Mandy Stephens 'Living With' the iCandy Peach

Living With Review

Jump to a Month: March 2012 | April 2012 | May 2012 | June 2012 | July 2012 | August 2012 | Six Month Summary | September 2012 | October 2012 | November 2012 | December 2012 | January 2013 | February 2013 | March 2013 | Final Summary 2013 |

First Impressions:

Its finally here!

Ive just opened up and set up the rather vibrant coloured iCandy Peach in tomato. I love it! It was so easy to put together (easier then past purchases), just a simple instruction for putting the wheels on, and the rest was already assembled.

I have to say I had some reservations about the colour for a boy, but it is stunning on opening it up and actually putting little Charlie in it. Its so easy to work, and glides incredibly well. Even my husband likes it and his hard to please! The seat unit def looks big enough to last a while, and the carrycot has plenty of room, I'm pleasantly surprised at just how big it is.

I cant wait to take it for a spin tomorrow!

My first outing with Charlie in the Peach, was really really smooth, it just glides when your walking. He has so much room in the carrycot! however I had trouble trying to get the carrycot in the boot of the car as its really quite deep so it doesn't fit on top of the chassis and the basket is much smaller with the carrycot on its hard to get much in it.

March the 23rd 2012

I took my pram to the beach yesterday and I have to say the hood is big enough to cover the best part of the carrycot so most of the sun was kept of off Charlie. On the downside to the hood, it clicks quite subtly when pulling up or putting it down, which disturbs my peacefully sleeping LO at times, but again a lovely glide along the beach was such a pleasure to push!

March the 30th 2012

I was forced this week to leave charlie overnight for the very first time, (really reluctantly!) but with the carrycot on the pram and the overnight mattress I have to say that charlie and nanny had a full night sleep! He had plenty of room and he slept the longest he ever has and it meant I could collect him the following morning knowing that he was undisturbed with a smooth glide home.   This week I took charlie in the Peach shopping on the bus, and loved the fact that I could get on the bus easily, and it had fantastic movement to fit it into quite a small gap! However on completion of my shopping I found that I didn't have much room to put my shopping  in the basket as the gap was really small, but once it was in there it definitely wasn't falling out.

April the 10th 2012

So this week it rained while we were out, the raincover was quick and easy to put on and I love the fact that it has a window so I can still get to Charlie without having to take it all off, and the foam handle bar dried out really quick once we arrived home.

April the 12th 2012

So yesterday it rained again and I left the pram in the boot of the car until I needed it today as I was wet enough by the time I got home.. and today the foam handles were still wet :( so it needs to be out and well ventilated to dry as quick as they did last week, but once out they dried superfast!!

April the 15th 2012

I took the peach into town with me today for a lunch date and I'm so impressed that I could fit into a tiny little space with the pram, shortened the handle height and in it went with a small turning circle was great!! 

April the 24th 2012

We took the children to legoland at the weekend and the peach was the best thing ever, carrying all our bits and of course charlie! was a nice comfy ride for him as he was in it all day and he had plenty of room to kick about and sleep if he wanted too and the hood was large enough to keep him out of the sun before the heavens opened and down came the rain! It was lush!

April the 26th 2012.

Charlie is starting to want to see more while were out and about so having the bumper bar on the carrycot means I could put a few toys on there for him to look at to keep him entertained!

April the 30th 2012

My husband took charlie into town today and is delighted that the handle bar is extendable as I'm short and he is tall, it was simple for him to adjust and just as simple for me to put it back when he returned!

May the 4th 2012

The wheels on the peach must be really soft they pick up every bit of grit that I walk over, stones, sticks, you name it I collect it!! Its rather annoying but it doesn't in any way affect the smooth glide that it has whilst pushing!

May the 15th 2012.

This week has been a complete mix of weathers, the raincover is easy to get on (so long as your not in a rush) and it has a little window that allows you easy access to your baby which is great.

