Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

Original poster

Help! Last minute advice needed on buggy / pram / stroller

18 replies

Dreemagurl · 30/09/2010 12:44

Hi all, having a bit of a panic attack about our travel system. We bought a Graco Mosaic travel system when I was about 6 weeks pg (I know - forward thinking much??!) and thought nothing more of it, but now I'm 37 weeks and starting to panic that it's not the right thing at all, at least for a newborn. It doesn't really seem to convert properly to a pram - even when it "lays flat" - it doesn't seem to be completely flat, and there's no support wall behind the baby's head IYKWIM. The umbrella bit comes down but there's a gap between that and the edge where the baby's head is and it just doesn't seem that safe. Does anyone have experience with using this or a similar travel system for newborns? Also I'm freaking out about the car seat - that doesn't lie flat either and I thought newborns had to lie flat until they could lift their head up. But how else do we get her home from the hospital??! First timer as I'm sure you can tell - please help with any advice! Thanks!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

lal123 · 30/09/2010 12:47

Don't know the graco system - but re car seats - very very few lie flat (I think the only flat ones are carrycot style ones), I'm sure yours is fine

Pootles2010 · 30/09/2010 12:49

Well, i didn't get full system, just the car seat, but yes its a bit rubbish. His head flops forward loads, when we came back from hospital i had to hold his head upright the whole way. We got an insert thingie from mothercare that fits round his head and keeps it in place, which worked for a while, but not anymore (he's 10 weeks). Girls at my post natal group all have maxi cosis, they look much better.

Pootles2010 · 30/09/2010 12:52

Having said that the reviews on here are really good. Will you be getting the base for it? It does fit really easily in there.

CakesAndMuffins · 30/09/2010 12:56

You can get head supports which go around the back of a baby's head, if that will make it feel more secure for you. I mean this kind of thing:
www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Cuddlesoft-Head-Support/dp/B000TGK6PY/sr=1-2/qid=1285847445/ref=sr_1_2/278-7218595-0744126?_encoding=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=42764041&mcb=core

There are a few other on the mothercare website, and I am sure you can get them other places.

All prams have positives and negatives, and I'm sure everyone questions their purchase at some point. I'm sure it will be fine once the baby gets here.

Good luck!

Pootles2010 · 30/09/2010 13:03

Yes thats what we used Cakes. It worked really well for a month or so, now he's too big for the small one and too small for the big one! It might work for you Dreem but i wouldn't buy it again.

japhrimel · 30/09/2010 13:21

Most car seats don't lie flat, which is partly why newborns shouldn't be in them for longer than a couple of hours.

roulade · 30/09/2010 13:24

Graco now do a carrycot that fits inside the buggy so the baby can lay flat like in a pram. I think they are around £35 and you may be able to get one to match the buggy you already have. Toys r us do them.

Original poster

Dreemagurl · 30/09/2010 16:15

Unfortunately our Graco Mosaic doesn't offer the add-on carrycot, otherwise that would have been perfect :(. Now looking at pram options as I am convinced that while this travel system may be great when LO is a bit older, and the car seat is useful, I am NOT comfortable using it as a pram when it doesn't lie flat and has a huge gap. SO I'm now trying to find a pram option - it's impossible. Why does nowhere sell just normal prams??? You have to spend £300-£500 to get a convertible pushchair / travel system - why can't I just get a pram? Are they so antiquated now? I am getting a bit desperate now as she's going to be here soon and I'm going to have no means of transporting her around! Help again please!!

OP posts:

roulade · 30/09/2010 16:52

How about freecycle or 2nd hand on ebay? Charity shops may have some too.

trixie123 · 30/09/2010 16:54

First, breathe...it will be fine. The car seat will be ok, none of them allow a baby to lie flat but provided it is a group 0 one it is designed for newborns - and it will be fine. As for the pram, you could improvise something around the back with a blanket or cosytoes but don't forget your baby will be in a sleepsuit, coat hat etc. The lie flat thing is a bug bear but depending on how you are intending to use the pram he/she is not likely to be spending so uch time in it that you'll damage them. We have an icandycherry with carrycot and we only used it for about three months before DS seemed quite squashed and he wanted to sit up more so we started to use the seat which doe not lie flat at all. They are very expensive and really not necessary - that is true of a lot of baby stuff by the way. The best thing I bought for transportation was a £35 wrap sling which eh spent a fair amount of time in. Do you have a moses basket for at home? They are only about £25 and then baby won;t have to sleep in the pram downstairs.
"normal prams" as you are thinking of are available but usually only on special order and are unsuitable after about 6 months and very expensive. I used to work in a mothercare type shop and sold prams for 4 years. Trust me, your pram will be fine and the minute she/he is here you will realise its is ok. Relax, breathe and enjoy your last few weeks - go out lots! Best of luck.

