Mamas & Papas Pliko Pramette

...there), I came across the Mamas & Papas Pliko Pramette and fell in love with it immediately. It was only available in one colour, the Boston check, but it was a nice dark colour and looked like a proper pram.

Argos were selling it as a package, so for £400 you could have the carrycot, carseat and base and pushchair. I decided to leave ordering it until I was home on maternity leave, however when browsing the sale items on Argos website ...
...Mothercare for £17.99. Mamas & Papas do sell them to match each pramette, but for £24.99.

DESIGNS AND MODELS

The Pliko Pramette is available from Mamas & Papas, and comes in 5 different models, with matching carseats and footmuffs. M&P sell it for £300 on their website, just for the basic pushchair, the carseat and bases cost extra.

EASE OF USE IN CAR AND OUT AND ABOUT.

The pramette features ... more

When I found out I was pregnant I soon discovered that buying a pram/pushchair can be an absolute nightmare. There are so many on the market, doing different things and costing different amounts! i wanted one that would be lightweight, and take my baby right through to being a toddler.

I also wanted one that would look like a proper pram, not just a carseat on wheels. Due to suffering from SPD in my pregnancy I was not up to mammoth shopping trips which made it even more difficult to choose one as I could not get out to see what they were like in the flesh.

When flicking through the Argos catalogue (its no longer available in there), I came across the Mamas & Papas Pliko Pramette and fell in love with it immediately. It was only available in one colour, the Boston check, but it was a nice dark colour and looked like a proper pram.

Argos were selling it as a package, so for £400 you could have the carrycot, carseat and base and pushchair. I decided to leave ordering it until I was home on maternity leave, however when browsing the sale items on Argos website one day I found this Pramette in the clearance items which indicated it was not going to be stocked for much longer. it was still at the full price though.

I therefore ordered one and when it arrived, checked it over to ensure that it was all there, then took it to my mum's house as superstitious friends informed me that I should not keep it in the house!

A week after it arrived I was browsing the website again when I spotted that it was now reduced to £300!!!!!!! I was so annoyed that I rang Argos and asked if I could send mine back and reorder it at the cheaper price, to which they said yes, so I said why dont we cut out the messing around and you just refund me £100, to which they agreed. (As a separate issue, they also sent me £100 in gift vouchers as well, which I think was a mistake on their part, but who am I to argue with them??!!)

Anyway, I digress from discussing the actual pushchair/pram review. The Pliko Pramette can be used from birth to around 3 years of age.

I had my baby on 29 March 2008, so the first bit we used was the car seat to bring her home in.

PRIMO VIAGGO I P CARSEAT WITH SUREFIX BASE
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Features:

- Compatible with Surefix Adjustable Base and ISOFIX base
- Five point safety harness
- Large adjustable hood which can be removed with ease
- Ergonomically designed backrest
- Luxurious, hand washable, padded covers
- Spacious seat with deep side wings
- New shape handle makes it easier to carry
- Side buttons on the handle for easy adjustment
- Simple Surefix® one click system is compatible with all Surefix® pushchairs and chassis' to create a travel system*

Includes: Padded head support, Comfort pad, Chest pads, Buckle pad & Large adjustable hood.

Age Guideline: Suitable from birth - 13kg (12 - 15 months approx.)
Weight: 4.5kg

I have found the carseat very easy to use. It clicks on and off of the base at the touch of a lever, and is secured with the handle and the seatbelt. The baby seems fairly comfortable in the seat and is always happy to go in it. The base is secured with the lap part of the belt. The seat is rear facing and is secured by the handle resting against the seat, and the car seat rests against the seat in front, with the seatbelt going around to secure it.

The base does have a tiny bit of movement in it, but not too much.

So far I have found the car seat very simple to get in and out of the car.

It also attaches onto the chassis of the pushchair. You simply lie the pushchair flat, and flip up two levers on the chassis. The carseat simply locks onto the chassis. I have added a picture of my daughter in the carseat and also attached to the chassis.