May the 23rd 2012

Well Charlie is 19 weeks and a little piglet, which regrettably means he only just fits in the carrycot, which leaves me no choice but to put him into the seat unit early... I'm really sad to be doing it so early :(

May the 26th 2012

So today were off to the airshow and it will be charlies last time in the carrycot as I feel he is too big for it now, I'm a little apprehensive to have to be putting him into the seat unit before the age stated by iCandy... 

June the 3rd 2012

I always feel like I'm finding fault with the Pram, however despite that this is by far the best pram ever, nothing stops the perfect easy glide that you get when your pushing it. 

Well I finally put Charlie into the seat unit at 5 months, because I feel he is just too big for the carrycot now, even though iCandy do recommend 6 months for the seat unit. Having said this, he isn't too diddy in the seat he looks all snug with the liner in and the seat still lies completely flat which is ideal.

June the 11th 2012

This week it has been non stop rain and I think the raincover is getting harder to put on the more times I do it, its such a snug fit!!.. 

July the 4th 2012

Well I still love love love the Peach, its ultimately smooth glide, the easy manuverability and its ability to turn heads... But I'm beginning to think its turning heads for all the wrong reasons, it looks like I've had it for years, the chrome isn't as shiny anymore, the back wheels look like they have walked to mars and back and the scratches just make me want to cry.. The only thing that has kept its really stylish look is the fabrics (I've only been using the seat unit for 3 weeks)!!! I have however now put the carrycot away and love the fact that I could fold it down so to store it takes up less room.

The foam on the handle is in really good condition no nicks or anything but I do have to try really hard to think all the time so I don't accidentally catch it on my rings etc.

I do love the fact that now I am using the seat unit my basket space has grown immensely which I just love. The raincover however takes up a fair bit of room in the basket, it could have done with having something like pannier bags attached to a part of the frame for it to be stored when not in use and still have a decent sized basket.

I don't have any problems getting mine in or out of the boot of my renault megane scenic, I never put it in the same way which means I can usually get a fair bit more in my boot too which is good.

July the 17th 2012

So Charlies been in the seat unit for a few weeks now and Ive also been using the car seat on the chassis too when I'm out and about in town, I seem to be finding the adapters make the car seat seem unsteady even though they are securely placed. Having said that, Charlie enjoys the movement as he sleeps every time we go out in it! I love the concept of the pram being used in many different ways, but I'm afraid of loosing an adapter in my haste of packing the pram into the car after shopping. but it certainly makes the transition from car to the chassis much much easier especially when his asleep.

August the 15th 2012

So I've had a few outings using the Peach and the different modes so far, just last week we went to the beach (I know it was our week long summer and now its over) and I did struggle on the sand.. but all was not lost it meant I could stay on the sea wall and not have to clean it up afterwards :) 

August the 16th 2012

So today I took Charlie into town with the Peach and had him facing the world for the first time... Charlie loved looking at everything from a new perspective tho I'm not sure I did as I couldn't see him, but I loved the fact that having him world facing appeared to make the basket even bigger...

August the 21st 2012

We went for a family day trip to a theme park today, so had a whole boot full of all the essentials, so obviously I loved the fact that I could rearrange the peach to fit in with everything else by the easy one push pop off wheels. It meant I could get so much more in the boot, but was gutted when I arrived to see that the foam on the handle had split!!! Devastated to say the least, its not a very big split and is covered when I hang the changing bag on it, but its unsightly and I thought it would with stand far more before actually splitting... there was no nicks or anything either just full on split :(

August the 24th 2012

So our second trip to a theme park this week, and I have to say the ease of the car seat adapters has been refreshing as when we stopped at the services it meant I didn't have to disturb Charlie for the short time we were stopped for. As much as I think there a great idea I struggle sometimes to make it look comfortable to get the car seat off of the adapters, I look  uncomfortable and awkward doing it.. Maybe there's a nack that I'm just not getting..

August the 29th 2012

So after our theme park trips this week charlie and the peach went off to nannies while we did our last theme park. Nanny said she found it incredibly easy to use though sometimes when trying to sit the seat up she found it hard to do both buttons at the same time, but overall she loved it.

