Monday 12 December 2011

The time is near at the end of a busy week

What a week. If I had been able to get near a machine then it would have been great to post about 4 days ago as I finally had the confirmation through that I had been waiting for - I'm testing the Moodd!!! Very happy about that as with a newborn due in less than 8 weeks now (Yikes - where has the time gone) I wouldn't be able to do very much with the Yezz.
On the downside, the Moodd is due at the end of Jan which is right around the same time as baba 2 so I will be hoping, and crossing my legs that the Moodd will be delivered before baba decides to emerge!

Lots has been going on with Quinny. The Yezz is now in the UK and shipping to shops. A video has been released which you can see here:
http://youtu.be/eVIHwy-frzU

I like the concept of the Yezz a lot but I think it is going to have fairly limited advantages for many. On the other hand if the standard Zapp is phased out then the Yezz is going to be the main option for anyone that wants a small fold and isn't worried about recline. I think the wheels are good - they look like the wheels on C's scooter that he got last week for his third birthday. I think they will be an improvement over the Zapp as those wheels make an awful cheap clattering sound over pavements and I would imagine that these will be quieter, yet just as hard wearing. New revelation is the pocket on the back. Not big for much but would at least take a spare nappy, wipes pack, piece of fruit (or chocolate bar/bag of crisps) which helps relieve the handbag of a few bits when travelling.
An expensive luxury for going on holiday or a key bit of kit for those based in cities where there aren't always escalators or lifts. I think if I regularly visited London then this would be a key bit of kit for me as once your child can walk at least a bit (or you're happy carrying them), it makes far more tube stations accessible as the Yezz can go over your shoulder with a bag and you still have your hands free to deal with a child.

Changing the subject to Christmas.
With just 2 weeks to go and first son's birthday out of the way thoughts are now turning to Christmas. Most pressies are bought, and I think we've got most plans organised now. Can't believe the number of giveaways that are appearing on Facebook and elsewhere. You can apply for everything from gadgets through to food and a surprising number of baby bits. Quinny are joining in too and will be giving away ever increasing sized packages depending on the number of people following their facebook page. A Yezz has already made an appearance and there's still more to come. If you've found me here, but aren't yet a follower, do go to their facebook page using the link below to find out how you can join in and enter the competitions for some great prizes:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/quinny.uk?sk=app_190322544333196

Monday 31 October 2011

Feeling bare and wondering what to do

Time is marching on and still no news from Quinny as to whether I will be road testing the Moodd or the Yezz. I'm hoping for the Moodd as I'll have a newborn in just over 3 months time so that will be far more use, but will wait and see what I'm allocated.

In preparation for our changing family we've sold on both the Mamas and Papas Luna and the Quinny Buzz. We still have the Baby Jogger City Mini and the only problem is remembering to move it around between cars and the house. :-)

The other debate currently going on in our house is what to do about a double pushchair for use on occassions where I do really need to be able to put both of them in a pushchair as eldest still seems at least 8 months away from being able to go without a pushchair on a permanent basis. Very little options seem to be available following a visit to our local retailer. What did we see that took our fancy to varying degrees:

Baby Jogger City Select - this was our favourite before the visit but following some comments online we wanted to try it again. Stick a toddler in the front seat and it makes it very difficult to get the pushchair up and down curbs. The easiest way to do it was to put a foot against the back axle for leverage. moving it around was also far more tricky with a near on 3 year old at the front. I would have one but it would involve a compromise that I could get fed up with.

Icandy Peach Blossom - fantastic pushchair to move around, even with toddler in it. Downside is the seat size - son was hanging over the ends so really not going to be much good in 6 months time. 2nd seat also doesn't go very upright either which isn't great. I do hear that there's an updated version due late this year or early next which resolves these 2 problems so could be good if it comes out in time.

Icandy Pear - Has bigger seats but the fold isn't so good and going to take up even more room that the large peach blossom on the boot!

Phil and Teds - tried the explorer but did struggle with hitting my knees on the lower seat unless the handlebar was in one specific position and I kept my arms pretty straight. That combined with not being able to do parent facing, not being able to recline the seats when both in use.

2nd P+T option - The promenade is due for release (again later this year or early next according to reports) and that could be better. Main seat can go forward or rear facing and 2nd seat reclines. The handlebar also extends which solve the problem of knee bashing - another one that's a wait and see.

Looks like it's going to be last minute decisions all round and expensive ones at that given that the Baby Jogger is the cheapest of those that are currently on release (bar the P+T Explorer). Still looking forward to my Quinny when I hear more. The only new info from Quinny at the moment is that the RRP will be £599 for the Moodd.

Thursday 15 September 2011

Not one but 2!

The announcement came promptly at 9am this morning on the facebook page - Quinny unveiled the Moodd - quickly followed by ANOTHER new pushchair - the Yezz.

Here's a picture of the moodd:

 
Quinny have said this is the 'first premium pushchair' set to rival the Icandy and Bugaoo types.

On first impressions I though 'OK, an updated Buzz frame with a seat more like the Senzz' what's so different and new about that. Thankfully I found a few more details on the website and after the initial glace it looks a bit more promising. Plenty of accessories including a folding carrycot means there are options for newborns that should be better than the hefty and bulky Dreami that I put up with first time round with the Buzz.

The Yezz is an interesting proposition. Very light weight and portable it looks fantastic for taking on the tube.

When the news first broke I wasn't that sure and lost some of the excitement I had been feeling. I'm starting to get a little of it back, now to wait from news about the Quinnycasting :-).




Wednesday 14 September 2011

Pushchairs, prams and strollers

With the new Quinny being fully revealed tomorrow it's about time I talked you through the 'collection' of pushchairs we've had over the past 30 months and why some of them have now gone.

