Recommend a pram or travel system?

[Gwen11ian]

Can you recommend a pram or travel system for a new born? I'm not due until October.. so just starting to research!

Requirements:

1. Both myself and hubby are tall (5'11" and 6'3") so would require a pram with extendable hand grips.

2. We live in the country, so wheels that do well on poor pavement surfaces and well packed dirt/gravel area is a must (but not 'off-road' necessary.. plan to get a proper off-road push chair once the little man is sitting upright and too large to carry in a front pack)

3. Would prefer a travel system package that suits newborns to toddler, budget of £400 for everything.

Thanks!

[jackie j]

Heywayne is the man to ask esp on the height bit. Congratulations by the way.

[tiachica]

Congratulations! Icandy range....

[HeyWayne]

Firstly - congrats.

Height - yeah, one of my specialities.

LadyWayne is the same height as you, and I'm 6ft 7. I was going to suggest the Stokke Xplory (which is what we have), but when you mentioned gravel/packed dirt, this is where it falls down slightly.

If you're looking for something for the loftier amongst us, it can't be beaten. The baby sits/lays up nice and high, so you don't bend too far. The handle comes up more than high enough, and (easily overlooked) you don't kick the wheels/axle when walking - you have a decent stride length. It's very manoeuvrable and a doddle to use once you crack the putting up/down.

LadyWayne's brother and his partner are also of the larger variety, and they have just bought one - got a great deal online somewhere, but did look on ebay beforehand and I'm pretty sure you may well be on budget.

One thing I would suggest is going somewhere that has a large range and that allows you to 'test drive' them. We found this invaluable as often people would say "Oh, such and such has a nice high handle" and we'd find that I'd be constantly kicking the axle, or "Oh, this one is easy to manoeuvre" and we found that it was too big and cumbersome to pack down.

PM me if you want a full run down, or have any other questions - I'll help where I can.

[Rabidbun]

Just as a quick coment, I'd go for one with biggish wheels - ours has small wheels and keeps sticking on lowered kerbs. Oh, and check overall weight of them when you test drive them - it's nice to have sturdy ones but for long walks the heavier ones really do start to tire you.

And congrats!

[quark1]

Indeed HW is your man - I'm at the opposite end of spectrum at under 5'!

But let my 'undersize' congrats wing their way to you nontheless!

Best way I found to save cash was by not being too fussy about 'newborn' and v.early-days clothes - they so quickly outgrow and you will find masses aplenty at most charity shops - you win - they win - and in the long term your litt'n wins from the savings - and those you choose to help - should you return to the charity sector once outgrown!

Lots of super best wishes to you both and how ever 'many' are tucked away inside!

Anyone who might have read before my corrections must have thought I'd been off on one - my senior moment were many! Hope you missed this one! LOL!

[Gwen11ian]

HW- Thanks for the recommendation of the Stokke Xplory. It's a bit over budget, but I suppose Stokke products are known for their long life span.. so if it last through the three or four kids we plan to have, then it's actually an investment. At least, that's what I can tell my husband. (Only one on the way at the moment!)

quark1- I've been getting a few things off Ebay, and some at the weekly local car boot sale. I plan to get everything used, except the pram. I've looked at a number of used prams, and they are all pretty naff. Even six year old mildew covered cheerios in the corner push chairs run about £20. The nicest used pram I found was near to new price.. add another £50 and I could get a brand new one!

[green thing]

Hi gwen
we had a http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...315_SY375_.jpg
from mothercare we use to go walking across the moors with it worked well off road
it also comes with a baby rear facing car seat which clips into the pram which is easy when taking baby from the car to pram
we used it for two boys and it lasted well
new £200 seen them on ebay for as little as £90
green thing

[HeyWayne]

HW- Thanks for the recommendation of the Stokke Xplory. It's a bit over budget, but I suppose Stokke products are known for their long life span.. so if it last through the three or four kids we plan to have, then it's actually an investment. At least, that's what I can tell my husband. (Only one on the way at the moment!)

That's exactly how we looked at it.

One other thing to bear in mind is that your child will possibly have a high probability of being larger than average and the Xplory has been great in that sense.

Bean (aka Hayden) is in 2-3 year old clothes at 16 months, but the Xplory still fits. It's supposed to 'fit' up to 4 yr olds, but it's unlikely to be the case with us. However, he's up and running about now so the pushchair is becoming more and more redundant.

One thing I would be aware of is that if you're a shrinking violet, don't buy an Xplory - you get comments/looks everywhere you go.

Not the smallest of buggies when folded, but then we're not the smallest of people.

You'll get recommendations from everywhere, but honestly the best thing you can do is go and try some out. You'll soon know what feels comfortable/suitable.

[tiachica]

As far as I know the ICandy Peach also has retractable handles.

[lizzylemon]

I had a travel system originally from Mothercare (Urban range I think) which I got off ebay for £60 inc post. I lived in the middle of nowhere at the time and it was great for 'off roading' with air-filled tires but I did find that being 3 wheels was unstable at times - you have to get used to going up and down curbs in a certain way.

Mothercare have a sale on at the moment: Mothercare - Maternity Clothing, Baby Clothes, Pushchairs, Nursery Furniture, Car Seats, Preschool Toys and Baby Essentials


And if you haven't discovered it already this site is always cheaper. I normally check the item in the shops and then go to kiddicare to see if they're selling it. They also have a sale on:

Buy Travel Systems from Kiddicare | Prams, Buggies, Twins | Online baby shop | Nursery Equipment

[OverWyreGrower]

I don't even need/want a pram, but those Stokke Xplory things are brilliant...

I'm ashamed to say I have been on their website and had a play with colour matching all the accessories