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Joie Baby Finiti vs Joie Chrome (i-Snug2) Travel System ?

2 replies

theIWillAlwaysLoveYouGirl · 23/12/2023 22:56

FTM here. Trying to decide on a travel system for my upcoming wee one.

Everything seems so expensive. The lowest one I finally narrowed down upon, that was a whole travel system, is the Joie Baby Finiti travel system (https://www.johnlewis.com/joie-baby-finiti-pushchair-i-level-recline-car-seat-ramble-carrycot-and-i-base-encore-bundle/eclipse/p6368883) which we liked. Saw this in person and we both liked it.

Then I also came across the Joie Chrome (i-Snug2) Travel System (https://www.online4baby.com/for-baby/36192/Joie-Chrome-i-Snug2-Travel-System-with-Carrycot-ISOFIX-Base-Pebble) which seems a couple of hundred pounds lesser.

Anyone out here who can tell me from their knowledge or experience why the "Joie Baby Finiti" is more pricey than the "Joie Chrome (i-Snug2)" ?

OP posts:
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BertieBotts · 24/12/2023 12:34

I think it's newer. The Chrome has been around at least 6 years as I looked at it for my 5yo, but the Finiti is new this year (maybe last year?) You might do better posting in pregnancy or the pushchair forum though :) I don't know as much about pushchairs as I do about car seats. Joie are also quite helpful online if you send them a message and I'm sure John Lewis staff could advise the differences between the Finiti and Chrome.

Online4Baby is also a large online discounter who won't offer as much after sales support and their stock is sometimes older. I would always preferably buy from a brick and mortar store - e.g. go into your local John Lewis and ask for this specific online bundle to be ordered into store. That way, if you ever have any problems with the item, need to request repair, spare parts etc you can physically walk in. They will also generally offer support with more minor questions such as how to adjust the seats of the buggy and car seat as your child grows, which is invaluable.

Even better than John Lewis will be an independent, local store. You might want to search Joie's stockists and see if there are any near you. But John Lewis is the best of the high street chains for baby stuff by far. An independent store won't offer the discounts that an online-only chain will, but can sometimes have ex-display models or throw in extras if you're making a large order.

The car seats are different too - the i-Level with encore base is a premium, reclining car seat with a rotating base that also takes the next stage toddler seat (though, honestly, when the time comes to upgrade don't limit yourself to this one model) whereas the i-Snug is a more basic car seat (still has a reclined position suitable for newborns, but does not have the function to change the recline as the i-Level does) with a standard base, which doesn't rotate. The i-Snug lasts to 75cm which is approx 6-9 months whereas the i-Level lasts to 85cm which is over a year - most people want to swap to a more upright seat by around a year anyway.

Sometimes it works out cheaper to just buy the pushchair you want and the car seat separately if the pushchair is only available with a premium car seat and you're not bothered which one - the safety rating is actually slightly better on the i-Snug anyway, and it's lighter to carry around. Though this is likely because the i-Level allows you to use the reclined position in the car. We know from crash tests that the more upright the seat, the better the crash protection. For newborns a flatter recline is preferred though as of course they can't hold their heads up so it supports their airways better. The i-Snug can be fitted with seatbelt in any car without the base whereas the i-Level can only be used with isofix base, which makes it more difficult to use occasionally in other cars, as you have to reinstall the base in the other car. You can get 2 bases if you have 2 cars - there is a non-rotating, cheaper base available too.

Choice of car seat might depend on how much you plan to use the car seat on the pram, how far you need to carry it regularly, how much you drive, whether you ever do a combo e.g. public transport/lift.

BertieBotts · 24/12/2023 12:37

I do think Joie are good options for a combo of budget and features. The quality is better IMO than other options at the same price.

Some other ways to save money are avoid bundles with a carrycot - you can lie the pushchair flat and use it parent facing from birth, though this is less protective from the elements. Buy a cheaper/more basic car seat, and skip the isofix base, as this isn't really necessary, it's just for convenience.

You could also go second hand for the pushchair and new for the car seat, for safety reasons.

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