I mentioned yesterday that we were off to The Ivy to join Silver Cross and find out what’s new in their world. Well, as it goes, what’s new is actually what’s old but been revamped and I’m happy to report they’ve done a pretty good job with an old fave!

When my brothers were born at the beginning of the 90’s it was a Silver Cross Wayfarer, which was the height of fashion at the time, they were pushed around in (pictures to follow hopefully). It had a large under storage basket, easy reclining chair and pushed super smoothly! The suspension was marvellous, probably far more so than on buggies today yet somehow it fell from its top spot in the style stakes over the years to be replaced by newer and shinier models.

But… Silver Cross knew they had done something right over twenty years ago and through interviewing parents for their new buggy project it became clear the things we wanted now were just the same as the things we’d been happy with back then and design for a newer (and shinier version) of the original Wayfarer began.

Jimmy enjoying a ride in both the old Wayfarer and the new!

It went through many different changes over its development period and they built it from the basket up! They call it not just a basket but an over sized one! They really did ask parents didn’t they! Everything centred around the basket which had to be big and easy to use!

It had to be a BIG basket!

So, what’s this new Wayfarer built on a basket like? Well, the 2013 version of the Wayfarer Combination Pram is slick with bright appealing colours. It comes as a chassis with base seat and base carrycot for under £400. You buy your hood and apron pack in your chosen colours for £100.

The chassis is Chrome Aluminium and weighs just 6.5kg. I’ve lifted it and seriously, it’s LIGHT! It also fits folded into the boot of a Toyota Yaris. (I’d be ok with my Corsa three door then)! It has locking swivel wheels which can be locked in any position and the break at the back has a button to tap your foot on to unlock

The apron is the cover for the carrycot and zips straight on to it while later will become the footmuff for the seat by clipping and velcro-ing into place. It’s a clever piece of kit that saves lots of money as we all know how costly the add-ons like foot muffs are!

I love the extendable handle bar which moves up and down at the touch of a button. The handle grip and indeed the toy bar both have leatherette covers which are said to be so durable even the teeth marks of tiny chewers will not puncture it! The seat is probably the easiest to recline that I have come across. It’s a nifty little buggy with fun and funky colours!

The new Wayfarer still has a great recline and I just love the fact that the carrycot apron becomes the footmuff. Jimmy is safe and comfy with a five point harness which is easy to adjust and because there’s no vicious clips, they are small and slide in before clipping, it kind of helps eliminate the worry of nipped fingers! The suspension is still pretty awesome as well!

Of course the buggy comes with accessories and the bag has a great way of hanging on the buggy! I also like the reversible seat liners which can be matched or contrasted to the hood and apron!

It doesn’t stop there though because as I mentioned, this is a combination pram and a car seat can be attached to it too. The car seat which comes with an out-door hood and apron is rather affordable at £130 and has some pretty superb features! It was designed to be a bigger infant seat meaning they can stay in it longer and remain rear facing until they are older which is the safest place to be! There are lots of details, reasons why this car seat should be better, from the superior side impact protection, one hand adjustable harness and easy to follow blue guides to indicate the seat belt position to the five point harness and comfort wedge for new borns with loads in between but I liked it for these three reasons:

The head rest was a completely different design to ones I have ever seen before and looks like it will ensure older babies heads are held when they fall asleep. Jimmy’s head lolls about in his and it really worries me! 

The seat is easy to put in and apparently most people they surveyed could do it without even looking at the instructions. I had a go and have to agree, it’s super easy to do with both the Simplifix car seat base or with the belt!

The fabric just comes off (without having to remove the harness) so that you can clean. Anyone whose ever had a child be sick in the car seat will know why I’m raving about this! Our car seats, both of them the same brand, are complete buggers to clean!

I like the fact that the car seat, which again comes in a variety of colours so that you can match it to your Wayfarer, just clicks into place easily when used on the buggy chassis. The fact it comes with an apron and hood is all the better!

I’d love to really put it to the test and see if it is as good as I think it is in practice! It should be, they’ve certainly done the research and are passionate about it. A great new/old system from Silver Cross I’d say!

Fitting the car seat is easy with either the Simplifix base or with a car seat!

My children are little, Florence was in her infant seat until she was two, we hope Jimmy will be the same. If we had this roomier car seat I see no reason why he wouldn’t! I LOVE the head rest!

Everyone knows I have big soft spot for another brand of buggies but I like the Silver Cross ethos. They still manufacture some of their products in the UK and keep traditional to their history where possible. They gave me a signed copy of the history of their story yesterday and it’s so interesting. I’ve loved buggies and prams since I was tiny and reading the books shows how much of a part they have played on this market I’m so intrigued by. A great buggy, a great company and the book’s a great read!

Very interesting book about a very interesting brand… Oh how I would love one of those old-fashioned Balmorals… I’d also love to get Florence a dolly version at some point!

Oh and thank you to Silver Cross for Jimmy’s bear – he loves it but I think perhaps he likes the box more… He enjoyed sitting in it ripping up tissue paper yesterday that I’m going to use it as a sensory box and buy more coloured tissue paper for him to rip up!

Although the bear is lovely, I think the box and tissue paper is the biggest hit!

The Wayfarer Combination Pram and Simplicity Car Seat and accessories for both will be available to buy from May 2013. I was not paid in any way to write this post.

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