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Thanks guys, we just got him home. He has to go back in the next two days to have the last two doses for antibiotics but it's such a relief to know he's ok. The staff at QMC were so good, they really looked after him.

It's been exhausting really, I think we'll all sleep well tonight. I've often seen adverts and information about meningitis and septicaemia but this really hammers home how important it is to get your child checked as soon as possible. The rash didn't come out for about 3-4 hours, but the Mrs knew something was seriously wrong.

I've had enough of hospitals for a while now, and if anyone has had to park at QMC in the week...you'll feel my pain!
 
Going to be a dad for the first time this October, yay!

Now, we have been looking at prams, and we are struggling a bit. We're both quite tall, I'm 6'3" and my wife is 5'10", so we want a pram that has an extendable push bar for us so that we don;t have to slouch over. Also price-point, we really don't think we will use it an awful lot so we don;t want to go and spend a whole lot on one, certainly not more than £500-600 for the pram itself.

Can anyone make some recommendations on prams?
 
I'm 6'3" and my wife is 6'. We tried loads out in a showroom and we're very happy with the Oyster 2. The handle extends far enough up so you're not bent over, and the other important aspect to consider is that there's space under the handle for your legs to step when walking!

Loads of space in the basket underneath, and it has lasted well for the three years of our first little one and expect it to carry on being good for our soon-to-be new addition. The seat can lie back enough to be suitable from 0 months onwards. The only issue I have is that the rain cover doesn't fit unless the seat is upright.
 
fergie128 said:
Going to be a dad for the first time this October, yay!

Now, we have been looking at prams, and we are struggling a bit. We're both quite tall, I'm 6'3" and my wife is 5'10", so we want a pram that has an extendable push bar for us so that we don;t have to slouch over. Also price-point, we really don't think we will use it an awful lot so we don;t want to go and spend a whole lot on one, certainly not more than £500-600 for the pram itself.

Can anyone make some recommendations on prams?
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The issue with the travel systems are generally that they are not very compact and can be quite bulky/heavy to manoeuvre, particularly if mum has had a c-section, abdominal separation issues, hernias or pelvic issues. The added issue is these systems tend to have car seats (which IMO are never as good as Maxi Cosi ones); bassinets, so baby can lie down flat (take up so much room and only used for first 3 or so months); forward/rear facing seat (bulky things) - of course these pieces have to be kept somewhere and they do take up huge amounts of room as not all are being used at the same time, some not for long at all (e.g. bassinet).

We went second hand in the end and would really suggest having a look around your nearest NCT nearly new sale as we basically kitted out with all of the non-perishable essentials (baring cot mattress and steriliser/bottles) for 1/5 of the price, and was all in ‘as new’ condition (because it’s hardly in use for long!) I would include things like baby grows, growbags, outfits etc from NCT sales too and in all we have literally saved thousands. Even now, many clothes my 5 year old has are second hand (tops, trousers) as they simply grow out of them so fast.

After having two children (second one is 5 months old) we found the whole 'full travel system' a right pain in the backside. We have tried so many and eventually settled on the Quinny Buzz (now called the Zapp I believe) and it's good as you can get adaptors for the Maxi Cosi car seats (best ones IMO). It’s still bulky but we also have a Chicco Liteway umbrella stroller that fully reclines and once past 2-3 months, we have almost exclusively used this and will be selling the Quinny shortly.

The Quinny does have bigger wheels so if you’re going for country walks then something with more substantial wheels is a must, but again, I really, honestly would not recommend getting a new buggy as they are hardly used for long and second hand can go for next to nothing, plus you will likely be able to get your money back for a second hand one in a few years time, plus if you aren't planning to have more then you won’t need all the extras and a simple umbrella stroller will be more than adequate from 4 months anyway (as long as it fully reclines).

If you get a Maxi Cosi car seat, I would get one second hand only from someone you know hasn’t been in an accident, but you can get the Isofix bases for next to nothing, even though they are £150+ new. To give you some idea, we have four Maxi Cosi car seat bases (one for each of our cars and one for each grandmother), the car seat itself, the Quinny Buzz and all accessories, all for less than the cost of 1 Maxicosi Isofix base. Anyone that sees it would swear it’s all new, even though we had it 2nd hand and had it for over 6 years.

We have a C-Max Grande (7-seater) and the Quinny frame just fits in but the umbrella stroller fits into my Skoda CitiGo.

Friends of ours have tried loads of kinds as well such as Brittax and iCandy etc and spent hundreds and hundreds to have something that looks/is prestigious… quite a few ended up ditching the travel systems after a few months and going for umbrella strollers as nothing else fitted in their cars or ended up just sick and tired at lugging it in and out each time.

Bit off topic there, sorry, but the Quinny has great extending arm and both my wife and I are quite tall.
 
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Yep was expensive (we paid slightly less but still more than I wanted) and I completely agree with second hand bargains.

Thing is, my wife wanted everything new as it was our first baby and wanted all the bits and pieces to be special. So I made a deal.

The deal was that anything that the baby would come into contact with we would get new, everything else second hand.

So bases, seats with new covers etc we picked up second hand. The pram was the most expensive purchase!
 
So guys looking for some advice. Bought my daughter a bike this morning (she was 3 in Jan) and she loves it but twice now we're had a half hour tantrum when I bought her in as she wouldn't listen. My wife thinks she's too young for a bike but I disagree.
 
With or without stabilizer wheels? My youngest (2) sits and pedals on his bike with stabilizers and my eldest had them on his bike until he was 4 last summer
 
Oh definitely stabilisers. I think it's just that's my Mrs didn't have much sleep so was a bit snappy. Watching her try and peddle was hilarious, she does half a rotation, then ratchets it back. I keep telling her to so it continuously but she doesn't want to lol.
 
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