Bebecar has been in the business for over 45 years, and is known for creating innovative buggies and travel systems across Europe. The Bebecar Ip-Op, an award winner, was designed to be suitable for those who needed to travel with their baby regularly, who also wanted something contemporary looking.
Of the Bebecar pushchair range, the Ip-Op is the lightest and most compact. It can recline fully, so is suitable for use with your newborn. Once your baby’s old enough to be using an upright pushchair, the Ip-Op can be used as a forward or rear facing buggy.
The Bebecar Ip-Op is travel system compatible - you just add the Bebecar Easymaxi infant car seat.
What we love
Firstly, assembling the Bebecar Ip-Op was so easy. Once out pushing it, its construction feels robust, and while the steering was heavy, my son Nathaniel wasn’t troubled with the slightly bumpy ride (he barely woke up).
I love to shop, and felt the storage under the buggy was well designed. The shopping basket was lower at the front, so I was able to access what was in there without disturbing Nathaniel.
I took the Bebecar Ip-Op on the bus with ease, and it didn’t take up much room in the buggy space onboard. On some buses I even managed to get down the aisle from the driver at the front to the middle of the bus, without having to ask for the back doors to be opened. This means the Ip-Op would also be handy if your home had a narrow hallway.
When it comes to folding, the Bebecar Ip-Op folds in a scissor style. You turn the handle and push in a couple of buttons, but you need to take the pram off before folding. The chassis, once folded, is freestanding, and it also fits easily into a medium-size car.
What to watch out for
The Bebecar Ip-Op weighs almost 14kg, so isn’t light when it comes to getting it into your car boot.
The padding and mattress in the pram are as good as any I've come across, but you can’t tuck blankets in properly. This isn’t an issue with a young baby, but now Nathaniel is older and almost able to sit up, he can almost push his covers off.
To lie Nathaniel down in the right position, I had to put up the hood and remove the apron and blankets entirely, because the hood folds into the mattress and gives you less room. But when the hood is up it comes down reasonably low and I needed the top apron space to lay Nathaniel comfortably. If your baby is longer than average, you could find your little one quickly outgrows the pram mode.
The adjustable handle works by swivelling it up and down to give the extra height, not by telescoping out. I’m a taller than average mum and had difficulty getting the right height without it bringing me too close to the buggy.
When pushing the Bebecar Ip-Op I often had to use my foot to get it up kerbs, and as the footbrake is on the right-hand side of the axle bar, I had to be careful that I was lifting the buggy not applying the brake. It could have been quite risky stopping unexpectedly at the side of a road!
Lastly, although the covers can be removed, they can’t be machine washed. They could get water stains if you need to sponge them down a lot.
Who is the Bebecar Ip-Op best for?
Style-savvy parents after a robust, bus-friendly buggy.
The Bebecar Ip-Op is a stylish option that’s suitable from birth and for public transport users. It can be used as a rear and forward facing buggy, and also features a well thought out shopping basket. However, it’s a little on the heavy side, and it won’t suit everyone’s budget.
