To spend £700 on a travel system?

[LittleMiss77]

Exactly that - we need to buy one and the one I like is £700 inc. car seat.

Is it too much?

Loads of people told me Id regret spending £640 on our travel system and that Id get sick of lugging it around. Two years later and with number two due any day I'm still so so glad we bought it. We opted for an Uppababy Vista with MC car seat and base. The buggy has been fab (easy to use and has a massive shopping basket) and the car seat was a good deal and will do our next baby. We did have a problem with our buggy after about six months (breaks) and Uppababy replaced the entire chassey for a brand new one because it was still in warranty. Whereas our friends had an Oyster and when stuff started to go wrong with it after 8 months or so they weren't interested.

Going back I'm glad we got the better option. We were certainly lucky that my Christmas bonus paid for it so we didn't feel like we were saving for it as such but even if we had I still would choose it.

Bottom line, if you can afford it, go for it.

Also meant to say the bassinet for the Vista was approved for overnight use so we didn't have to buy a travel cot or Moses basket for the first four months or so.

Well why not? If you can afford it then go for it

If you've got the money and will use it then what's the problem? Ours was a little bit more than that, I love it, have had no problems with it and have used it every single day for 16 months (and still going strong). Didn't get into debt over it, no one had to go without anything so my choice!

And I bloody hate our maclaren quest that we bought for holidays! Would put it on the bonfire if it wouldn't be a massive waste

YANBU, I think even the cheaper travel systems soon add up to this when up you start adding extras. The cheaper way to do it would be to buy a pram and then a stroller with a newborn wedge so it can be used before 6months.

It's when you start adding on adaptors and footmuffs that the price really hikes up. I spent almost £1000 on ours but it's been used for almost 2 years and I've just converted it to a double for when DS2 arrives next month. It'll then be made back into a single for when DS1 stops going in it and then I'll sell it.

If you're going to get a travel system check that it's one which holds it's value or is easy to sell on once you're finished with it. Them just take really good care of it.

If it matches your needs, and you can afford it, go for it.

I thought about my needs, and got the pram I liked and it's still going strong now Dc2 is too. It even accommodates Dc1 still at 4 years old. It happened to be under the budget you're describing, but for the amount of use and function you get, it's worth getting what is right if you can afford it, rather than going cheap on pprinciple then making an error.

If you've researched it well, for things like weight, fitting in the boot easily, one handed opening, ease of cleaning, non-tipping over, age suitability, reliable brakes and sturdy locking mechanism, plus SAFETY FOR YOUR CHILD, then go for it.
You're going to use it every day for a long time and if every day you think "What a mistake I made.", you won't be very happy. On the other hand, you'll be looking at something you love and appreciate every day!

If you can afford it Go for it.

The thing I hate is when people spend hundreds on a pram but begrudge spending a few quid on a decent car seat.

We bought an uppababy vista that I absolutely love, however I hardly use the car and am out and about a lot. We also have a little silver cross for holidays and nursery and I absolutely hate using it. Dd goes through phases of wanting to use the little buggy and my heart sinks when this is the case.

We are hoping for dc2 and of that happens will have had 5+ years worth pretty much daily.

And dh would disagree but we travel very differently with ds (and he's always been much happier to go straight to sling or shoulders option.

If you can afford it, do. You'll use it loads, I should have spent more on ours, it's ended up looking a bit knackered.

I spent around the same on a Bugaboo Chameleon, fab pushchair, loved it & used it daily, we live in a rural area & it perfectly fitted our needs. If it's the right choice for you & you can afford it then why not?

YANBU if you can afford it. Our Uppababy Vista has been pretty much the best baby thing we bought.

Depends.
Will it be a One and Only pushchair or will ypu end up with a lightweight stroller eventually?
Does it come with a lie flat carrycot for a newborn or do you need to put the baby in the carseat and then clip it in?
Will it eat up all your funds? I wanted a carseat that rearfaces to 4yo once DC outgrew their infant seat, and they are quite pricey so I spent less on a pushchair.

I spent arounf £600 and am happy with my choice (Uppababy Cruz). The carrycot that went with it was lovely and the only thing she would sleep in at the beginning. And while friends have switched to light-weight buggies, at 20 months we are happy to still be using ours. But do check that it fits in you car (if you have one) and that it suits the type of lifestyle you think you might have.

No YANBU if you can afford it. We spent over £1200 on our bugaboo, maxi-cosi car seat and isofix base including adapters, foot muff etc. I love it. We've just bought a cheap silver cross umbrella fold buggy for holidays and I've used it a couple of times - it's crap!

If you can afford it and want it, buy it!

We didn't bother with a travel system, but over the course of two children we bought an infant carseat, a ring sling, a baby carrier, a backpack baby carrier and a pushchair (maclaren techno xlr which was excellent, new and cost £250), then a double buggy (graco stadium duo- merely ok but a pain to steer), then a buggy board, then a cheap jack (hauck) single buggy (never again!).

Some bits we used more than others! All that cost under £500 (some second hand).

I hate pushchairs but I do think that's partly because I was given one that wasn't great and didn't feel I could justify spending too much so didn't buy an alternative.

Doing it again, if you are confident it's going to do what you want it to, have researched thoroughly and read reviews etc, go for it.
You'll be using it most days, sometimes several times a day. A good pushchair does make you're life easier.

We got a Bugaboo frog second hand for £120. And in great shape too. A newer model (Frog is an older one apparently) brand new is the best part of a grand.

My advice? Have a look and see if you can get what you want second hand and for a fraction of the price!!! Buying brand new these days, unless you have that kind of disposable cash, doesn't seem necessary when there's so many out there.

Also it depends on what travel system you're gonna buy. A very good one, Bugaboo or Stokke, will hold its value well should you decide to sell it. Spending that amount on something mediocre is pointless though.

It depends what it is. Do read reviews. If it's the only one you buy, it's fine. If you buy it and 5 others, not such great economy.

Just make sure It's lightweight!

Thanks everyone.

I note a few people are mentioning buying second hand.... would you say there are any safety issues with this - not knowing the background, whether sellers are being truthfull re: faults, accidents etc?

I think it's a lot to spend but as others have said if you can afford it then it doesn't natter. Also remember the car seat will need replacing for a higher group later on. We paid just under £200 for the graco mosaic travel system 4 years ago and it lasted really well

If you can afford it then get what you like. We spent £500 on a Bugaboo Bee and a seat and we've used it for 3 years now, still using it with our toddler.

On mumsnet no-one cares what pram you get, unless you spend a lot of money then everyone cares. It's ridiculous.