It’s a lightweight umbrella-folding stroller that’s suitable from six months to around three years. It has three seat positions and an adjustable footrest and comes with a hood and raincover. Martha is very possessive of her buggies (she’s had quite a few, all hand-me-downs that have lasted for varying lengths of time before giving up the ghost), and she immediately took to this one, climbing straight in and pronouncing it ‘my new buggy’!
What we love
The Jané Sonic’s main claim to fame is that it folds up 8cm smaller than similar buggies on the market. This is really important for those of us with three children and a car with a rubbish sized boot, like my Ford Focus. The Sonic fits snugly at the back rather than having to be laid diagonally, as our previous buggy did, leaving nowhere to put the suitcases. I would recommend this buggy for this alone.
The other fab thing about the Jané Sonic that it has a retractable stand so that you can store it upright when you’re not using it – I’ve never seen this before on any other pushchair. And you can quickly and easily adjust the height of the handles – a feature that many pushchairs that are much more expensive do not have.
As already mentioned, Martha really likes it and readily falls asleep at naptime. The wheels are much bigger and smoother than on similar models from other manufacturers, giving a really comfortable ride, and it’s easy to push, even with one hand.
When the Sonic is closed, it clips together securely and has a carrying handle, which is very useful when travelling. It’s very light so you don’t break your back every time you have to put it in the car or carry it onto the bus.
Last but not least, the brake is on the handle, so it’s really easy to use – no more bashing your toes when you’re wearing summer sandals.
They say that the proof of the pudding is in the eating and I was so impressed with this pushchair that I bought the test sample. The only problem is I ended up with the Jeans colourway, which is denim and orange, and the orange clashes terribly with Martha’s red hair!
What to watch out for
The main criticism of the Jané Sonic from mums on other websites is that the most upright sitting position is still slightly reclined, although this doesn’t bother Martha as she likes to sit back and watch the world go by.
I found the straps very long and fairly fiddly to adjust to the right size for Martha.
The other slight annoying thing is that the hood seems to unclip when you fold the buggy up, so that it falls off when you unfold it again.
Finally, we all know that we shouldn’t hang bags of shopping on the handles, but we all do it anyway. This buggy tips more easily than most as it is so light – so, beware!
Who is the Jané Sonic best for?
Families who travel a lot or those with a small car.
The Jané Sonic is a fantastic all-round lightweight buggy. It folds compactly, can be stored upright with its retractable stand and offers a smooth ride. As long as your child doesn’t need to sit bolt upright, this offers a comfy ride.
