The egg® stroller is available in stores nationwide, simply enter your postcode to find the retailer closest to you. To view a list of international stockists and distributors please click here. WAFFRONS FARM, WOODSTOCK LANE SOUTH, CHESSINGTON, SURREY UK KT9 1UF 98-116 DEANSGATE, MANCHESTER UK, UK M3 4QL Platting Lane, Rochdale, United Kingdom, UK OL11 2JT UNIT 12 GATEWAY COURT, PARKGATE, ROTHERHAM, SOUTH YORKSHIRE UK S62 6LH 189-193 ALUM ROCK ROAD, SALTLEY, BIRMINGHAM UK B8 1NJ SJDF LIMITED, 42-44 FORTH STREET, STIRLING UK, UK FK8 1UF 33 CHAPEL STREET, PETERSFIELD, HAMPSHIRE UK GU32 3DY 259 BLAKENALL LANE, WALSALL, WEST MIDLANDS UK WS3 1HJ THE COURTYARD, 53 MARKET STREET, ASHBY DE LA ZOUCH UK LE65 1AN 57 MADOC STREET, LLANDUDNO, CONWY UK LL30 2TWAs acts of bravery go, taking your pram out to Manchester city centre on a Saturday afternoon shouldn’t really be considered one of them. But when I tell any parent who’ll listen that I’m planning to take my 14-month-old son George out to Manchester Christmas Markets at the weekend - I get the same response.

There’s usually a wince, a sharp intake of breath, and then the words: “Ooh, you’re brave”. It comes with a tale of said mum or dad’s battle scars from previous years, and it seems that anyone who has ever taken their buggy out to the Christmas Markets comes back with the same, world-weary response of: “never again”. Meanwhile, those without prams moan about the “self-righteous buggy brigade” clogging up their routes. So, is it really worth the effort (and potential scorn) of taking your buggy out at peak times to the markets? Now, I should explain that until about two years ago, I was firmly in the camp of “ban pesky prams from the markets” myself. That’s because, until then, I had absolutely no intentions of joining the buggy brigade, and just felt a bit irked that prams were clogging up my route to the nearest mug of gluhwein. But how things change and now, with the arrival of my own little bundle of joy in the shape of baby George, I obviously have a rather different view of it all.

Still, I can now at least see both sides of the argument - that mums and dads want to enjoy the markets just as much as the pram-less masses. But is it really THAT bad negotiating the city’s festive-festooned streets with a pram on the weekends? I mean, the pedestrianised zones of the city aren’t that congested are they? Well, there was only one way to find out, and so off I headed with George to tackle the full circuit of the Christmas Markets on a sunny Saturday afternoon, with a go-pro camera on board.where to buy babybjorn potty chair Where better to start than at the designated 'family zone' next to the National Football Museum. table and chair rental destin flIt’s a cold but sunny day and the city centre is already packed with shoppers at 1pm - but we’re pleasantly surprised to find that it’s actually rather quiet around the stalls circling the mini ice rink set up here, with lots of room to wheel George about and for him to see all the festive treats, and coo at the big wooden wheelie thing.high chair covers for eddie bauer

There are toilets you can use inside the museum - and a warm cafe indoors with lots of highchairs, too. On we head, and it’s pretty heaving here - with shoppers around the food and drink stalls on Exchange Square - and on round to New Cathedral Street. But when I wheel George in to the main bar area outside Selfridges, most punters are pretty accommodating. One of my gripes in past years is the pram-pushers clogging the bar areas, but if they’re miffed at our arrival, nobody shows it.table and chair rentals bloomfield nj If you’re having lunch here there are lots of good options in the Corn Exchange - and Gino’s Italian Restaurant has one of the best baby change facilities in the city with FREE nappies, baby wipes and body cream, should (heaven forbid) you have forgotten to pack yours.chair cover hire coventry

