Perambulator

We bought our pram a few weeks ago – one of the few purchases we made before the 20 week scan because I was irrationally excited about getting one.

I was completely overwhelmed by the amount of choice available – so, so many different makes, models, options, colours – it was quite mind-boggling.

A such I went through a process of elimination to narrow down our choices, even before we stepped foot into a shop. I used online review sites like Made for Mums (http://www.madeformums.com), Push Chair Expert (http://www.pushchairexpert.com/), and Mumsnet to find suitable options and read reviews to work out which ones got a lot of praise. There may even have been a comparison spreadsheet built, but let’s not talk about that!

Our main requirements were:

• Decent suspension (we live in a semi-rural area with very rough pavements)
• To be able to use the pram on all surfaces, not just paths (we are keen walkers and like visiting gardens, etc.)
• Decent basket size
• More than 1 year warranty
• Easy and relatively small to fold (I will be using our smallest car on a day to day basis, which doesn’t have masses of boot space)
• Travel system compatible

In the end we bought a pram that wasn’t on our initial shortlist at all (of course!) – an iCandy Peach All Terrain. I had always admired the iCandy prams, but had earmarked them ‘crazily expensive’, so I avoided looking at them when in the shop.  However, I stumbled across it whilst Googling three-wheel/All terrain pram models, and it ticked all of our boxes. When I saw it in the shop I really fell in love. It didn't have any of the niggling issues that I had found with all of the other prams we had looked at, and it's very pretty to boot.

https://www.icandyworld.com/uk/en/product/peach-all-terrain

http://www.johnlewis.com/icandy-peach-all-terrain-jogger-with-silver-chassis-toucan-hood/p1787523

The main advantage points for me were:

It’s SO easy to remove the seat unit and carrycot (it has ‘memory’ buttons which you push in, and they stay pushed so you can lift the unit off with one hand).

It has a really big basket!

It is so smooth and lovely to push, with decent suspension and big ‘off-road’ tyres. 

The fabric is lovely and smooth (silly I know, but I am quite a tactile person and I just love the way it feels!). 

It folds small and is easy to fold (it has a carry strap you can lift it with when folded) – the wheels can also be removed for cleaning / to make the fold smaller. 

The front wheel can be locked into position so it doesn’t swivel – this should be good for pushing on rough surfaces. 

It’s generally quite a compact pram all around, while still having loads of features and meeting all of our requirements for a pram.

In fact the only ‘negative’ about it is the fact it doesn’t have a gated bumper bar, you have to remove it completely, and the bumper bar and handles are foam (I prefer leatherette!) but these are very minor complaints.

I can’t wait to start using the pram now, it’s still in boxes in our house and I am having to resist the urge to build it and push it around the living room! I can’t believe that in around 17 weeks’ time there will be a baby to go in it.