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.

I would suggest seeing what sort of baby you get. A screamy, only happy when held, sick if laid flat baby will be a whole different deal to a likes to sleep somewhere flat and dark baby.

Neither of mine wanted to sleep in a pram as a newborn, certainly not a stationary one. Neither slept in the car seat much, and certainly couldn't be moved (in car seat) out of the car without waking up. So a travel system would have been a waste of time for me, I used a stretchy wrap without a rucksack with thin straps on my back as a nappy bag. Then I moved on to a Maclaren that was suitable from three months, but usually only if raining / very hot, and had a sling (Connecta) for most trips.

With, not 'without'.

Bought my Maclaren XT when DC1 was about 12 months, used it from birth for DC2 with no problems or regrets.

I bought a new travel system which I used until 14 months. Then bought a 3 year old Mclaren for £30 which lives in my car and I bought a Jane 360 for dog walking for £40. I then snapped the front of the Jane in two on a rather vigorous walk and bought a Phil and Teds for £50. I will sell the Jane for parts.

The travel system pushchair lives at my mums as she looks after DS one day per week. It will obviously be used again as a travel system for any future DC.

What I'm trying to say is that perhaps there is no perfect pushchair and you need a selection like me! Second hand they are pretty cheap!

Yanbu
I did it your way and wasn't sorry at all.
I could carry the stroller onto the beach, down steps etc easily. I watch mums hook these great bulky systems out of their cars and then build them, just to walk a hundred yards to the school and wonder why they do it to themselves.

It depends on your lifestyle probably. If I had to walk long distances or be getting buses a lot I'd probably do it differently.

I think the problem is that actually you wont know what pram/stroller will work for you and your baby until they are here and you realise what is important to you and what you actually need in your specific circumstances. You can only guess if you buy in advance (as most of us do).

I don't think you need the carry cot bit of the pram, I mostly carried ds in a sling the first few months.

I have a bugaboo and I love that ds faces me, we chat lots as we are walking along. Ds is bilingual so it was really important to me that he had as many opportunities to speak/hear English ( his minority language) as possible. I find when pushing children in forwards facing buggies even if o talk to them I can't see their facial expression so it feels a bit odd.

This is all really helpful. Thanks everyone! Not sure if it makes much difference but we barely use the car at the moment. May change when the baby gets here but at the moment we use the tube and buses and walk a lot. Hence I tend to travel light, small bag etc.

I'm really interested in hearing how people felt not having the rear facing option when the baby was small. Is that going to horrify me as as new mum?

zeta vooom. my youngest is 18 months and still has his naps in it. Umbrella fold, suitable from birth, and we can fit it in the boot of a fiat 500 so small!

Have a look at the Petite Star Njoy Bubble. It's an umbrella fold buggy which is forward and rear facing. My friends got one and it's fab :)

I've also got a baby jogger best thing I bought he's 2.4now and still used all the time I cannot sing praises enough.

I didn't have a travel system just the jogger from birth

We used a Moby for a couple of months and then a very ancient Maclaren. Very pleased we did. DS was mainly asleep in the stroller till about 5 months when he liked being able to see out.

I'm completely with you OP DC3 due July & I Am NOT shelling out for a luxurious expensive pram which I'll stop using within 6-9 months!! There are some great other options out there now that don't need taking into a million pieces to fold down

I found mamas & papas had a good alternative, however I'd say shop around in the bigger stores & find what suits you not what everyone else has

Incidentally I was also very glad we were never really tempted to lug the car seat out of the car with the baby in it (as we had no travel system frame to put it on so would have had to carry it and damage my back - which was bad enough anyway). We wore the Moby while driving and popped him in to start with, and after that we weren't as fussed about him not waking up (though he was a good sleeper).

I have found parent faceing more important since ds has been starting to communicate and look at where I am pointing, from about 6 months I would point out dogs, buses, trains, flowers and most of his first words were things we see when we are out with the pushchair. WHen he was tiny on the odd occasion I took him out in the carry-cot bit of the pram I couldn't really see him anyway as he had lots of blankets and an arctic inspired winter sleepingbag. WHen they are tiny they tend to let you know if there is a problem, as they get older and can kick their shoes off, drop a special teddy, throw their sunhat out of the pushchair I think it is more important to be able to see them.

Hard to say op when I had ds1 there weren't many parent facing options unless you wanted them permanently in a car seat, which I didn't. I wasn't frantic but would have preferred him to face me and it didn't seem right when he was only a few months old not being able to see him.

More choice with ds2 and had the silver cross linear freeway which we both loved you can have it either way and had him facing for a long time and sometimes as a toddler when chatting. Got a mclaren stroller later but unlike most ditched it after a while and went back to the freeway which was much roomier and more comfy. It might be a bit big for your purpose though I mainly walk/car, not much public transport. Now pg with dc3 and can't wait to use it again

Slings unfortunately a no no for me with my whopping babies and dodgy back.

We borrowed an old pram for the first few months and alternated between that and the Moby. Then bought (and still use) the BJCM which is fantastic. Light, easy to steer with one hand, and comfortable for DS to nap in. Did buy the car seat attachment clips but tbh only ever used this once so bit of a waste of money.

The city jogger has ample viewing windows so you can see baby/he can see you. It didn't bother me.

I live in London, rarely use a car. For DD (born end of oct) we used a sling until 5 months, then we got an uppababy Cruz, didn't bother with the carrycot. fine on buses ime

At 5 months she was getting a bit heavy and also wouldn't nap so easily in the sling. I like the inward facing (it switches) option for her right now

I had two, a big one and an umbrella fold and I still used the big one right up until DS stopped using pushchairs at all. I never had a carrycot, just had a lie flat pushchair - it did face me though as that was important to me. It was the Loola Up although that was 6 years ago, so probably better ones available now but I found it extremely good for the price (about £200 then). It was bigger than the umbrella fold but I used it easily on buses regularly.

BUT - I think you'd be fine, if you want to see the baby you could always get a decent sling.

What about a Maclaren XLR. Umbrella fold and travel system type thingy

www.mumsnet.com/reviews/pushchairs/travel-systems/9464-maclaren-techno-xlr

If you're in London I think the bjcm is carp on the tube. Go for a bugaboo bee.

We live in London and don't have a car. We used a sling for just under 6mths until they got heavy and then a stroller. Currently have a Maclaren Quest Sport and it's great. Fits on transport really well, folds up and has a strap so you can sling it on your shoulder once they're toddling, which DH likes to do

Seen a few people say babies don't nap in slings after the first few weeks - DS1 napped in the sling until he was 3 (years!)

I personally don't like umbrella strollers til 1 year-ish, I like to see the baby and don't like a little baby so low down and seeming quite vulnerable. Also find the car seat option incredibly useful.

I've always found the BJCM fine on the tube/metro - mostly for the one hand fold and flick though.

It does depend what kind of baby you get. DS hated the pram, DD is fine in it. Neither had the option to hate the sling DS was born in the tropics so I definitely don't think heat means you can't use a sling, you just need the right one. A stretchy wrap is going to be much thicker and hitter than a linen woven or an SSC.