To want to skip travel systems and go straight for an umbrella stroller?

[DorotheaHomeAlone]

My first baby is due in July and I'm finally trying to finally get my arse in gear and buy some stuff but it's all a bit overwhelming!

I'm generally a low fuss and low maintenance (lazy?) sort and really don't like being weighed down. I also hate wasting money. We live in inner London so I'm envisaging using public transport, wandering to classes and around the park and lunching with friends and family next year (I do know this is an idealistic dream!). I'm also keen to use a sling as much as possible.

With all of this in mind would WIBU to just skip the expensive travel system and go straight for something like a Maclaren XT that is suitable from birth?

Baby wouldn't be able to see me in those early months (unless in sling) is that going to freak me out as a new parent? Nice shop lady told me that a lot of parents buy the pricey bugaboos and then are back a few months layer buying a maclaren because its light and easy to use.

[schlafenfreude]

YANBU but consider a hybrid like a BJCM - easy to use as a Maclaren and better to fold but you can put a carrycot in if you want and most car seats attach if needed (which is a blessing if you need to take the train to somewhere that you need a car seat).

[Shetlandstock]

I used a sling for the first 5 months with DD1 and then a pram (which I'd already bought pre-birth so not a light umbrella fold). It was mostly ok except that if you were in town and fancied a coffee or something, you had nowhere to put her down. On the whole though, it was fine - I'd go it again if I had my time over.

[Shetlandstock]

*do

And cross post with schlalenfreude - that's a good idea! On reflection I'd do that ^^ if I had my time over again :)

[snoggle]

Totally depends on what you are doing. I did use our stroller from birth with DS2 as had it already but was glad of proper pram as well. Mainly so you can see baby when you,re out, are the blankets still on, etc and they can see you. Slings are great but IME only newborns sleep in them, once they hit 3 months or so they need to be lying down.

Also strollers tend to be rubbish

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

Well I've got a pricey Bugaboo as you call it (the Bee) and still use it with my 2 year old and it's as small as a stroller and light weight. So yabu.

[snoggle]

Totally depends on what you are doing. I did use our stroller from birth with DS2 as had it already but was glad of proper pram as well. Mainly so you can see baby when you,re out, are the blankets still on, etc and they can see you. Slings are great but IME only newborns sleep in them, once they hit 3 months or so they need to be lying down.

Also strollers tend to be rubbish on grass, muddy paths, uneven pavements etc so depending hon sort of walks you do something with suspension is more versatile

[BingoWingsBeGone]

We had a McClaren which we bought for going abroad which was from birth or 3 months and dd slept fine in it as it reclined fully. If I lived in a city I would certainly use it rather than a large pram.

We ended up swapping our initial pram purchase for a 3 wheeler as we live in the country and the 'pretty pram' just wasn't suitable

[anotherdayanothersquabble]

I have three children and have had a few prams along the way. I wish I had gone straight to a BJCM (baby jogger city mini) Lies flat so suitable from birth, I used it with a Lodger Pram cosy with my third and also used a sling a lot. Much easier than carrying a car seat / carry cot.

[BridgeOfWhys]

I used my pram a lot. I was too lazy for a sling and much preferred DS to be laying flat having a good sleep in comfort (while I sat in cafés). I found the car seat invaluable when popping in to places.

I also had no Moses basket and used the pram top in the house on a stand.

He is 18 months now and I have a Mclaren. I personally wouldn't have used it for the first 6 months at least. Although they lay flat they are very exposed and definitely not the same as laying on a mattress in a pram.

[LadySybilVimes]

I did this with my youngest, and the only disadvantage I found was that I ended up buying a separate car seat so that when I went places with others I could transport baby safely.

[Catsize]

Bought a travel system and hate it. Brittax. It has the facility to add another seat underneath, as we anticipated having two in fairly quick succession. However, my toddler won't go in the second seat. Instead, we have a City Jogger double pushchair, which we got off eBay and tend to use that. Have to admit I prefer having the baby facing me, which I can't with this pushchair.
I think that, living in London, you would be better with a sling in the early days and then a normal pushchair. With hindsight, would have been fine with a wrap sling. The only advantage with the travel system was the ability to put the car seat on the chassis of the pushchair bit. Second child is now ten weeks though and we have yet to do this. Feel we wasted an awful lot of money.

