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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that Prams and Travel Systems are a total con?

121 replies

morningpaper · 15/01/2009 11:52

I get angry looking at all the prams and travel systems on the market. They are a total CON and so unecessary.

You need:

  • a sling for a few weeks
  • a buggy

If you REALLY want a proper pram, you can buy a second-hand lie-flat face-mummy pram or borrow one from a friend for the first few weeks.

Anything more than that is an OPTIONAL EXTRAVAGANCE and should be seen as so.

AIBU?

OP posts:
ladyjuliafish · 15/01/2009 12:17

I used my pram loads. It wasn't a con at all. I wouldn't have wanted to borrow from someone else 3 times. There are some pretty expensive slings around considering that they are just a length of fabric. Where do you suggest the second hand and borrowed ones come from if no one ever bought new. There are loads of things that some people want and other people don't. Not everything you buy has to be necessary and because something is unnecessary doesn't mean that the purchaser has been conned. You could say everyone who buys a sterilizer has been conned because you can use a pan of boiling water, everyone who buys shaped nappies has been conned because terry squares are cheaper, cribs are a con because babies can sleep in a drawer, everyone who buys fillet steak has been conned because you can get sirloin or take a bite out of a friends burger etc.

HelenBurns · 15/01/2009 12:17

The bugaboo (hate it myself) fills a gap in the 'new prams' market - one of the few that face the parent, among other things.

Plus it is very trendy and I think gets people to buy into the whole 'I'm a parent but hey I'm still looking good' thing.

Which is shit, but that's how advertising works. I had one for a while and thought it was a heap of sh*t compared to some prams - the price in the light of my experience, is appalling. (I got one for half price, then sold it on ebay after having various problems with it - I wanted to see what the fuss was all about).

Some buggies are very very good though. I've got an MB (mountain buggy) and it's a wonderful piece of engineering, despite looking very plain. It makes my life easier.

It was very dear but it will retain much of the price if I sell it on. The price is stupid but yes, I paid it for the ease of use. It also depends how much you walk...we live up a steep, long hill, so needed something quite lightweight.

Bubbaluv · 15/01/2009 12:22

I had the Maclaren Travel System and I still think it was the BEST baby purchse I made bar none.
Just like a slightly larger than normal Maclaren and you can wack the car seat on to avoid waking sleeping baby lulled to sleep by car trip.
Hated slings, but found front carrier v useful.

Mimia · 15/01/2009 12:24

I agree. I wish someone had shown me a really good sling 2 years ago rather than me being seducsed into a buying a Loola that was bloody awful and which my DD aboslutely yelled in. I'm just relieved I manged to sell it on for 50% of its value.

Bubbaluv · 15/01/2009 12:27

Helen, what's wrong with a tiny baby in a Maclaren? Mine had a fab head support and with a lamb skin inside it was completely flat. Looked incredibly comfy to me!

blueshoes · 15/01/2009 12:28

I think prams are silly.

I (largely) attachment parented my dcs and agree that the only things you need are a sling and buggy. I don't think I needed anything else.

But ... I have used both my buggies to death. The first is a travel system with a detachable carseat (a lifesaver for a lightsleeping baby) that converted to an lie-flat/upright buggy. The second is a Phil & Teds tandem buggy, which converts from a lie-flat to single to double really easily. Could not live without them. Still use both of them every day.

giantkatestacks · 15/01/2009 12:29

Helenburns - why dont you think a baby cant go in a maclaren lying flat? both mine have and have slept well.

My dislike of travel systems come from seeing people unload their babies from the car, straight into the pram and then straight into the house etc - I just worry that the tiny baby is sat in their car seat all day.

I dont have a car as well Cory and need a Maclaren sized buggy to get on the bus/train...and to lug up and down stairs on the occasions you dont get any help...and in fact to lob into the great big plastic nursery bins when I go back to work - any expensive pram in there is going to get totalled...

HelenBurns · 15/01/2009 12:33

I like Maclarens, don't get me wrong, and they lie flat which is marvellous.

It depends on the territory.

When babies are tiny, (and I'm talking under about 3 or 4 months, and possibly just my babies!) I found that taking them out for a walk in a pram without much suspension (ie air tyres or similar) made them throw their little arms in the air every time we went over a little bump. I felt sorry for them and it looked like it might disturb their sleep - if I was throwing my arms in the air every few minutes it would disturb mine!

