Travel systems

[Ellypoo]

Hi! Having looked at what seems like millions of pushchairs/prams/travelsystems, I think we have narrowed it down to 2:
Mamas & Papas Glide or the Britax B-smart 4.
I would really like parent facing seat, and like the idea of easily being able to clip the carseat in, and use the carrycot instead of a moses basket, thus being able to pop out to the shops when the baby is asleep.
DC isn't due until January, but I'm trying to be organised - also, we are hopefully going to buy second-hand as we can't really afford to buy brand new.
So, has anyone got/used either of these systems, or is there a cheaper alternative that we haven't yet discovered? Any comments / reviews / suggestions very much welcome!

[AKMD]

Hi! Well done for narrowing it down to just two; there is so much choice it's so hard to make a decision. I don't have either of these systems but Mamas and Papas don't accept returns once the pram has been out of the shop and their after-sales service if there's a problem is absoluetly rubbish so I would go with the Britax purely for those reasons. It looks good too! If you're planning on using the carrycot for sleeping overnight though I would give Britx a call and check that it's certified safe to do so as some carrycots dont' allow enough air circulation for that.

[tory79]

I can't comment too much as baby is not actually here yet, but we have bought the Britax B-Smart 4 - this one in fact www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplay0_10751_-1_125538_10001?cm_mmc=HookLogic--On+Site--Advert-_-Product (just in case you haven't found a better deal than this one!) I LOVE the colour, it was really easy to put together, and from the little go I have had of it, very easy to use and swap the different bits in and out of the frame.

[Crosshair]

I like the look of the Britax B-smart 4 compared to the Mamas & Papas Glide.

[whizzyrocket]

We got a Silver-cross Sleepover pram travel system on ebay for £65. There's nothing wrong with it and we got loads of extras so I feel rather good for not having been wasteful, as well as for having saved us hundreds!

The pram we have is lovely and does all those things you say you want it to, but it is HUGE!!! We have a large boot (Seat Altea xl) so my husband can fit all his sporting paraphernalia in the back but still when you put the pram in the back there is scarcely any room for anything else.

[nannyl]

Id go for the britax

simply because the car seat that goes with it is the safest which? have tested, in both isofix and belted mode.

(britax babysafe II SHR)

also if getting a preloved pushchair, unless you know the original owners get a brand new car seat

[nannyl]

oh and also because i can second that M&P customer service is beyond shocking!!!!

[nosexpleaseimpregnant]

We've gone for something different to both of those. We went for the mothercare mychoice my4. It does exactly the same and can have parent facing seat until you decide otherwise. We did look at the silver cross 3D but you can only have parent facing up to 3 months old.
Never realised prams were such a minefield!!!

[nannyl]

nosexplease...

does the carrycot on the mychoice work by itself?
was discussing that a few days ago and the person i was talking to was saying how the carrycot bit collapses unless attached to the pushchair?

Ie not solid and not suitable to use as a moses basket.

maybe there were confused / wrong. i havent looked at it so cant comment lol

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Yes, have not heard good things about M&P. On a slight tangent, what is the difference between the Glide, Urbo and Sola? They're all the same pushchair!

[mediawhore]

Argh this is driving me mad.


Having test-driven the britax one at the Kiddicare warehouse, I fell madly in love with it.
However, I am on child number 3 and still have the pram from #2 (a SilverCross Linear Freeway) which is in perfect working order still and cost us £300 new as it was a shop floor model (which is £100 less than it sells for now).

My husband is so mean he won't let me buy the britax as we have a pram. But I am want a pretty purple one :(

[nosexpleaseimpregnant]

Weirdly enough Nannyl we found the carry cot to be alot sturdier than the silvercross!! The lady in mothercare spent over an hour with us discussing all options and the my4 was the one that seemed to have everything and do everything we wanted. The seat you get with it is also a maxi-cosi which we thought you couldn't grumble at. It also goes up to about 3 years old so should last a good while.

[ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts]

The Cosato Cabi fills all your pecifications also OP

www.preciouslittleone.com/product-information/20/14192/cosatto-cabi-3-in-1-combi-travel-system---out-on-the-town/

The car seat comes with clips to go straight on the chassis, the carrycot is solid and has feet so can be used as a moses and the pushchair faces both directions. easy to steer and to collapse down. removable wheels, huge shopping basket :)

[ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts]

oh and it has a four year guarantee

[stressheaderic]

I have a Silver Cross Linear Freeway and what struck me most about it, which perhaps I didn't realise earlier on, is its longevity. We still use it regularly and DD is 18 months old, and it still looks and feels brand new. So I know that if we are lucky enought to have a second baby, it will be as good as new for them. My SIL used hers for 4 kids and it still looks in tip top condition. They are proper workhorses. Abundant on ebay too so easy to get a bargain.
Unlike my friends prams (all our kids are the same age) - they went for the Silver Cross 3D, Babystyle pram, and Mothercare Spin which are all looking decidedly knackered.

[Ellypoo]

Brill thanks everyone - loads of great advice!!
GwendolineMaryLacey - I think they are the same pretty much, it's just the package, that's all.
Great point about the aftersales service - the M&P is quite a bit more expensive than the Britax (including the carseat, based on the kiddicare price), and also thanks for pointing out the safety aspect of the carseat, I hadn't realised that.
I am going to have a look at the Mothercare and SilverCross ones now - just to confuse me even more!!!!!

[Spinosaur]

Hello,

I would just like to add that we had a M&P pram and it fell to bits really quickly. I shopped in M&P the other day and the staff were awful, I won't go there again. Britax is a good make, we never used a travel system, we just bought separate items but this time I am inheriting my cousin's travel system as I don't want to buy new and she is recycling, luckily for me.

[sleepevader]

Out of those two Definately britax but check seat fits your car first

There is a common fault with the handle breaking though- google it. Has happened to two friends of mine.

[Tonksforthememories]

I have a black Britax vigour 4+ (2009) with car seat and isofix base that i'm looking to get rid of.

It's the immediate model before the B-smart and i love it! I used it for 8m and it was even fabulous in the deep snow we had last year and the year before.

Mine's in great condition and never been in an accident if you're interested! :o

[SnapesOnAPlane]

Also, the sola/glide/urbo doesn't fold with the seat rear-facing, which is a bloody pain.
The maxi-cosi Loola fits your bill too, if you haven't had a look yet :)