Car seat and Pushchair/Travel System recommendations

[carringtonm]

DC1 is due in June and I am starting to research car seats and pushchairs/travel systems. I'm quite keen to get a travel system which includes a carrycot/travel cot as my parents do not live nearby and this could double up as a cot for when we visit them.

I like the Mamas and Papas Ocarro due to a friend recommending it after having one for her second baby. However, I wonder if there are cheaper alternatives that come recommended - I particularly would want to buy from a reputable company which good customer service in case of issues (e.g. John Lewis or Mothercare) but neither of these companies stock the Ocarro in the bundle I'd like. I'd prefer a plain design, and am not interested in anything specifically gendered as we do not know what we are having.

Can anyone recommend anything? I'm also open to hearing horror stories about models you absolutely hated! Thanks in advance.

We have a Graco Evo travel system. It held up well, has plenty of storage underneath, comes with a bassinet and a pushchair seat as well as an infant car seat. It was really affordable too.

Thank you @FartnissEverbeans.

Anyone else able to help?

I've just ordered the Ickle Bubba V3 stomp so I'll let you know how that goes

Great, @TobleroneBoo, thank you!

I got the joie chrome which I love, had it for a year and still very useful.

Thanks @Bluebelltulip I'll have a look into all three. So hard to decide without recommendations!

I bought the uppa baby Cruz for my first baby and I loved it. Have recently sold it as have another baby on the way and have bought the uppa baby vista as I need one that can be a double or a single. Wish I had considered this when I bought first time round as I could have saved so much money.

Uppa baby prams for the maxi cosi car seats and come with adapters included. They also have a bassinet approved for overnight sleeping so can double up
As a Moses basket.

Have fantastic big basket and really robust.

Personally I know prams are expensive but they really need to be robust and you get so much use out of them.

@Howsthings1234 Great review, thanks! Hadn't even thought about potentially needing a double buggy in the future so thank you for that.

I'm certainly not against spending a bit more on one, but I'm aware that we'll need as much money as possible so am reluctant to spend £1000 on one if there are cheaper alternatives - does cost always indicate quality or are you sometimes paying for a name?

I love my mamas and papas armadillo flip Xt. The carrycot part was a godsend when baby was tiny as we used it as a Moses basket for downstairs. It can be used with the maxi cosi cabriofix to be a full travel system. The hood is also huge!

We also got ours 2nd hand for £200. If you're looking to save money this could be an option

@piraterach Thank you! I do like the look of the Mamas and Papas pushchairs.

We have the mamas and papas armadillo. Its v similar to occaro but is an older model so will be cheaper. We love it.

We ordered it at an expectant parents event held in the mamas and papas store. Got a £150 discount.

@Somethingveryrandom That's great, thanks. How did you find out about the event? Had a quick look online but there aren't any dates available. Our nearest M&Ps store is about two and a half hours away, so do you just turn up or is a bookable event? Wouldn't want to go on the off-chance we can get in!

We were given a flyer in store then booked online. I think they're about every 3months. Had first aid demos ans other stuff too.

This is where on the website i think we booked. Don't know how to make it click able.

www.mamasandpapas.com/en-gb/store-event

Really think about if you want a big travel system.

We brought the bugaboo cameleon- it was a great pram, but after 9 months we sold it and brought a Bee instead and wished we had just gone with that in the first place as it's literally a one click fold, can be used from birth (I believe you can get carrycot rather than using the baby cocoons they used to come with) and compatible with the maxi cosi car seat. It's super light weight but really sturdy and my 4.5 year old nephew even fits in it if his little legs get tired.

Decent 're sale value too

@K1092902 Thanks, will have a think 😊

We had a Mamas and papas travel system (Urbo2) which I’m not sure they do anymore but which worked well for us (parent-facing option, usable from birth, bus user so had to be relatively light and compact, maxi cosi car seat adapters and carrycot option) although it did look a little like a shopping trolley and I wouldn’t have wanted to take it off road as the wheels are very small (part of what made it compact). We did have a minor issue with a wheel and contacted Mamas and Papas direct who posted out a replacement free of charge (and I don’t think we purchased it direct from them) so can’t fault their customer service. It was in everyday use for a year and then on non-nursery days for another 6 months as I liked the parent facing option. Couple of things you might want to consider - check the carrycot states it is suitable for overnight sleeping (not all of them say they are - although this may not matter if you get a reluctant sleeper like me as they won’t do long stints in it anyway!), consider resale value if that is important (Buggaboo brand definitely sell 2nd hand near me much better than other brands but obviously are more expensive initially as well) and also whilst ones that convert to a double are worth considering they tend to be heavier, may be more expensive in the first instance etc and it all depends on the gap you have as you may be able to manage with single buggy and sling, or single and buggy board. Our 2nd Buggy we bought 2nd hand - if you have any local fb groups which allow buying and selling these are a great source of info and stuff!

@Somethingveryrandom From looking on the website I think they just don't have any happening at the moment. Will keep an eye out. I've seen that Mothercare have them too.

@WhatWillGeorgeDo Brilliant, thank you!

I've got a bugaboo chameleon and I love it. It makes no sound and pushes so easy.
I'm not sure which ones you can use the carrycot for as a Moses basket- they have to have a certain type of base to let air circulate or something.
I used to sell nursery equipment and Uppababy were always popular.

Babies can outgrow carry cots surprisingly quickly. Why not get a travel cot to live at your parents house instead? You'll then have a much wider choice of prams.

Uppababy vista brilliant! Strong, roomy, smart, adaptable (can become double) massive shopping basket, no blimmin punctures because tyres aren't inflatable, carrycot huge and suitable for overnight.

Good point about the travel cot, I'll rethink! It hadn't even crossed my mind that buggy wheels can puncture! 😱 Thanks to everyone who has replied so far.

Travel cots are only about £20 and will last way longer than a carrycot. Agree with the poster who recommended the Joie Chrome. I've had several pushchairs and the Joie knocks spots off them all and is very reasonably priced.

Thank you @timeforachangeithink. Got a lot of options to look at now.