Bugaboo Donkey Update

You may have read my earlier post about my new Bugaboo Donkey (if you missed it, click here to read it), and how I loved it. However,  things have changed a little and I wanted to share my thoughts on it with you. 


As I said previously, I adore the Chameleon. I loved everything about it, even the fact that it was pretty cumbersome, I still adored it. The decision to buy the Donkey wasn't a very difficult one as a result. The only hesitation I had was it's width, as our hallway is not particularly wide, and this buggy most certainly is. I made the decision to learn to climb over it, which in practice was not the best idea, especially being pregnant, but I can't criticise the buggy for this! If you are thinking about it, do measure your hall, and try and picture carrying a toddler or baby past the obstacle, to make sure it works for you, as both my husband and I found it very annoying. It also didn't fit in other people's hallways, which wasn't the end of the world, but a touch irritating, when it's pouring with rain and you really want to dash inside!

The reason for this post isn't to do with the width of the Donkey, but more about the design and performance. In theory, it is similar to the Chameleon, a dream to push, very sturdy and practical. But, I feel that this is where the similarities end. My main criticism is the safety straps, in the toddler seat. They are just too short. My daughter is not huge, she's on the skinny side if anything, and only 19 months, but the straps, at their very longest, only just fit around her, and can dig in quite tightly if she moves. as a result, every time we tried to put her in it, she would sob and wail, and a battle would ensue. I spoke to John Lewis about my issues (read on for how amazing they were) and they said that this was simply a design flaw, and not a fault. So, if you are thinking about buying a Donkey, please check that your child will fit in the straps!


Secondly, something I only discovered in the last week or so, in our current monsoon conditions, is that the raincover does not fit over the foot muff. Fifi literally has to have her feet in the air in order to get it on the frame, which when being tightly squeezed by the too short straps, results in more tears and a soaking wet mum, trying to get the cover on, get her comfortable, while sparing no time to keep herself dry. Epic! Again, this is just a design flaw according to John Lewis, and not due to a mis-sized or faulty raincover (or an overly large toddler). Again, try it out before you buy it!


Other issues we have had include the rear wheel going flat on several occasions (and pumping up the wheels is pretty fiddly, especially when nearly 7 months pregnant), and the sheer weight of the animal! I am tall and although no weight lifter, do not struggle to lift my toddler. However, getting the Donkey into the back of the car requires two things. One, a Herculean effort from the lifter, and secondly a car boot of epic proportions. We live in Fulham, so obviously have a four by four (that is meant to be a joke, but we do actually have one. My husband cycles to work though, so I hope that cancels it out....), and the Donkey only just squeezes in, with no room to spare for anything else. By the time baby number two arrives (with his car seat, toys changing kit etc) we will be upgrading to a Routemaster. So if you have anything other than an enormous car, think carefully about buying a Donkey if you ever want to take it anywhere!


So, feeling a bit upset, but trying not to dwell on it (after all, I had wanted this thing for ages and spent considerable effort nagging Mr. G in order to get one), my husband finally had enough on Saturday and packed it into the car (Fifi and I were strapped to the roof) and took it to John Lewis to have a moan. Being British and find any form of complaining awkward (Mr. G is British, but I think boarding school knocked those inhibitions out of him, while he was in the 'Louder you talk the more people like you' lessons), Fifi and I hid in the toy section. After a good hour, Mr. G marched out of the pram customer service section looking triumphant but sheepish. The very kind and generous manager had spent 55 minutes telling him that our issues were design flaws, not faults covered by the manufacturing warranty, but just as Mr. G was accepting defeat (I need to ask her for some tips, that has never happened to me), she realised that one the straps was sewn on wrong. This wasn't the cause of the shortness, but it was a manufacturing fault, so we could get a refund. 


So, the very generous and helpful pram manager, talked us through all of the other double buggy options, and we decided on the Phil and Teds Explorer. It arrives on Friday, so I'll keep you posted on how we go with this one, but if you are shopping for a double, make sure you really think about what you need and what will work for you. And do try it out with your little one before you buy it!

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