Do you need a carrycot?

[CurlsLDN]

Hello! I'm planning to buy the babystyle oyster, and maxi cosi pebble. I was planning to buy the carrycot for when baby is small, but now I'm having second thoughts!

We live in London so have limited storage space, and I will be going up stairs/on buses/on the underground very regularly, so would I be better off just having baby in the car seat on the wheels? Do you need a carrycot so they can lie flat?

Advice very much appreciated!

[Writerwannabe83]

I can't stand seeing babies being pushed round in car seats - those babies must be so uncomfortable. It isn't good for their posture or their airway. Me and DH are definitely getting a carry cot - we saw a lovely pram/pushchair/car seat set yesterday and I'm trying to convince my husband why it justifies it's cost, lol. I'm not getting very far

[Rockchick1984]

You need a carrycot so they can lie flat, its bad for their spine and lungs to be in a car seat all the time. Alternatively the Graco Evo is a similar pram but the seat is suitable from birth if you didn't want a carry cot.

[LastOneDancing]

You should only let your baby sit in the car seat for 2h at a time, so if you only do short trips, fine. If not your LO will have to come out for breaks.

Doesn't the oyster recline fully with a head hugger for newborns?

Prams have all merged into one!!

[MyNameIsKenAdams]

Baby in a sling til they are old enough to go in the seat of the pushchair.

Babies should only be in a carseat when in the car and even then, only for relatively short bursts of time.

If needs be, keep the stroller and carrycot in tge car boot rather than lugging it into the house every day.

[Only1scoop]

Only used carrycot a handful of times....the buggy itself with cocoon was flat and for short nips used the pebble on wheels with adaptors. Pebble was fab by the way, but stokke carrycot was expensive and just gathered dust.
Have found many friends have barely used carrycot part of pram.
Happy shopping.

[Mummytobe2014]

We have brought the britax affinity which comes with added padding which enables you to use from birth so baby can lie flat, although as other state we do not intend on keeping baby in car seat for long, only to travel - once at home he will be transfered to moses basket or similar. But you can also buy the carry cot.

[blacklily3]

Hi Curls,

With my first I ended up using the Pram/Carrycot part of the travel system downstairs for DD to sleep in, and I hated the moses basket I got so actually had her sleeping in the pram/carrycot overnight too for the first few weeks (if getting a carrycot you need to check that it is ventilated and says suitable for overnight sleeping). Mine was a must and am 30 weeks tomorrow with number two and have got travel system with carrycot again, I plan on using this for naps downstairs (assuming my new baby sleeps through 2.5 year old playing lol) so that I don't have carry moses basket down - yes have a moses basket again lol, was not the plan but found a mamas and papas one with great reviews and on sale so going to try it, if that fails I will get the stand and use the carry cot. Good luck :c)

[beckslovestimmy]

You can only keep Baby in the car seat for 1.5hrs maximum and they should be lying flat for up to 6months. You can get buggies that are suitable from birth though so might be worth another look?

[lucyfluff]

I have the Oyster and carrycot from last pg and used it loads its really nice. Will be using it all again this time around too!!

[CurlsLDN]

Oh wow thanks so much for the advice everyone!

The oyster isn't suitable from birth but the oyster max is, so we'll go and have a look at that before making a decision. I was put off the max as its slightly wider and 2kgs heavier, but it's definitely worth a look following what you have all said. Thankyou!

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

God yes! I need on dc3 and I have very particular opinions about prams and especially car seats.
Carrycot us right up there at the top of the list.

[Keepthechangeyoufilthyanimal]

Personally, I would definitely get a carrycot whichever pushchair I was going for, even if the seat unit was suitable from birth. So much more comfy, spacious etc and better for their back.
If it is the oyster you are looking at, you would need the carry cot anyway as the seat unit is only suitable from 6 months due to the angle it reclines to.
You can't keep the baby crammed in the car seat whenever you are out for the first 6 months

[Keepthechangeyoufilthyanimal]

P.s. because carry cots tend to get fairly short usage (6 months max) you can generally find them quite cheap second hand on ebay, pushchair selling sites etc…obviously they are quite large/heavy so try looking for areas closely to you to collect :)

[SaucyJack]

Have you seen the Obaby Zezu?

It's an all in one thingummy- the top bit "folds up" at the ends to switch from a traditional pram to an upright seat unit.

We've got one to save on money and storage. I haven't used it yet (still pg) but it does both jobs well, and I love pushing it round the kitchen.

I wouldn't use a car seat full-time personally. It's not good for the spine.

[LastOneDancing]

Just a thought - Oyster max can convert into a double too, just in case you're thinking long term.

Oh I love pram shopping! My uppababy arrives today - its like getting a new car

[BEEwitched]

I agree with the others, I'd reconsider the carrycot!

We looked at the Baby Jogger City Mini GT and the Uppababy Vista, and we're actually picking up our pram today (a lucky find Easy Walker Sky, which we're getting on sale, so quite happy).

I would've loved to just buy the BJCT but the carrycot is small and we usually have big babies in my family - if you're out and about with your baby and they fall asleep in the pram it'll be nice to have a carrycot you can bring inside and let them snooze in, you couldn't/shouldn't really do that in a car seat.

Something like that Easy Walker carrycot or the Uppababy Carrycot is actually suitable for overnight sleeping, as well, which can be handy on short trips.

LastOne I can't wait to pick up our pram today, it IS like getting a new car!

[pinkglitter80]

we used m&p urbo from birth as it lies flat so we didn't buy the optional carrycot x

[KatAndKit]

If you are going up and down stairs and on public transport you would be better off with a smaller pushchair. The oyster Max is quite wide and bulky in my opinion if you have to carry it upstairs. Have you considered a bee with the newborn nest?

[KatAndKit]

I have the urbo without carrycot. I can't imagine taking it on the tube as it noeeds me to bend down and use both hands to fold or unfold. Where is the baby while you do that? It is great for buses though as it us not too wide. Tbh if I was going on the tube with a baby not big enough for a teeny tiny stroller, I would use a sling.

[pinkglitter80]

I've used the urbo on the tube (and left it up) but not in rush hr and only where there are lifts at the stns.....It is one of the smaller & lighter prams, apart from maclarens etc

[KatAndKit]

Ah right. Not being in London myself most of my experience to date of the tube has been in stations where there is no lift. Guess it depends on the exact journey you are making.

[pinkglitter80]

v true - sling much easier if no lift!!

[Artandco]

Have you considered the baby zen 0+. Lies flat from birth, yet folds tiny and can carry up and up tube steps like a bag over shoulder. Out end of the month

[CurlsLDN]

Thanks for all the advice everyone, i'll have a look at the options you've suggested.

We looked at the Urbo but i found it too bulky, the Oyster seems to be one of the lighter ones out there. Sadly our budget won't stretch to a bee!

I have bought a sling, hopefully i'll be able to make good use of that on tricky journeys!

[Shellywelly1973]

I also live in London. I won't be buying a carrycot for this baby. I did with previous babies but they hardly got used.

Totally impractical on public transport. Can't store it in the car...

I think the plan to use the sling is the most practical.