3 in 1 travel system

onlyroz

hawk30 wrote: »

I've never had to do this. Is this linked to using public transport?

The alternative is handing the baby to a stranger while you collapse the buggy without annoying the people behind you in the bus queue.

*max*

onlyroz wrote: »

The alternative is handing the baby to a stranger while you collapse the buggy without annoying the people behind you in the bus queue.

Which happened to me, incidentally, on a bus from Belfast to Dublin. A woman handed me her very young baby while she sorted out her luggage/pram to be put in the hold. I know I'm a woman and I (hopefully!) don't look threatening...but being handed a newborn on a bus is a bit of a novel experience! I coped...and you'll be happy to hear the baby was fine. But for those 3.5 minutes, I sweated my a$$ off.

GwylimT

Remember a young baby can only be in a car seat for two hours (unless it lays completely flat), so you may find a travel system is only suitable for very short trips if you include your travel.

Kynthia

GwylimT wrote: »

Remember a young baby can only be in a car seat for two hours (unless it lays completely flat), so you may find a travel system is only suitable for very short trips if you include your travel.

A travel system is where you have a frame that can fit a carrycot, pushchair (usually both forward and rear facing) plus is compatible with a car seat.


OP, I bought an Uppababy Vista and I do really like it. My OH and I are very tall and it holds the baby quite high up, plus doesn't have a bar across the back wheels which is good for our long stride. It has a large basket, stands when folded, has a very good quality carry cot which can be used for overnight sleeping (others say that can but many don't comply with UK standards as they need air vents in the bottom), and can all be unzipped for washing. It's large back wheels mean it's a breeze to get up over kerbs when loaded with the baby and bags, the rain covers are included as well as the Maxi Cosi car seat adaptors and it has a built in sun shade so you don't need to faff with moving a parasol whenever you change direction. It moves really easily, has puncture resistant tyres and I find it easy to fold and to change from carrycot to pushchair. However it isn't everyone's ideal so really try a few out in a shop, preferably comparing some together with your partner.


However I'm not sure I'd go for a travel system again for a couple of reasons. The carrycot is really bulky and takes up a lot of room in the car, and you need to take it in the car with you if you are going out for more than a couple of hours as you can't keep the baby in the car seat. Once they are big enough for the pushchair it gets better but once the baby is one you start to think about how nice it would be to have a light pushchair that is better on public transport and slimmer for getting round the shops. It was so supportive and nice when your child was a baby but now you are going to have to drop it off with family when they are caring for your child while you go back to work, or it's too expensive and big to take on holiday. However as it cost so much you feel guilty for considering not using it any more. Also now that I'm thinking of having a second baby I don't think its the right one to use with a newborn and a 2 year old. The carrycot is lovely for the first 5 months but where will my toddler go? Yes there is a rumbleseat option but I'm not sure I like it and that's only once the baby is big enough for the pushchair option.


Also I wish I'd looked at car seats a lot more as the new guidelines mean rear facing until at least 15 months but recommended for safety reasons until 4 years old. These extended rear facing seats are very expensive and it would have been more cost effective to get one that did from birth instead of having the Group 0 and now buying another. I know others that bought expensive isofix bases to go with their travel system compatible car seats, but these bases are no longer what they would choose for Group 1 but feel they can't waste money by changing.

Gillyx

Kynthia, try not to worry too much about the ERF seat, the safest seat for your child is always a first stage, I would advise anyone to use there infant stage 0 seat for as long as possible, roughly 12-15 months, it's only outgrown when the head is coming over the top, not legs out the bottom.

The from birth ERF, aren't actually that great, as they will sometimes be outgrown before 4, and very few have a good enough recline for a newborn.

Much better to purchase a 25kg rear facer that can be used from maybe 10 months onwards. There is a fantastic Facebook group about car seats, if you'd like to join just drop me a PM, it has a few industry experts on it.

We have 3 ERF seats at the mo, and they all should last the distance.