Six Month Summary

Wow!!! Ive been living with the iCandy Peach for 6 months already.. I cant believe its been that long.
So I've been asked to list the pros and cons of living with the peach so here goes...
 
Pro's
The Pushchair has an amazing smooth ride over most terrains.
There is ample space in the seat unit as there was with the carrycot.
The small fold of the chassis and the one push button to release the wheels means you can adapt to the different size spaces you might use.
The ease of the one push buttons to release the seat units and the adapters (and of course the carrycot whilst using that too).
The size of the hood means most of baby is covered in the sunnier weather and of course the baby stays a little drier if you forgot to take the raincover. (which I have done on more than one occasion!)
The fantastic comments on such a stylish pram are always a pro :D
The comfy seat, and ability to face the parent or the world.
 
Con's
The wheels are really soft and every pebble, stone and bit of dirt would appear to mark and get stuck in them.
The chrome frame is very easily scratched (although if the scratch is not too bad you can polish them out) and quite quickly looks grubby especially with other little hands around all the time.
The basket although seems big is not shaped to hold much in it, and if you keep the raincover in it, it takes up about 60% of the space.
The foam on the handle is soft and easily marked and mine has split.
The amount of room it takes up when folded, storage is sometimes an issue as all the different parts need storing including the raincover as it doesn't stay under the chassis when folded, maybe a side bag or a small pocket under the seat would be a good idea.
 
 
Overall all despite all its cosmetic defects I really love this pram and it would be my first choice if I had to choose again next time around (although I am definitely in no rush for baby number 4)

September the 4th 2012

So this week has been a little quieter and have only been into town with the Peach, Its so nice to just stroll around the shops and not have to worry about charlie not being comfy as he loves to sit in the seat unit and watch the world (although secretly I wished he preferred to face mummy!)

September the 10th 2012

I took charlie over the boot sale this week and the back wheels must have picked up every pebble, stone, and all the bits of grit and dirt as I walked round!! It looked awful by the time I'd finished :/

September the 15th 2012

So this week I'm house bound one of my children has chicken pox so I wont be leaving the house to use my Peach... But watch this space I might try and sneak in a little late evening shopping with Charlie just to get out...

September the 30th 2012

So my first outing since jessica got chicken pox was a stroll to her new school, I have had loads of comments on how lovely my Peach is, but on the downside the raincover takes up a lot of the basket so i never took it to school with me and we got caught in a rather horrid downpour!

October the 2nd 2012
 
So I went shopping today to get my last few christmas presents, and was quite astonished at just how much space the basket has with no raincover.. I think a little bag on the side would be great to store it, and maybe some hooks on the handles to hang a few more bits?
 
October the 4th 2012
 
After doing the school run this morning I took a stroll to the baby clinic to get Charlie weighed and it was all rough terrain, but it didn't really feel it, it was a little bumpy ride, but still as easy to push the peach and charlie wasn't disturbed at all, that in my book = one happy mummy :) 

October the 10th 2012
 
So with all the wet weather this last week or so I have to admit that I have been using the car a bit more than I normally would especially for school runs, which I would walk to normally. I have found that the bottom of my seat unit is getting grubby whilst I put the chassis in the car as I dont like to put it on top of the seat as that makes inside the seat look dirty. Just for the soimplicity of a one piece fold I'm beginning to think that it would be much better if I didn't have to take the seat off to fold it, especially in the rain. 

October the 18th 2012
 
So today I locked myself out, and had to walk into town to meet my dad to get the spare key... The wettest day ever I think its safe to say, I got caught in the most horrendous down pour and my poor Peach got soaked, i have noticed that the black bit in the middle of the handle goes a white colour when it gets wet, it looks very unsightly to say the least, but again it doesn't affect its functionality.
 
