Anyone any experience of iCandy/Bugaboo/M&P's prams?

[Sparrow85]

I'm starting to get myself in a tizz over prams/travel systems already!

We went looking at a few things yesterday, just to get an idea of what we both like. Ideally, we need something that is quite lightweight and will fit easily in the boot of my OH's car (Fiat Punto). My parents are buying this for us and budget is around £500, although I know I'll have to buy accessories as well, which they'll probably get for us.

I really like the iCandy Cherry, but shop was so busy yesterday that we didn't have time to wait around and ask how much it would be for the pushchair/carrycot combination. Does anyone have any idea of cost for this.

Also was looking at the Bugaboo Bee, but a bit unsure now as I don't think it has a separate carrycot with it, does it?

We also looked in Mamas & Papas, and I really liked the Sola, but have seen conflicting reviews about it.

Does anyone have any experience of any of these? I get a 25% discount in John Lewis, so if we were going for iCandy or Bugaboo, we would get it from there to save money.

Sorry for going on, it's all just so confusing. Also looked at nurseries in M&P's and I am definitely going to need a lottery win!

Thanks in advance.

 

[Celtic Dragon]

I bought a Bugaboo Cameleon second hand from e-bay. They're good, but a bit too fiddly really - the brake broke and you can't get replacements of any of the parts (they make you buy a replacement frame for £200 or so!). This wouldn't be a problem if it was new and under warranty though. I was shocked that such an expensive piece of equipment had such bad aftercare.

 

[Bay]

Hello,

I don't have experience with any Of the specific prams you mentioned, but thought i'd mention Baby Jogger City Select. It's really sturdy, but a little heavy (not when pushing as it glides and steers really well, it's more the times you will be folding in and out of your car). The great thing is, you can turn it into a tandem pram if/when you have another child, and the multiple seating arrangements are really nifty (both facing you, both facing away, them facing each other, one facing you while the other faces the other direction ... Lots of combinations).

If basket space is important to you (it probably will be), you will like the city select.

Anyway, just something to consider.

 

[bubbles]

I've had all 3 the bee was the best by far IMO, the cherry was great but bulky to store getting on the bus. The sola was ok to start with but then things started going wrong, the wheels stuck, the chassis went wierd and I couldn't get it up in one go then part of the locking mechanism on the chassis broke. I have a zapp now for if I'm not feeling energetic enough to put DD on my back (she's been carried for 90% of trips in a mei tai or wrap carrier) but I hate it! Not even bothering this time

 

[weerach]

I had m&p luna mix for my son,absolutely loved it until he was in the buggy part and out walking, went down a kerb and he toppled out head first on to the road..needless to say the pram went straight to the dump and i'm going to be extremely fussy on prams having good straps this time round..and i'll never buy a m&p pram again

 

[pinkribbon]

My experience... I hate mamas and papas with a passion. Once they have your money they do not care about any problems you may have. The quality of their products for the price they charge is unreal. A friend has a Luna as a second buggy and found the hinges seizing up. They said it was from dust yet it was only 6 months old and kept in a cupboard. You wouldn't expect that from a 6 month old pram! I had a pliko Pramette and got rid after 2 weeks I just hated it. I hated the free reign harness, the plastic felt cheap and the raincover was very flimsy.

iCandy are good from what I've heard, but I've also heard they're heavy.

Bugaboo are good too, expensive though and the pram units are often very low.

Out of all 3 I'd pick bugaboo and pay the extra money.

 

[Sparrow85]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Hmm, such a shame about the M&P Sola, as I've also seen a few reviews online which say not to go there. I certainly do not want anything that would be a danger.

I wouldn't be worried about the Bugaboo needing replacements, as I would be getting from John Lewis, who would just replace it anyway. With the iCandy, as far as I know, the Cherry is the lightest; the Peach would definitely be too heavy for me.

Thanks for the recommendation as well Bay, will have a look the Baby Jogger. Basket space is pretty important, as I don't drive and will be walking to shops a lot with baby.

 

[Tanya86]

Sorry for forum hopping, I have the iCandy cherry in fudge and I ADORE it, worth every penny.

It's lightweight, easy to manoeuvre and it's really comfy especially with the cosy toes. Its quite bulky so try it in your car first, when I had a Peugeot 206 I had to put the top bit over the back seat.

Recommend buying the carrycot 2nd hand on eBay as you only use it for a matter of weeks and £155 isn't worth it. I'm selling mine on eBay for £45 at the moment. The iCandy changing bag is tiny, I got a lovely big one off amazon for £12.99.

