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Silver Cross Sleepover Classic
by happypanda
I decided, after much deliberation to go ahead and buy the Silvercross sleepover last year. I was 20 weeks pregnant at the time and we had been searching for the perfect pram for a while. I like the old fashion looking prams with a modern twist, and this seemed to fit the bill perfectly. And it was made my silvercross, who with years and ... years of experience, is the gold standard of prams in my view. And although my boy never got the chance to try out his pram, I will do the review from my experience of the pram so far.
Appearance
My pram is navy blue, and had the perfect combination of vintage and modern. It is plush, but practical and navy blue is perfect as it doesn't show the dirt as much.
Likes
I love how the pram can be changed to parent facing or rear facing for both the pushchair and the pram. And I also liked that the carseat is attachable to the base.
The pram feels sturdy and isn't really low down like some of the more modern prams, you actually feel at a good level with the baby and you have no sense that the pram is flimsy.
It came with a changing mat and bag and a parasol, foot muff etc, and if you get a good deal you can even get the carseat included in the price.
I love how it changes from pram to pushchair as the child gets older.
Dislikes
The base is huge, so big it doesn't actually fit in my car except at crazy angles. So I would have had to buy a new car suitable for prams and all other baby stuff had I actually used this pram.
The base is also rather heavy
You can't fit any old carseat to the base, only the silvercross base as far as I understand.
OK, as a first time parent I found it very complicated to put up and down, I'm sure given time I would have got better at it, but the last time I put it down to put into storage (for a better time) I spent ages trying to make it work.
In conclusion
Although, I haven't put this pram to use with a baby, I hope to be using it next time. And as testament to the pram, I've put it into storage rather than selling it, as I really do like it, and feel (if I get a bigger car) this pram will be perfect for my needs, even if it is a bit big and heavy, it's what you expect when you get a silvercross.
Given the choice I would certainly go for a silvercross pram again, if not this one then certainly one similar.
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BabyBjorn Baby Carrier Miracle
by firasha
This is the 4th baby carrier I have tried as I have been through various ones with my children. I always like the idea of carriers but never seem to find them that useful or comfortable in practice. The other ones I have had was an earlier model of the baby bjorn carrier, the baba sling, and a 'close baby' wrap carrier.
This ... miracle carrier is definitely a big improvement from the other older baby Bjorn model I had tried. The instructions were easier and it felt much more secure on the body, as it is always a worry for me about whether the baby is properly secure or would be possible to fall out, even though I know all of the carrier have been properly tested and it's unlikely the baby will fall - if they do not feel secure on your body then it is natural to worry. However I was quite comfortable with this one as the fastenings on this are very strong so I would not have to worry too much. I even found it a bit tricky to get myself out of it the first time I tried it so that is reassuring in a way, that it wont come loose easily.
The first time I used it, it took some time to read the instructions and get the hang of it, even though the instructions are clear. There are quite a few steps to take initially to put the carrier together and onto your body but once you have worn it the first time it is very easy to get the hang of how to put it on, so it will only take one minute each time after that. The first time you use it you need to adjust the length according to the height of your baby, to give a good fit.
I tried it first with my baby when he was nearly 6 months old, in the forward facing position. After about an hour he did start to get really heavy but I felt his weight was nicely spread over my back, quite evenly.
As carriers go, I found this a good one and I think it will come in useful but not sure whether it is worth the price as it is very expensive, almost the price of a pushchair! However for those who like to use a carrier more regularly, it would be worth it. I use a double buggy most of the time with one child walking but this carrier has come in extremely useful in emergency situations like when my older child was ill and unable to walk, I was able to put the youngest in this baby carrier and give my 3 year old his space in the buggy.
I do find it a bit difficult to do a lot of tasks while wearing the baby carrier as even though you are hands free it is still quite bulky to have a baby strapped to your front, and I was unable to pick up my other children while wearing it.
The carrier has a mesh-like texture which is supposed to make it more breathable, I have not really noticed a difference with that as yet, but the overall look of the carrier is good it is plain black and so far I have found it stays clean and looks good.
What I like most about this carrier is the clear instructions and how secure your baby feels on the body. I would not use it every day as I prefer a pushchair but really glad to have it for emergencies or occasional use and would definitely recommend it over the earlier baby bjorn carriers.
