Do I NEED a carrycot?

[KiwiBanana]

If I get a pushchair that can lie flat and says it can be used from birth, how important is it that I'll need a carrycot?
I don't think it will fit in my car if I do and I'm pretty sure I'd only use it for a few months before upgrading to pushchair.

I was all for going for something like the graco evo and not bothering but now my sister has got me panicking that I'll regret not getting carrycot! Argh!!

[superram]

I loved my carrycot and so did my children. However, I would get a cheap buggy with cot and a good quality umbrella fold.

[notso]

I had a carrycot on a proper pram for my first three but not for DC4 as we had a double. I really missed it.
He always seemed exposed to the elements and I missed the face to face contact. I missed the carrycot for using at other peoples houses for him to nap in as well as downstairs in our house.

[notso]

You could get something like a britax b-agile and get the britax baby safe sleeper as you car seat. It lies flat but does take up two seats in the car.

[KiwiBanana]

I'm still not sure! I have a polo and think I could only really fit the chassis in, definitely not a carrycot as well. The back seats would be taken up by 2 car seats and a scooter that comes everywhere with us!

[AcrylicPlexiglass]

You absolutely don't need a carry cot. They are cosy looking and many people picture themselves pushing a pram rather than a buggy with a young baby. They can also be useful - eg some people use them as the baby's first bed instead of a moses basket/cot/drawer(!). But they are not a necessity and they are good for such a very short space of time in the scheme of things. My twins were in a lie flat buggy from birth (not much affordable choice in the twinmobile world 14 years ago!) and we kept the same buggy until they were walking properly. My singleton daughter was in a pramette thingy and v cute she looked too (when not screaming like a banshee) but it was massive and had to get a more practical smaller buggy within months. I would get the evo- it looks ace.

[Only1scoop]

No you don't need one. Used ours about three times....with cocoon in our buggy she was flat anyway.
Used it as a down stairs crib for daytime naps sometimes but that was about it.

[MyNameIsKenAdams]

Go for the Maclaren XLR - perfect umbrella fold for toddler, lies flat for babies, and the carrycot is usually on offer for £35.

I used the carrycot for daytime snoozes too.

[GwenStacy]

I have a mothercare orb and the seat bit is a pram initially and then turns in to a buggy when she's big enough so I don't have to store a separate carrycot and buggy which is super useful

[BikeRunSki]

I had a Quinny Buzz with a carry cot for dc1. It was lovely to wrap him up in the winter. I hated the Quinny though, in any ways though.

With DC2 I had a double P&T Sport, with a Cocoon (soft carry cot, like a sports bag! ) which was fabulous, and brilliant for moving dd without waking her up when I was out and about with ds ie: dropping him off at nursery etc) . It also fitted beautifully in my bjcm.

[IndigoTea]

I've got a britax bsmart which I love and I don't have a carry cot. I didn't see the need for it as seat reclines flat and I can put the car seat on the pushchair too if I wanted to. I'm very glad I didn't buy it.

[Ihateparties]

The evo is lovely for a newborn imo, plus a carrycot exists so if when the time comes you really feel like you want one then the option is there. I love carrycots, my babies all loved them to varying degrees but the lie flat seat is, imo, a more flexible option for 3-6m when babies get more aware of their surroundings. I like the style of recline on the evo because it has sides, the illusion of a bit more protection than a lie flat seat like the one on the m&p sola for example.

I do also think the drop down seat/carrycot thing is v practical too, the my child floe looks nice and is compact yet the cot space is really big.

[SummerSevern]

I've got an evolution. Fine without the carrycot as long as they're all snuggled up with blankets.

[rachyconks]

I have the quinny moodd and the carry cot has a wee device on the bottom which makes it fold totally flat. It's a real space saver. I have a hatchback and wouldn't have fitted a carrycot in without this. That being said, I only used it for the first 8 weeks or so. Though it's a certified overnight sleeper, so used it many times when staying at parents/used it in our room before DD was ready for the cot (transition from co-sleeping to cot).

[SummerSevern]

Gah! Evo. Teach me to preview.

[KiwiBanana]

It will be a summer baby but I was planning on getting lots of pretty blankets and fleeces ready for the winter as I doubt the carrycot would fit by then anyway. I think I will go for the Evo, I've heard so many good things about it.

Thanks Ihateparties, I didn't think of it that way. I'll probably put the money aside for if I feel like I need one at the time.

[Callistone]

Not essential. We moved to the Maclaren Techno XLR at a few months old and I think I'll just use it for any more DC, especially if they are summer babies.

[IndigoTea]

Plus with a reflux baby (always a possibility) carrycot really isn't a good idea and neither is it comfy for them.

[gwenniebee]

We almost entirely used the car seat attachment bit rather than our carrycot - dd (refluxy, it turned out) hated the carry cot with a passion. She was never in the buggy so long that it caused a problem for her to be in the car set bit (you're not supposed to have them in one for extended periods in one go).

[LightTripper]

Hello Kiwi! I am thinking the same (well, Graco Evo Mini, but same idea). It's so much lighter and narrower than a system that I think for me the trade off is worth it, especially for a spring/summer baby.

Planning to get a sling too for more options, and maybe to try to find a soft cot that will fit in, and then we'll see how we go when she gets here! My Mum reckons she mainly carried us in the early days anyway.