Why do people buy so many buggies/pushchairs/travel systems?

[bubbasweet]

Why do some people seem to collect them? Why do people buy a pushchair that doesn't fit into their car?

I'm genuinely curious about this - it seems such a big expense to be buying one every few months?

Or are they mostly just crap and fall apart?

Am I in for a shock when I become a parent and suddenly discover the need for multiple buggies :lol:

[Ajedrez]

I'm not sure why the need for so many, we have two which I think is a bit excessive. One is the Quinny Buzz which fits in the car and is really snuggly for X, plus she can sleep in it when out and about. It's a bit tricky for going anywhere for any length of time though as you can only fit so much other stuff in the car as well so we bought a mclaren umbrella fold pushchair for taking on planes/on holiday/away for any length of time. But I can't imagine it's that comfy and she certainly can't sleep in it now she's older.

I can say I won't be buying anymore unless someone nicks my Quinny!

[ellabella]

you could say the same about shoes/hand bags/cars - some people love buying things.:lol:

[dorisbonkers]

I bought a second hand Bebe Confort carseat and Loola wheels thing for peanuts as I only need it for six months and I don't have my own car and take taxis instead. I also use slings and a papoose thingy.

I left the whole pram thing to my husband, who was amazed to find a 160 page thread on a dad's forum debating the merits of the Bugaboo versus the Quinny. People, step away from the Internet, and take a long hard look in the mirror...

They've become emblems of wealth for some people.

In Singapore there's a mall specialising in baby stuff for expat mothers and the place is RAMMED with Stokkes and Bugaboos. When the mothers meet, its like dogs sniffing each other's arses...

[RedTiger]

I've no idea - I now have 5 but obviously can only use one at a time :lol: They all have different 'uses' ie the big pram was fab when they were newborns, the travel system is good for nipping to the shops and just clipping the car seat into, the maclaren is good for holidays and takes up hardly any space in the boot, the citisport is fab for when they are 2+ as it's really easy to push even with a heavy toddler in it and the new pushchair, erm I needed to have the option of having L rear facing and wanted swivel wheels so it was easier to push while holding DS1's hand!

In hindsight I could have got my current pushchair with the carrycot & car seat so it would do most of the above with only 1 set of wheels :lol: Plus a maclaren for holidays :wink:

[spandangley]

I bought a travel system which I didnt know much about, just got it cos it was cheap and did everything I needed - but it was heavy, bulky and once Louis got heavier it became a pita to use, so we bought a Maclarent umbrella fold for everyday use. I really dont like the travel system we used with Louis, so I'd like to sell it and get something more practical for this baby. Im not sure why some people buy loads and keep loads!

[Mrs B]

Blimey, not everyone does! We bought one pushchair (not a travel system as everyone I know who has one used it for about 30 seconds) that we can take on the beach, and a smaller fold up one for the car as we can't park our car near the house. That's it, til a double buggy now that I'll need one - but did sell the original pushchair as I just don't have space for more than one!

Mind you, motherhood does strange things to you; I'm the girl who didn't see the point of change bags and was going to use an old rucksack, but now think I've been through about 8 different bags! It's a cheap way to ring the changes and make you feel better about yourself!

[BrokenFairy]

ATM I have 3

A triple, ABC Adventure Buggy (AKA The Tank)
A double - Jane Powertwin that I need to sell
A single - Petit Star Zia

If i had one child I'd have one buggy though, I don't understand having loads of them either - they take up too much room.

ETA: First pram for M was a Graco Travel System, which was brilliant. We'e also had a cheapo double and a cheapo single buggy :oops: that is actually loads of prams :lol:

[Mad Madam Mim]

Am I in for a shock when I become a parent and suddenly discover the need for multiple buggies :lol:

No, not necessarily.

For Seb I use the M&P Pramette I used for his brother 4years ago. For a brief spell I had a double McLaren (kindly sold to me by Samba) - so secondhand-ish as it hadn't been used as far as I could tell and was immaculate (and a Godsend). I only had that becasue I walk everywhere and Dylan would get tired and was prone to dashing off.

I do also have a lightweight McLaren bought by OH's parents so we could take it on a plane (to meet Damsels actually :grin: ). If I could have avoided the double I would have just stuck to the M&P really. So that's 3 buggies over 4 years. With only one of them used in the main.

