Mountain Buggy Carrycot vs the Mountain Buggy Cocoon

Buying a running buggy which can also be your everyday buggy is smart.  The Mountain Buggy Terrain is a great option for a universal use buggy.  It can be used from birth as it is due to the lie flat mode but many parents prefer a carrycot in the early stages in order to have their baby parent facing.  Depending on your size of baby they will grow out of this at 5-6 months.

Last year Mountain Buggy launched a new item, their 'Cocoon' as an alternative Carrycot.  If you want to know the differences to that and the Carrycot Plus (a question asked more and more) then take a look below.

CARRYCOT PLUS FEATURES

The Mountain Buggy Carrycot Plus has ways to be set up; Traditional carrycot, a slight incline for reflux mode and then a smaller incline seat.  It also has metal feet which keep it off the floor when not on the buggy, as airflow underneath is recommended for safe sleeping.  It has a fully ventilated removable mattress which has passed safe sleep tests meaning you can use this as a moses basket when travelling.

Weight of item - 4.2kg

Weight capacity - 9kgs or 15kgs in incline mode

Dimensions: Length 76cm, width 33cm, depth 20cm

Price - £139.00

SO WHAT IS THE COCOON

 A lightweight, lie flat, soft shelled carrycot that travels with you for newborns.  Has a protective zip lid to shield your baby from the elements.  The cocoon provides carry handles and a firm base, so you can easily transport your baby in and out of the buggy without disturbing their rest.

Weight of item- 1.4kg

Weight capacity - 0-6 months or 9 kgs

Dimensions - Length: 72cm, width: 30cm, height 18cm, (no hood)

Cost - £49.00

As shown on the Swift model but on the Terrain it would be the same set up.

Weights and measure's for running buggies (Sadly not the alcoholic kind)

How much use will you get out of your running buggy? How many years will your little one fit in it?  These questions all relate to your child's weight and the measurements of the Buggy.

Well rather than give an age, Buggy manufacturers give us a weight guide, often in kg. So for all parents who have been tracking their milestones in lbs, this requires some conversion! 1lb=0.454kgs by the way!  

But once you think about it, it does make sense as some children are far larger than others.  You can find the weight limit of all our listed Running Buggies in the Compare table on our website.  I fully appreciate that a table of numbers can appear both boring and irreverent.  So if you don't have the brain power just call me and i'll tell you based on your specific needs. (07788267938) 

And if like me you would have no clue how much a child weighs at different ages, just for reference my 4 year old girl is 18kg, for context she is just under average height.

Just a watch out, Running buggies from different countries can be different specifications.  The Britax BOB Revolution range has a different weight capcity in the US to in the UK.

The seat height (think about the length from your child's bottom to the top of their head) also a varies too, with over 10cm difference between the largest and smallest buggies. So if you have a tall child then it's worth looking at this statistic.  This correlates with how tall the Buggy is as well. For example the Mountain Buggy Terrain has the tallest seat area and is also the highest handlebar height at it's neutral point.

All the handlebars are adjustable to suit different heights of running.  The ideal position of your forearm is at 90 degrees to your body.

All the single seat running buggies fit through doorways, so that's a relief when you are desperate for a coffee at the playground!  So a statistic to look at is a wider shoulder width space if you have a broad shouldered child.  And the Out 'n' About Nipper Sport double also fits through doorways too, a huge plus for a double!

When it comes to the buggy itself, the weight of it is hugely important.  A heavy buggy is hard to lift in and out of a car, navigating steps and also is ultimately extra weight to push when you have children in it.  This is even more important with a fixed front wheel design which needs you to lift the front wheel to steer it.  I was recently out with my double Thule Chariot and worked out I was pushing over 40kgs of buggy and children. That made me feel better about my (slow) pace!  Often the first thing I notice on a cheap buggy is how heavy it is.  Gold standard in this area are the Out 'N' About range and Thule buggies too.

So in summary;

Most single running buggies have a weight limit of circa 22kg but some up to 34kg. This is around age 4-6.  It's also useful to look at the seat dimensions to see how they would work for your child too.  And finally the weight of the buggy itself is a really key factor!

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to get in touch with me on email or phone.  I'm a mum of 2 and started up RunningBuggies.com in 2015 to help parents find their freedom to exercise again.

Thanks for reading! Wendy x