This is great for going shopping as you only need to take the chassis and the car seat with you. However, babies should not be in a carseat for more than 2 hours, they should be laid flat as much as possible.

PRAM MODE

The carrycot is also a footmuff for the pushchair so you get plenty of use out of it once baby has outgrown the carrycot. To attach the carrycot, you simply lay the pushchair flat and lie the carrycot onto it and attach it with the straps on the pushchair. Baby is then laid flat and the carrycot is securely attached.

You then place the hood on, so you get the pram effect as shown in the product picture at the top of the page. It looks smart, it looks like a proper pram. Baby is warm and snug inside the pram, which has a zippable cover, so in hot weather you could take the top off.

There is also a raincover which zips on to the hood, thereby protecting baby from the wind and rain.

PUSHCHAIR MODE

This is very easy, the Pliko always unfolds into pushchair mode, so once baby is big enough, there is little else to do. The footmuff can be attached to keep baby warm in cold weather. There is a secure 3 point harness so that baby cant fall out.

PUSHCHAIR - WHAT ELSE HAS IT GOT?

Well, there is a shopping basket underneath, this easily holds a loaf of bread, and various other shopping I have discovered. When in pushchair mode there is a drinks holder that can be attached.

There is a rear brake on the pushchair and the front wheels swivel which is great for easy manouvering, or they can be locked to go in a straight line, great for pushing down the road with one hand!

There are 2 handles, there is no interlinking bar on this model, and the handles are height adjustable, great for me and my husband as he is a foot taller than me.

I have purchased a separate parasol from Mothercare for £17.99. Mamas & Papas do sell them to match each pramette, but for £24.99.

DESIGNS AND MODELS

The Pliko Pramette is available from Mamas & Papas, and comes in 5 different models, with matching carseats and footmuffs. M&P sell it for £300 on their website, just for the basic pushchair, the carseat and bases cost extra.

EASE OF USE IN CAR AND OUT AND ABOUT.

The pramette features a "one handed fold" system. You pull the seat to upright position and then you simply pull the handles up each side, and then pull on a handle at the back of the pushchair to close the pushchair up. You do have to take off the carrycot or carseat to do this.

To open again you simply place on the floor and push down on the step of the pushchair to unfold, then ensure that the front bars are locked into place. Then lay the pushchair flat again to attach the carrycot or carseat.

We have a Peugeot 306 and the pushchair fills the boot! Seeing as this is one of the smaller, lighter models, I am glad we bought it as another type may not have fitted into the car. It is light enough to lift into the boot and out again.

However, we are in the process of buying a Vauxhall Meriva as this is much easier to fit the carseat into and there is still space in the boot even with the pushchair. If we went on holiday with the 306 we could not fit in any suitcases!

The Pliko Pramette has been awarded Pushchair of the Year two years in a row by Mother and Baby Magazine and it the original and the lightest pramette on the marketplace.

I WOULD NOT HESITATE TO RECOMMEND THIS PUSHCHAIR/PRAM TO ANYBODY.

I am sorry if this review is long, but hopefully it is thorough enough to help anybody decide on whether or not to buy one.

If I have missed anything, or you want to know anything, leave a message and I will update the review accordingly. The age rating below is a bit odd, as it is from birth to 3 years usable.

TAKEN FROM THE WEBSITE: Features: Aluminium chassis makes the Pliko Pramette the lightest Pramette available. Integral Toddler Ride-On-Step offers a convenient way to carry your second child. Deeper sides and extra padding in seats giving your baby added comfort and security. Specially designed fabric lining retracts perspiration keeping your baby dry, content and comfortable. Features the Surefix one click system that fastens the Primo Viaggio SIP Infant Carrier right first time, every time. Four position backrest with single hand recline and three position leg rest. Adjustable five point safety harness.- Height adjustable handles with integrated cup holder. Easy to use spring loaded umbrella folding for easy closing and opening. Luxury padded 'Completo' Apron can be zipped securely to the leg. Age Guideline: Suitable from birth - 15kg. Available Colors: 300 

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