Baby travel systems (merged)

chickaroonee

Guessing this has been asked many time before, so sorry if it has!

I am so confused (and frankly shocked!) at the prices of prams in particular, and think we will probably buy one second hand as the prices for new seem so high. Also everyone I know with kids says they got rid off their pram after 6 months for a lightweight buggy!

We will obviously buy a car seat new.

Can anyone give some good recommendations? These are our main criteria:

• Pram will be used mainly from the car, not public transport, not too bulky if possible as we don't have a large car;
• Baby must lie flat;
• Not bothered at all about it being a travel system, don't want to keep the baby in their car seat for ages.

For the car seat, I am a bit confused - would it be better to get one that starts off rear facing then becomes forward facing? Or just a rear facing one? The ones that stay in the car seem better value, but is it better to get one that you can take out of the car?

So many questions!!

Lynn11

My daughter is nearly 3yrs and I am still using my original pram which is the silver cross 3D as it collapses and fits in my Polo boot. To start with you have a cradle which acts as a pram and baby faces you and then about 3mths I had to convert to buggy but you can lie baby flat as there are 4 positions for the sloped seat. It also has fixed or swivel wheels and is fairly easy to fit and erect. I would certainly buy this again for any other child we have. It was roughly about £250 plus £90 for the car seat which you can put onto the pram and use as a travel system. I did not think that I would use this but it is easy for quick to med journey when child is 6mths+.

Js_Other_Half

Prams and pushchairs are really subjective, have you gone into a big mothercare/toysrus and pushed any?
I am not sure any car seats go from birth to 3/4? All newborn carseats are rear facing until at least 9 months.

We had a Mamas and Papas Pliko travel system, with carrycot and car seat. The pram does fold almost flat though, so DS was in it without the cot at around 5 months. We got it from the m&p factory shop in Huddersfield.

http://www.mamasandpapas.com/range/pliko/2412/

chickaroonee

Js_Other_Half wrote: »

Prams and pushchairs are really subjective, have you gone into a big mothercare/toysrus and pushed any?
I am not sure any car seats go from birth to 3/4? All newborn carseats are rear facing until at least 9 months.

We had a Mamas and Papas Pliko travel system, with carrycot and car seat. The pram does fold almost flat though, so DS was in it without the cot at around 5 months. We got it from the m&p factory shop in Huddersfield.

http://www.mamasandpapas.com/range/pliko/2412/

Looking online some car seats do I think, see here:
http://www.preciouslittleone.com/product-information/36/5976/besafe-izi-combi-isofix-car-seat---blackblack-alcantara/

but obviously this is my first child so no expert!

What is the M&P factory shop like? Was thinking of going but wasn't sure how good the bargains are

shirlgirl2004

The most important thing is to get a car seat that fits. Ideally your child will remain rearfacing until the age of 4/5 but in reality a seat that fits your car well is more important. This site is good info on finding a decent seat.

For pushchairs it is personal preference. Personally I prefer slings, either wraps or Mei Taiand info can be found here . If I do use a pushchair (only 6 times with my youngest daughter now 2 and 9 months) I prefer parent facing because as we all know in communication eye contact is very important. You can get parent facing pushchairs thaat can be used until 3/4 years of age. My personal favourite is the Stoke Xplory or for a more compact fold the Bebeconfort Loola.

GobbledyGook

The car seats that stay in the car can be better value and it is safer for the child to stay rear facing as long as possible. You can buy second stage car seats that go rear facing as well if you do not want to turn them forward facing. If you buy one that lasts until 3/4 then bear in mind they do have an expiry date so check when you buy it that it's not one that's been sitting around in a warehouse for 3 years.

The removable ones can be handy with a baby because you don't have to faff about getting them in and out of the car, especially handy if it's raining. I would say though if you are getting one get one with a base because it's much handier. They also make a handy seat for the baby when you pop out anywhere, especially places like the Dr where you don't really need the pram.

The only way to decide on a pram, in my opinion, is to go into the shops and have a play really. I had a First Wheels because I could get a carrycot for it while the baby was tiny which was my preference.

Good luck x

delain

I had the mothercare urban detour twin when my tins were 3 and honestly i wish i had it from when they were born (ex said no :rolleyes:)

I don't think they make that one anymore but The best one i'd recommend now is the Nipper 360

http://www.johnlewis.com/230650657/Product.aspx?source=14798

as it's much narrower and i struggled getting the big mothercare (it was one of the early ones - £70 secondhand) on and off buses.

They are so sturdy, and you can turn corners properly with them. Its an absolute breeze to walk with, you'd hardly notice kerbs etc.

suitable from birth so it does lie totally flat!

chickaroonee

Thanks very much for all your suggestions so far. I know the final choice will be down to individual preference, but the choice is so overwhelming I want to narrow it down a bit first!! And also wanted advice from people with babies already, because it's easy to get carried away buying before the baby arrives, but only afterwards do you know how much you use things!!

I do like the idea of a sling though and think I will be buying one.

skintchick

chickaroonee wrote: »

Thanks very much for all your suggestions so far. I know the final choice will be down to individual preference, but the choice is so overwhelming I want to narrow it down a bit first!! And also wanted advice from people with babies already, because it's easy to get carried away buying before the baby arrives, but only afterwards do you know how much you use things!!

I do like the idea of a sling though and think I will be buying one.

I have a Silver Cross Sleepover (Sleepeasy?) but it is MASSIVE. however, I hardly use the car, and for me it was important to have a full-size carrycot so she could stay in it longer. She is 5 months next week and still in the carrycot, so she can lie down facing me and be all warm and cosy.

It also turns into a pushchair which is parent-facing whoich again was v important to me.

I used a sling only until she was over 2 months old (she hated the pram at first) and now use the pram to walk into town every day.

decide how you live or will live, and what is important to you, then be preapred to have a few items - I have the pram, plus about 6 slings! It does cost money but differnt items suit different activities IMO.

I think you could even just get a sling right now (I used a Kari-Me mainly as she could go in it lying down and would sleep for hours in it) and then get a pram/pushchair once you know how you live with a baby. I thought I'd be in the house a lot but actually am out all day every day, but luckily my pram is suitable for that.

GobbledyGook

Your best bet is to decide what is most important to you, for me it was that the pram was parent-facing, that the handle went tall enough for my ex-husband to push as he's very tall and that it was a weight I could lift in and out of my car easily. That ruled a huge amount out then I went from there. I really wanted a Bugaboo Chameleon, but wouldn't spend that much on a pram.