Probably most weary pram-pushers’ most feared area, thanks in part to this street’s fearsome reputation for mass distractions of one kind or another. But do you know what? It wasn’t actually too bad on our Saturday afternoon stroll. Yes, the covered up bit by Boots was pretty hectic, but the main drag was actually pretty quiet, and the large pedestrianised street offered plenty of room for our buggy - as well as many, many other mums and dads that we saw. wheelchair van rentals houston txThe downside of all this was that, while there are a few stalls, it wasn’t really all that festive.zero gravity chair lock The public toilets inside the Arndale Centre are probably your best bet.chair cover hire melton mowbray

It starts to get REALLY busy as we walk along St Ann’s Square, and I notice the odd eye roll when I try to manoeuvre George near to a stall with some chocolate fruit on stick things. As a new mum, I’ve come to perfect the slow silent mouthing of “Sorry” complete with an apologetic shrug/grimace - and it’s starting to be used quite a lot by this point. But it’s all worth the effort when we get to the far end where there’s the traditional nativity scene, and this year a regal throne to pose on, too.table and chair rentals kyle tx We struggled to find anywhere easily accessible with a baby change in this section and so wheeled on. The main hub of festive celebrations - and the epicentre of the true markets madness. It’s 2pm and the square is packed - but it hasn’t put off a whole host of prams taking their chances in the queues along the main stalls. It takes us a full ten minutes to walk from one end to the other.

Well, I say walk, it’s more of a slow, weary chug. We notice that a lot of families have given up with the wheels at this stage, and there are plenty of babies lifted on to daddy shoulders to tackle the crowd chaos. Poor little George is getting mightily miffed strapped up in his pram with his view of the back of people’s puffa jackets at this stage and decides to have a mini meltdown. Even waving a large sausage in front of his face isn’t enough to cheer him up, and we have to wheel ourselves off to the nearest Costa to get somewhere warm with a highchair to give him some “real” food. And by that, naturally, I mean an Ella’s Kitchen pouch. The public toilets adjacent to Albert Square are now on Lloyd Street, in the ground floor of the Town Hall Extension (just opposite the side entrance to the Town Hall). Busier here than I had expected, thanks in large part to the lovely array of food and drink stalls. Worth the effort for the shopping, but it’s a struggle, particularly at the narrower top end, to push the pram through without squashing the odd toe here and there.

Again, your best bet is the public toilets off Albert Square if you can face wheeling your way back up that way. Or if you’re up for a food and drink break head down to Spinningfields where most of the restaurants offer decent baby change facilities. New bar and restaurant The Refinery is particularly keen on welcoming families - and there are great high chairs with their own mini sheepskins! Known as the French and Italian markets section, there’s plenty of foodie treats along here, but it’s not the widest of streets when all the markets are down the middle so we end up queuing with the pram and switching sides to try to find a quieter route. Enjoyed finding the reindeer right in the middle of the street though, and an obligatory picture with baby George on the sleigh! A bit like St Ann’s Square, we were struggling with where best to head to for nappy change here, We ended up at the toilets inside House of Fraser on Deansgate. If you really can’t stand wheeling a pram through crowds, then heading to the Christmas Markets on a Saturday or Sunday is definitely not for you.

But if you’re willing to wade through certain busy areas you can still find enjoyable areas to rest, relax and be festive with baby in tow. I’d particularly recommend the 'family zone' as it was pleasantly quiet and just that bit away from the main hustle and bustle, but with all the hot toddies, hot sausages and festive feeling you need. I’ll admit I was expecting more tuts and moans from our presence, but actually most people are just happy to go about their business and jump out of the way of us pesky pram-pushers. As a parent, you have to think honestly about what your child, especially if they're under-2, is really going to get out of a day at the markets - apart from a bit cold of course. But for a lot of working parents, weekends are often the only chance you will get to go to the festive events. The official advice from Manchester Council to beat the crowds is to visit on weekdays which are always quieter, or early mornings and early evenings are also a good shout.