Baffled! How many prams / car seats / travel systems are there actually out there....anyone?

[GrumpyMoo]

A shout out to anyone else going through this...I am currently 33 weeks pregnant and as my MIL keeps telling me my hubby was 6 weeks early ... so I have decided to get a move on with finding a pram/buggy whatever box with wheels?

... It's too long since last LO to use theirs so need something new. Or even not new. Not that fussy.

But HOW on earth are you supposed to make a decision? We don;t have a lot of space so I know that's a consideration. And boot space in the car... And where do you put the thing when it's not in use? And WHY are they all so blimmin pricey?

I figure someone else out there MUST be having the same headache as me...

Come keep me company as I slowly tear out what's left of my hair... I have plenty of cake and oddly, honeydew melon (best craving ever!)

[fitzbilly]

Yeah I feel your pain! My DS came six weeks early and I wasn't prepared! He's now eight weeks old and basically lives in a sling, and I went for the maxi cost cabriofix car seat (and since having him I've noticed there the car seat most new borns are in).

Haven't got a buggy yet and haven't needed one as the sling is fine, but I'm going to buy the out and about nipper sport as it's a running buggy and that's what I will use the buggy for once he's old enough.

To be honest there really is no need to spend a fortune, you just need singing simple that works for you and your needs.

[fitzbilly]

PS I loved watermelon when pregnant!

[Soubriquet]

Too many

Look at what you need it for

Off roading or just round town
Easy to fold or is that not a problem
Price budget
Basket size
Extras you get or can buy

[timeforachangeithink]

Get a Joie chrome http://www.mothercare.com/prams-and-pushchairs/joie-chrome-pram-and-pushchair-travel-system---black/LX5158.html

Folds tiny, (fits in my i10 boot with the pushchair attachment on), decent price (free carrycot and car seat so you only have to buy a base) and is great to push with a big shopping basket. Problem solved.

[AppleJac]

It is a minefield!!! I recon there are around 150 travel systems on the market and that doesnt include strollers!

Many people including myself have made mistakes with prams in the past so i really recommend doing your research.

They are stupid prices too

[Artandco]

For you, with small boot and space, get a pram that lies flat from birth so you don't need two parts and carrycot

[fitzbilly]

With car seats, you have to check if it will fit in your car, most manufacturers have a tool on their website to check if it will fit in your car.

We have a 14 year old car, so no isofix, and some car seats were not suitable as our seatbelts don't come out far enough for them.

It's worth considering.

And for the buggy, just ask yourself what you will be using it for and go from there.

If just need if for a quick trip to the shops you'll need a very different buggy to someone who goes on lots of off road trips.

[fitzbilly]

But also think about whether you actually need a buggy from birth or if a sling will do till they are older?

[MrsA2]

Uppababy vista. It's amazing. DD is 2 and we've used it every day. Always comes highly recommended and is great for double too if you plan on having a second.

It really is a minefield though! Totally recommend heading to John Lewis or similar and comparing a load. Google/online reviews made me think I'd want a Phil and Ted but actually I hated them in reality. Good luck!

[Heirhelp]

We have Uppababy Cruz, light weight and the bassinet can be removed while the baby is in it for overnight sleeping. Easy fold. Down side is the bassinate is short and dd out grew it at 9 weeks.

The besafe Izi seemed to be the best car seat. It has side impact protection and magnets at the side to keep the straps out of the way when getting in and out of the seat. I have found no down sides with it.

[GrumpyMoo]

Hello everyone.... not sure where all my replies went!

But anyway... thanks for everyone who popped in to say Hi or give advice! My head is still spinning with it all...

We went to Mothercare yesterday for two entire hours and basically played with as many prams as we thought we could get away with... the staff were lovely. Mostly. One lady I reckon thought we were mental! Which isn;t far off the truth

We went from the Silver Cross wayfarer Chelsea to kinda thinking that the Oyster 2 was the one... better wheeels... we have about 14 steps up to the garden path and then another 3 / 4 to get inside the house!

It's also gotta be quite light as we live in a town of hills.

Hubby is even now talking about getting a bigger car. Basically cos we have a 3 door Mitsubishi colt. I reckon it'll be okay but I tend to do that and find out after it's not.

xx

[Trifleorbust]

It is ridiculous how many options there are! But we're going for plain and lightweight: ickle bubba stomp.

[Flingmoo]

I also found the choice overwhelming and extremely pricey considering that they are only in the pram/car seat style ones for a short amount of time before a normal pushchair type buggy will do. In the end I just used a sling and moved to a cheap pushchair one when DS was 3 months old. I always felt kind of smug when I heard friends telling me they'd got a travel system in the sale for only £900... and I only spent £20 on my buggy and it's been great Having said that I've probably spent about £150 on slings and carriers over the last 2.5 years!

