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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be stressing over a pram?

113 replies

Geraldeen · 03/08/2018 09:37

Looking for a travel system to fit in the tiny boot of my car. I'm not able to sell it as it belongs to a family member, I just use it and cannot afford a car of my own.

Because the boot is so small, there are only a handful of prams that fit in there. I'm looking at the mothercare orb all-terrain... was thinking about the babyzen yoyo but it's much too flimsy... it's so frustrating being so limited.

How important is it to have the perfect pram? Would I be mad just getting one that doesn't fit in my car? I know many parents don't drive. DP has a car but it is a company car so I don't have the option to drive it, however it is a big car so we can go out when he is here.

I'm just so lost. Too many prams. Don't want to buy something rubbish. Help!

OP posts:
Nearlyhaveahouse · 03/08/2018 10:01

I think the main question you need to ask yourself is how you spend your time now. Are you a walker? In which case, forget the travel system and get a decent three wheeler and either a sling or smaller cheaper umbrella type buggy. If you currently go everywhere in the car then get a travel system. My friend had same problem as you and managed with using back seat as well which pp said.

Original poster
Geraldeen · 03/08/2018 10:01

@LouiseEH can I ask what you used instead if the pram never got used? Did you have a sling instead?

OP posts:
Original poster
Geraldeen · 03/08/2018 10:03

@Nearlyhaveahouse I'm both! I live in god middle of nowhere so do a lot of walking, but also means I am required to drive everywhere too in order to get anywhere. Hence wanting a travel system that is all terrain...

I wonder why travel systems do so well if everyone says they're not worth the money!

OP posts:
bridgetreilly · 03/08/2018 10:04

It is not important at all. Just pick one and stop stressing about it.

LooksBetterWithAFilter · 03/08/2018 10:06

How much do you use your car? I live in a semi remote area and night a huge pram because I did more walking than driving. I used a sling if I was going out in the car and did end up buying a lie flat buggy that fitted in the car eventually but didn’t need it when they were small.
If you do more walking or an equal amount of walking and driving then I’d get the pram you really want and worry about another solution when you need to.

Incidentally I had a micra at one point with a similar boot and I could fit the chassis of a pram in with one set of wheels off sitting on its side upright so parallel with the back of the back seat and the parce shelf off. And the seat bit on the back seat. With a bit of play it can be done. Go to mothercare and see if they will let you try a few in your car in various options.
Also will it just be you and baby in the car and can you turn off airbag to put the baby in the front? Do the back seats lie flat that sort of thing?

TheWanderlust · 03/08/2018 10:06

I've decided on the out n about single Nipper... it folds small enough to fit in the boot of my Mini which isn't the biggest of boots!

You can pick the buggy up for £220 new on the internet and get the maxi cosi adapters for a car seat.

The carry cot is expensive new, but go for around £30 second hand

Cuddlykitten123 · 03/08/2018 10:07

If space is a premium just get a compact stroller type that you can use from birth.

John Lewis were really helpful when we got ours and had the option to test it fitted into your car.

vandrew4 · 03/08/2018 10:08

I wonder why travel systems do so well if everyone says they're not worth the money
because they look big and impressive and cost a lot so people think they must be good.
The vast majority of people come to their senses with baby number 2

RunningOverTheSameOldGround · 03/08/2018 10:09

In the nicest possible way, yes yabu! They don’t get used for long. Just buy one you like and that fits in your car. It does not need to be perfect at all.

Fwiw, I bought a cheapish (£200 or so) travel system new for dc1 and a second hand one for £50 off eBay for dc2. Both are fine. I didn’t even need the second one tbh, I just saw it and thought “bargain! I’ll have that”! They both have plus and minuses but are much of a muchness tbh.

Original poster
Geraldeen · 03/08/2018 10:10

Thanks @RunningOverTheSameOldGround - needed to hear that!

OP posts:
leighdinglady · 03/08/2018 10:10

I have the yo-yo. It's really light but certainly not flimsy. Holds its own on cobbled streets etc

RunningOverTheSameOldGround · 03/08/2018 10:11

Oh yes and I used a sling a lot with dc1, as we lived in an upstairs flat, so taking the carrycot and wheels up and down the stairs was too much of a pain. Easier to put dc1 in the sling and saunter out. Dc2 is heavy and we now live in a house, so I use the pram more.

