wheels to make it even more compact. But if you want something that’s easily collapsible to get on a bus or train, you may find it’s a bit of a faff.
The other big drawback is the price. It depends on your budget and taste, but at £420, you might expect a whole travel system, whereas with the Spin you need to buy a car seat separately, which takes the price to approximately £500.
Who is the Mothercare Spin buggy best for?
Families who don’t mind splashing out for a versatile, flashy pushchair that fits into a small car.
While not the cheapest pushchair on the market, the price is worth it for the flashy “spin” function, which will keep your baby happy as you move from forward to rear facing with minimal fuss. The Mothercare Spin is also stylish, offers a comfy ride and great to push, even with on hand. While not the most public transport friendly option, it’s great for small-booted car owners.
First reviewed 05/10/2009. Updated 24/02/2012.
