Product Review: Petite Star Zia
I’m feeling a little buggy nostalgia tonight. We finally sold our Mothercare My4 – the buggy we had for the first year of Little Man’s life. Technically he still fits in it now, but it just got too big for our needs. It was perfect for our needs when he was a baby, but once he started to move around and sleep less, we needed something that was lighter and could be folded quickly.
My first choice as a replacement was a bit of an impulse buy, and turned out to be a mistake. We were walking through Smyths toystore one day when I spotted a Dimples stroller on sale. On paper, it had everything we needed – it was lightweight, it reclined, and it came with a footmuff, raincover and a sun parasol. Plus the price was great – I think it was about €70 the day we bought it. But within a week we were unhappy with our purchase. Little Man just didn’t seem comfortable in it, and horror of horrors, he wouldn’t sleep in it! Plus when we folded it up, even though it was thin, it was very long, and it was actually difficult to fit it in the boot of the car. So we sold it on, and swore we’d do some research before making another stroller purchase.
Finally about two months later, I decided on the Petite Star Zia. We ordered it from Nursery Value and were delighted when it arrived within a couple of days.
The Petite Star Zia
This stroller is fantastic! It’s lightweight, extremely easy to steer, and folds in half, which means that it’s really small when folded, and only takes up half the boot space that the Mothercare My4 or Dimples stroller did. And the best thing of all – Little Man loves it. The footmuff that came with it is so cosy, he has no problem falling asleep in it, at which point I can recline him completely flat.
The basket underneath the buggy is a little on the small side, and it can be difficult to get things in and out of it, but I don’t mind that too much. It does mean that I am always tempted to hang bags on the handles of the buggy, which I really shouldn’t do because the buggy is so light. However, I haven’t overbalanced it yet!
Folded up
Pricewise, the Petite Star Zia starts about at €120 and ranges up to €200 depending on where you buy it. However, I think it is worth the extra money because it is so easy to use, and Little Man is so comfortable in it. Check him out – doesn’t he look comfy?!
How cool am I?
Im loving the shades on lil man, a seriously cool lil dude. 🙂
Love the shades. He looks like a rock star.
Enjoyed this article, thank you Lisa. I’m thinking of how much I like our double push buggy every time when I’m out with the kids. We have Phil&Teds Sport buggy and I’m so grateful for the existing of it. I think it’s so important to get the right buggy, it’s one of the things which make our (moms)live a little bit easier.
I’m feeling sorry for the fact that my kids are growing out of the buggy and soon I’ll have to fold my double helper away…that buggy traveled around the world with us, on sands and heat of South Africa, snow and cold of Russia, it’s like part of the family.
That looks great! We are at the same stage of needing a lighter mode of transport for the ickle fella but I love the Quinny and I’m reluctant to let it go! Will look into this one : )
Hi – I am considering getting this for my 19 month old son for a holiday to the USA next week (instead of taking our Bugaboo) and then to use as a backup one when my second baby arrives if we need it for the odd journey across town. Did you ever find this was too lightweight as in it could flip over if your son might have had a tantrum or tried to get out? Am I right that it is suitable form birth?
Is it pricey to buy new? Would prefer to buy secondhand but not sure I’ll find one!!Thanks!!! 🙂
Hi Lollyfp,
I never found that it flipped over while my son was in it. But it is very lightweight – so you have to be careful not to hang too many things from the handles – otherwise it flips straight over the instant you take the child out! As far as I know it is suitable from birth (it lies flat). However, I’d say you’d need a more padded insert for a newborn. I don’t think I’d have liked using those straps on a brand new baby! 🙂 But I’d have been happy enough to use it from about 12 weeks. I bought mine from http://www.nurseryvalue.com/, where it starts at about £100. I tried to buy it secondhand, but couldn’t find it much cheaper. Delivery was fast too – it arrived 2-3 days after I ordered it.
Enjoy the trip to the US!
Hi – I am considering getting this for my 19 month old son for a holiday to the USA next week (instead of taking our Bugaboo) and then to use as a backup one when my second baby arrives if we need it for the odd journey across town. Did you ever find this was too lightweight as in it could flip over if your son might have had a tantrum or tried to get out? Am I right that it is suitable form birth?
Is it pricey to buy new? Would prefer to buy secondhand but not sure I’ll find one!!Thanks!!! 🙂