~*~The Product~ 'Take A Stroll'! ~*~

This product is what I consider a very basic buggy. The Mothercare stroller is in bright pink with large daisies as the design feature. The pushchair is only 5.6Kg making it light and manageable. The buggy will accommodate a child from the age of six months and take a maximum child weight of 15.0Kg. The pushchair conforms to the European safety standards. There are two wheels per each section on the four pointed chassis. I will cover these and other product specifications and design features under the sub-heading, 'My usage experience'. The Mothercare web site claims that 'The Mothercare Jive Stroller is a great value lightweight stroller, perfect for day trips and holidays', I was eager to see how 'perfect' it would turn out to be with considerable usage!

~*~My usage Experience ~ 'Taking A Stroll Down Memory Lane'! ~*~

My daughter provided me with the stroller to keep at my home as I am a 'hands on' Nanny :~) Both me and my daughter have a habit of forgetting certain baby products when I babysit so having this inexpensive buggy already at my home makes for one less thing to remember! I've had a few buggy's in my time with my own children, but 'a trip down memory lane' occurred when my daughter had my first grand-child :~) I am now the proud Nan of four grand-tots, the youngest being the recipient of this latest stroller.

~ Convenience ~

I begin by commenting on the convenience in using the stroller. The first thing I like to test is how easy it is to adjust the back rest, such as in the reclining position. The back is simple to adapt into a couple of restful positions, the furthest being the most comfortable for my grand-daughter when sleeping. She doesn't feel restricted by the position and is able to lay stretched out comfortably. I will mention though, that as the stroller does not have leg rest other than the foot rest, it isn't as convenient and conducive for a restful sleep as a more comprehensively deigned model. 5/5

~ 'Putting The Brakes On'~

Engaging the brakes is very simple and easy to use. The protruding bright pink foot brakes make this safety feature easy to locate and operate. The brakes keep the pushchair from moving even when my grand-daughter struggles to move the buggy forward with the momentum of her thrusting at the sides! But further on in my review I will mention a drawback to the positioning of the breaks! 4/5

~ 'Basketball'~

The pink open laced shopping basket is easy enough to access on the under carriage of the pram. Mothercare state that the shopping basket will 'help carry baby essentials and the odd spot of shopping when you're out and about'. Well, 'odd spot of shopping' is correct. I am unable to fit much in at all without the netting beginning to sink and drag. As an example on space, it can fit in around a couple of 800g light loaves of bread with a little room for a few smaller and lighter items on the sides. Heavier items need to be avoided as the netting cannot retain its shape and stability otherwise. When I place my grand-daughter's bottles, nappies, and a packet of wipes in, the basket has no difficulties accommodating the smaller and lighter items. I normally place my handbag around the handle bars for security and easy access. 3/5

~Fly Off The Handle'~

The handle height of 98cm is very good. I have found problems with many other strollers due to the length of height to push as I am a little over 5ft 7"tall. But this height makes pushing the buggy easy with no discomfort to my spine. There is no temptation to lean over to push and therefore, I never end up with backache when pushing the buggy around, even with my growing grand-daughter! :~) Furthermore the contrasting pink 'moulded handles make comfy grips' for my hands that furnishes an ergonomically designed feature. Although the handles cannot be adjusted, I find the angle is absolutely fine for manoeuvring the stroller. 5/5

~ 'When The Push Comes To Shove'~

As for the ease of actually pushing the stroller, I find it very comfortable. The only time I have found difficulty in pushing and the action becoming cumbersome is when I know I have over-loaded the pushchair, such as too many bags on the handle bars and heavy items in the shopping basket that tends to make the stroller drag. When I only have my grand-daughter 'on board' the push chair is a delight to push, very controllable and light weight. 5/5

~ 'Clean Slate'~

Cleaning the material is easy. The combination of materials such as polyester, make wiping stains off the covers simple. I will mention that certain stains, like dark fruit juices will need a suitable cleaning agent and sponge to remove. The covers have sustained some marks over time, but faded enough through regular cleaning not to be too noticeable. Overall, I feel that the fabric stands up well to most things my grand-daughter can throw at it! :~) 4/5

