Mama's & Papa's or an alternative?

mercman_3

Firstly....congratulations...we have only just had our 1st (baby girl now 5 weeks old)

I spent months and months investigating this as well as nursery furniture (sure you will be able to find my threads somewhere).

In the end we went to the baby show @ NEC and had a look around

We too were going to go for the M&P, but in the end went for the Bebe Confort Loola as a complete travel system. I have to say this piece of kit is amazing, sooo much better to handle, fold, manouvere than ANY of the OTHER brands available

We bought ours from kiddisave in walsall...this was only cos the exhibited at the baby show and had them at a fantastic price

Would just like to say...we have also bought our M&P nursery stuff through them and that there service is second to none!

Do a search for events coming up at olympia...if you register you can get sent FREE tickets or just click the link

http://www.thebabyshow.co.uk/page.cfm/Link=54/gosection=4

good luck with everything


Regards

P&P and now Chloe

bonvonnie

The main things I considered when I first shopped for a pram/buggy whatever you wanna call it!!! was how much use you going to get, do you have a car and drive all over the place.

I knew that I'm not much of a walker, besides around town and in shopping centres, so I didnt have to splash out too much on a pram, with bells and whistles on.

another factor, was how often will you be out in the pushchair during the first 3 months of baby's life.

what we did was use a baby carrier for the first 3-5months, felt alot safer having the baby close to me. and then invested in a stroller, which is suitable from 3months. brought it in the Christmas sales was £120 for half price £60, bargin.

Strollers, are more compact, fold into a long thin thing, leaving plenty of boot space for shopping.

i'm so glad that i didnt go for a travel system, where the car seat can attach onto the pushchair. as when i asked for a demo of folding it down, it was still really huge.

there are so many individual factors to consider. so i hope my post helps u.

IMO M&P are overpriced for what they sell, nothing special or fancier than any other make. The only M&P item I have is the Primo Vaggio (sp??) car seat, i liked it because of the ease of use, with base etc.

sooz

bonvonnie wrote:

Strollers, are more compact, fold into a long thing thing, leaving plenty of boot space for shopping.

.

i like your priorities...........mine are the same.


mmmmmmmm shopping :T

bonvonnie

another word, is to test out the car seats/pushchairs now, and when u see on you like, try and buy it online cheaper, or wait for the Christmas sales, and hope its reduced.

I found with alot of the travel systems, that the car seat didnt fit into my car so its not a choice of whether they do a colour that you like, its find one or two that fits into you car, and then choose the colour.

CopperPlate_2

mercman wrote:

Firstly....congratulations...we have only just had our 1st (baby girl now 5 weeks old)

I spent months and months investigating this as well as nursery furniture (sure you will be able to find my threads somewhere).

In the end we went to the baby show @ NEC and had a look around

We too were going to go for the M&P, but in the end went for the Bebe Confort Loola as a complete travel system. I have to say this piece of kit is amazing, sooo much better to handle, fold, manouvere than ANY of the OTHER brands available

We bought ours from kiddisave in walsall...this was only cos the exhibited at the baby show and had them at a fantastic price

Would just like to say...we have also bought our M&P nursery stuff through them and that there service is second to none!

Do a search for events coming up at olympia...if you register you can get sent FREE tickets or just click the link

http://www.thebabyshow.co.uk/page.cfm/Link=54/gosection=4

good luck with everything


Regards

P&P and now Chloe

Thanks mercman - I've searched and found your thread. This must obviously be a thing for expectant dads (and mums) to go through is it?

The thought of this taking months and months to decide fills me with horror - I'm not the kind of person who sits and pores over pages and pages of catalogues. I'd much rather see things first hand, get a feel for them and decide what I like that way. Then buy it online if I can get it cheaper there


Live up in the N-E of Scotland so Olympia not the handiest of places to get to - but I know that there's been one at the SECC so maybe there'll be one there soon enough.

Thanks for your help

CP

MeMe

bonvonnie wrote:

another word, is to test out the car seats/pushchairs now, and when u see on you like, try and buy it online cheaper, or wait for the Christmas sales, and hope its reduced.

I found with alot of the travel systems, that the car seat didnt fit into my car so its not a choice of whether they do a colour that you like, its find one or two that fits into you car, and then choose the colour.

I completely agree, having been to local outlets for the buggy/travel system I wanted, I was able to test it out, ask questions, then go home and find the set £80 cheaper through the internet! Not to add any confusion, but I've opted for the Quinny Speedi SX with Maxi-Cosi Cabrio car seat for £250, and I'm really happy with it!

Good luck with your purchasing, and congratulations on your imminent arrival!

HappySad

I personally feel that two will suit most of your needs. I got a basic buggy from Maclaren for £70 with a hood and rain cover for going on the bus, train & car journeys. For going on long walks and doing the big shop I got the mother's and papa's pram/stroller with a large metal tray at the bottom. I love this because you can face your child towards you and you can talk to him while you walk.

I also agree with what Gooismeid has said. Get a travel pram that has the font wheels that move like a trolley.

I feel that everyone would need a buggy they are so light and will allow you to go anywhere.

The Mothercare catalogue has a section on choosing a travel system.

For the first few months of life I feel that a sling is the best for your baby and not the carseat travel systems. They are close to you and if you are breast feeding you just need the sling, baby and a small bag with a change of nappy and off you go.

Nearly eveyone I know that bought a travel system (that has the car seal the slots in) has regretted buying it.

If you want just one pram then you can go for a top of the range MacClaren that is from birth and has the easy to use breaks...not the sideway breaks from the lower priced ones in the range.

mrsg389

Congratulations!

We chose the M&P Freestyler travel system and are happy with our choice. We bought it from kiddicare.com at a substantial discount so it would be well worth your while to have a look at that. The only thing that lets it down a bit is that it is quite big when folded and heavy so we are planning to buy a stroller before we go on holiday next year.

Hope this helps

katskorner

katskorner wrote:

We had a Mothercare Travel System for our son when he was born - can't remember the exact name but it was around £200 new and we found it to be excellent.

Remembered what it is now! It is the Albany model that was available 2003/2004 - not sure if it still is or what superceeded it if anything.

Gambler

Has kiddicare stopped selling M&P?