I, personally, think a good hard-wearing pram/buggy (i.e. one you can convert) and a lightweight cheap buggy (for public transport and planes if you are using them) is fine for one child - if you use a car one will do. Then again some people just like to buy buggies or buy the wrong ones for them and need another and if they have the money then that's up to them. I'm just not really a buggy person. I'm kind of 'meh' about the whole changing bag thing too :smile:

[hazelnut]

for both ds and dd they have had 2 each, ds was a graco travel system, i liked the look of it and i had worked in mothercare and loved them then, i also got a lightweight bruin stroller as his graco only has 2 seat settings - flat and bolt upright so i liked the stroller as it had more seat settings.

DD ha s a britax travel system which i got as it looked nice nad had a soft carrycot and i also have her a bruin stroller, we use both equal amounts of time, as the big pram can fit my weekly shop in the basket (dont drive) and the little one is good for going on buses etc.

i would liek some different ones but if dd is anythign like my ds she wont be wanting to go in it much in a few months

[Jolou]

The problem is that not 1 pushchair is perfect and good in all situations.
I have a Urban Detour which I love as it is so easy to push, even with one hand, but it is too big to take on the bus.
So I have a Zapp for taking on the bus.
I also got a Silvercross 3D when ds4 was born as I needed something that a buggyboard would fit on, I will be selling this soon though.
I've also got a double pushchair which will be going soon.

[*Fallen Angel*]

you could say the same about shoes/hand bags/cars - some people love buying things.:lol:

:nod: :lol:

I've had a fair few, but as I'm not having any more bubbas I needed to try as many as possible whilst she was small enough:wink:

[RealGoneKid]

It depends what you mean by lots I suppose. I have three - the M&P Ultima travel system, a Ziko and a Quinny Zapp.

I :lurve: the travel system and it was an absolute bargain on ebay. The carrycot option is great for a newborn and the buggy part is good, if bulky. I love the fact that I can have the buggy facing me.

When E was 6 months old I bought the Ziko (in the sale) because I thought I needed something that folded smaller than the travel system but where she could lie flat to sleep. We had a Golf at the time and although the Ultima fitted in the boot, it filled it so we also needed more room for going away. When we bought the Ziko, the travel system went to DH's grandparents' house and they used it whenever E went there. Now I'm using the travel system, they've got the Ziko.

I also have a Quinny Zapp that I bought when we were expecting W because we didn't want a double buggy. We use the Zapp for E and it folds up incredibly small so is great.

So I've got three for three different purposes and they are all used regularly.

[Annie Goolahey]

With J I had three...
His first *big* pram - a M&P venezia which was fab when he was little but built like a tank and as he got bigger became a real PITA.
So we bought a Maclaren Quest - which we then gave to our CM as she took him walking every day and we bought a cheaper Maclaren Techno for us - which we used til it fell apart. (The Quest is still intact, just a little battered).
I don't think I realised when I bought the M&P just how cumbersome it would become.

This time we're getting the ICandy Cherry - chosen because it is so lightweight and can be rear facing even in pushchair mode.
I have also bought a new Maclaren Quest (in the Next sale for peanuts) simply because it was such a bargain and it will be handy when she is bigger.

That will be the entire pram buying I'll ever do - except perhaps for my grandchildren in many, many years to come.

[Maudie]

I've had three - soon to be four

The first was a 3D travel system in pistachio, I loved it, it hated me and I broke it

The second is the Bug Cameleon which I need to sell

The third is a Quinny and that goes in DH's car if he takes DD out. It also goes with DD if my parents want to take her for a walk. It seems to be the only one he can operate (he is clueless and when I got taken to hospital by ambulance a few weeks ago he left my Bug in the supermarket car park because he couldn't fold it down. Luckily I got it back)

For my fourth, I would like the iCandy Pear (which is why I am selling my Bug when I get it) as I still need a pram for DD and I prefer it to the P&T

[Skerry Berry]

We have 3. My Bug which I got for R, and am now using for Ewan. A second hand M&P 3 wheeler tank, which is used for forest/hill walks with the dog or in the snow. And a Maclaren, for taking on holidays. The Maclaren is now falling to bits though, so it will need replaced - am thinking of either a Zapp or the Petite Star Zia :scratchchin:

[Micah]

I think firstly you need a good hard think about what you need and want from a buggy :nod: Many people buy a pretty pram or gadgety travel system, to find it weighs a ton/baby won't stay lying down at 3m/can't get it on the bus etc....

I basically wanted the lightest buggy I could find, with an umbrella fold, single handle, solid wheels, and carrycot/carseat option. I chose the Jane Carrera at 7Kg. It will do me two babies through to walking. Ok it's not the prettiest colour (though the new ones are better), but it's very comfy and easy to push, fits in the car, gets on the bus :shrug: Has a buggyboard now which DD1 can use.