If I'd known I was going to have a second child though I'd probably have invested in a more expensive buggy that would last for two babies.

[FlipperSkipper]

We spent 4 hours at the baby show last weekend, mostly looking at travel systems and I think we've decided on the Oyster2. It seems pretty well built, easy to fold and I liked all the features on it, and I like how it looks! I was after an icandy Apple but neither me or my husband could fold it, which is a bit of a problem!

[Nan0second]

If you've got that many steps, I would seriously reconsider a travel system. A sling is brilliant when you have lots of stairs and a city jogger mini would be an excellent pushchair option (which does lay flat). You can get adapters for car seat if you want and we used a soft carrycot insert (graco or phil and teds both fit) for extra cosiness.
Good luck!

[Artandco]

YEs I would get one much lighter with 15+ steps.

[CastleFeck]

Look on eBay for a whole system that someone else has done the leg work putting together.

[Enidblyton1]

Crazy isn't it!! And they are so overpriced....
Ive always opted for spending under £100 - either a new McLaren (one of the simplest ones) or second hand Bugaboo. And a few slings (which I never really got on with!).

[Reetpetite17]

I am having the same problem! Currently 26wks so have some time.

With my first I got the Silver Cross 3D travel system. It came with everything, had 4 normal wheels which is what I wanted and it didn't have a car seat that attached to it which I don't like. But only thing was is that that pram is quite heavy and chunky! We lived in a flat so I had to carry shopping and baby upstairs then go back down to fold the thing and lug it up the stairs.

I wont be getting it again. I want a nice simple pram, light-weight and has normal wheels! I'll be using a baby carrier this time so even if we don't have a pram by the time baby is here I'll wear him. I ordered my pram from Mothercare a week before son was born at 36 weeks and it arrived about a week and a half later because I didn't think he'd be that early!

[GrumpyMoo]

Yes, everything very expensive! But hubs wants to so... shrugs

mamushka I have 3 different types of sling ready to go - one long fabric type wrap thing. One with a huge ring on it and a padded section for your shoulder and a proper structured carrier... all picked up in the last year at charity shops! I do love a bargain! And they are brilliant for getting around in...my last DD (now 15) was constantly in hers! But I worry now that as I am 40 I am going to get tired much more quickly and then have nowhere to put bubs if I do stop somewhere for a sneaky cuppa in town while shopping.And how safe is it for the head/neck being so wobbly? Would it be better with one of the stretchy fabric sling things?

trifleorbust the pram looks fab! and that's a pretty good price! But I'm not sure about the pale grey... ime the kids are basically grub magnets!

Ahhh well, think we are back to mothercare this weekend to look at the ones we missed last week... Joie, Graco, Mothercare own etc... I may even get to look at OTHER things in there this time... as I was hustled out past all the cute soft little outfits and the bedding! Hubs had reached his limit bless him! MInd you my first husband had absolutely ZERO interst in anything baby, child or house related so this is a lovely new first for me

xx

[fuzzywuzzy]

I've been looking at travel systems too, & I'm veering towards the Silver Cross Zap with baby pack, will need extras like a raincover for the baby pack and footmuff.

I'm not sure if it's worth it or not.

It's such a minefield.

[GrumpyMoo]

Isn't it just! I was given a second hand silver cross pram when I was 1st pergnant (20 years ago) and it honestly was the best thing ever... uk.pinterest.com/pin/393713192396579034/
but not made anymore! Between that and a pretty cheapo sling... we went everywhere! The pram folded easily... held itself up when folded and you could manage to hold the baby and fold it! Huge basket that you could leave stuff in when folded too!

God, I'm getting sentimental about it now!

[GrumpyMoo]

Oh and it had a wedge thing that made it suitable for new babies when laid flat... sigh

[fruitpastille]

Borrow or buy second hand a lie flat pram for the first few months. Then get a really good buggy to see you through the2-3 after that.

If you really want a travel system there are loads on eBay and you can just get the car seat brand new. My friend's bugaboo bee is fab but cost a fraction of what a new one would have.

[Artandco]

I would suggest something like this

m.johnlewis.com/baby-jogger-city-lite-pushchair-black/p/1863118

1. it's only £170
   
2. lightweight, can lift down and up the stairs easily
   
3. folds compact in one piece. So could carry up or down stairs closed and open at top. Can leave folded in flat to save space.
   
4. suitable from birth as lays fully flat. Can get a sheepskin liner and cosy footmuff to make super comfy.
   
5. compact fold make it easier for in car or on bus or tube. Can put baby in sling and carry down tube escalated folded for example
   
6. large seat, will last newborn to toddler