Some people like to carry their baby around nearly all day in a sling if they have a clingy baby, so they can get jobs done hands-free. Personally I am not sure this carrier would be suitable for that, and probably a wrap cloth sling (like close baby) would be better if you want to buy it for that purpose as this one feels better for out and about. My son was happy enough in it but don't think he would have liked to stay there for extended periods of time.
I have also reviewed this on Amazon under the name M. Marikar (but adapted the review)
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Silver Cross Zest Stroller - Secret Letters
by kat1234
Once my son got to about 10 months old, it became increasingly difficult to push him about in his travel system pushchair that he had had since birth. This has a very solid, heavy frame that, combined with his increasing weight, meant that it was hard work pushing him about for long periods, especially on uphill terrain. We decided that ... it was time for a more lightweight stroller and began our search for one that would suit us.
In the end, we opted for the Silver Cross Zest Secret Letters model. This had a number of features that we liked and Silver Cross was a brand that we knew and trusted - the travel system that we owned was by Silver Cross and we had been pleased with this. We bought this for £85 from Mothercare (RRP is £99.99) and it comes with a two year manufacturers guarantee (Mothercare also guarantee for two years so we are doubley covered).
THE LOOK
The stroller looks and feels lightweight yet supportive to baby. The predominant colour of the seat is black but this features silver and white letters of varying sizes dotted around. The letters used are those in 'silver cross'. The frame is silver metal and there are two handles rather than a buggy bar. The handles are cushioned with black foam and fit nicely in the palm of your hand, feeling quite comfortable when pushing. The stroller has four wheels which are lightweight, small in size, black in colour with a silver inside.
PRODUCT FEATURES
The stroller is suitable for use with babies from 3 months old up until the child weighs 15kg. The seat can recline and locks into several positions. The calf support is also adjustable. The stroller weighs 6.5kg and, once folded has the following dimensions: H103 x D27 x W24cm. Once folded, it also has a carry strap which makes it easily transportable.
The stroller also features a large retractable hood and sun visor. This has a flap on it which covers a clear plastic 'window' so, when the hood is in place, the parent can lift this up to check on their baby without disturbing them (a particularly handy feature if baby is napping). A clear plastic raincover is also included. There is also a black mesh shopping basket under the seat. Front wheels are lockable. The stroller also features the hinges of the collapsing mechanism being encased in plastic as an anti finger trap mechanism. The chair has a five point safety harness.
OUR EXPERIENCE
This stroller is certainly lightweight and we have found this much more convenient to not only push our son in but to transport it in the car boot as well. By far my favourite aspect of this stroller is the speed and ease with which you can collapse and put it up. You literally have to unclip the catch on the side and then pull the material strap located on the back of the seat. This fully collapses the stroller and is easy to do - even with one hand. This is definitely a good feature for when you are on your own with baby or if you struggle with your joints or heavy weights etc. Once collapsed though, the stroller is not freestanding.
The seat reclining lever takes a little bit of getting used to, but once you have mastered it, it is easy to do with one hand. Once the seat is fully reclined, the shopping basket is not easily accessed from the back of the chair but it can still be accessed from the front or sides if required.
The handles are fixed in height and therefore cannot be adjusted to suit your height. For me, this is not a problem and the handles are at a comfortable height but if you were quite short/tall, this feature could pose more of a problem. The positioning of the handles - angling slightly inwards - offers good support and keeps the wrists in quite a comfortable, natural position. The brake pedal is quite small and, as such, can be quite difficult to flick down with your foot. Once on though, the brakes do hold well.
The stroller is really easy to control, push and steer - particularly over flat ground. It also handles slightly bumpier ground quite well too. It is also quite narrow in size so fits very easily through doors - this is a great stroller for use around towns and shops.
You can purchase a matching footmuff for this stroller to keep baby warm but, at around £30, this is quite expensive. Instead we opted to transfer the plain black footmuff that we already owned which fits the five point harness. This fits the stroller fine. The seat itself seems well cushioned and my son seem comfortable and content when in this.
Overall, this is a great stroller that has really made my life simpler. There are more lightweight options than this available but this does not feel at all heavy to me and I am reassured that it provides my son with ample support. The chair is well made and wipe clean and collapses to a size that would make it suitable for most car boots. The ease of use of this is the best feature for me, although some of the features - e.g. fixed handle positions - will not suit everyone. For the price paid, this is a great purchase.
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