~ 'Moving On'~

Manoeuvrability is very good as the swivel wheels move easily and can handle uneven pavements and various materials such as asphalt experienced when I take my grand-daughter for a 'stroll' along the older parts of the city and crossing roads. The swivel wheels means that I can turn sharp corners and obstacles with comfortable ease and with no jolting of my grand-daughter. Another added feature to ease the movement is that the stroller 'has lockable front swivel wheels' which help at times when I push the buggy over bumpy surfaces. The stroller is very versatile in this area as it means that I can walk in a straight line and the wheels will handle the difficult terrain better. Added to this, and more importantly, my grand-daughter experiences a more comfortable ride. I find manoeuvring the stroller up and down kerbs no problem at all; the pushchair is very light and accommodates the various angling easy.

I would like to point out though that their seems to be a few surfaces such as grass, gravel paths and cobble stones that tend to have the stroller's frame rattling considerably. This has caused my grand-daughter a little anxiety as she seems to feel insecure in the pushchair at these times. Another drawback is when I pull the buggy up a flight of stairs, the brakes catch on the edging and the pushchair tends to present a rather bumpy ride for my grand-daughter, along with making it difficult for me to balance the buggy equally, resulting in more tension for her. 3/5

~ 'Welcome Into The Fold'~

Folding the stroller is so easy. With a light weight of only 5.6kg, and a simple one foot flick up action to the metal centre release section, I can fold the stroller in a matter of seconds with its simple scissor action. The wonderfully small and compact folded size of 30 x 18 x 102cm means I can travel on the bus with the stroller taking up very little space. I can place the stroller in the smallest of spaces without it being cumbersome or effecting comfort, for other passengers including myself. If I have items in the shopping basket and/or my grand-daughter is asleep, I will travel on the bus without folding the stroller. Getting onto buses is no problem these days, with their pressurised lower moving step for ease of access to the floor of the bus. The stroller is slim enough in its dimensions that placing it in the 'pram' section of the bus and sitting beside the stroller present no congestion to other passengers or the thoroughfare of the bus.

Placing the stroller in my daughter's vehicle is also simple and easy, with it taking up so little room that we can comfortably place our grocery shopping in the boot alongside the slender chassis. Unfolding the stroller is as simple as folding. Simply by pulling gently at either side of the framework and clicking the metal centre release bar secures the pushchair into position ready for travel. The pushchair isn't bulky or heavy so I can lift it with ease without any difficulty. I do not use escalators with the stroller out of safety precautions so I do not know how the pushchair would react with issues such as balance. With the majority of stores having lifts, I have not come across a problem getting between floors as yet that would make an escalator a necessity. 5/5

~ 'Belt Up'~

The 'Jive Stroller has a 5-point safety buckle and adjustable shoulder harness, for added safety and peace of mind'. I am able to adjust the plain bright pink straps according to my grand-daughter's changing size easily. The simple slide through buckle means that adjusting the length is simple and easy to customise. The straps are thick and strong enough to keep my grand-daughter secure. The strength of the stitching and with no chafing of the straps occurring adds to my peace of mind. 5/5

~*~Would I Recommend? ~ 'Stroll On'!~*~

Yes. As a basic 'lightweight and compact stroller' I feel this serves its purpose. I have found no choking hazards to this pushchair. But I do feel that it is best suited for casual use, as the stroller is not constructed for hardy wear. Loading down with heavy bags and moving across uneven surfaces presents structural problems for the fragile buggy. the stroller is suitable from 6mths and upwards. Unfortunately, there are no co-ordinating accessories that come with the stroller, although these are available at Mothercare.

The Mothercare Jive Stroller is currently available for a reasonable price of £34.99. The buggy also comes in other designs such as Dinosaurs and Robots. A real plus concerning ordering the pushchair online is that Mothercare offer free delivery on orders over £29.99. Another advantage is that the stroller also comes with a free two year guarantee.

http://www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Jiv&#820 3;e-Stroller

Thank you for taking the time to read my review on this basic but practical Stroller :~)