Best Travel System - due January

[PassTheCake82]

I'm totally overwhelmed by the range of travel systems out there and wanted to hear some reviews first hand. My little one is due at the beginning of January. We'd hope to spend no more than £600 if possible. Huge thanks for taking the time to read this

[Dlah]

We spent £650 for the Oyster 2, maxi cosy car seat, isofix base, adapters, and the pushchair itself included chassis, lay flat/sit up chair, foot muff, changing bag, rain cover, mosquito/sun net so basically everything (we've opted out of carry cot as the normal chair can lie flat so suitable from birth)

Whilst no baby yet, I'm happy with my purchase, really easy to move, comfortable for me being a bit taller with the adjustable handle bar, especially as my OH is a tad shorter and can reduce. Good sized basket. Wheels can fix or rotate depending on flooring. It feels light but sturdy, and can fold down quite compact to fit in the boot of my 207.

So far it's got everything we need, few practices putting car seat on, and can forward or rear face, with viewing panel of forward facing.

Really love it

[babynelly2010]

£600 is a good budget. I would go to a store with large pram stock, look and test around, then check out deals on line. We had phil & teds for our two. I never saw it in person and just brought it on line. The pram is a tank, so heavy, especially with two children in it. I think if I tested it before I would of steared clear of it.

[Dlah]

Ditto the above, I originally fell in love with the Cybex, just by looking online - the day I saw it/picked it up, I could barely lift it (and I'm not petit!) it was like a dead weight, not a chance with a baby in. So disappointed!

[Mol1628]

I loved my graco evo.

[anyname123]

Another vote for Oyster 2. We opted out of the carry cot, as per Dlah, as felt it was unecessary, got slate grey, looks really smart

[ohidoliketobe]

Are you anywhere near Winstanley's Pramworld? They're really good at advising and have massive range of brands and models.

I've got an uppababy vista which you can get for about £700 including a maxi cosi car seat. I can't recommend it enough. A few of my friends who have been to Winstanley's have come away with a Vennici travel system which is around 500 and they're all happy with it.

There's so many variables. Will you get around by car or public transport? If car whats your boot space like? Will you be walking miles all terrain walking dogs, or just be using it mainly in town? Do you need a big basket? Something lightweight?

[PassTheCake82]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions
I'm in Scotland. My partner drives but I don't so I'll be using public transport. I don't plan on using it other than in the city as I hope to use a sling for any hiking trips etc. One thing I guess I should be mindful of is the awful weather though - in terms of steering and keeping the wee one protected.
Ideally it would be fairly lightweight for the grans to operate too!

[babynelly2010]

Some prams come with snow wheels :)

[Runningupthathill82]

Honestly? If you don't drive and will be mainly using it on public transport/around the city, I would think long and hard about getting a travel system at all.

I bought a travel system for DC1 and thought it was great ...until he was actually here! The poster up thread who said Whilst no baby yet, I'm happy with my purchase made me grin.
I used my Maxi Cosi system maybe five times in total, and only ever when we were using the car. Instead I ended up using a sling and then an umbrella fold buggy from four months. If you ever try to take down a travel system on a train, or put one up one-handed while recovering from a hideous birth, you'll understand why it was barely used.

With DC2, I was given a very swanky travel system and again used it perhaps twice. We now have a sling, an umbrella fold buggy (for city/public transport) and a running buggy.

Travel systems are made out to be essential purchases. They're honestly not, so I'd try several out before committing to something that could cost you £100 per use.

[ConvincingLiar]

I wouldn't have bought the graco Evo with hindsight because there's only one car seat that fits with it and it's not compatible with anything else and the car seat isn't great (in some cars it's causes the newborn's head to slump forwards).

Whatever you get, investigate whether it's comfortable to push, easy to fold and possible to pick up. It's nice to be able to forward/rear face. Nice to have lie flat for little ones.

[SweepTheHalls]

Love my icandy apple. Its my 3rd baby and 3 pram for a baby, but the best I've had so far.

[Artandco]

Just for the city and in out car? I would get something that's small and lasts newborn to toddler. You don't want anything that has to be taken apart to fold for car use

Easywalker mosey
Bugaboo bee
Mountain buggy swift ( larger wheels for snow)

[Artandco]

Oh and car seat isn't great used on pram. Baby should only stay in seat as short time as possible, some say 30 mins max as small baby. So by the time you have drive that time has past already and they need taking out. It's to do with low oxygen levels when they are in car seat shape

[Mol1628]

That's true about the car seat. In hindsight I would get a 0-4 years rear facing seat and then a decent pram unit with an easy fold.
The car seat on pram was useful for a little while but not really necessary.