Buying a pushchair for Grandparent's Use

Have a look at these newer travel pushchairs. We bought a "Stick" Silver Cross one for our 1st GC that was about 6 years ago, but these newer ones that you can fit into a overhead Plane locker are better, and they don't take up as much room.
Both my DD and DIL have them now. Size of a back pack much easier to use as well.
Quite a few on the market, all a sensible price, have a investigate.

I'd make a plea to get one that had the option to have the wee one facing you. I see so many tinies sitting slumped with unseeing eyes staring into the exhaust of an idling car where you could be facing each other having a lovely chat or singsong together. Mind you DGD did ask me to stop singing when she was about 2 years old....

Thanks for your thoughts Visgirl and seadragon. Silver Cross seems to have a good reputation. I really like the face to face seating option too - it feels so important that little ones experience that contact and communication - it's so lovely that you sing seadragon!

Try to find one that is easy to fold down (& put up again). My DH and I bought a nice sturdy pushchair for our DGC but struggled to fold it down to get it into the car boot!

There are now lots of Facebook and websites for second hand baby stuff which is sold really cheaply. We bought a bouncer for our new grandson at about a fifth of the full price. No damage or wear and tear on it at all. My daughter-in-law was given a pushchair for free by a friend whose baby had outgrown it. Just a thought.

I would look at the "offroad" ones personally.

I agree with twinny
DD1 paid £30 for an almost new version of her pushchair that had cost hundreds!!

I would suggest you ask the babies parents their preference before purchasing a pushchair.

Another vote for a second hand pushchair- good for your pocket and the seller.
Two points- make sure you can fold/ unfold it easily and check that it will fit in your car with minimal fuss.
Some models seem to require that you drive a minivan and/ or have engineering qualifications.

We bought secondhand and it’s great but already I’m finding if I want to put it in the car it’s not the easiest. Brilliant for dog walking and distances though. So do think about all things.

While the ones that fold to fit in an overhead plane locker are ingenious and great for travelling, they don't offer much in the way of comfort or sun protection for the baby. I would absolutely go for secondhand: my preference has always been for the Bugaboo Cameleon: sturdy, easy to manoeuvre and very comfortable for the child. Whichever you choose, you will need to make yourself familiar with folding and unfolding - YouTube is your friend! And practice..... lots!

I have seen fantastic ones in charity shops. £30 seems to be the going rate. My friend bought one so her daughter need not bring one from Australia and it was immaculate.

GrannyGravy13

I would suggest you ask the babies parents their preference before purchasing a pushchair.

I agree with this. Will you be minding the baby often? Regular childcare? Will you even need a push chair? I’d speak to baby’s parents first about your expectations here. We’ve a whole gable of grands now - and a new gaggle due this year (three pregnancies at once !) and we’ve never had a need for our own push chair at all.

I have 3 GDs .. all are all at school now.. always used their own pushchairs....its what they are used to and chosen by their parents.

Same as LOUISA. It was a second hand pushchair, but chosen for me by DD1, so she could help should I have a problem with it and more importantly, DGS1 was used to and comfortable in it.
Obviously I was more than happy to pay for it.

We used the parents pushchair, it was a horror, a second hand bugaboo, costing over a thousand when new, it was a nightmare to get in out of the car and very awkward to open and close.
We saw a straight forward pushchair on freecycle. Hardly used by us but was useful sometimes. We gave it to a new grandmother friend and think she still has it. It did us.

I have always had my own pushchair and recommend a Maclaren which is light and easy to collapse. Fits in a small car boot easily. Some of the very posh upmarket pushchairs are so hard to put up and down and I have struggled big time using my daughters very expensive posh one so my advice is go for one you can collapse easily. Your buggy your choice! Go out and try what suits you

Oh calipso , you had a bugaboo too….. but liked it.

silverlining48

Oh calipso , you had a bugaboo too….. but liked it.

I can't quite figure why that should be funny?
I still have it. They are very good quality, excellent design and remarkably easy to push and turn on a sixpence. Forward facing or front facing, proper support for the child's legs and lie flat position for sleeping. I took time to learn the technique for folding and dismantling - it's easy. The wheels clip off quickly for washing when they are muddy. I also like the extendable hood which offers very good sun protection.
I also have a beautiful carriage pram from the 60s that I rate highly. But that's another whole story.....

It’s not that funny I was having a hysterical moment. We both had bugaboos , such a silly name…we didn’t much like ours and you liked yours.
Different model maybe, if I recall correctly, ours was a frog. An older heavier less mobile pram probably.

Just had a quick Google and the frog has been discontinued. (No surprise there 😳 . ).
The chameleon is partly based on the frog but is much lighter.
I never knew that but would have guessed the frog 🐸 was the heavyweight.

I would ask the parents for their preference

I purchased a second hand buggy for £15 from facebook. Used it when I had grand daughter one day a week but now she is twenty months she walks everywhere with me so no need for the buggy. She loves to push her toy pram with her teddies in it and I think it is better for her to walk (tires her out!). I am glad I went for a secondhand buggy (and it will come in handy when baby two arrives in Autumn) but couldn't have justified the expense of a new one as it was only used for about 6 months. Definitely Italy go for one that faces you. I find it quite upsetting when I see wee ones from the local day care nursery being wheeled along facing forward, no one engaging with them.

I agree GrannyIvy! I always had one for my GC - my pushchair, my choice , paid for from my bank account, also had a second hand one.
Children were in my care one day each week with extra days if necessary. You are the one using the pushchair so it must be one you are comfortable with , one that is easy to fold and not too heavy to lift into the boot of a car. Both my DDs were grateful I had their children and were not concerned about which pushchair I had! My eldest GC is now 22 and the youngest is six , the elder one often speaks about her pre school days with me and remembers baking , painting, singing etc - lovely she has such fond memories.