What we want out of a pushchair:
Something different - hubby especially hates the Maclaren style pushchairs and I'm not that keen either so that immediately removed many options to look at.
I also have problems with both my wrists so I find some pushchairs cause issues as my wrists compress at the wrong angle. This can be compounded when the handle can't be raised.

No 1. Quinny Buzz. Our first pushchair/travel system. Sister in Law had one which we liked and then we went and had a look for ourselves and it was certainly our favourite. Purchased before DS1 was born we still have it and use it. On the plus side I love the fold, seat seems comfy and does parent facing which I really liked up to the age of one. Downside is the size when folded is quite big.

No 2. Quinny Zapp. Bought as a lightweight stroller to keep in the car we had very mixed results with this. I like the idea of it but in practice didn't like bending down to fold it up all the time and the wheel noise isn't that great when pushing over bumpy pavements. DS also found out how to push the hood off at about 6.5 months and didn't give up doing it. When he was about a year old we gave it to mum to store at hers for the odd visit and got another one as it drove me to distraction (and did nothing for my wrists) to have one hand pushcing and one hand holding the hood on! Raincover is awful as well - I don't know anyone that can get the raincover to stay on - maybe that should be a challenge on a TV show!?!?!?
Now he's older it is more useful and we've taken it abroad which has been good.

No 3. Lee Bruss TakeOff. This is that unusal stroller that turned up on the apprentice a few years ago. We got ours before it was on the show having seen it at the baby show. Bought on the premise that we wanted one pushchair per car to save a 1.5hr return journey just to pick up a pushchair if we left it in the wrong car once I was back at work (which has happened to a couple of people I know)! Fantastic design and I loved the way it was so easy to fold and unfold. Size when folded was great and left plenty of room in small boots. Had a small recline which was an improvement on the zapp and a great big sunshade. We took it to France for 2 weeks and it was amazingly good. On the downside the crotch strap was a pain as it wasn't held in very well and you had to compress the strap to take it out to move to the position for the larger child. This was fine until DS became rather strong and managed to pull the strap back out while sitting in the chair. It was a mare going round the rest of the trip when he could worm his way out. Thankfully repaired under warranty I did some research while trying to locate where to go to and found out that distribution had been stopped due to doubts about the product and many complaints about the mechanisms failing. I wasn't impressed with that so when it arrived back we decided to sell it while it still had warranty and was working. Thankfully got back what we paid for it and moved onto getting a replacement. (pushchair 5).

No 4.  Baby Jogger City Mini. This was the replacement for the zapp and is probably my favourite pushchair. I love the easy way it folds. Good size seat which takes a good weight. Nice wheels, easy to push, looks a bit different, amazingly large hood to keep the rain off and good adjustable straps. Nothing really to fault this one on apart from you have to pay for all extras like the raincover, car seat adapters.

No 5. Mamas and Papas Luna. Replacement for the TakeOff we looked long and hard for this one. Key thing that drew us to this in the end was the straps. DS was a real wriggler at the time and didn't like straps so the way the gave greater freedom was a big plus point. Fold was OK, fitted into our C1 boot which was one of the key requirements, had layflat option.
It's a nice pushchair, to me nothing exciting but serves a requirement.

For the future. Well tomorrow we find out what the Quinny is all about and we can then start making some decisions. We plan on keeping the City Mini but we may well move on our Buzz and Luna to make space for the new Quinny, and (if needed) a Baby Jogger City Select Double as especially due to my wrist problems I'm in the position that we will need a double as I can't cope with buggy boards, carrying babe in a sling for long periods or having DS1 walking a lot (he doesn't do it - sits in the middle of the road if needed until you pick him up!).

Time for bed as busy day tomorrow. Will post some initial thoughts on the Quinny soon.

Sunday 11 September 2011

Introduction and counting down

Hello and welcome to my blog.

Who am I?

As you can probably guess I'm a Mum. DS (Darling Son) is coming up for 3 later this year and 20 week scan is tomorrow for Baba Mc No 2 who is due in the new year. Hubby and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary at the start of the month (where has the time gone!) and we've just spent the weekend packing up stuff that's been sold on an ebay blitz and buying new draws for DS's room so his draws can go into the spare room for Baba Mc 2.

I work, as does hubby and I doubt I'll say much more than that on work. What I probably should explain is about my pushchairs - what I've had, what I've liked and hated about them and why I've got rid of them. I think I'll split them into seperate posts as I've had a few and have a lot to say on them.

Why am I blogging?

I've started this blog as I've been given the fantastic opportunity to road test a Quinny Pushchair and this is the main place where I'll be writing and sharing my thoughts on it. At the moment it's all very exciting as I've no idea what I will be testing. Originally it was due to be a Senzz but that fell through due to logistics. The new pushchair is on the way and is being announced on facebook over the coming week. There's a picture that they are showing piece by piece - so far 4 are revealed, 2 of which are the model pushing it, a balcony and one tantilising wheel!
It's strange but I feel rather excited. I know what sort of pushchair I'd love it to be (single that converts to a double - something like an iCandy) but so far there's very little giving it away. I'm looking forward to having a new pushchair to try and hoping that it will be suitable for the way my life is changing over the next few months.

If you want to have a look go to Quinny's page at:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/quinny.uk

I will also be linking into the Quinnycasters site at:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/quinnycasters and http://www.quinnycasters.co.uk/

I'm hoping this will be a good bit of fun, give a few tips on the minefield of pushchairs and other things besides.

If you have pregnancy/baby/toddler related questions please do visit www.thenestforum.co.uk. I helped set up this forum in early 2011 when another forum turned into a nasty place to visit. So far it's fairly small but supportive, very helpful and is a great growing community for help and sharing experiences.

Thanks for reading.
Take care of yourself.
From Mama Mc