I also have a combi dash which is tiny, and wouldn't have been practical for long walks, and has no carrycot. Bought it cheap off ebay as I can take it on planes/trains easily, and it's easy to carry. Handy for dropping at nursery when DH is picking up and I need to carry it home.

Just have a look round, especially at some of the less popular and colourful options, and decide your priorities. Although of course if you enjoy buying new buggies and have the money then go for it :lol:

[donna-j]

Because it is hard to know if one is going to work for you before you have a baby in it. You normally make a decision from a not-yet-a-parent perspective.

I bought a Quinny Buzz before having Thomas and loved it with the carseat but hated it with the buggy seat (although T was so comfy in it). I bought a Ziko for travelling.

I then sold the Buzz and bought a second-hand Bugaboo for Clara. IMO it's the best travel system - so many people buy them for a reason, and not just as an emblem of wealth thank you.

[Calamity]

I have 3 but did have 4.

The first one was the Jane Powertrack 360 for when DD was born. It's a travel system and absolutely perfect in every way apart from the weight, tis very heavy. Where we lived was tricky if you didn't have a car at your disposal (which I didn't then) and the only way to the shops, bus, train etc was to try and bump it up over 30 steep stairs.

So I then bought a cheap Mothercare stroller for around twenty quid which was brilliant. I could pick the whole thing up with DD in it and carry it up the stairs.

Then I went back to work and my parents looked after her 2 days per week. Instead of having to take a buggy over in the car every time we decided to get another buggy that could just be left at their house. We couldn't give them the Jane because of the weight issue as they lived on the 2nd floor of a Glasgow tenement.

So for them I bought a 2nd hand Microlite from eBay. Around about the same time the Mothercare stroller completely fell apart from all the stair bouncing and I forked out for the 4th buggy which was a Maclaren Quest.

Now that I have a 2nd child and a new house without stairs surrounding us, I'm back to using the Jane Powertrack which I'm relieved at as it cost a fecking fortune and didn't want to see it going to waste. I also still use the Maclaren buggy if going out in the car to shops or the park as it's smaller to get in and out of the car boot.

Sadly the Microlite isn't being used anymore so I think it'll be getting put back onto eBay in the near future.

I do not envisage buying another buggy for Scott because the wee guy already detests being sat down for more than 5 minutes and would rather practise his walking :teehee:

I'm also not into the whole 'matching changing bags to your outfits' type of person either.

[purpleviolet]

Urban Detour travel system - needed as we live on a bumpy country road.

Maclaren Volo - needed something smaller and less bulky for the plane and shopping trips.

Phil & Teds Double - only just purchased as I need something for the country roads for toddler and baby as our walks are sometimes more than 3 miles long and there's no way Josh could walk that far in a couple months time.

I'll be selling the Urban Detour travel system once baby grows out of the baby carrier part of it and goes into Josh's current carseat and Josh gets a new carseat.

[Flicky]

I have two - a Bugaboo and a Maclaren. I actually had the Maclaren first (Techno XT) because we lived in a flat with no lift and I needed something light that could also lie flat. DD was in a sling mostly anyway.

When ds was on the way we had moved to a house and my mum wanted to get us a 'proper pram'. I bought the Bugaboo and it's been fabulous - I definitely agree there's a good reason they are so popular. I used it with dd as a toddler while still pg with ds, as a lie-flat pram with him, dd on the buggy board and it's just been brilliant at every stage.

The Maclaren is still going strong now, 5 years on as a fling in the back of the boot, lightweight holiday buggy. DS will be 3 this year and realistically I'll probably be looking to sell or store the Bugaboo soonish.

[Adifferentnutty mumof3]

When the mothers meet, its like dogs sniffing each other's arses...

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Doris wins quote of the year with that!! :thumb:

[Penfold]

I have a number of buggies for work but I've got through a few with my two kids. I had a M&P Freestyler travel system which ticked all the boxes when I had DD1 until she was a bit older and I realised just how heavy and cumbersome it was. When she was a year we got a Maclaren Quest which was perfect for taking on a plane. She stayed in that til she was about 2 and a bit. Again I used the M&P for DD2 but saw a Zapp on half price discount so bought that :oops: AGain was a perfect holiday buggy (I'd sold the Maclaren at this point) but I found she outgrew it quickly so she now has an Obaby Atlas. In addition I have a second hand mothercare double and an Obaby triple for work!

I have to say I don't think it's a status thing and isn't something I really notice when walking about town :shrug:

[Booh]

Errmmmmmmmmmmmmm I guess really because of my job!

