first timer pram question (poss a bit stupid)

[tyaca]

we were thinking of getting the quinny zapp plus a maxi cosi. there is a deal on them and it looks like an all round ok cost, plus we have quite a small flat and it doesnt look enormous.

the sales assistant pointed out that the pushchair bit doesnt recline. is this a prob? does is basically mean that, when baby has grown up enough to use it as pushchair, she wont be able to lie back and sleep?

all opinions and experiences welcome

cheers

Hi i had a zapp for my dd2 when she was about a year old and hated it as she coulnt lay down and so was slumped when she slept also found that you couldnt hang the nappy bag on the back without it tipping up. Also would you be using it for long trips out with a baby in the carseat as its not recommended to keep them in one for more than a few hours.

If you can you really should get a buggy in which your baby can lie flat when its very small and even over the coming year or so it'll be much more comfortable being able to recline to sleep (and you'll be able to go out for nice lunches whilst the baby sleeps ).

a friend recently got a new bebe comfort. it looks great - very comfy, easy to fold, compact for boot of car and pretty funky. personally i prefer it to a zapp but as a hauck infinity fan - who am i to say!

a 2nd hand silvercross 3d would probably suit your needs better tbh (or M&P pramette) buying 2nd hand is good because once the baby is older you may well want something smaller etc

which one was it? i want the streety.

cheers guys, esp for the tip off about them not in carseat for too long. how long is too long and i take it that applies to babies when in car seat in car?

i am on second floor of a block of flats with dodgy lifts. i am hoping as much as possible to use a sling in the early months (tho' i just found out the bjorn style ones can cause hip probs!). i am based in london, dont drive and mobilty is keen to transportaion - esp for smaller trips.

but do need to get a car seat now, and this seems to inform pram/buggy decision.

mothercare

Okay if you don't drive I'd suggest the britax car seat - it has routings for shorter than average seat belts as it sounds like you may rely on mini-cabs a far amount. You won't benefit from a travel system unless you are using your car daily for irritating trips like school runs etc!!! yes total time in car seats or non-reclined pushchairs should be limited to 2 hours at a time probably less if you have a prem baby or one with breathing problems (but I don't know about that). maclaren xt are a great pushchair providing you don't mind the baby being forward facing from birth or there is the silvercross dazzle (but expensive) or the maclaren xlr which can be a travel system if that's what you want.

here is a link for mothercare basic one

DH was taken with the phil and teds sport one.

sorry guys - i know this is another boring pram thread, its just that we finally got round to looking at them today, and to be honest my nut is done in.

i know it;s a v trivial concern, but anything we get will reduce the floor space of our flat by approx 10%

silvercross 3d is smallish when folded and freestanding, maclaren xt again is small folded up - would fit in a coat cupboard if you have one?

tyaca - i also live in the 2nd floor of flats with no lift. my slings and carriers were ALL we used for ist 6 mths - so much handier than buggy. now tho' - i do use a buggy as she tends to sleep better in it.
I was bought a full travel system before i had her - biggest waste of time. too heavy to bump up / down stairs and get in/ out of car. if i was doing it again - i woudl wait til bubba was born and get what i had test drove at a shop / pram centre.
if you are an avid user of public transport then light, easy to collapse is key. also - i never imagined how heavy a buggy with baby, changing bag and some shopping could be to get up / down stairs!!

i think it is meant to be 1.5 hrs as max in a car seat????

the moutain buggy breeze is small, compact etc need to check if it is suitable from birth though. phil & ted sport would cramp a small flat........

ok - if space is an issue - maybe something that folds in 2 parts? i love my hauck for that reason!

get a maclaren and a britax car seat

slings is another huge area there are ones far better than babybjorn around but I never got one with them due to back problems

mei-tais are really good if you have back problems.

tbh - if dd slept better in her carrier / meitai - i dont think we woudl have a buggy.
woudl still have the car seat obviously!

If you've got the money the bugaboo bee are really really fab especially for those in flats and cities etc

yes ds won't sleep in his mei tai which is a pita.

ok, question from DH to all those who can// could have lived without a pram for first six months (which is secretly what i want to do) just how realistic is it not to have a pram at all????? he imagines not having one would stop me leaving the house, i think the opposite.

i think if they are in slings from birth they get used to sleeping in them so perfectly feasible. i didn't start using one til ds was older so he wasn't used to sleeping in it.

tyaca - we were never in the house with a carrier! seriously - from day 5 we were out n about. it seemed easier for me to pack a small bag, get bubba strapped and off we went walking or on public transport. other mums from our nct class took a while to head out but i felt i had to get out - cabin fever!

If you should be unfortunate enough to tear/need an episiotomy during labour, carrying baby for prolonged periods can be very uncomfortable. Doesn't happen to everybody, of course, but it did to me. I also got mild back problems post-delivery which meant I was not able to carry as much as I'd hoped.