Tell me about prams

Hi All

When I was pregnant with P, I was totally ignorant of the massive pram market...apparently style, looks, colour etc etc all "matter" (not to me!) and it blows my mind.

I am in the market for a new (read: second hand) pram.

I have a great pram with pumpable tyres, very sturdy, turns well, tackles any terrain and is great for walking to daycare to pick P up or for parks and etc. BUT it's HUGE, heavy and doesn't fit on a bus. Or in the local supermarket.

I also have one of those tiny umbrella strollers which is the most useless thing ever made by man.

The new pram must:

Take newborn to toddler (have a seat that reclines)
Be narrow (This is very important as it MUST fit on a bus, as I do not drive...and the local IGA has very narrow isles)
Easy to turn and manouvre
Be able to handle footpaths (again, becuase I don't drive)
Small enough to be easy to use but big enough that I don't kick the back (I am 5'10")

I was looking at the Bugaboo Chameleon...is it as narrow as it says it is? I am not even sure I can afford a 2nd hand one of these, but would have a go if it really is as good as it says.

The other I was looking at is a Baby Jogger City Mini...but I am highly suspect about the wheels handling being out and about.

What would you suggest? What's your favourite with the above specifications? I am very ignorant about these things.

I intend to keep my big all-terrain mentioned above, but it's not practical if I ever want to catch public transport, which I would be doing frequently. I basically stopped going places becuase the damn thing won't fit on a bus. It's just shameful trying to fit it down the isles of the IGA.

Re carriers and slings and the like - I have been through 5 or 6 types of carrier, including the Ergo, but because I have an old back and shoulder injury, they are a total no-go for me. I just can't wear them without being in pain.

So a pram it is.

Thanks for helping out an ignoramus!

The bugaboo bee fits all those needs. i have one and they are cheaper than the chameleon second hand. It handles footpaths well, is not great offroad buts sounds like you dont need that anywyas. It has a reversible seat with complete layback and you can get a newborn cocoon for it so it will go from newborn to toddler easily. It has a smaller fold than the chemeleon as well as being a one piece fold....no need to take the bassinette off to fold it. My 6 foot 2 hubby loves it cos it has such a long extension on the handle.

the BJCM is compact as well but I am a bit suss about any three wheel pram as they are not stable enough in my opinion and are prone to tipping.

I would agree with the bee. I have the chameleon which I love but it's not great on the bus as it folds up in two pieces which can be hard to handle when carrying a baby, a bag or two...

Okay, cool, thanks ladies.

Having a hard tiem finding a 2nd hand bee...especially in Perth...probably a good sign that they are scarce as it must mean that they are good and people are keeping them!

Pfft, time even.

My sister bought us a pram for S, it was a McLaren... um... Vogue, that's right. Out of all the reviews I read about them it seemed to be the best for the cost. It cost about $300 new and it will do well for this baby, ie, third hand. Granted, we used it HEAPS for S and not as much for T because we moved to a place where it's harder to walk to the shops, but it's still had a lot of use. I think you should be able to get a good 'used' one for under $150. It's narrow and practical and the seat reclines for newborns, and T sometimes still rides in it (she turned 2 in Sept).

If we weren't using it for this baby you'd be welcome to it!! Hope you find something that isn't too expensive and works for you.

Thanks Sasha, I will look it up...haven't looked into the Maclaren range at all.

Loving your blog, btw.

Have you been to a baby&kids market? You'll often find a pretty good range of 2nd hand prams there (as well as all sorts of other baby stuff).

I'll support all the lovers of the Bugaboo Bee. I use mine on trams all the time and I love it.

well, im guessing if you're looking at the bugaboo you're not too fussed about budget, but i just picked up this on layby and love it!

EDEN LAYBACK STROLLER - Travel Systems - BRITAX AU

it's really lightweight, easy to manouvre, has a bumper bar, lays flat for newborn, fits up to a toddler, and folds narrow. all of my specifications LOL.

oh and at the moment it's only $152 from baby Kingdom, so cheap. But good quality :)

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Thanks Sasha, I will look it up...haven't looked into the Maclaren range at all.

Loving your blog, btw.