And also, if I buy a new pram, I can put it through expenses for work, and then sell the old pram! As I would rather spend money than give it to the tax man!

[half-full]

We had a Bugaboo first, that would have remained our one and only had I not been made redundant and had to give my company Laguna back. When it came to choosing a new car it made a lot more sense to buy a smaller car with lower running costs, and get a Maclaren quest to go in the boot (the bugaboo would only fit if I took the wheels off, and didn't leave space for anything else). They both get used, the bugaboo when walking from home as it's so comfy for my girl, and the Maclaren on shopping trips with the car.

So I've stopped at two buggies, but also have a baby bjorn carrier, a bush baby backpack and a ring sling.

[silverpod]

I think some of it is to do with what you think will be the perfect/good pram for your lifestyle before the baby gets here and the reality afterwards. I didn't think ahead enough about getting a buggy that could possibly take a buggyboard for example. :doh: I also prefer an all over handle opposed to 2 handles but didn't find this out until I had used and compared both.

It's also very different trying a pram out in a shop with no baby/shopping/changing bag with a wide space to pushing one uphill with a dead weight toddler and half a weeks shopping in and then trying to get it through pavements in town/in a shop with narrow manual doors. It's often not until you try a pram you realise the pitfalls. Same with fitting it in a boot, it should go but does it allow for any shopping, having to take a carrycot part off.

But I have found my ideal buggies and haven't bought any 'new' prams for over 2 years, if I should have number 3 then all I will do is buy a carrycot for the single (but secondhand, from ebay). I've sold the 2 buggies I wasn't as keen on through there and given one away on freecycle so it's not like they've
been wasted.

[calfee]

:shrug: all three of mine have managed with the M&P 3 in 1 I got for DS1 over 9 years ago. For DS2 my MIL bought me a bebeconfort carseat and my friend gave me her Loola chassis too. He's almost out of that so it'll be back to my faithful 3 in 1 again. As soon as they can walk they tend to walk everywhere anyway.

I haven't the space, money or interest tbh :happyno:

[Flicky]

So I've stopped at two buggies, but also have a baby bjorn carrier, a bush baby backpack and a ring sling.

Ah well, if you are talking slings :oops:

[Rosa]

I've had my buggy from birth and I love it.

Now Louis is bigger he doesn't need the whole shebang of reclining and lots of padding etc so got a lightweight buggy for holidays/keeping in the boot.

When they are babies you only need one though :nod: and if you do your research and try them all out you'll get one you love first time :nod:

Red xx

[Rez]

I have had ten buggies! Mostly second hand ones, I used two until they fell apart and sold the rest.

The problem was none of them was ever quite right, I was looking for one buggy to do everything I wanted which didn't exist. I now have 2, a Quinny Zapp and an M&P Moove and certainly won't be getting any more. They do the job between them and DS is 2 now.

I certainly don't see them as a status symbol though, in fact there seems to be a direct inverse ratio to the expense of the pram and the class of the parents where my parents live!

[ditab]

I think it's either
a) you can't try before you buy so you don't really know what your needs are until your baby is here
and
b) sometimes you just get swayed by the bargain or can't afford the buggy you really want but are then never satisfied with the one that you got.


I think travel systems seem like something vital until your baby arrives - and then they just seem a bit cumbersome.

We knew we wanted a Stokke Xplory (before we even conceived :teehee:) and just it worked perfectly for us. We didn't bother with the pram bit as we'd have only used it a couple of times so that saved a few quid.

We then got a Maclaren Lulu Quest when Max was 1.5 as we wanted a buggy to take on holiday with us. However, the travel bag for the Stokke cost almost as much as the Quest :faint: so we just decided that it was worth getting a lightweight buggy.

The only way I could justify the Stokke was it it would be our only pushchair (I'd seen my SIL go through at least 5 so knew that, in the long run, it would probably work out cheaper to just go for something I love).

[Ruby]

I think even if you're very restrained then you probably need two. I don't know anyone who managed with just one system - no matter how much they swore they would... I reckon you need;

One 'travel system' that fits a car seat on and is warm and comfortable for a newborn. Also travel systems can face you which is important in my opinion and are generally easier to get up and down kerbs/mountains.

Also a cheaper, smaller buggy that you can use as the baby gets older and for travelling.

I had a Loola and a Maclaren Volo.* I got a double buggy when I had my second baby but I really missed not having a proper travel system.




(*And two back carriers and at least two different slings and a buggy board... :shame:)

[Jamtart]

I am on my 3rd buggy with Aaron (cant remember how many I had with Kenidee, its too long ago :lol: I think I had 3)

I had a Quinny Buzz which I loved but Aaron got too heavy for it, and I want to change my car for a smaller one (eventually, was hoping to have done it by now) so I sold it and bought a Petite Star Zia which is compact and light and much easier to push Aaron in than the Buzz, which was so heavy with him in it.