So I ditched the harder and smaller wheels in favour of something more bouncy, and it happened far less.

I hope I didn't offend anyone. maclarens are very well designed but I prefer them for older babies really.

cory · 15/01/2009 12:34

Mine was not a car-type travel system (a bit pointless with no car and weak wrists which mean I couldn't carry it) but a combo pram system. I found I could get on the bus alright (if I can travel on the bus with my 12yo wheelchair bound dd!). But the hillwalks would have been difficult without those sturdy wheels. Found the MacLaren wheels (when I later did get a MacLaren buggy) were totally useless for going through heavy mud.

Attachment parenting sounds lovely- for those without bad backs or infected stitches. But if you are in agony every time you lift your baby up, it's the sling suggestion that's going to sound silly.

HelenBurns · 15/01/2009 12:35

If you mainly walk on very flat pavements it isn't so bad but round here the paving isn't great and we go over playing fields etc.

Babies grow out of the Moro reflex after a few months anyway.

ThePregnantHedgeWitch · 15/01/2009 12:36

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Dropdeadfred · 15/01/2009 12:37

maclarens wheels are awful

swottybetty · 15/01/2009 12:41

YANBU - BUT you're posting in the wrong place.

get thee to pregnancy and let them know

... tis too late for me and a lot of others...

giantkatestacks · 15/01/2009 12:43

cory - agree about the sling...I found them agony as well..

Have you used a rucksack - am borrowing one of them next week for my 8mo (huge) dd - wondering whether it will be too much for me.

and yes maclarens wheels are useless in mud - makes me lol when I see people with them at glasto etc...

ThePregnantHedgeWitch · 15/01/2009 12:44

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Original poster
morningpaper · 15/01/2009 12:44

You do need to try a lot of slings before you get the right one

I had loads of back problems but still used a sling - DH used it when I was too poorly

OP posts:
ThePregnantHedgeWitch · 15/01/2009 12:46

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countingto10 · 15/01/2009 12:47

I borrowed my sister's Silver Cross pram that her MIL bought for her for my first 3. It was great, could put loads of shopping underneath and the babies had a proper carriage ride. It wasn't a massive coach built one, if you had a big enough boot it would fit in but you would need a big hallway to keep it in. So far it has done 6 babies, no wonder they went out of business .

Once, when out and about with it a little girl said "Look mummy there's one of those old fashioned prams"

Couldn't use for last baby as needed a double and always had a lie flat Maclaren for car and a three wheeler for out and about use when they got too big for pram which was ast about 1 yr.

YANBU but when it's your first you want what you think is the best and will not be persuaded otherwise.

blueshoes · 15/01/2009 12:48

Not too far off - also known as startle reflex. A travel system is actually quite good for reducing moros. Even if it has mcClaren-type wheels.

swottybetty · 15/01/2009 12:51

do second and third timers hang out in pregnancy??

go on, tell 'em! would have saved me loads of cash. i had no idea that i didnt need a four hundred pound two tonne pile o' shite. repeat after me... sling and maclaren ... sling and maclaren....

Bubbaluv · 15/01/2009 12:52

Helen, I see your point but never had that expereince. In fact used to seek out cobble stones to bounce DS over to get him off to sleep. No Moro issues. Maybe the fleece gave the extra padding that was required?
We were in London though and agree Maclaren is not designed for off-roading. Now live in a rural area and with DS2 on the way (much closer gap than planned) we have just bought a Phil & Ted which has made walks in the woods much easier. It's a total faff in every other way though by comparison!

GrapefruitMoon · 15/01/2009 12:56

I borrowed a travel system for ds2 and it was a godsend - I don't have off street parking and often have to park quite a way from my house. It would have been highly stressful to carry a newborn, various bags and look after two other children crossing a busy road.

And I never managed to get to grips with slings though I tried a few different styles.

ThePregnantHedgeWitch · 15/01/2009 13:09

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giantkatestacks · 15/01/2009 13:13

most people do reuse their buggies though right? its not just me and the hedgewitch?

My techno xt hasnt even got any brakes left and am still using it ahem... we're ok as long as noone distracts me when we're going downhill...[look mummy an eagle etc]

ThePregnantHedgeWitch · 15/01/2009 13:19

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