 

[Tanya86]

Oh and it's got a big basket for shopping too

 

[Sparrow85]

Sorry for forum hopping, I have the iCandy cherry in fudge and I ADORE it, worth every penny.

It's lightweight, easy to manoeuvre and it's really comfy especially with the cosy toes. Its quite bulky so try it in your car first, when I had a Peugeot 206 I had to put the top bit over the back seat.

Recommend buying the carrycot 2nd hand on eBay as you only use it for a matter of weeks and £155 isn't worth it. I'm selling mine on eBay for £45 at the moment. The iCandy changing bag is tiny, I got a lovely big one off amazon for £12.99.

Thanks so much. It's the fudge that I like as well, although OH would prefer black. I would probably need to check that it fits in car then, but it all sounds good. That was my favourite before I went looking, just got so overwhelmed by all the choices!

Can I ask how much you paid for the whole system?

 

[tinkalink]

Hmmm me and my OH were considering the Mamas and Papas Luna but not so sure now seeing peoples comments! I think we'll end up with the Graco Symbia Fantastic reviews and has won awards!

 

[Skye1]

I have an icandi peach and its the best thing I bought for my 1st, its the only thing I saved for as I had my heart set on it and I am so glad I did, the carry cot is lovely for a newborn and now shes in the pushchair. We take it off road to walk the dogs, its so sturdy...


Plus you get to pose with it People always look at the icandi

 

[~Mummy~]

We got an iCandy peach for my now 18 month old and it's been brilliant.

Didn't end up using the carrycot much because we had the adaptors for the car seat, but the carrycot came in handy for baby to sleep when visiting family.

We're planning on getting the second seat now when this baby comes, so won't have to buy a whole new double pushchair.

 

[Tanya86]

I can't really remember exactly as my mother in law bought it for us but i think it was £550ish for the pushchair, maxi cosi car seat, adaptors, cosy toes, palm sun shade and adaptors. If you get discount in John Lewis it'll easily be under £500

 

[hapi2bhealthy]

Hello,

I don't have experience with any Of the specific prams you mentioned, but thought i'd mention Baby Jogger City Select. It's really sturdy, but a little heavy (not when pushing as it glides and steers really well, it's more the times you will be folding in and out of your car). The great thing is, you can turn it into a tandem pram if/when you have another child, and the multiple seating arrangements are really nifty (both facing you, both facing away, them facing each other, one facing you while the other faces the other direction ... Lots of combinations).

If basket space is important to you (it probably will be), you will like the city select.

Anyway, just something to consider.

Just on that note- I use this pram (nanny) and for 1 it is brilliant but I have to say with a toddler and a bigger baby in it, it's SO HEAVY! It's really long and hard to turn corners without toppling over (yes i've nearly lost them before!! )

You are def right about the basket space at the bottom, with two kids it's huge and amazing. But overall I have found it my least fave pram so far...

I do like the iCandy and a Bugaboo is OK but yes can be fiddly and so expensive to fix!! Also the brakes went on my last one and yes it was used every day but it wasn't old- only 1.5 yrs when it broke.

The Strider is a good option, a bit wide. I find that by the end of first year I prefer a Maclaren/Steelcraft stroller: so much lighter and easier and less bulky than prams.

JMHO

FYI: We were given a used Jeep three wheeler...happy with that. Needs a clean, but we are having a baby on a budget and having been a nanny I am not new to pushing prams

 

[starlight1]

I have the m&p ultima and I love it but I'm going to have to get a double so I'm going to get iCandy peach! I think if I'd looked about abit more I would have gt the iCandy first but I went in m&p and got everything dd room is like a m&p show room lol! X

 

[Mummy2Asher]

I have the bee plus and is amazing!! I've had soo many pushchairs and the bee plus has been my fav, I've also had the sola which was good too. The bee plus has a carrycot/nest for newborns. Not had an iCandy...yet...lol

 

[jamhs]

I had the icandy cherry(fudge) for my first, but wasn't expecting I'd have #2 so quickly, so didn't get to enjoy it as much as I wild have liked, but I did love it, and used the carrycot with my second in the house. If I would have thought about having another one when I was buying my first, I would have got the icandy peach. Good luck and enjoy the pram hunt!

 

[Flip flop]

I think I'm getting the Babystyle Oyster, its similar to the iCandy Cherry but the carrycot is bigger and you can fold it with the seat on, I think it folds smaller too

 

[Bergebabe]

i have already bought the quinny buzz. have you looked at that? they sell it in john lewis too. i liked the icandy peach as well when i looked at it in the shop but it was very heavy when i tried to lift it when folded.