I also have a cheapy stroller from toys r us, which I got when Aaron was about 6 months old. This was for when I needed a smaller buggy as sometimes the Buzz was too big (i.e going on public transport) and this buggy lives at my Mum's and it is handy to have a spare.

[dustbin]

Yup, another one who has two - an iCandy Apply travel system includng carrycot which in part was because my Dad (and Mum) wanted to buy us a rolls royce of prams! I just liked the look of it and I don't regret it. I was warned off travel systems but it has been useful. The car seat clicking on was great when he was small and we used the carry cot till he was nearly 4 months also as somewhere for him to sleep when we visited people etc. While on mat leave I walked everywhere with it and the suspension is better and it is more comfy for F. We still use it a lot when out and about locally. When he was 10 months I was going on the train on my own down to visit my cousin so bought a M&P stroller which I could fold one-handed and is lightweight. Also, as others have said, it fits in the boot with plenty of space for other stuff. We tend to use the stroller a lot now for nursery runs, out and about in the car, visits and holidays. The iCandy is used less often but will hopefully do future children. It needs a bit of a clean mind you. My SIL and BIL have a new baby and my BIL polishes it after every use apparently!

[Chocolate Lips]

I have 4 but each has a purpose.

We have the travel system which was invaluable when they were little babies. I bought a Quest stroller to take on holiday and that has been used to death and then because of the small age gap I needed to buy a double buggy. I have since bought another stroller (but just a £30 cheapy thing) to take on holiday as we didn't want to take the double abroad with us.

[~Twiggy~]

I had a second hand Graco "tank":lol: for about six months then graduated onto a Mothercare Citilite.

[ChelseaHarvey]

I have no idea the amount of buggys i know that some people have been through

I have had 3 in total

When alfie was born a urban detour & i hated it to heavy & hard to get in the car. That was due to the car we had though, used it til he was 9 months old

Then got a stroller alfie weed in it on holiday a few times & it stunk couldnt get the smell out & then got another one that he used up til 16 months & then never went in a buggt again

With the next one i plan to get one to use til i need a stroller & thats it

[Muppetgal]

I have no idea either.

We had a three wheeler travel system that lasted both the boys. The car seat is still useable (:yay: I thought it wasn't but I've saved it from the mould!), but the wheels on the pram bit are knackered, so I can't use it this time around despite OH trying to fix it.

I have a fold down umbrella one that we bought for going on holidays with. It was about £40 from Argos I think.

I've bought a second hand double buggy off of ebay for £20. I plan on slinging this baby for the first bit and having Craig in the single fold down buggy if needbe, and then using the double when the baby gets too heavy.

SO, no new prams/buggies for me I'm afraid!

[choccy eating monster]

Inlaws offered to pay for N's travel system, so I stupidly allowed myself to be talked into a strong, sturdy (mahooosive) britax voyaga system.

I drive a Ford Ka ffs........needless to say I can't have Nic in the back as well as the back seat down to stow the bloody thing, so I made her Dad buy one of those normal lightweight umbrella fold buggies for the boot of my car.

I don't like the lightweight buggy, steering is shite and N deliberately uses her feet as brakes.....which makes pushing v. tough.

I love the practicality and durability of the big buggy but it's just not right for my car.

That's why! I can't understand ppl buying loadsa buggies though. Take up soooo much space, never mind the cost. I never viewed mine as fashion accessories, more of a necessary evil to be dumped as soon as humanly possible

[Fiz]

I've got a britax voyaga too - that's the smaller pram I bought to fit in my car! We bought a second-hand Emmaljunga off a friend of DH's, I said straightaway that we'd need another pram as it wouldn't fit in my car but noooo DH thought it would ..

I love both of them - the carrycot on the Emmaljunga was fab, can use it in the house as well as on the chassis. The soft carrycot for the voyaga looked a bit grim in comparison! Both are fine as pushchairs.

I did buy one cheap stroller last year (to get some boot space when travelling) and it does the job but it's nowhere near as good as the big 'uns. No suspension, no recline, can't adjust the height of the handles, poor steering - just folds up very small. I loved being able to clip the car seat into the voyaga when I went shopping.

Now I've got a bigger car, even the emmaljunga fits in - although there is no room for shopping in the boot when it does! As long as it's not raining, the emmaljunga is my first choice (standard raincover that comes with it has a gap around the hood!).