Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Maclaren XLR for a newborn?

25 replies

ChestyLaRue · 16/02/2009 22:22

I'm due DC4 in June and have been through the WHOLE pram spectrum with DC1-3. Very conscious of this being my last pregnancy though and that baby will be arriving at the beginning of the summer. Have visions of long walks and picnics with new baby over the holidays, however in reality, do generally travel by car mostly. Had thought about (another) pram to pushchair type thing but suspect that I will get limited use of the pram mode as my babies are usually big and that when the time comes to convert to a pushchair, I shall be longing to swap my big cumbersome one for a Maclaren! Quite fancy the Maclaren XLR but DH was horrified that I'd even think about putting a newborn in it. Don't want baby 'rattling' around in it. Does anyone have any firsthand experience of one?

OP posts:

Report

ChestyLaRue · 16/02/2009 22:23

I'm due DC4 in June and have been through the WHOLE pram spectrum with DC1-3. Very conscious of this being my last pregnancy though and that baby will be arriving at the beginning of the summer. Have visions of long walks and picnics with new baby over the holidays, however in reality, do generally travel by car mostly. Had thought about (another) pram to pushchair type thing but suspect that I will get limited use of the pram mode as my babies are usually big and that when the time comes to convert to a pushchair, I shall be longing to swap my big cumbersome one for a Maclaren! Quite fancy the Maclaren XLR but DH was horrified that I'd even think about putting a newborn in it. Don't want baby 'rattling' around in it. Does anyone have any firsthand experience of one?

OP posts:

RGPargy · 16/02/2009 22:24

No i dont, sorry, but i'm not sure that the XLR lies completely flat? Also, agree with DH that the baby would seem to be rattling around in it lol.

SlightlyMadScotland · 16/02/2009 22:29

I had my newborn tiny (5lb) DTDs in a side by side stroller from birth. Was fine. Just use the footmuff to protect them a bit if need be.

I would have had a Techno XT for DD3 from birth but we practically got a Graco pushchair free with teh carseat we wanted.

Are you planning to use it as a travel system? You do know that travel systems are not good for babies lungs and in a few cases have been linked with babies going blue and suffering reduced oxygen levels?

If you are not going to use teh travel system I would go for the XT - a bit narrower for manouverability; less room to rattle around in for baby; still big enough for a toddler, but overall a lot lighter.

SlightlyMadScotland · 16/02/2009 22:30

SlightlyMadScotland · 16/02/2009 22:30

newgirl · 16/02/2009 22:33

i used an xt for my newborn as it lies flat and she was absolutely fine

i had a 3 wheeler for first child and the xt was far better

StayFrosty · 16/02/2009 22:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChestyLaRue · 16/02/2009 22:37

No, not using as a travel system as still have DS's car seat. Wasn't aware that travel systems are dangerous though? Is that because the baby isn't lying flat? The product info for the XLR says that it's suitable from birth so I'm assuming from that, that one of the reclining positions is flat. I prefered the XLR to the XT because it seemed a bit more luxurious and comfy/cosy.

OP posts:

PollyGarter · 16/02/2009 22:38

i went with the xlr, it's designed to be used from birth, but i also use a sling when it's more convenient.

the seat lies almost flat, there's a very slight angle on its lowest setting. and the newborn head rest is very useful.

i can see it lasting me through the whole of ds' baby/toddler years.

i'd go with it again in a flash. it's brilliant to travel with. only downside, is that it isn't facing inwards, although there is a peep window on the canopy to check on the lo.

LibrasJusticeLeagueofBiscuits · 16/02/2009 22:41

I used the XLR from birth and bought a sheepskin to put in there so he didn't look too lost! The only thing I have against it is that you can't have the baby facing you but I am sure he was relieved he got an hour or 2 a day not having to listen to my inane chatter
Personally, with hindsight, I think I would go with the XT we just felt a little guilty not buying him an all singing/all dancing system and thus decided to upgrade from the XT to the XLR but for longevity the XT makes more sense as the XLR is heavier.

ChestyLaRue · 16/02/2009 22:46

Thanks everyone. Libras, was the the difference in weight the only reason you would choose an XT over the XLR with hindsight? After reading some of the posts, I had another look at the XT and by the time you buy the footmuff, they cost the same!

OP posts:

newgirl · 16/02/2009 22:48

dont think travel systems are dangerous - it may be more that they are bulky so if you need to put them in back of care it can be tricky - can be tricky to get into places - it depends when you wish to use them. a maclaren will last for years - newborn to four - dont think all travel systems can do that, though many can

LibrasJusticeLeagueofBiscuits · 16/02/2009 23:02

Wow I've just checked the mothercare website and good god they have gone up in price, I swear we got our XLR for approx £160 last summer from mothercare.
re:footmuff we got one with the XLR but tbh we haven't used it at all, I just bought a sheepskin and a buggysnuggle. I think in the shop the XLR just looked, as you said, a tad more cosy and luxurious!

picklesmama · 17/02/2009 00:13

Sounds like you've decided but even though I am a huge maclaren fan (on my second XT), I wouldnt put a newborn in it. They are too small, vulnerable and lowdown. By all means if pairing it with a sling might be ok but you can't beat a pram/carrycot type thing for a tiny baby... sorry...

browny · 17/02/2009 00:27

I've got an XLR and have used it when my baby was a few weeks old, (we keep it in the car), I bought it at the beginning of December last year for £165 from Mothercare -I was shocked to see that it now costs £245!, I've no idea why as it is exactly the same.

