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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:
FrannyandZooey · 15/01/2009 14:22

i mean the backwards facing thing

Original poster
morningpaper · 15/01/2009 14:23

yes Franny I was thinking of reverse cowboy

OP posts:
Habbibu · 15/01/2009 14:25

KEJ - MP's trying to show she's 'ard again after the recent scrapbooking/crying at Dr Who debacle.

As to your point - well, someone has to buy the brand new pram so that someone else can get it second-hand, so in a way you should be grateful!

I'm not personally a big fan of buggies for wee ones - I liked dd facing me for ages, and she could really roll about in her pram - I also had a big SC carriage built one which I walked for miles and miles with - I find it easier to keep going pushing a pram than (say) walking with a sling - having something to lean on, I guess, and it served as her bed for naps until she was about 22 months. Bought that second hand.

BUT - if I were to do it all over again I don't think I'd buy a travel system (PILs bought ours) - I'd get the bits I wanted off ebay, and stuff the rest. So I think you're half-right...

FrannyandZooey · 15/01/2009 14:25

yup gotcha
you filthazoid

Habbibu · 15/01/2009 14:27

Actually, if you're cross with manufacturers touting this stuff as essential to anxious new parents-to-be then I think you're spot on. Luxuries and luxury brands should be promoted as just that - nice extras which you can get if you have the money and inclination.

NuttyTaff · 15/01/2009 14:28

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tengreenbottles · 15/01/2009 14:42

i agree ,but then i am astounded at the price of alot of slings too ,especially when as far as i can tell some are just big bits of fabric that you could buy from a remnant shop

Maclaren · 15/01/2009 14:59

Not everyone can use a slip. I suffer from a bad back and the though of lugging my DS around is Its each to there own I think also if you buy a decent pushchair it will have a good resale value even after using it for 3 years just take the Bugaboo you can get one for £600 but after 3 years get about £300 back so its not quite as bad! a cheap buggy will be only good for the bin!

Also I suppose its the same as cars why do people spend so much money on those its all about status!

sarah293 · 15/01/2009 15:05

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FfreckleFface · 15/01/2009 15:11

As soon as my parents were told I was pregnant they bought me a Quinny Speedi. And at first I was completely stunned by the sheer hugeness of it, and then embarrassed at having to push around something so enormous and shiny.

But...the car seat was amazing, and the only thing that she would sleep in for the first two weeks of her life. The enormous bicycle tyres mean that she can stay asleep when we're out shlepping around the countryside, and it is robust enough that it can withstand an eight stone rottweiler clattering into it.

It is entirely impractical for getting on a bus, and is impossible to get into a shop, but Ff is comfy in it, and I like it!

nappyaddict · 15/01/2009 15:16

YABU - a buggy is no good with a heavy toddler, cobbles, uneven pavements and bumpy fields.

Habbibu · 15/01/2009 15:18

Riven, my huge silver cross is a miracle of suspension, and actually a breeze to push. It's beautifully designed, and yes yes yes hugely impractical for most people, but it really is surprisingly nice to use.

georgimama · 15/01/2009 15:20

Silver Cross is a dream to push, not heavy or unweildy at all, although can be tricky to navigate around crowded shops. A thick skin and a wide smile help!

LiffeyKidman · 15/01/2009 15:21

I AGree, a sling for 6 wks then a decent mcclaren which reclines completely. You live and learn.

I learnt this lesson only after buying 2 travel systems.

BouncingTurtle · 15/01/2009 15:25

Well I got my Graco travel system from my BIL. We're still using it now, though DH is now just over 1, he is not heavy enough for a group 1 car seat. I don't think it would be that expensive to buy.
It depends on the travel system.

Oh and my ds HATED being in a sling

champagneSupernova · 15/01/2009 15:32

MP The problem with james dyson is he only has two ideas.
Suction without a bag and balls (wheelbarrow/weirdy ball hoover thing)

That he is called an "inventor" with just 2 ideas is a bit imho

claireybrations · 15/01/2009 16:01

MP I do kind of agree with you but despite that I somehow seem to have 4 pushchairs in my house

For dd my mum bought me a £130 graco mirage travel system with all extras included (probably the same one as hedgewitch has). Big shopping basket, lies flat for newborn, lightweight and easy to push. Also didn't know about slings when dd was born. Used it everyday for 6 months (don't drive and do A LOT of walking) then bought

Bebeconfort vit for £60 for the times when I was just popping to the corner shop/toddler groups. This was my foolish buy really because I didn't really need it and it is really quite impractical what with not reclining and not having a shopping basket n all but everyone else seemed to be buying a stroller and I thought I should too and...
Despite that considering I used it daily for at least 17 months it wasn't really a waste of money.

Then ds was due when dd was only 18 months, and as already mentioned I do a lot of walking so got a secondhand Jane Powertwin from my cousin (paid about £100 for that). This was especially good for the stomping "this baby just won't stop crying walks" that I did a lot of then, as I was walking around with him in the sling the whole time at home it was quite nice to be able to put him in the buggy and steam off sometimes. The Powertwin is by far the best of all of mine for proper long walks too.

