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.

You need the babyzen yoyo 0+. Folds tiny with strap and parent faces first 6 months. Small enough to carry up and down stairs/ tube etc.

Tbh a decent sling will be used the most. I suggest the boba 4g. A pram is just handy say if you plan on being out all day and going to restaurant in eve say. Then I would take pram, with sling under. Use sling in tubes and buses, and fold the baby zen up and on shoulder like a bag. But then baby can sleep in pram in evening if your out/ or in cafe at lunch etc if easier.

I have a techno xt ty that it's 8 years old now and on my third baby. It is very comfy with a sheepskin in and a fluffy buggy snuggle for cold weather.

I have a Phil and Ted's sport to as at one point I needed a double. It is another to push but I use the McClaren as it is easier to fold and takes up less space (in shops or cafes). I don't think I could take a the bigger pushchair on the tube or buses.

With this baby I have used slings rather than a baby carriers, he happily sleeps in them. But then I found with all of mine a good suspension was wasted as I had to jiggle the pushchair to get them by to go to sleep!

YANBU to want to skip buying an expensive travel system. There are plenty of alternatives to a travel system that are suitable for newborns, however, the maclaren XT is awful. I bought one for my DS who is 1 as an alternative to the Icandy travel system we have, it's terrible to push and is not compact at all. Although it says it's suitable for newborns I can't see how it's supportive enough and at the price it is I'd expect better. It's also a 2 handle push which makes it hard to steer when you have bags.

The bugaboos are expensive and whilst I can see people going for something smaller if they've bought the Donkey or something, I can't see that being true for people who bought the Bee. That's lightweight, faces both ways and takes a car seat. If this had been an option when my DS was tiny then I'd have bought that instead of the Icandy. I've swapped my maclaren for a Mamas and Papas armadillo, I don't think they're suitable from birth but they can take a car seat and the hood is huge for shade in the summer. The seat it huge, it folds with one hand and is so easy to transport.

IMO the maclaren XT is overrated, but prams are not a necessity with a summer baby if you have an alternative way of allowing them to lay flat. Even with a sling you might find you need this option because not all babies like to be held so close once they are about 3 months, my DS hated his sling and I was very upset about it!

Another vote here for the BJCM and sling combo. DD is 8 weeks and works really well.

We were told in the store er bought it from that the BJCM is becoming more popular as ppl realise how easy it is to use (it feels like it just glides thru air) and that they won't need to buy a stroller when the baby is older.

Really happy with our purchase.

As a previous poster mentioned, baby wearing in the summer can be hot hot hot. Especially when you're still carrying a bit of pregnancy weight.

We bought a second hand travel system for about 50 quid and then had a Maclaren for after about 3 months. I wouldn't mind a baby jogger now, they are nice, but can't really justify it! Had the Maclaren 5 years now and other than having to WD40 the wheels, it's still as good as new.

Sorry, posted too soon. Was going to day that a McClaren will probably be fine, especially if you purchase a good cosy toes-insert thingy. However do consider the reality that a 2-handed push is more work for you, made even harder by a lack of suspension.

In your position I imagine a Bugaboo Bee would be best - easy on/off buses & tube, more comfortable ride/drive for both you and baby, and can be parent-facing).

We've got a McClaren for international travel but have used an Uppababy Vista from birth for everyday. The thing I miss most when I'm using the McClaren is the ability to switch DS (15m) from forward-facing to rear-facing and vice-versa, which is really handy when we're out and he needs to nap. I also miss the single bar handle - those seperate handles on McClarens make it near impossible to push one-handed so you can drink coffee or MN while walking!

*going to say

And I'm not sure why my phone keeps auto-correcting Maclaren! Grrrr.

I couldn't lift ds in his car seat so the seat stayed in the car and just he came out. By 9 months we didn't use a pram again as he was walking so yanbu!!

There's a fairly active 'pushchair' topic somewhere that you might like to have a nose around for more views.

I notice you live in London - yes get the MacLaren. They fit down the aisles of buses better than others and are one hand foldable if find you have to travel at crowded times.

Do check the width of anything you consider. Bugaboos are wide enough to catch things going down the aisle (I mean the bus poles or even the backs of seats - and of course it's not fun for passengers on those seats either).

Slings aren't overly hot. Your obviously wearing wrong one for the seasons of wrong type. How do you think people in Africa and Asia wear slings all the time when it's usually always hot

Baby slung on back is usually cooler, hence why most soft structures slings go on front for newborn and then on back after

Obviously everyone is different but I really hated using a sling. Mostly because it was far too hot.

My 4 mo old will still sleep in a wrap sling better than anywhere else and he is massive. He doesn't really like being awake in it though.

I was the same as you OP. Was planning on a mclaren XT from birth but when it came down to it, it just didn't feel sturdy or enclosed enough for a tiny baby. Now I'm glad i didn't get one as its such a bulky stroller compared to others (we have a chicco liteway). IME you cannot beat the convenience of a travel system where you just clip the car seat on and go as opposed to moving a sleeping baby in those early days.

If i was you id buy a cheapish travel system (we have a Hauck Apollo) to get you through the first 6 months, and then a cheaper, lighter stroller incr baby outgrows the first car seat and you have to swap them out of it into a pram/buggy anyway. That's what we have done and its worked really well. We also have the advantage of still having a sturdier pram for when we need it, and the bassinet bit we used in the house instead of a Moses basket downstairs during the day for sleeping in those early months and as a travel cot.