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Aw, shucks thanks *blush* :)

I second marcellus' recommendation of Baby and Kids' market - if you pick up a Parenting Paper (you know, the ones they have free outside supermarkets, in chemists, etc) they tell you when the next one is.

ha i was just about to post a thread asking almost the same thing!! *steals suggestions*

I have a Baby Jogger City Elite which is a 3 wheel all-terrain pram so not what you're after but I would highly recommend the brand, they are brilliant prams! So my vote would be for the City Mini. The Baby Jogger prams have an amazing quick fold system which allows you to collapse the pram with a simple pull of a handle - you can do it with one hand!! The sun shades are huge too and they have lots of other groovy features that no other pram on the market has.

Check out BJ Strollers website for more info

also check out the other bugaboos. i have a gecko and they go cheap as chips on Ebay (well in bugaboo terms). they werent fully released here in Oz (i think only for maybe a year if that so dont really hit the bugaboo radar). oh and also the bugaboo frog (which i reckon is the prettiest lol)

i love my gecko...gets on all styles of trams and can even fit up the front door of the old trams with stairs.

So gotta keep an eye on this thread... I thought I'd picked our pram until I saw it on saturday at the markets with a 18 - 24 month old in it and the seat wasn't tall enough to suit a toddler... strider plus :-( start again...

Ja, and strider plus is too wide for my liking.

I have found a Valco with a narrow base - 54.5cm - which is cheaper than the City Mini, just.

My only concern with the City Mini was that I would kick the back of it while I walk, which I do with a lot of the smaller style prams and strollers.

Haven't found one of the CM or the Valco to try out yet, though.

I bought my new 1 yest, it ended up being a toss up between valco ion or bruin Monaco. Went with the bruin cos it was Heaps cheaper and I really disliked the valco handle. Will be trying it out today :)

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I have the Valco Rebel Q & I love it. It fits through a normal check-out, has solid wheels & reclined flat enough for newborns. It can fold as 1 or in 2 pieces. The seat is also reversible.

Does anyone know much about the Steelcraft Cruiser Stroller & Travel System.... can you still get them new? or only on Ebay?

im 6foot2 and love my light, go anywhere URBAN mountain buggy! its very slim line too! after buying 4 (:redface:) prams i am in love with this one!

I have a Steelcraft Terrain listed on e-bay at the moment for $75 that meets your criteria. I used it when ds2 was in a capsule, this pram is compatible with the Safe and Sound Unity Capsule. PM me if you want details.

We were given some money from dh's family and have now upgraded to a Phil and Ted Explorer which, if you're going to go brand new, I LOVE IT!!!!!!

hi angelaartsstudent

I haven't tried any of the other ones mentioned but I have a baby jogger city mini and love it!!! So easy to get around all the tight shopping isles and lightweight and easy to fold, it reclines well and has a good basket, but doesn't sit bolt upright and I'm not sure how easily it would fit an older child in. I got ours when I was pg with DD2 because it was so much easier to lift than my phil and ted 2 seater and mainly use it for shopping and walking on footpaths. We also had trouble fitting some of the umbrella strollers in our boot and found this one took up barely any room once folded. I don't hit the back of my city mini and am about 170cm tall, but I guess you could test it out in the shop?

Goodluck deciding though. I hate when you buy something and it doesn't work out the way you want.

Hmm ja that is my worry - about fitting an older/larger child.

P is the size of the average 3 year old, so I am expecting to have another tall kid. :-)

I would get the Maclaren Vogue

I have a graco which is also great except for the size and weight. But my sister has a maclaren and its brilliant - really light weight, small, easy to fold - I would recommend you check out one of their range.

I'm another one with a maclaren vogue which I really like - its alot more solid than other umbrella strollers whilst still being compact. Only thing I don't like is how it tips when you forget you've got shopping on the back and you take the baby out.

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So gotta keep an eye on this thread... I thought I'd picked our pram until I saw it on saturday at the markets with a 18 - 24 month old in it and the seat wasn't tall enough to suit a toddler... strider plus :-( start again...

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I'd give it another look, my DD is a tall 2.5yr old (I think up above the 75% from memory) and she still fits fine in both seats on the strider plus.