CakesAndMuffins · 30/09/2010 17:00

I agree with Trixie - near the end of your pregnancy you do tend to get into a panic about things not being right, its so hard when its such a massive thing having a baby but you've never done it before!

The ones Trixie is talking about (old fashioned type prams) there is a brand called Silvercross which do them, if you want to look them up. They're not very common, but you could also try netmums nearly new board, or preloved for second hand ones in your local area.

vmcd28 · 30/09/2010 20:09

also note that, when my ds was born 5.5 yrs ago, the advice was different, and he spent most of his early life in his car seat, and it did him no harm at all.

In fact, no-one (apart from on mumsnet) has told me otherwise this time either. No midwife or health professional has yet told me this one will need to lie flat!

roulade · 01/10/2010 08:43

vmcd28 is right, DS is 4 and we had a Graco travel system and went for long walks in it with him in the car seat bit without anyone saying anything. It's a great buggy and I am going to get another one for DD when she comes in January! I will probably get one with a carrycot just for the fact that I am having a c section and the car seats are a little heavy to move when you are recovering.

Original poster

Dreemagurl · 01/10/2010 09:55

Thanks all for your replies. I guess I'm overstressing just a bit! Damn these hormones :) I appreciate all the advice. Going to have a look on eBay for a sturdier pram but will stick with the Graco for when she's just a bit older. Thanks again all - am taking deep breaths and trying not to stress too much. It's terrifying when it's the first time - I'm convinced I'm going to get everything wrong!

OP posts:

gastrognome · 01/10/2010 10:03

Hello,
I'd advise not spending any more money at the moment, at least until your baby is here.

I too was worried about the "lie flat" advice and forked out for a travel system that included a car-safe carrycot/pram thing. Well, my LO absolutely loathed it as she hated lying flat and would scream and scream. She also grew out of it by about 2 months so it really wasn't a good investment.

She was much happier in the car-seat. I was careful that she didn't spend too long in it(no more than 2 hours) and watched that her head didn't flop forward when she was tiny. (and, TBH when she was really small, I carried her in a stretchy wrap most of the time anyway).

So wait and see what your real needs are when your baby is here. I'm sure if you find that you really need a pram you'll be able to get one then.

msbossy · 01/10/2010 10:11

Dreema - you will frequently get things "wrong" so now's the time to start building your self-confidence. You've bought a perfectly good pushchair and your baby will be just fine. Between the car seat attachment and a sling (good suggestion trixie) you won't need anything else. And hey, if a cardboard box is good enough for the PM's baby...

I love both the baby bjorn slings (got mine for £15 in a local paper) and the wrap slings and they allow for a closeness to your baby that's perfect until they are the age where you won't have any qualms about your pushchair's suitability. Going out in the cold is interesting but baby snowsuits are gorgeous or you can get fleecy covers for the bjorn type slings, and hold on to your maternity coat. You can tell I've had a winter baby can't you?

Kiki84 · 01/10/2010 10:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tanmu82 · 01/10/2010 10:40

I'm with vmcd28 and roulade When I had DS (he's 7 now) I bought a Graco travel system and there was no advice to not keep them in car seats for extended amounts of time. I used it all the time and DS slept happily in it in the house too - so did DD when she came along 15 months later. Both are completely healthy and have suffered no harm.

As for the Mosaic, my sister bought that travel system for her DS (he's now 4 months) and, whilst it's sufficient, she doesn't 'love' it. I am going for a travel system with a carrycot this time around, but I am ashamed to admit it is because of bowing to pressure and style rather than out of absolute necessity!

But do bear in mind, as another poster has said, all pushchairs/travel systems will have positives and negatives about them. So don't worry, you might find you and baby love it :)

Flip