[whereisthewitch]

Alot of the pram systems out there are light and fold small, I just can't see a tiny newborn baby being comfortable in an umbrella stroller for long periods, especially if you are having a long day out shopping/lunch etc, they're not very smooth and tend to have very little or no suspension going over gravelly surfaces or paths.

but ultimately it's your decision, I used my Jane Trider system up until DD was 2, so much smoother and nicer to push than a rickety stroller IME

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

With my Bee I liked that DS could face me and I could clip the car seat on and off if I nipped out. I live in London too. It's much smoother than a maclaren stroller to push, the suspension on them is hard. Oh and I like the one handle bar rather than two, it's easier.

We're taking him out later and will be taking the Bee. He's 2.3.

[TheresLotsOfFarmyardAnimals]

I used the baby jogger city mini from birth. Only cost £160 from the kiddicare sale and have used it for 2 years. It's fab.

[Catsize]

Should have clarified - have been using a sling mostly with our baby, which I wish I had done with the toddler. Having a summer baby makes a difference for you too - less need for the protective sides of a pram.

[MissDuke]

YANBU, of course it is sensible to find what works for you. I bought a 2nd hand iCandy pushchair with carrycot on gumtree for £60 and love it. Still using it 2 years later, with dd still facing me. All the covers come off for washing, and it was barely used as the owner had decided to replace it with - an expensive bugaboo ha ha. Lots of people change their prams all the time, and so there can be great quality 2nd hand. I did get a brilliant bargain, but she lived in a rural area which maybe didn't suit a lot of people to collect there, and she really wanted rid of it due to the space taken up with her new purchase. So you may not get something just as cheap, but worth a try. That is only if you think baby facing you is something you might like.

[slowcomputer]

That's exactly what I did - bought a Maclaren Techno XT when pregnant with my daughter - she's now 5 and I'm using it for my son, I expect it to be the only buggy I'll ever have. Reasonably priced, hard wearing, easy to fold and fit in the car - what's not to like?!

[MissDuke]

I used a sling a fair bit, but wasn't always practical when going out with all 3 children as I had a huge bag with snacks, drinks, nappies, etc and it was awkward to carry with the sling - with one child a sling is a great idea.

[susiey]

I was in exactly the same predicament lived in London mainly used public transport etc. I bought a Maclaren cut and a really good cozy toes and was absolutely the best plan. All my friends ended sizing down at 6 months anyway

People will tell you you need a big pram you really don't . It's also lasted for 4 children so doing really well!

We Also put the phil and teds carrycot in it for dc3 because someone leant us one and it was perfect !

[EatDessertFirst]

I had a Maclaren XT. My DD had it from six months till eighteen months (after which she refused to sit in it ever) and I used it with my DS from newborn. I used the head support for him and it lays completely flat. A good cosytoes stopped him looking 'exposed' and kept him snuggly and comfortable. It worked perfectly well for us.

[Itscurtainsforyou]

We had the m&p pilko pramette, which was a proper pram but also an umbrella fold.
We used this until he was 9 months, then switched to a maclaren - before this it just didn't feel as if the lighter pushchair was supporting him enough.

[fish88]

I love my petite star njoy bubble. It is an umbrella style stroller but is reversable. You can have it parent facing at birth, forward facing when older and it is really easy to change round. They can be bought from £130 new or picked up for less on eBay which is cheap compared to a travel system. I use this for in town and slings when going anywhere muddy or uneven and never use the travel system I borrowed from a friend.

[Tangoandcreditcards]

My DS is only 3 months and I use a sling a lot, found it v useful to have a pram as well as he's a hot little bot and we both get v sweaty if he's in the sling for more than about 45 mins so useful to have somewhere to put him down so we can both cool down/dry off! Especially as the weather might be even warmer for you!

I have an obaby zezu which is v versatile (v cheap compared with others) and I love it (bulky when folded, mind).

[DorotheaHomeAlone]

Wow! Thanks for all of the responses. This is so helpful as I find it really hard to visualise myself on the side!

Just to clarify, we already have a Moses basket and would buy a separate car seat but mostly just leave it in the car. Money I sent the main issue as this is being bought as a gift from family but I just hate the idea of spending their money then switching in 4 months.

Any alternative model suggestions are also really helpful!

[riskit4abiskit]

Also loved our baby jogger. Bought bassinet that clips on from eBay or gumtree for first few months (baby quite All).
Also used sling.