However, as we mentioned earlier, you can still get your hands on some Petite Star products and buggies and even spares that are floating around on the internet.
We at MFM first reviewed the Zia by Petite Star back in 2010 and found it to be a stylish, practical pushchair, that’s suitable from birth, and is cheap.
And now that Petite Star products are second hand they are even cheaper, but as you’d expect from such a good value pushchair, it’s not perfect.
With all secondhand products there's guidelines you should check before buying.
The Petite Star Zia was a top-selling pushchair in its category when it first hit the market in 2010. It used to come in a wide range of different colours, with an attractive selection of matching accessories.
What we like
The styling of this pushchair is great, and it’s fantastic value as it’s suitable from birth, and comes with a raincover. It’s also light and manoeuvrable, and really does fold and unfold with one hand. It folds down super small – I even managed to get it into my auntie’s Smart car with room to spare!
If you want to spend a bit more money, the matching cosy toes is really thick and warm, and looks fantastic. It certainly makes the Petite Star Zia much more comfy and cosy for a small baby. You can also buy a carry bag, which makes the buggy very easy to transport, and would be great for holidays.
What to watch out for
While it reclines well for newborns, the seat doesn’t ever sit fully upright, so as your baby gets older he may not like it, as he’ll be tilted backwards and won’t have a fantastic view of the interesting world out there. He’ll also feel that he’s forever laying back.
It may be a 3-wheeler, but it’s not all-terrain. This means it’s not great on bumpy ground and can rattle a little when you push it. However, for a 3-wheeler, it is remarkably light (so easy to carry around) and it folds up very neatly.
Some mums online have had difficulty fitting the rain cover on when their child is in the buggy as it fits almost too tightly. However, one mum had fixed this with clever use of some Velcro attached to the bottom of the chassis and the bottom of the rain cover. Others, like me, didn’t find it particularly troublesome (and it’s further added value that the rain cover is included in the price).
I like the height of the handles, as I’m short, but as they’re not adjustable, this could easily be a problem if you’re tall. Lastly, the shopping basket is fairly small – although they never are that generous on such lightweight buggies – so you won’t be able to fit lots of stuff in it if you’re out and about, particularly if the seat is fully reclined.
Who is the Petite Star Zia best for?
Style-conscious mums who are in and out of the car a lot and don't mind buying a second hand buggy.
It’s low-cost, small to transport, and light to lift. Definitely a good choice of buggy if you want something cool and modern-looking, and are prepared to overlook some minor disadvantages, such as the leaning-back seat and small shopping basket.
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