Aibu to ask for Your help on pushchairs vs travel system

[londonrach]

Hi

Sorry, busy here hence why im asking. We are lost deciding whether we should get a travel system or just a pram then pushchair when needed. Love to know pros and cons. ive seen travel systems for sale weeks after being bought on local fb site and i dont want to waste money so thought id ask for help. If dont want to say on here pm me. Im just so confused about whats best xxx

Needs, needs, needs. Everything is dependent on that.

How much will you be using the car in the first year? How much walking? How much time on public transport?

What are your longer term plans for childcare? Will you be taking them to nursery in a pram that needs to stay there?

So many things factor into it - though most annoyingly, you generally only find them out when your child is about 3...

I know a lot of people who have sworn by their iCandy or similar and yes, they are lovely prams. But (and this is just personal experience) they were either mostly SAHP or they used the car for the nursery run. Once your DC is 1-2+ travel systems can sometimes become quite heavy to push around compared to a little umbrella stroller, so I say either SAHP because they have more time to walk slower with the DC walking alongside them, or if you use a car a lot then a travel system can be very handy.

On the other hand, the parents I know who had to use the pushchair for the nursery run very swiftly changed to an umbrella stroller than was lighter, easier to fold and, realistically, it mattered less if it got a bit bashed etc in the nursery shed.

I'd always say if you think you could afford, say, £600 on a travel system, don't spend it all unless you are 100% convinced that it really will last 3+ years. If you're not, spend £400 and then make sure you can afford later to change pushchair if you need to.

Fwiw, we had a Maclaren Techno XLR, their top-of-the-range, lie-flat, from newborn pushchair and absolutely adored it. Got rid of the much hated pram/travel system at 3mo and changed to this and used it endlessly for 2 years until DC got heavier to we moved on to cheap, light 'holiday' strollers for the nursery run. Expecting DC2 now and will just buy the carrycot attachment for the Maclaren and use that again.

X-posts on the Techno XLR noeyedeer, does the carrycot feel sturdy?

I was adamant that when my DS was born I'd only use a sling for the few months at least.

DS arrived and it was like a bomb going off - we both were a bit unwell afterwards and had constant trips to the midwife - poor DP carrying him on the walk there in a borrowed car seat as I hadn't even managed to take the wrap out of the box! We bought a silver cross reflex pushchair and the lie flat newborn insert next day delivery. Used that and sling.

DS outgrew the lie flat bit a couple of months ago but the reflex only does forward facing and we hated it!

So we've just spent a lot on a baby jogger city mini versa GT, which does both parent and forward. It is quite heavy but has a lovely big biscuit, huge wheels for off road one and I can steer with one hand! I wish I'd have not been so stubborn and anti pram to begin with and we could have just got one of these! The reflex will come in handy when DS is older, and can attach a buggy board to the versa and put the next one in it. I'm still loving slings and use a woven wrap and a connecta - as much as I am sad to admit it though DS sleeps much better in a pram than a sling and he is getting a little heavy at only 8 months - and yes I have very good slings and can use them properly. Just after a while you can really feel it!

I guess my advice is no matter what you decide until you're using it it might not be right anyway!

Definitely agree with all those saying that it depends on what you'll need it for. Hardly used our travel system with first DC and they were in a Maclaren stroller at 5 months. We lived in a city.

Different situation with second because we live in the countryside now. The Maclaren lives in the car boot for trips to town but I use the travel system as a pushchair daily because I walk along bumpy footpaths and fields. The Maclaren is fine for smooth pavements but on the footpath it bounces everywhere!

The car seat shouldn't be used for long periods on the buggy.

You should buy the car seat that best fits your car and any other you might use it in and is within budget and a pram or pushchair that suits your needs and budget. If the carseat fits on the pram then it's a bonus for nipping in the shop or baby clinic.

There are loads of pushchairs which fold small and can be used from birth or with a carrycot. Some can parent face like the bugaboo bee or babyjogger versa.

I am a bit baffled as to why maclarens are so popular, they are awful to push. I had one for going on trains etc for DS1 but apart from the quick fold I hated it.

Depends on what you want to do really.

Do you travel in a car a lot or do you walk/use public transport more?

I'd get a baby jogger city mini and car seat that fits onto it if you're after something that takes a car seat. The pushchair should last you a good 3 years and is suitable from birth. There is an option for a carrycot as well if that's what you want.

It's interesting that a travel system now seems to be one where everything clips on the frame individually. Back when ours were babies (and youngest is nearly 10) a travel system meant a from birth pushchair onto which you could also clip a car seat.

Just looked up the one we had, and these days it's even cheaper than it was ten years ago!
www.argos.co.uk/v1/static/Product/partNumber/3756090.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=cgid:18091973125|tsid:59156|cid:189942085|lid:96720219805|nw:g|crid:77627773045|rnd:4490843115783395015|dvc:c|adp:1o2|bku:1&gclid=CLjO65vLhswCFUeeGwodN3ULfA

The only thing I will say is that if the design is still the same, it won't do a second baby as the front of the seat gradually folds down as the baby grows and can't be re-lifted.

The Chicco one that I posted earlier is great for nipping out of the car and into the shops etc. If you are going to have LO in it for longer the buggy is suitable from birth. We use it all the time. The reason we chose it was because its light weight for me as I have a back problem, the travel system part was a bonus as its great for a short while so you don't disturb baby and the fact it is an umbrella fold. I don't drive so it's perfect for us. Maybe write a list of what you want in a prom then try to match it up.