Advice on what to buy (Baby Car seat/travel system)

popadom

I am due to have my first baby in January and I feel so overwhelmed with the choices for travel systems/car seats and prams.

I'd ideally like to get a isofix style car seat that can be used with the pram (a travel system) as I think that would be the best value because I can get long term use out of it.

I know I need to buy the carseat new but I have looked at the prams separately and its a nightmare. None of them seem compatible or you are expected to buy something that will only last one stage (so 6 months or so).

I am not sure whether to spend a bit more and get something that will last for say four years.
Or to buy the carseat and base new and then buy the pram second hand?

I haven't got a set budget nor am I fussy about brands.

Can anyone recommend how is best to buy these and save money?

Mummy2cheekymonkeys

Personally I got a travel system with a car seat and then when my son was starting to get too big I purchased a separate car seat. I get that you want to get a lot of use out of it but I think you will be very restricted for choice otherwise and then you won't be able to get as good deals.

Mrs_Soup

We did the same - had a travel system (not fancy brand) that had car seat, pram and pushchair. The pram and car seat were used for about a year then had to get new car seat and still continued used the travel system in pushchair mode for another couple of years - then same with second child. I did also get a smaller fold up pushchair to sue some of the time. We are now on 3rd car seat size for youngest child which should see him until he is old enough to not have one. Eldest is a giant and grew tall enough to not use any type of car seat just before he turned 8. Rules about rear facing seats are different now though .
I'm not fussy about brands etc so was happy with the one system- there are other parents who are continually changing their pushchair - could never see the point myself as none of them are perfect.

Rambosmum

maxi cosi pebble or cabriofix car seats are compatible with most prams. Most prams are birth to 3years, they have a bassinet for new-born to 6 months then a seat for 6 months plus. A few you have to buy bassinet and seat separately but not many.


Remember that new-borns (up to 6 weeks) shouldn't be in the car seat for more than 30 minutes and after that for no more than 2 hours so depending on your lifestyle and where you live you may not actually get much use from one that goes on the pram.


In terms of choosing a pram, what will you be doing?


City living?
Public transport?
Car with small boot?
Forest or off track walks?
Do you travel abroad a lot?


Budget? if you want a safe but budget friendly car seat look at the Joie igemm and juva.


Remember that babies shouldn't be dressed in 'pram suits' or 'snow suits' in the car seat so you should dress them in indoor clothes and use a blanket to keep them warm.

Munchkin84

I’m expecting in December.
We’ve just bought the nuna mixx travel system. Saw it in Mothercare but bought it at online4baby As it was so much cheaper.

Peccary

As PP have said, most major pram brands will be compatible with major carseat brands, you just need adaptors. We had the Oyster pram with the Maxi Cosi pebble. We bought the pram 2nd hand after advice from friends, by 8 months we had switched to a stroller when out in the car as the travel system took up too much boot space.

We got 14 months out of the car seat as DD is light, we only switched to the next stage as it was easier to get her in to the bigger one

Bear_1985

We bought the Joie Spin 360 car seat and then just a baby carrier. We're doing without a pram/pushchair. It just wouldn't fit in with our lifestyle.

peachyprice

I would (and did) go for the travel system with 0-6 months car sea and a proper carry cot.

With a small baby is very handy to be able to take out the car seat and pop it on the chassis of you're only going to be out for a short while, it save the whole 'baby falling asleep in the car and having to wake them up when you get to the shop' scenario, just take the car seat out and put it on the chassis, do what you have to do, put baby back in the car and go home.

A proper carry cot was an essential for me. I could cry when I see babies squidged into car seats while their parents stroll around shopping centres/cities/parks for hours on end. You also have the benefit of somewhere for your baby to sleep during the day downstairs, which helps differentiate between night time sleep and daytime naps.