The buggy / bugaboo debate

[MellowYellow]

Evening all,

Expecting our first in the summer and I'm getting prep done now whilst I have some time.

I'd like to pick your brains on which buggy to go for!

I used to work as a nanny for many years and had a lot of experience with the bugaboo chameleon which was great. However the buffalo looks more sturdy and comfy. I'm just wondering if it's extreme and too big?

Factors we are considering:

1. We need a travel system (car seat clicks into the bugaboo, cot and seat switch easily and its collapsible)

2. Space for bags/ shopping is important

3. Superficial I know but if it comes in Royal Blue all the better - some of the colour choices or patterns really put me off! We don't know if we are having a girl or boy and we've just gone with the colour we like that isn't black or cream!

Does anyone have experience with the chameleon or buffalo? Which would you recommend? Or should we be considering something different altogether?

Many thanks as ever! X

[Pickle]

I had a cameleon for my first child, now nearly 9, and loved it.

BUT

It quickly became obvious that for collapsing for the car/air travel/buses etc it wasn't practical so we, like everyone else we knew, ended up with an umbrella fold McLaren which we used for these times. The cameleon was brilliant for local walks etc though.

I don't know anything about the other model you mention, I'm a bit out of touch with the new models now :)

For our third child (now nearly 4) I went for a Bee, and it was brilliant. No need for a second small buggy as it was light and easy to fold. It did us 3.5 years, came overseas with us many times, and still had heaps of life left in it when we sold it 6 months ago.

I think you need to work out what your primary use will be, and take it from there. Something that breaks into two pieces to fold quickly becomes a nuisance if you're having to do it a lot.

Good luck x

[devsdev]

Bugaboo Bee, especially for transporting in a car or for travelling (just make sure you don't open the buggy up by pulling on the handles as you will end up eroding the brake and needing to replace it). If you are buying the latest model of the Bee then it has a carry cot (with the cocoon you have to strap in the baby which is tough when they're swaddled/sleeping) and a much bigger hood, which were the only two design flaws I felt the Bee had.

I have heard really positive things about the Uppababy Vista so worth looking at that too (it can also become a double - if having a second in the next couple of years is on the horizon). I think it folds down into two pieces though, so similar problem as the Chameleon.

Good luck!

[Convex]

no debate here, the bugaboo prams are great, but there are lots of others.

suggest you take a look at best buggy.co.uk as they suggest lots of others. there are other cheaper options that get a high rating e.g. mutsy, uppababy, baby jogger etc and it really does depend on your needs.

e.g. if you use public transport a lot, then the cameleon and buffalo are maybe too big - the bee is great and also the baby jogger city mini is supposed to be excellent. or if you look ahead and think you might need a double down the road, you can look at something that converts e.g. baby jogger city select, phil and teds, bugaboo donkey etc.

in my opinion no one pram does everything so you need to figure out what is most important and go from there. i also think its completely fine to have a main pram and a smaller one for the car/bus provided you have space of course.

i am also a big believer in second hand for prams - then if you don't get on with it you can sell it and try something else! most prams can be stripped down and washed. e.g. i started with a bugaboo bee but ended up switching to a micralite.

[Northeastview]

Another vote for the bee- light weight, easily folded, comfy and nippy. Ours did for both kids and I could still get my 6 year old in it on the odd occasion he was sick and I had to take him out.

[Bellenden Belle]

I love the Bee. I don't drive so have spent my life on buses, trains and even escalators to get to the tube and the bee has been perfect all the way. It's also easy to collapse and throw in a car. And my bee saw my first one all the way through from birth til he was three and no longer in need of a Pram - the only second pram I've had was a Nipper which we use for country walks and which was an EBay bargain.

[lisaloulou84]

Bee all the way... you'd have to pry that pram from cold dead fingers to make me give it up!