Massive ergonomic and satey flaws (Mamas & Papas Pliko Pramette)

Member Name: Stroller Master

Product:	Mamas & Papas Pliko Pramette
Date:	01/05/08 (237 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Looks good

Disadvantages: Serious ergonomic flaws - no child after 4 mnths can sit in a 9 inch wide chair !

Here's a list of major problems - which will arise after your honeymoon period with the pramette's good looks quickly subside.

In "pram mode" there is no harness available, also if you look closely, the child's head is at a lower level than it's feet ! This is dangerous and unacceptable.

In "stroller mode" the Pliko P3 Pramette chair (when zipped together) has a trapezoidal design : 7 inches deep, 12 inches wide at the front, but more importantly, ONLY 9 INCHES WIDE at the back. The average back width of a buggy / push-chair / stroller chair is between 12 and 14 inches ...

This is a major problem, and a fatal design flaw. The Pliko P3 Pramette is designed to handle a child of up to 15kg. However, this is no use to you, if after 5 months your 5.5kg infant is pinned at the shoulders when it tries to sit back for a nap ! The result is - unless you're paying close attention to your child, it will start hunching its shoulders when sitting back in the ridiculously narrow, 9 inch wide, chair while sleeping - simply unacceptable.

The P3 pramette is very heavy - only accentuated when you attempt to use the Viaggio IP car-chair. In practice, it cannot be folded with one hand, the side-catches don't release properly and keep sticking.

With two individual handles, lifting the front wheels up, to mount a path kerb, is very hard on the wrists. A full bar would have been more appropriate. The Pliko P3 pramette, with the Viaggio IP car-chair attached, cannot be steered with one hand (try answer your mobile when pushing ... !

The "5 point harness" is really a 3-point harness, as there are no dedicated shoulder supports - the child is only ever supported at the waist. I have already read accounts of parents having their child's head flung forward due to limited support (and of course not being able to sit back in the narrow chair)

You have been warned - don't let good look fool you, until the massive ergonomic and safety issues with the Pliko P3 Pramette have been resolved, stay well clear of it.

Summary: You've been warned, stay well clear.