First time Mum, literally so confused.

[Honeybear30]

Hi all, hoping you will be able to help me!

My first baby is due in September, which I know is a while away but I feel like the pram/travel system is likely to be my most important and biggest purchase so I've been thinking about it quite a lot.

I really don't understand what I need? It's so overwhelming! I assumed I'd need a carry cot, car seat (like a maxi cosi) and pushchair all in one, but DH asked me why I needed the carry cot and I couldn't come up with an answer? I live in a village so will have to drive to get anywhere, and as baby is due end of sept I don't anticipate being outside all that much (too cold?).

I'm not looking for specific brands or anything at the moment (even though I know I'll need something quite specific due to a small car and hyper mobility in my wrists!) but just some detail about what bits get used when?

Any advice would be really helpful to get me started in this mammoth pram buying journey! If I need to give more details please let me know!

[PotteringAlong]

You need the carrycot because the baby is meant to lie flat at first and not all seats do this and it is not advisable for them to spent long periods if time in the car seat so they say don't just leave them in that.

[Honeybear30]

So if I was going out I should take baby out of the car seat and into the carry cot unless I'm just popping into a shop? Makes sense but how does all this fit in a car?!

[MaccaPaccaismyNemesis]

The advice I would give is to not buy a travel system!

If you can buy a pram that's suitable from birth I.e a bugaboo bee or a BJCM. Babies need to lie flat and a car seat shouldn't be used for more than an hour including the journey time.

I do wish I'd had this information as I wasted so much money on a pram that was awkward and heavy and mainly useless. I now have a bee and am happier but massively annoyed that I insisted on a stupid arsing travel system!

[TribbleWithoutATardis]

Well how big is your car? There are so many different options at the moment, but let's start with the basics for you in order to narrow it down a bit.

So budget, car space, where you'll use it, what kind of house do you live in (ie would you have to lug the damn thing up and down steps).

[Honeybear30]

Is a travel system just a frame that allows a car seat to attach? What's the difference between buying a travel system and a stand alone pram?

[MaccaPaccaismyNemesis]

I'd also factor in how heavy it will be with a couple of stone of toddler in it, how useful/useless the basket is, whether you can carry shopping on it, and leaving some room in your boot for other things.

Not at all bitter, me

[TribbleWithoutATardis]

Most prams will take a car seat nowadays.

[Honeybear30]

Oh tribble I have a fiesta, the shape before the newest one. My front door leads right onto the street but it's on street parking so might have to walk quite a way to get to the car. Budget, would prob be willing to spend up to around £600 to make sure I get it right and use with any subsequent babies. As to where I'd use it, also a bit confused about that, being a first time mum in finding life hard to imagine with my baby and what I'll do. None of my friends or family have babies yet, perhaps why I'm so confused?!

[PotteringAlong]

If you go to somewhere like mothercare, even if you don't buy it from there, they will let you try prams in your boot. I'd do that, see what fits and make your decisions from there!

[TribbleWithoutATardis]

Do you do dog walking and go onto cobbly streets? Or do you do more town stuff?

[TribbleWithoutATardis]

So not teeny tiny, but not huge.

[FrankelandFilly]

I have an Uppababy Vista, IMHO it's the dog's it's easy to manoeuvre and collapse/assemble. You can also attach a Maxi Cosi or Be Safe car seat to the frame. I'd highly recommend it.

[Honeybear30]

I guess town walking is the most likely. No dog here and although it's a village we do have nice pavements and not cobbled streets :)

pottering it's less about what fits at the moment and more about what do I need? Once I figure that out I will absolutely be trying stuff out in the car. Thanks for your advice about the carry cot, that does make sense. I saw some yesterday and they look tiny, how long does baby use the carry cot for?

[BerylStreep]

I found having a car seat that you didn't need to use the seatbelt with really important as my poor lower back couldn't cope with bending over and faffing around with the seat belt.

I used Mamas & Papas car seat with a base, but that was 8 years ago. I am sure there are other ones around now with isofix.

[TribbleWithoutATardis]

I would second the Vista, it is such a lovely pushchair. I'm always very envious of those who I see with one. Otherwise, a baby jogger versa may fit the bill? Both are within your price range.

[TribbleWithoutATardis]

Up to about four/five months or so. The Vista comes with the carry cot.

[Honeybear30]

I have seen the vista when I've been out and it does look lovely. There seems to be prams everywhere I look now I'm actually looking! It didn't really occur to me to buy separates so will definitely look into this.

I like the idea of a base or 'isofix' as well (although not completely sure what this is!) as sadly I have a three door car and I don't think upgrading is an option at the moment. I didn't realise these existed, they sound much easier than faffing with a seat belt all the time.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far!

[Greenstone]

I have a vista too. It is great and so comfy and secure, but it's also pretty big and not that handy for getting in narrow cafe doors etc! Still, it comes with a carrycot which is also safe for night time sleeping. Meaning you don't need to buy a separate moses basket.

[Greenstone]

By the way you will be outside loads with a September baby! Rain, hail or shine most likely because it's the only way to get the little blighters to sleep. So also invest in a good raincoat

[Honeybear30]

Ha thanks greenstone for the tip!

I just watched a YouTube on the vista, it looks like it folds nice and small! I like the idea of the carry cot at home. I want to have a co sleeper at night but the carrycot downstairs would be great for during the day. I don't really want a Moses basket, just don't fancy the idea at all.

[FrankelandFilly]

If it's any help I drive a Kia Rio, which is about the same size as a Fiesta and I can get the Vista frame and carry cot in my boot without a problem, though I do have to take the parcel shelf out. I've not tried with the pushchair seat yet as DD is only 4 weeks old!

Just watch out with a Ford - they don't come with Isofix points as standard, they are a free optional extra when you buy them brand new DH has a 2006 Focus and it doesn't have the points so we have to use the seatbelt to secure the car seat when we use his car.

[MaccaPaccaismyNemesis]

Without wishing to sound indulgent after changing car seats in the dark/rain we eventually bought one for each car and leave them permanently in there!

[peggyundercrackers]

We used our carrycot all the time for the first few months. Our dd loved being in it when we went out, she slept in it all the time in the house too as we didn't really fancy a Moses basket either.

Isofix is just a system for fixing the car seat into the car without using the seat belt. To find out if your car has brackets just stick your hand down the back of the car seat and you should feel them if they are there. Our first seat didn't have isofix fixings and it wasn't a big issue.

We bought quite a big pram/travel system but we found about a year down the line we wanted a smaller pram/buggy which was easier to fold and use when we went on holiday for taking on a plane. We now use this pram more than we use our bigger pram - the bigger pram seems like a bit of a waste now but I do prefer using the bigger pram if I'm just out walking. The thing I like about the bigger pram is it can face either way however the smaller pram only faces away and I don't really like that.

[TribbleWithoutATardis]

If you're getting a maxi cosi pebble or cabriofix they do a base that can be belted in. I think it's called a sure fix or family fix, but they are available. FWIW, I've had a three door car with two dcs. It's fine once you get used to it, we couldn't upgrade. But it was fine.

[Littleturkish]

Stokke scoot is the one for you!

Folds up nice and small for car, it can lie flat and upright, forward and rear facing AND you can buy a car seat suitable for up to a year that fits for easy movement in and out of the car.

I adore mine- I walk everywhere and use it every day (I reckon I walk a good few miles every day!) and it's brilliant.

It is pricey, but the best investment I've made!