Pushchair/Travel System

[Witchcraftandhokum]

My step daughter has just announced she's pregnant we would like to buy her the pushchair (which I've now learned are called 'Travel Systems') Being child-free I have no experience of these. Can anyone give me any recommendations? I've looked at the reviews on here but there's only about 3 posts in each.

Help!

Let her pick her own travel system- she'll be the one using it! If you want to offer to pay that's different but don't take away hers and her partners opportunity to pick items for their child.

Yup. Definitely let her buy her own. It's part of the experience as a new mum going with your DP/DH.

My MIL and DM halved in. They gave us a budget and transferred it to us and we went and picked it!

Sorry that meant to say pick her own**

That’s very kind of you and I’m sure she will be very pleased about that. I would personally ask her if she’s seen any that she likes as they can be quite a personal purchase. There’s so many to choose from.

They can also to very expensive so maybe suggest the amount your comfortable with spending and then offer her that amount to put towards one she likes.

I've looked at a few and jeez they are expensive! But as long as they're worth it money isn't an issue. If we offer to pay she'll refuse. Logistically taking them shopping is an issue as she lives 100's of miles away

Travel system is a pram, pushchair, car seat combo. Let her choose her own, preferably go and try it first. They are expensive and potentially used daily so needs to be one she likes. If she needs a travel system (rather than just pram ) will depend on whether she drives much in combination with walking day to day. If she can walk from home mostly, or drive straight to destination, they are of limited use. They are heavy and bulky and difficult to fold. I didn't have one - a lie flat push chair and separate car seat, as well as a sling, was more useful. Recommend baby jogger city mini.

You can usually fit any brand of car seat using adapters.

It's not the sort of thing you just buy for someone any more than you buy them a car without asking what they want

If she doesn't want you paying for the pram then offer a gift card or something else.

A lot of parents want to be the one to buy the big things for their first baby.

So yeah, definitely don't buy it for them without asking/checking their preferences first.

Strangley enough we did buy her a car without asking her first. Oops.

I agree that they are something the parents should choose.

Are you looking for another step daughter 🤣?

Yeah let her pick as she'll be the one who has to store it! Travel systems can take up a lot of room. Maybe at least run it past her before you buy so she doesn't get stuck with one she doesn't want!
I personally like the cosatto range

They should definitely chose and try out themselves. They could then look for a 2nd hand version to

Definitely let her pick it. They’re personal choice in terms of height etc.

Another vote for not buying something she hasn't chosen. She might want something specific. Something to fit in her car, one that goes with a particular car seat, a certain height for her or partner. It's a minefield.

If she really doesn't want you to get the travel system then offer to get something else or give her the equivalent in cash or vouchers.

You really need to take in to consideration their lifestyle. How big the boot of the car is. Will they be doing lots of walking with it or using it on public transport?

Id say you can’t go much wrong with a bugaboo and maxi cosi adaptors but that’s because that’s all I used for all three of mine and didn’t really look at anything else. there is just so much to choose from!

i would also say the second hand market is huge and you get really good value for money on the whole and in general people keep these sorts of things in pretty good nic.

I’d really wouldn’t buy it without her. It’s the sort of thing that people have pretty fixed ideas on!

It's very fact specific. Someone who lives in London and uses public transport will need something totally different to someone living rurallg and wanting to take it on dog walks. Size of hall and storage space is important too.

First car for an 18 year old who couldn't otherwise afford one where you are paying insurance and maintenance - great thank you.
Car for 35 year old with 2 children and they pay their own costs and can afford to buy their own - most people would prefer to choose their own, even if that means no financial help!

(Said as a recipient of unwanted gift car!)

It comes across a bit interfering to choose this kind of thing...unless she's a very young struggling single mum etc... Let them choose the pram, car seat, cot etc. You can choose some toys and cute outfits.

The best for her will be so dependant on circumstances, some people what heavy duty that can carry lots of shopping and/or go over all terrains, others want compact, light, one hand fold for public transport and the car boot. You really need to discuss it with her

Definitely let her choose herself

As a pp has said, it is all very much dependent on what she wants to use it for. I have an all terrain one as we needed to be able to use it for countryside walks and parks, as well as putting the car seat on when I needed to nip to the supermarket. I also had space to store the gigantic chassis in our house. DSis lives in London and needed one that folded up super small and was ultra light for getting on / off the tube and wouldn’t have anywhere to store wheels the size of my pram.

It is very much a personal thing too and she will really need to test them out before choosing one to see how easy they are to put up / down, easy to manoeuvre etc. The brand may be important to her too and colour etc and also, if she is planning on having any more children, a pram that converts into a double in the future.

It’s a lovely gesture from you, however if you think she will refuse the money, I would buy her another big ticket item instead.

Absolutely let her choose herself, and give her a rough idea of budget.