October the 20th 2012
 
I've purchased the footmuffs to go with the Peach now the colder mornings are upon us and I have to say it took me ages trying to get the crotch strap off to go through the hole of the footmuff.. until I realised that if I simply undid the bottom of the seat I could just pop the fitting through a hole at the bottom and attach it that way, it eventually took just 20 seconds, simple to say the least and the zip at the top keeps it in place I love that!

October the 31st 2012
 
So it halloween and the little ones are off out trick or treating tonight so glad I purchased the footmuffs I think these are the snuggliest I've come across and they have plenty of room for blankets inside them. Charlie now loves to face the world more then he likes to look at me.
 
November the 3rd 2012
 
Doing the nursery run in the rain I got soaked but Charlie stayed dry under the raincover I love the fact that its not framed and that its snug on the seat it means that he cant kick it off, or infact tear it like some others that are held on with little hooks.
 
November the 9th 2012
 
Charlie spent the day at his nanny and grandads and they love just how easy it was to show them how to put it down and up, as they are very old and it was much more simple than a one piece fold. One push of the buttons and simple click in to put up. simple!
 
November the 12th 2012
 
I went late night shopping with my dad and he drove, trying to get the pram in the boot was a test to say the least!, but with its simple pop off wheels we got there in the end.
 
November the 17th 2012
 
All I can say about my nursery run today is leaves leaves leaves.... I think I have more stuck in my front wheels than there are in my garden!! But it doesn't affect the push it still glides.
 
November the 23rd 2012
 
All this wet windy weather is getting to my Peach, I was walking to the school today and the wind is so strong it was blowing the pram all over the place.. Was really hard to push as the wind kept catching the front of it and because its so easy to turn it just kept whipping it away :( 

December the 2nd 2012
 
I have stopped using the bumper bar on my seat unit as it takes up more room in the boot and being the xmas period I have a lot to squeeze into the boot! The leg rest on the seat unit I find is easily moved to become more compact and folds right into the seat making it shorter to store... having said this I do find it doesnt lock into place when its in use and Charlie can move it himself.
 
December the 12th 2012
 
Still xmas shopping and realising just how little space I have when I have the raincover underneath in the basket... I cant afford to get caught in the downpours lately so have to make a conscious effort to make sure I have the raincover but it does take up a lot of the room I need for pressies! You can't store it on the hood when not in use as it isnt very flexible and just falls off.
 
December the 15th 2012
 
I have added some toys onto the hood to occupy charlie they fit just perfect between the fabric and the frame without having to worry about them falling off or ruining the material and it doesnt scratch the frame as they just hang on it nicely :)
 
December the 24th 2012
 
Food shopping today, no rain forecast = no raincover just plenty of fruit and veg in the basket... Fantastic! I find I have more room in the basket if I have charlie facing me rather then the outside world.
 
December the 26th 2012
 
So I hit the sales at 6am :) Charlie and icandy in tow = plenty of space to hang my bargain sales whilst still browsing the rails of clothes :) plenty of storage space to stack bags under the seat without them all falling out!
 
December the 30th 2012
 
So xmas is over time to walk off some of the turkey, we walked round the woods today, but the Peach seemed happy to be out and unlaiden with shopping for a change :) very muddy walk but wheels were easy to clean as there were no grooves in the wheels to get into! happy days.Charlie likes a snooze whilst being all snug in the footmuff ! 

December the 31st 2012

New Years the night every one goes out to party, we went to a local social club where charlie was able to lay flat in the pushchair seat unit and sleep his way into this year comfortably and with us in the knowledge that he was secure and sleeping flat for a good sleep whilst out.

January the 3rd 2013

Bad weather has meant charlie is wrapped up in his footmuff and raincover ready to combat the wind and rain while we're out. The raincover has had plenty of use since having the icandy tht its become quite hard to fold up small which means it takes up a considerable amount of room in the basket.

January the 7th 2013

Back to doing school runs, and again horrible weather means being wrapped up in the footmuff. I love the fact that the 2 openings mean I don't have to completely unwrap charlie if his sleeping when I get home I can just open out the centre piece which means charlie still feels secure.