I really didn't want to buy lots of unnecessary stuff that would only be used for 5 minutes but I'm glad i went this route.

it just didn't feel sturdy or enclosed enough for a tiny baby.

it is allowed to be sold from birth so has been extensively tested - everyone must do what they feel right but both mine used it from newborn and came to no harm!

Hey.

We were so broke when we had our first so we wanted something cheaper that would last so we brought a Maclaren xlr as you can get a car seat to attach

www.kiddisave.co.uk/maclaren-techno-xlr-recaro-c-seat-coffee-pdr-pink.html?gclid=COTo0pDAj74CFRDJtAodVhwAvg

It's a great buggy for toddlers but not the best for babies. I would def recommend something that faces the parent. If you are considering a second child you might want to look at the icandy and phil and teds as they can be converted from single to double

philandteds.com/nz/Products/Push/vibe-verve#.U2S_kie9KSM

whatever you buy, get it second-hand. The 'my precious' thing means that prams and pushchairs go for peanuts if slightly used.

only possible exceptions; cot mattress and car seat.

You can rent travel systems from the NCT for six months.

This time round we're renting the Maxi Cosi Elea which folds TINY (fits in the "boot" of our Mazda 5 with all 7 seats up!) and uses, obviously, the car seat. The Elea has reasonably sized rubber wheels so although it's not quite as off-road as our Nipper, it feels a lot less flimsy and bouncy than the Maclaren for off-road such as trails, canal-side walks etc. We did put her in the XT at first but she seemed so vulnerable and with the lack of suspension and not able to see us, she was not happy at all and cried constantly. She's totally happy in her car seat with the Elea.

By the time she's six months she'll be fine for the Maclaren again. And we have the sling for really off-road stuff although as has been pointed out, slings and bags don't mix so if I'm on my own I need a pushchair.

Renting solves loads of problems - probably the cost of the rental (£100 in our case for the Elea) is not dissimilar to the depreciation and you don't have the hassle of selling it either. Certainly the one we got seemed like new when we got it!

Never thought we'd be in the market for a new pushchair given it's DC4 and we have a "garage full of them" (DH's words) but aside from the Maclaren, none of them fitted in what is left of the boot space with all the DC in the car, so we had to find a temporary solution besides the sling until she was properly Maclaren-ready. This was it.

I got a mothercare expedior. You can use it with car seat, pramette or as a buggy. It takes about 5 seconds to put up or down and folds almost flat. My only problem is that it is quite wide even when flat this isn't a deal breaker though.

If baby falls asleep in the car we can just clip the car seat onto the pram. DS also likes to look at me whilst we walk. He gets a but agitated if he's facing the other way and I feel more comfortable being able to keep an eye on him.

Are there any second hand baby shops nearby? Baby gaga often has decent ( very expensive) pushchairs in for next to nothing. I think they sold a brand new Quinney travel system for £70 the other day.

The XLR is significantly bulkier than the XT when folded

Best advice I was given - find a second hand pram for the early months, but buy a new, high quality umbrella stroller as you'll use it for years.

I have just got the cosatto giggle, super light weight and including car seat was less than £350. I am sure I will really value having the carry cot.
I made this choice after minths of internet window shopping.
Check out the which guide online to help you choose maybe?

I would second Baby Jogger City Mini.

I have a bugaboo which is very lovely and gets wheeled out for snow and newborn stage but if I had the time over I would go directly for city mini:

• suitable from birth and I can still put my large nearly 5 year old in it if she gets tired or she sits on the footrest while 1 yr old DD2 is in it for a ride.

• You can if you want buy car seat adaptors for if you needed them

• HUGE sun hood for travel abroad / hot days and loads of accessories if you want them eg travel bags for flights. Feeding tray. Parent console.

• Ridiculously large storage nets that carried everything we needed for 4 adults and DD1 round eurodisney

• very easy to steer 1 handed and on grass etc

• for all the size of it it folds totally flat and square so really easy to store plus the wheels come off to store/wash with 1 click

• the fold is easier than any pushchair ever. 1 handed pull and handle and its flat. 1 handed flick out by the handle and its up. Never underestimate having a free hand and easy fold especially on buses. DSis has a mclaren and this is so much easier!

• you can still get a nice coloured one and its only about £180!

Ok I could very easily work for them. I am a true convert.

Have you seen The new Silvercross reflex umbrella stroller? It's suitable from birth and can attach a car seat to it. I think it's quite pricey. Like many others I went for a full on travel system and changed at 6 months to a baby jogger city mini.
In hindsight i'd also look at getting a car seat that goes from birth to 4 as I think it's a bit of a waste of money for a year or less.

Also, putting baby in a sling in July is hot, hot, hot! Last year was unbearable and no one tells you about the POST pregnancy hormones that make you sweat like a b! I felt so hot it became almost claustrophobic.

YABU. DD2 was in a Maclaren umbrella from birth- as part of a double pushchair so my options were limited. It didn't lie properly flat or offer her legs much support- I should imagine sleeping in it was like sleeping in a deckchair. I've just had my third baby and this is the first time I have gone for a buggy with a proper parent-facing pram option. It's a million times more comfortable for her- and much nicer for me as well. It's a 2 in 1 (Obaby Zezu) which means the carrycot converts into the seat unit rather than having two separate items, which means you're not wasting money or storage space once you're done with the carrycot.