Xplory - bar between child's legs

[LionRock]

For anyone who has the Xplory, particularly if you used it with a new baby (and before I go to see one in the flesh). The photos I've seen show that in parent-facing mode the child's legs go on either side of a bar. I'm just wondering if this causes any issues, especially with a young baby in carrycot mode, where their legs may be quite far apart to accomodate this bar. It just seems a bit odd and possibly uncomfortable.

Also, do you know if any generic accessories fit the Xplory (e.g. raincover etc)?

thanks

[belindarose]

In carrycot mode, the 'split' is a long way down the carry cot, so my DD's feet never reached that far. We have no problems with the seat/ cosytoes thing either, except I suppose it's a bit harder to get her in when she's protesting than it would be into a more straightforward shape. Never found generic accessories, but didn't splash out on beautifully shaped carrycot sheets - just folded an ordinary pram sheet round. DSIL has the change bag and it's really small so glad we didn't get it.

[Umnitsa]

A newborn's legs will not reach the split for a few months. DD is 6 months old now and still in the carry cot, no problem at all; I think anatomically babies tend to keep knees and feet slightly apart anyway.

Don't know about generic accessories. I think a typical set includes a raincover and a shopping bag. We got a special deal with a mosquito net, a parasol and a travel bag, none of which have been used so far. I did buy the special Stokke sheet but probably could have done without it. Would not bother with a Stokke nappy bag either.

[LionRock]

Thanks, that's good to know.

More qs if you don't mind-

If you put the Stokke in your car boot, which car do you use and how easily does it fit?

Did you buy the BeSafe IZI carseat for the Stokke and if so, can you put the car seat in the recline position on the chassis? I notice the Stokke version is a lot more expensive than the standard BeSafe IZI Sleep.

thanks again

[Umnitsa]

We have Mercedes B series and it does take a lot of room in the boot. So far we've done one big outing to the country and the suitcase had to go on the back seat when Xplory was in the boot.

We bought MaxiCosi Pebble so can't really advise about BeSafe. Happy with the car seat and use it on the chassis every now and then but the car seat sits on special Stokke / MaxiCosi extenders and feels a little wobbly. I am sure it is perfectly safe and there may be an added advantage of the increased rocking movement as the baby goes to sleep, but I do get slightly paranoid when the road gets a little bumpy or we need to tilt the chassis to get on/off the curb.

[belindarose]

We have a renault scenic and it takes up most of the boot room! We didn't have a car seat and attachment on ours. We have a big age 0-4 car seat that stays in the car. I liked the carrycot so much that I wanted to make the most of it. Only disadvantage for us was not being able to lift a sleeping baby out of the car still in the seat, but they get heavy so quickly I was usually glad not to have to lug her around like that.

[SweetApril]

We have a Clio and the Xplory takes up most of the boot. Never bothered with the carrycot, DD (4) and now DS (7wks) went straight into the normal seat on full reline from birth - both quite big babies though. For the car seat we have a MaxiCosi Cabriofix used with adaptors on the buggy frame. Generic raincover won't fit and I seriously doubt whether many other generic accessories would. It's a great buggy, especially the parent-facing bit - that really is fab - but we did find ourselves having to buy a 2nd buggy when our DD was about six months for long trips when we needed the boot space and also for plane travel.

[LionRock]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and experiences. I've now seen the Stokke and really like it, though the OH doesn't like it at all. Ah well!

BelindaRose - we're also thinking of getting a group 0/1 car seat as I don't know if we'll make use of an infant carrier's portability. I've gone in a circular route from grp 0/1 to rearfacing grp 0/1 to the BeSafe sleeper infant carrier, mainly because it fits the Stokke.