January the 10th 2013

I've purchased the blossom kit for my icandy as my husband ha been working away and having 2 little ones quite close in age means sometimes I need a double, I love the fact that the icandy is adaptable to be used as a single or a double and that its so easy to change from one to the other.

January the 14th 2013

So the snow is here!! I've tried to avoid taking a pushchair out in the snow, but this year Jessica is at nursery so I have to venture out in it :( however, it is only a few minute walk away and I would usually make Haidon walk, but being as I have the blossom kit I thought I would try it out in the snow as a double... What a dream! It was easy to push as the smooth wheels just glided across the top of the snow, turning had a few issues as the snow builds up in the front wheels, making it not so easy to turn them, but overall lovely the easiest by far!
January the 20th 2013

So the snow is now ice/slush not so nice to be out in, but the icandy still glides over the top of it, the only downside is that I think it slides in any direction it wants too as the wheels are so smooth, and its so light, bonus in the snow but not so much the ice. Although I don't think it's any worse thn any other rand out on the ice.

January the 28th 2013

All 3 of my children have chicken pox and although I've not been out, the icandy has been a god send, because of its lay flat seat I have been using it for Charlie to sleep in during the day and early evening it's been my small bit of sanity :)

February the 7th 2013

So this year has not started off the best, we have had chicken pox followed by croup, so not many days out! However the iCandy has become a snooze zone with my 2 youngest boys using it to sleep...

February the 10th 2013

Back to school runs for me :) after using the I candy peach for daytime naps while the children were poorly, Charlie actually went to sleep on the walk home from the school... And slept a solid 3 hours, for my children this is unheard of..

February the 14th 2013

I have taken the bumper bar off of the main seat today, as its frustrating trying to get Charlie from the car into the pushchair when his asleep although look wise I do prefer to have it on there.

February the 20th 2013

Went for a stroll along the promenade today, I love that the hood covers enough to keep most of the wind off of Charlie.

February the 27th 2013

I used the Peach as a blossom today, it's still functions the same although you loose the space in the basket and trying to get the rain over on the lower seat was a nightmare! But it looks just as stunning.

March the 2nd 2013

Cleaned my Peachy up today, shines beautifully, but the back wheels still look old and tatty and the handlebar foam looks awful where it split :(

March the 5th 2013

Gymnastics today, spectators get to watch in a small room, the peach fits in the corner neatly, handle at its lowest setting, footrest down and a happy Charlie watching :)

March the 10th 2013

Charlie spent a few hours with nanny today and she loves that the Peach is easy to push and really light and sturdy to manoeuvre.

Final summary 2013

So my year has come to an end, I'll be so sad to see the iCandy Peach go :( It is by far the best pram I ever had ( and I've had a few!) it has a chrome finish, big sturdy back wheels, beautiful bright fabrics and accessories, fantastic functionality, easily adapted and all round easy to use! We've taken it on breaks away, sleepovers, nights in hospital, day trips and long walks, put it through its paces in every way possible.
I've purchased many of the accessories to go with the peach including the footmuff, umbrella, the changing bag and blossom kit.
Overall this would be my perfect choice of a pram if I had another baby, it's has everything I could ask for suiting a newborn right up until walking... I currently use the Peach for both my children Charlie is 1 and has used the carrycot, carseat and seat unit in the year I have been testing it and it has really gone through his growing needs with him, I also occasionally use it for my 2 year old and he comfortably sleeps in the main seat unit and rests in there on long walks.

Pros-

Its adaptability to be used in many modes easily.

It's suitability to be used from birth.

The one hand fold chassis.

Cons-

The basket storage is taken up by the raincover in the winter months.

The price of the accessories ( although the initial price of the pram is steep, it's definitely worth the money for what you get)

The look of the chassis after some wear and tear and the back wheels look awful after a few uses.


I would definitely recommend this to all of my friends in the future I ave loved the peach far more then any pram I've had.

My overall rating for the peach would definitely be a 4 and a half out of 5