Minisoksmakehardwork · 03/08/2018 10:12

Depends on how many passengers you carry.

When dd1 was born I fell in love with a pram/travel system. It was perfect. Lie flat pram which could be converted to forward or rear facing pushchair. Pictured inc below.

I was driving a 3 door corsa at the time. Luckily it had a 1:2 split rear seat, so I put dd1's carrier on the 1 seat and folded the 2 down so I could get the pushchair in the car.

Because I did a lot of walking, I wanted a pram which would be robust enough to cope. I could take that alone to friends as it had a stand as well to use the pram body as a carrycot. Wheels stayed in the car unless we were going out.

We used the same pram for ds2, although we changed my car not long after he was born. So if you only have the one child and aren't planning on more before changing your car, go for the best pram you can afford and like. Otherwise take your car to one of the big baby supply places and try them out, pushing round and in the boot before you buy.

to be stressing over a pram?
Stargirl90 · 03/08/2018 10:12

I've just ordered my pram it fits nicely into the boot of my toyota aygo (shoebox boot!)
Its this one www.simplybaby.co.uk/cosatto-wow-travel-system-with-car-seat-isofix-base-dawn-chorus.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw6ra-sTQ3AIVDrftCh1ktQd3EAQYCyABEgLiuvD_BwE but I didnt buy it from here

RunningOverTheSameOldGround · 03/08/2018 10:13

Oh and last point, the secondhand system I bought was one of the really expensive ones (if I’d bought it new). I think close to £1000 new. It’s really no better than the £200 I had for dc1.

Stargirl90 · 03/08/2018 10:13

The frame and change bag will go in the boot, the carrycot/seat will go inside the car :) i fell in love with it when i saw it

Original poster
Geraldeen · 03/08/2018 10:14

@leighdinglady I found it really difficult on grass and it tipped forwards a lot which I didn't like. I would say I thought it was a little flimsy compared to your all-terrain prams, but that's just me. On pavements and hard ground I can imagine it is great!

OP posts:
MrsSnootyPants2018 · 03/08/2018 10:15

I managed to get the Joie chrome in some tight boots ( didn't have own car so had to rent small ones as and when) I did have to push the handle right in and flatten the seat but it got in.

Ruby09 · 03/08/2018 10:16

Have you looked at mamas and papas the armadillo flip xt? I have this and it folds up so tiny fits in the footwell behind the drivers seat in my car (Ford Fiesta) May be worth a look. Although they are expensive that’s the downside. I got mine from a factory store so was ex display and was over half the price too

TheDisillusionedAnarchist · 03/08/2018 10:16

We have a VW Polo and our bugaboo bee and our secondhand out n about nipper just fit.

Mintykat · 03/08/2018 10:17

I'd look into the flip xt2 from Mamas and Papas, it looks like it would fit if it was laid on its side. The seat can be used from birth if you can't fit the carrycot in the boot and you have the benefit of its being able move from parent to world facing. All maxicosi, Joie and cybex infant carriers fit on it too.

If you are wanting to use your pram daily, I would really advise against a stroller. Eye contact is such an important aspect for social and emotional development in babies and it's pretty tricky when they are forward facing in a stroller!

Original poster
Geraldeen · 03/08/2018 10:20

@Mintykat this is another thing I loved about the orb. Even from 6 months+ you can switch from forward to rear facing. Don't like the idea of not having the choice, especially when they are little!

OP posts:
3stonedown · 03/08/2018 10:21

I have a Silvercross pioneer and it's bloody huge (I wouldn't recommend it, takes up the whole boot of our 3008) but we have a small run around (Citroen C1) and I've have to put it in there a couple of times and it's fit in the back seat and me, DP and DD have still fit in, so the boot isn't your only option

NannyR · 03/08/2018 10:21

I can't make out which car you've got from the photo, but I drive a skoda citigo(same design as VW up and seat mii) for work and if I take the parcel shelf out I can fit an icandy peach (seat and chassis) and a baby jogger city mini double plus changing bag in the boot.

guiltynetter · 03/08/2018 10:24

i had a small boot (ford ka) and i have a babystyle oyster travel system that fitted in perfectly, have you tried one of those? i had to take one of the wheels off but it literally takes 2 seconds. i loved it. (the carrycot had to go in the passenger seat though)

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