My baby was just over 6lb born, but she looked really cosy in the pram, it came with a cosy seat liner and headhugger and a footmuff, oh and a raincover too. I love it, I bought the XT for my last baby but this one has a bigger seating area and just feels more substantial. HTH

browny · 17/02/2009 00:31

Oh, also meant to add that most of the time I've been carrying my dd3 in a Coorie fleece sling that I bought from www.brightsparkslings.co.uk, I love and she loves it too .

LibrasJusticeLeagueofBiscuits · 17/02/2009 07:21

browny, glad someone else confimed the price difference, I thought I was going mad! Thing is at £245 I'm not sure it's worth the money, you can get a better all singing all dancing one for that money can't you? At £160 it was a bargain.

newgirl · 17/02/2009 11:50

the lowdown thing - i guess it depends on what you are used to - my first had mamas and papas and it was about the same lying down height as a maclaren.

is it poss to borrow a travel system type thing for say six weeks and then go maclaren?

cost is a pain but you can sell then secondhand for 30-50 quid for people to use as spares/give to mum etc so that can help a little

panic101 · 17/02/2009 12:07

We bought the XLR recently, just before Mothercare put their prices up. The lady in store told us we were lucky to buy it before the new catalogue came out as pretty much all items would see a price increase - didn't think it'd go up to £245 though!!!
I was in Toys R Us at the weekend though and they are still selling it for £185.

dinkystinky · 17/02/2009 12:08

Libras - I think John Lewis and Kiddicare are still selling the XLR for £165 (or at least they were a few weeks ago...)

SlightlyMadScotland · 17/02/2009 18:05

Regarding newborns and travel systems:

There are some reports which have shown that a newborn suffers from decreased oxygen levels in teh blood when sat in a carseat (because their head can compress their trachea when asleep, and there chest capacity is reduced when sitting as they don't hold their weight up). They are Ok for short periods; and a carseat should always be used when travelling in a car - it is the safest way for ababy to travel. But IMO they shouldn't be sat in a carseat unnecessarily - a travel system IMO is unnecessary (compared to a layflat pushchair/pram) and leaving a sleeping baby in a carseat so as not to disturb them is unnecessary.

Some reports suggest that it is only low birthweight and/o premmies which are at risk - but I have seen at least 1 report which says that all babies show a reduced oxygen level being in a carseat - not all of them are at "dangerously low levels" though.

My baby has gone blue in her carseat - so I have seen first hand evidence.

Here is some supporting material:

here

bit technical but I have basically summarised above

to put this into context a baby will be put on oxygene with "sats" of less than 98%; and a baby with "sats" of 90% will appear blue

Oh and 1 final comment - Misdee who was queen of pushchairs said that the XT was miles better than the XLR in the longer term as it is much more manouverable and less bulky - and I agree....Xt is a much better long term buy

poppy34 · 17/02/2009 18:09

we had/have an xt that we used for dd from birth - but we put dd in with thick cosytoes (got a snugglebug one but swopped to maclaren later)from birth.. I also had a head support thing -she definitely wasnt rattlng around in it . Am glad I went with it as now really comfy in it...

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

notcitrus · 17/02/2009 18:20

Used xt from birth - got it from mothercare online on offer with a discount code, with a wonderful thick muff from John Lewis - muff strapped in, baby inside comfy and cosy.

For the first 5 weeks he wouldn't sleep anywhere else so I slept in the lounge with him!

The XT now comes in black for 2009 so suspect grey ones will be cheap online.

ChestyLaRue · 17/02/2009 20:07

Phoned round lots of places today and several were offering the pink one for as little as £170, however strangely, not one of the places I called had the blue one. Some offered to order it, but would be at the 'new' price of £245. Feel a bit miffed that if I was having a girl I'd be able to get it for so much less! Was reading the pushchair review in this month's 'Mother & Baby' mag and my eyes were drawn to the Mamas & Papas Luna? Has anyone used it? My last but one pram was a M&P Pliko Pramette and the 'freedom to explore' harness drove me bonkers so much so that I ditched it early on for a Maclaren, so that's a bit of an early concern.

OP posts:

PollyGarter · 17/02/2009 21:24

not much better but here do xlrs for £222... tho without the £30 foot muff. A few colour choices tho. With the weight... it seems light to me, but i've not tried any others except the Stokke xplory - which i adored, but beyond my budget.

Don't know about the Luna, sorry.

Flip

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.