Which Pram??

[Dulwich chef]

Can anybody help? We are expecting our 1st baby in April & have started to think aboout what we are going to need to buy. I've had a look on various websites for a suitable pram but there is so much choice its all rather overwhelming. Ideally I am after something lightweight, easy to fold down and good for dog walks in the countryside as we will be moving out of London. Oh yes, and something that the baby will fit in as long as possible at a not outragous cost...am I asking too much?!

[Ruth_Baldock]

Lightweight/easy to fold - bugaboo bee or baby jogger city mini

Big wheels/ longevity into toddlerhood - mountain buggy, perhaps? jane slalom pro?

I have never been able to find a buggy that suits all my needs and since my son was born, i have been through 8 buggies. EIGHT!

[snowboarder]

If you can chance it and hold on until April the Baby Jogger GT.....Supposed to be out by then!

[millsa]

Maclaren for travel as you can fold it with one hand and they are very reliable, and it has never let me down. I fly a lot and use thie same Maclaren bought in 2008 (now for baby no2).

And a bugaboo for a daily use - the cameleon or gecko have very comfy seats for babies, my daughter was quite small and sje always slips down in the maclaren whereas the gecko is just perfect. I've never had the bee model as my boy was big and he looked squashed in it at 13 months when I wanted to buy it. I ended up with gecko which I loved, can't see any difference to the cameleon but much cheaper.

good luck!

[awilliams123]

Depends also on how much you have to spend. We have a Mamas & Papas Zoom 3 in 1 travel system and so far (10 months in) it's been brilliant. It is bulky but I use it it all the time for trips out on foot. Really easy to steer, can be forward or rear facing, comes with a carrycot, raincover, and the basket is very spacious (can hold 3 carrier bags of shopping or 1 big bag-for-life). The whole thing including a group 0 carseat cost us around ?450 last October. I wouldn't recommend it if you plan to use it in and out of a car because it doesn't fold down easily (need 2 hands), but for regular foot use and public transport it's fantastic.

[melbourne groover]

I am with the others, a maclaren as you will buy one anyway.... But if you walk a reasonable ammount then something with air filled tyres...

I had a Phil and Teds but did not get on with it, then an ABC with a topseat (great for two - but quite enormous) and finally a Mountain buggy swift. The swift has been great, comfy to push, small enough to easily fit through any door, decent basket and simple to fold! It also goes flat so great from any age.

Good luck, seems like a momentous decision but bear in mind that hardly anyone manages to get it spot on right from the start. As your needs change so does what suits! Personally, if I did it again I would buy a really good Maclaren (XT or XLR) and a second hand 3 wheeler...

[Dulwich chef]

Thanks everyone...lots of helpful comments - theres just so much to think about!

[Yak]

We had 2nd hand maclaren xlr from birth but bought the maclaren car seat too - that way you can use it in parent facing mode while they are wee. Has been v good for us.

[amyw]

maybe it would be worth looking on 'which' for prams that might suit and then go and try them out?

or, take a walk around the parks nearby and ask people about their prams if you like the look of them!

but the best advice i had was to buy second hand. then if you find its not quite right for you, you can resell it and not lose too much money (if anything)

[arsmith]

We're expecting ours in May and i went to John Lewis today and found them really helpful talking me through all the different systems, all quite non biased too.

They do a 2 hr baby session where they talk through every aspect of what you will need, compile a list - they you cna go away and research online wht you want tnad where you want to buy it form.

know a few people who have done this and thoroughly recommend it

Good luck in your search, i'm currenlty digesting everything i learnt today and creating the biggest shopping list :)

[Mens]

I'm on my fifth pram and wld def say get a maclaren (get the more expensive type with better wheels and the back that lays flat)