Why The Bugaboo Cameleon 3 Plus Works For Disabled Parents

The pushchair is one of the most significant expenses you’ll incur when preparing for your new arrival. Many types of pushchairs are on the market, with varying features for different needs. Still, one area that I noticed very quickly, which has been neglected by brands, is the needs of disabled parents and, in particular, wheelchair users!

When I was preparing for Alice’s arrival, I knew that I needed a pushchair which would be long lasting, easy to push, allow for parent-facing in the toddler years and most importantly, be usable by me – a full-time wheelchair user! That latter point meant needing things like bigger wheels, functional brakes and, of course, requiring the pushchair to be as sturdy as possible on various terrains! Sounds impossible at first, doesn’t it?

Fear not! This is where Bugaboo stands out from the crowd with the Cameleon 3 Plus pushchair! Whether through accidental design or with accessibility in mind, the Cameleon 3 Plus is probably one of the most accessible pushchairs on the mainstream market if you can’t get a custom-made pushchair for whatever reason. The Cameleon 3 Plus has a handbrake instead of a footbrake, meaning that wheelchair users can still safely stop the pushchair, whilst the handlebar is adjustable so that everyone can have the height to their desired requirement.

Another big plus about the Bugaboo Cameleon 3 Plus pushchair is that the handlebar is also reversible. Not only is this great for off-road walks, but for me personally, it’s been a godsend on the tube in London as I’ve been able to put the bigger wheels forward to prevent the pushchair from getting stuck in the gap between the train and the platform. You can also parent face the pushchair right up to whenever little one outgrows it, something which I love because not only can I keep an eye on what Alice is doing, but parent facing is also great for interacting with your little one and helping with their communication skills.

With all the features that the pushchair has, not forgetting that it also has a large under-seat basket, it’s not surprising that it is a little heavier than most pushchairs out there. Thankfully, the pushchair collapses into two parts to make it a bit easier to put into the car, and even when I had my Corsa, we were able to get it into the boot with my wheelchair after we took the parcel shelf out. The wheels are on quick-release pins to make it easy to get them off, too, if you need to make the main frame smaller to get it in.

Onto accessories, and there are plenty! Things we’ve brought for ours include car seat adapters, which were well used in the early days of going back and forth to the hospital with Alice, as well as a cup holder (we brought two!) and their Breezy range of hoods, which feature inbuilt mosquito nets – great for when travelling with your little one! If you don’t like the look of the Breezy hoods, Bugaboo do a separate mosquito net, which also fits on their other pushchairs.

Overall, I will always rave about the Bugaboo Cameleon 3 Plus pushchair. It’s the pushchair that allowed me to be more independent with Alice when out and about, and I’m so glad that Bugaboo designed it. There is a rumour that it’s being discontinued, though, something I’m really upset about. If true, Bugaboo will lose the ability to market to disabled parents, especially as none of their other pushchairs have the handbrake feature that has been so prominent on the Cameleon 3 Plus!

Do you have a Cameleon 3 Plus, or are you thinking about buying one? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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