Kynthia

Gillyx wrote: »

Kynthia, try not to worry too much about the ERF seat, the safest seat for your child is always a first stage, I would advise anyone to use there infant stage 0 seat for as long as possible, roughly 12-15 months, it's only outgrown when the head is coming over the top, not legs out the bottom.

The from birth ERF, aren't actually that great, as they will sometimes be outgrown before 4, and very few have a good enough recline for a newborn.

Much better to purchase a 25kg rear facer that can be used from maybe 10 months onwards. There is a fantastic Facebook group about car seats, if you'd like to join just drop me a PM, it has a few industry experts on it.

We have 3 ERF seats at the mo, and they all should last the distance.

Thank you Gillyx, I didn't know that about 'from birth erf seats'. My daughter is very tall so will definitely outgrow some of the seats before 4, such as the Cybex Sirona. I've actually just been to one of the In Car Safety Centres and I'm going to buy the Britax 2-Way Elite which I don't think you can buy anywhere else in the UK. It's annoying that the underfloor storage means I can't use an isofix group 1 seat but this one looks like it will last her years!

Gillyx

Kynthia wrote: »

Thank you Gillyx, I didn't know that about 'from birth erf seats'. My daughter is very tall so will definitely outgrow some of the seats before 4, such as the Cybex Sirona. I've actually just been to one of the In Car Safety Centres and I'm going to buy the Britax 2-Way Elite which I don't think you can buy anywhere else in the UK. It's annoying that the underfloor storage means I can't use an isofix group 1 seat but this one looks like it will last her years!

In Car Safety are amazing. Its where I got both my two way elites. If underfloor storage is a problem Id also look at the axkid mini kid. If your budget would stretch I think it's a slightly better seat, the leg misses under floor storage, and it uses tethers. It's the one thing I wish the TWE had is the leg prop. The axkid minikid has passed the plus test which is the most stringent in the world. It's what I would have if budget allowed, it also has a shell to rival the two way elite, so will last your average child rear facing until 6 years old. It also has self adjusting tethers.

Don't worry about isofix, it doesn't make a seat any safer and there are no 25kg harnessed seats that use isofix so it could mean splashing out again in the future as they recommend a harness to 4 years old.

Gillyx

P.s the Sirona is tiny as is the dual fix, they would struggle to last your average 4 year old. They're also very expensive. The Britax max way is a good seat if no underfloor storage, it's cheap for an ERF, has passed the plus test and has a tall shell and harnesses to 25kg.

I certainly don't think the Sirona and the dual fix are worth the cash.

Not to mention if the Sirona is used forward facing it has to be used with an impact shield, which are potentially dangerous. I'd never put my child in one. However I'm rear facing all the way. The way mine is growing his TWE will fit him until he's 7 or 8 :eek:

Kynthia

Gillyx wrote: »

In Car Safety are amazing. Its where I got both my two way elites. If underfloor storage is a problem Id also look at the axkid mini kid. If your budget would stretch I think it's a slightly better seat, the leg misses under floor storage, and it uses tethers. It's the one thing I wish the TWE had is the leg prop. The axkid minikid has passed the plus test which is the most stringent in the world. It's what I would have if budget allowed, it also has a shell to rival the two way elite, so will last your average child rear facing until 6 years old. It also has self adjusting tethers.

Don't worry about isofix, it doesn't make a seat any safer and there are no 25kg harnessed seats that use isofix so it could mean splashing out again in the future as they recommend a harness to 4 years old.

Hmm, I wonder why the ICSC didn't mention that one. Perhaps it doesn't miss the underfloor storage in my Ford Grand C-max, however I will ask.

Gillyx

Kynthia wrote: »

Hmm, I wonder why the ICSC didn't mention that one. Perhaps it doesn't miss the underfloor storage in my Ford Grand C-max, however I will ask.

I can find out for you? They do seem to push Britax, not that I have a problem with that or anything, as I really rate Britax seats, however I would always chose a plus tested seat over a non plus tested seat.