Alternatives for deluxe Baby Jogger carry cot?

[MamaGair79]

We've bought the Baby Jogger mini City GT and, before plunging for the pricey deluxe carry cot that goes with it, I'm wondering if there is a cheaper decent alternative that definitely fits. I'd prefer the sturdy deluxe version rather than the soft types really. Has anyone managed to solve this issue successfully?
Thanks

[AprilShowers16]

We have this pram but didn't bother with the carrycot at all due to lack of space and £s, the seat lies flat and is suitable from newborn so we just put him in that and he'll happily sleep for hours. Sorry not sure if that's helpful if you have a specific reason for needing carrycot though

[Hufflepuffin]

This one definitely fits (and is a proper carrycot) but still not cheap, I'd get one on eBay.

[Diddlydokey]

Check out ebay for one of these www.amazon.co.uk/Graco-Newborn-Portable-Carrycot-Kosycot/dp/B00AN0TOPO?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[AndNowItsSeven]

I just put the pram flat and used this www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0045VA3SO/ref=mp_s_a_1_16_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1471340710&sr=8-16&keywords=summer%20infant&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21
It's £14 by ds was prem , tiny and very cosy in it.

[AndNowItsSeven]

My ds.

[Frazzled2207]

I know a few mums who bought this and only used it a handful of times.
I had a separate pram but put my son in the bjcm reclined flat from about 1 month.
There is a thriving second hand market for these things eg on ebay, worth considering and you'll probably end up with one barely used.

[AprilShowers16]

Yes should mention we use the snuzzler that AndNowItsSeven linked too, John Lewis also suggested the sheepskin pram liner but it's quite pricy.

[MamaGair79]

Thanks everyone! I understood that the baby has to be completely flat for the first 6 months if you're out and about for more than an hr or so. We're quite active (hubby does marathons and is wanting to run with baby) and the BJMC doesn't go completely flat, hence the carry cot thoughts. On eBay they still seem to be hitting the £100 mark and as people seem to be indicating it may not be needed for that long, I am just wanting to see if there's something as good (and possibly even nicer colours!) than the matching one.
I couldn't find your link Hufflepuffin but will definitely check out the Graco one Diddlydokey mentioned. The snuffler looks good too, thanks again!

[Diddlydokey]

I'm fairly sure that you can't run with one of the city mini pushchairs, despite the name, they are not baby joggers! It is also really hard to run with a pushchair as you can't use your arms!!

[Diddlydokey]

www.gumtree.com/p/baby-car-seat-carrier/graco-soft-carrycot/1180560985

[Artandco]

You can't run with a baby under 9 months and defiantly not with the baby jogger gt. It's not a jogger buggy and has no suspension. You basically can't run when they are in carrycot mode as too young

Thule glide or similar is what you need for jogging ( after 9 months)

[MamaGair79]

Thanks ladies. Our friends used theirs for for running and said it was fine, and we went for a walk over The Downs with them in tow, and all worked well then too - but they didn't use a carry cot as they bought it after that their little one was sitting up. I don't think The Downs will be on the list with a carry cot anyway!

I'm interested to know where the information about not running before they're 9 moths old comes from though. I had mentioned that I wouldn't be running with the baby for quite some time (if ever!) but the hubby is determined it'll be fine for him on the flat.

Thanks again :-)

[Hufflepuffin]

Oops, this is the link I meant.... www.johnlewis.com/baby-jogger-city-mini-compact-carrycot-black/p231347990

DS was in this for four months. Still fit after that but he got a bit wriggly and hated not being able to see.

[Frazzled2207]

Btw i ran with a baby in my bjcm and know several others who did. It's not designed for running but none specifically are. Was fine on paved paths.

[Artandco]

Various places recommend different ages. The general concencus is 6 months minimum. Some say 12 months. My doctor says 9 months. It's due to baby's head stability, spine development etc. For example a 3 month old can't usually hold their own head so it would be flopping around pulling on their neck

www.livestrong.com/article/364653-at-what-age-can-you-use-a-jogging-stroller/

www.runnersworld.com/fun/jogging-strollers-how-young-is-too-young

The main problem with the baby jogger gt is that is has no hand brake which you really need when running with a pram, has no suspension, and the wheels are actually quite small for running.

It is a good pram, but not for running. You can add a sheepskin liner and it is flat and suitable from newborn without carrycot.

If you both want to run I would say you need to either swap pram now or have one for city that's smaller and one that's made for jogging for that

The best combination at the moment seems to be buying the bugaboo bee, then the new bugaboo jogger frame set. The bugaboo bee seat transfers between both frames allowing for a small pram in town and a jogger for running and off road

[Artandco]

Otherwise the mountain buggy terrain is a good all rounder

[WordGetsAround]

Great advice from Artandco. Agree with bugaboo suggestion. If you / your husband are serious about running with your baby you will need the appropriate kit.

[Quodlibet]

We've got the BJCM GT. as others have said, it's not supposed to be used for jogging. The bJ elite I think can be though. Saying that, my DP does a 5k park run with our 2 yr old in ours and has done for a while. I wouldn't run with a baby in it though, they'd be vibrated about too much.

Re the carrycots, if you join the Babyjogger buy sell chat (BSC) group on FB, you'll find people selling on the carrycots for about £30. The basic carrycot (eg not the Delux version) is easier to get hold of and absolutely fine for the limited time you use it. I bought mine second hand, am now using it with my second child and it is still immaculate, could have unwrapped it yesterday.
Hope that's helpful. Apart from not being a true running buggy it's a great pram and has done us from birth - 2.7 yrs and now on to second child. It does lie completely flat btw.

[Nan0second]

We used the graco insert as mentioned above. Bought on eBay for £13! Baby was in it for about 4 months and then we used sheepskin liner in pushchair. Brilliant piece of kit. We went on some decent walks but wouldn't run with it until baby was in pushchair proper with good head control and then only on paved roads.

[moggle]

Looking back I wouldn't have let anyone run with DD in even a proper running buggy til she was 9m, and she had great head control from birth. I just wouldn't have wanted her jiggled about that much and they are still pretty small and relatively immobile even at 6m. Maybe on a properly flat tarmacced path at 6m. We have a GT too and I only would run with her in it now she's a sturdy toddler(eg run for a bus, I would buy a running buggy if I wanted to go jogging with her). If he's really a serious runner please get a proper one. I sometimes see people puffing behind a non running buggy but they're going so slow, it's not so bad. If he's going at speed and takes a corner too fast the whole thing could tip over - I've nearly done it with our GT with toddler in when not paying attention. Also he'd have to slow down for going up every dropped kerb which would be really frustrating.

(And hopefully you already know and realise they'd be too young anyway, but there's no way you can run with a hard carrycot on as there is nothing holding them in there. They'd bounce right out when you went over the first kerb!)