Advice needed - baby car seat questions (merged)

svmitche

Hi,

We're expecting our first baby in March and as it's getting close we want to buy some means of transport fairly soon. I've had a look at all the baby sites regarding travel systems, prams, buggies, etc etc and I'm a little stumped, so wondered if any of you wonderful people have any advice or opinions on what type of the above you've used and loved/hated etc?

We were thinking of going for a travel system, but have been told they are not that great and baby grows out of them quickly, so thought separates, but then they can be much more expensive.

Any help you could give would be gratefully received!

Thanks!!

thatgirlsam

hi... ive got a maclaren techno for my little un... its really small and lightweight, folds flat so you can use it from birth and saves money in the long run as you won't need to buy a buggy .. my boy is now 2 1/2 and i still use it in town when im in a hurry and if he falls asleep i push the seat back flat. it takes up hardly any room in the boot and has been totally fab imo. doesnt help with the car seat situ though! good luck with your bundle of joy! sam x

Sagaris

Once you have decided on a car seat, make sure you get it fitted in to your car, as not all seats fit all cars. Our local Mothercare are pretty good, Halfords not so! All infant carriers last the baby until they are around 12 months old (13kg) although ny great nephew stayed in his until he was 18 months old ( he was tiny!). Don't be in a rush to change the seat for a forward facing one, the longer they stay rearward facing, the safer they are.
Good luck with the baby!

3KIDSNOMONEY

I am expecting my fourth child at the end of February. I have had all sorts of prams etc in my time and my son who is 4 uses a maclaren. I found maclarens to be so easy to push. I have decided on a travel system this time and looked at the maclaren XLR but the handle is far too high on it. I can't afford an expensive one and have gone for a graco mosaic one which folds up umbrella style and seems similar to a maclaren. Some of the other travel systems are really bulky folded and are really large to get around and i think it would be a struggle to get them through doorways. My local mothercare tried the system i am going to buy in my car and even folded the buggy up to try in the boot. Not bought it yet but don't want to leave it too long. Search the web it is far less stressful

Good luck - there is so much choice out there.

anonymousie

The really vital thing abou a car seat is that is is safe and fits your car- I know that is obvious, but that is the priority and you can bet the buggy of the "system" isn't really the one that fits you needs!!

There are also thoughts around that really tinies should be in cars seats as little as possible as there aer breathing problems associated? I don't have evidence but it makes sense.They really need to lie flat (beware the recines that are "from 3 months" for newborns too).

By the best car seat for your car and a separate buggy/pram (or sling - a whole new topic!! don't get a high street tomy/baby dan type if you do they are rubbish for anything ther than really light babies for a short time). Those that sling, can and do sling birth to toddles and survive well without bad backs etc!

Bun

3KIDSNOMONEY wrote: »

I am expecting my fourth child at the end of February. I have had all sorts of prams etc in my time and my son who is 4 uses a maclaren. I found maclarens to be so easy to push. I have decided on a travel system this time and looked at the maclaren XLR but the handle is far too high on it. I can't afford an expensive one and have gone for a graco mosaic one which folds up umbrella style and seems similar to a maclaren. Some of the other travel systems are really bulky folded and are really large to get around and i think it would be a struggle to get them through doorways. My local mothercare tried the system i am going to buy in my car and even folded the buggy up to try in the boot. Not bought it yet but don't want to leave it too long. Search the web it is far less stressful

Good luck - there is so much choice out there.

Hi 3kids - hope you're ok! Don't know if you've seen my other post but in case you haven't checked this week, it's £20 off with free footmuff and bag in Babies R Us, and half price on Boots.com for an end of range purple one!If you agree with that much buggy experience hopefully I've made the right decision this time!

Sagaris

anonymousie wrote: »

There are also thoughts around that really tinies should be in cars seats as little as possible as there aer breathing problems associated? I don't have evidence but it makes sense.They really need to lie flat (beware the recines that are "from 3 months" for newborns too).

That's a good point anonymousie - young/tiny babies should lie flat wherever possible, however, babies should always be carried in a car seat designed for the purpose. There are carrycot type ones available now, but they are not ideal, RoSPA and Which have not given them good reports and they are not that easy to fit. I have met a rep from a company that sells these lie flat seats and wanted my organisation to promote them to parents - having seen the crash test video, I couldn't do it.
Regarding the breathing problems, some companies who promote this type of seat have come up with the idea that babies acan suffer 'oxygen desaturation' if they are left in the conventional type car seats for too long. I've not yet seen any evidence that any babies have come to harm by being in a conventional car seat.

tiamai_d

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6216892.stm

The story on the BBC website.

It's not saying don't have your baby in a car seat, but it is saying, only have your baby in a car seat when in the car. So don't use it in the house, and move baby into a pram or carrier when out and about.

I remember my HV saying babies should be in the car seat no more than 2 hours a day anyway because of the position they sit in. It can't be comfortable.

With DS1 I had a 3 wheel pram and a seperate car seat, moved to a fold down buggy after we moved out of town so I could use the bus.

With DS2 I bought a cheap travel system more for the car seat! Then a fold down umbrella type. He is almost 3 and I have just bought a twister 3 wheeler BUT, he has mild cerbral palsy and has trouble walking, otherwise he would still be using the buggy.

Before deciding, think of where you live, how you get about, budget, where it will be stored etc.

Don't get a huge pram if you use public transport. I know someone who is stuck in the village because she can't get her pram on a bus by herself.

What will fit in your car boot AND leave space for shopping?

Your going to use it for a few years, so does it have somewhere to live?

You will have to upgrade your car seat on a years time anyway so is it worth getting an expensive one?

Is baby going to be spending a lot of time in the car? Is the town center an hour away or 10mins? Do you visit someone everyday etc?

plane_boy2000

Re one of the above posts we were also advised several years ago to avoid getting a travel system as its not good for the baby to be stuck in a car seat for hours. To be honest they dont really look that comfortable anyway, and if it was me I would want to get out and have a stretch, and lie out flat in a buggy / pram!

Gingham_Ribbon

WHICH did some tests recently and it's worth having a look. Britax as usual did very well. What I will say is that I got a britax one with isofix and it did fit and was checked in my car.

HOWEVER, it sat far too upright for my liking and sometimes his head would flop forward and then I really was worried about him suffocating. I got rid of the isofix base and used the seatbelt because it lay further back that way. Obviously that was just in my car, isofix is generally very safe.

Whatever you do, make sure it's fitted properly and you know how to do it.

I would personally go for a Mamas and Papas umbrella fold buggy. My eldest got lots of use out of ours, it lies nearly flat so is suitable for newborns, with a good snuugly cosytoes and the rain guard it's as snug as any pram and it's very good value. It is easy to use and, though I liked the maclaren, the breaks on the mamas and papas one are much better. And it's very competitively priced - cheaper than some of the maclarens. (And it's roomy with a high back - great for big toddlers too.)