Then we were going to Botswana to stay with family and I needed an umbrella folding stroller for the plane but it needed to recline so the dc would be able to nap in it over there meaning the vit was no use so I asked on here and bought a maclaren ryder from misdee for (I think) £25.

I still use them all now (apart from the vit but that did have a lot of use while it was in service!)

The Graco for when I'm getting a lot of shopping or want ds to have a good sleep.

The Maclaren for everyday especially if getting the bus

The Powertwin for if I'm walking further than dd can walk easily or if I want to walk somewhere fast.

So basically all that waffle amounts to YANBU, I could have got by with a buggy and a sling (as I do most days!) but it's nice to have options dammit and I have to say the powertwin especially was a godsend for the days when I thought I was going to kill ds if I had to carry on listening to him scream while strapped to my chest!

claireybrations · 15/01/2009 16:01

MP I do kind of agree with you but despite that I somehow seem to have 4 pushchairs in my house

For dd my mum bought me a £130 graco mirage travel system with all extras included (probably the same one as hedgewitch has). Big shopping basket, lies flat for newborn, lightweight and easy to push. Also didn't know about slings when dd was born. Used it everyday for 6 months (don't drive and do A LOT of walking) then bought

Bebeconfort vit for £60 for the times when I was just popping to the corner shop/toddler groups. This was my foolish buy really because I didn't really need it and it is really quite impractical what with not reclining and not having a shopping basket n all but everyone else seemed to be buying a stroller and I thought I should too and...
Despite that considering I used it daily for at least 17 months it wasn't really a waste of money.

Then ds was due when dd was only 18 months, and as already mentioned I do a lot of walking so got a secondhand Jane Powertwin from my cousin (paid about £100 for that). This was especially good for the stomping "this baby just won't stop crying walks" that I did a lot of then, as I was walking around with him in the sling the whole time at home it was quite nice to be able to put him in the buggy and steam off sometimes. The Powertwin is by far the best of all of mine for proper long walks too.

Then we were going to Botswana to stay with family and I needed an umbrella folding stroller for the plane but it needed to recline so the dc would be able to nap in it over there meaning the vit was no use so I asked on here and bought a maclaren ryder from misdee for (I think) £25.

I still use them all now (apart from the vit but that did have a lot of use while it was in service!)

The Graco for when I'm getting a lot of shopping or want ds to have a good sleep.

The Maclaren for everyday especially if getting the bus

The Powertwin for if I'm walking further than dd can walk easily or if I want to walk somewhere fast.

So basically all that waffle amounts to YANBU, I could have got by with a buggy and a sling (as I do most days!) but it's nice to have options dammit and I have to say the powertwin especially was a godsend for the days when I thought I was going to kill ds if I had to carry on listening to him scream while strapped to my chest!

nappyaddict · 15/01/2009 16:02

clairey - what colour was your ryder? I am thinking of getting one of those.

claireybrations · 15/01/2009 16:03

BT LOL at your DH being just over 1....

claireybrations · 15/01/2009 16:05

Nappy the ryder is dark brown. It is really good and I use it most days but the shopping basket is tiny and a pita to get into (which is my excuse for still using the graco too!)

TinkerBellesMumandFiFi2 · 15/01/2009 16:37

tengreenbottles I've often made slings for other people and I sell them for £20, slightly over cost price because I have to make three to make one so I don't want to be out of pocket too much.

Maclaren after Tink was born I couldn't push a pushchair but the wrap sling was brilliant! My back is too far gone now and as I'm worried about keeping myself upright at all times I wouldn't want to add the baby in too, even if they're weightless in a wrap she'd still get hurt if I fell.
I've recommended a wrap to a few mums who said their back was too bad for a carrier but manage a pushchair, the usual response is "where's my baby?"

ScottishMummy · 15/01/2009 16:51

save your anger for something that matters.not another mum's pram.just your subjective opinion

and fwiw i didn't want to borrow anyone else prami wanted my pram.

next you will be bellyaching don't buy a cot,just put baby in a drawer with scratchy blankers (borrowed from someone else of course)

ThePregnantHedgeWitch · 15/01/2009 16:53

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primigravida · 16/01/2009 03:27

YABU - I adore my bugaboo gecko it is light and easy to get on and off the bus, it turns on a dime, ds can face me which some studies say is important, and unlike maclaren's which I personally hate is a dream to push. I tried out both a maclaren and a bugaboo before ds was born with a three year old in each of them and found the bugaboo was so much easier to push which was important to me as at the time I didn't own a car. We also used the pram attachment as a portacot for the first couple of months. Yes slings are good I own an ergo which is fantastic and I think the best on the market, but with shopping and hour long walks which dh and I enjoy taking an ergo has never been enough. Sorry to go on but I love my bugaboo and all of the mums I know wish that they'd got one too instead of buying an overthetop travel system and evil macleren and a second car.