Travel system advice

[AllIWant85]

Hello,

I'm looking to purchase a travel system for dc1 due in July.

I have seen the Hauck Apollo for £320 which includes a pushchair, carrycot, car seat, raincover and changing bag.
www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplayA_344_10751_-1_14552_125428_10001_

I realistically have a budget of £400. I like the idea of the all in one system. Can anyone recommend anything else to compare it too at similar cost?

Thanks for your help! :)

if you particularly like hauck ones, have you seen these ones?

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAUCK-CONDOR-11-ALL-ONE-LOLLI-LIME-TRAVEL-SYSTEM-STROLLER-CAR-SEAT-CARRYCOT-/190616008252?pt=UK_Baby_BabyTravel_Pushchairs_GL&hash=item2c6199763c#ht_2581wt_952

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAUCK-WHEEL-SAND-TURBO-PLUS-11-TRIO-SET-TRAVEL-SYSTEM-STROLLER-CAR-SEAT-/310372706557?pt=UK_Baby_BabyTravel_Pushchairs_GL&hash=item4843a7a8fd#ht_2776wt_952

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAUCK-MALIBU-TRAVEL-SYSTEM-STROLLER-CAR-SEAT-PRAM-/310348128940?pt=UK_Baby_BabyTravel_Pushchairs_GL&hash=item484230a2ac#ht_2558wt_952

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAUCK-CONDOR-TRAVEL-SYSTEM-STROLLER-CAR-SEAT-CARRYCOT-/190544847947?pt=UK_Baby_BabyTravel_Pushchairs_GL&hash=item2c5d5ba44b#ht_2631wt_952

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAUCK-SHOPPER-RED-TRIO-SET-TRAVEL-SYSTEM-CARRYCOT-PUSHCHAIR-STROLLER-CAR-SEAT-/310346648140?pt=UK_Baby_BabyTravel_Pushchairs_GL&hash=item48421a0a4c#ht_2468wt_952 this one is as near as dammit the same as the one you've linked to!

A lot of people don't rate hauck but tbh I think it's snobbery really! I've had a couple over the years and they were well made, comfy, sturdy and never broke.

Thank you for taking the time to link all of those.

I don't really mind what make it is as long as its functional,safe and affordable. I can't afford some of the more well known brands so I have to look at others. To be honest they all have to meet a certain safety standard.

I know the chances are slim but are you anywhere near Huddersfield? When I visit my friend she takes me to the Mamas & Papas outlet store there. I got our travel system for our first there, there are crazy, crazy discounts sometimes.

Thank you for the tip. Unfortunately I'm 300 miles away. :)

I've been shopping around lately & have taken a liking to the Babystyle Oyster. I've found the pushchair brand new for £205 from BHS Direct and you can get the carrycot for £100-150 and the car seat for £50. Other car seats fit it too.
I'm no expert in these things, its a new world to me, but it does seem very good & you can get all different colour packs for it too which is nice!

Thank you, I shall have a look at BHS as I hadn't even thought of them!

Further looking has revealed a Britax B-Smart 3 or 4 with car seat for £220 and a Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe for the same price including a carrycot.

There are so many to choose from! :)

There is also an M+P outlet at Braintree Freeport. Another option to consider is looking at the other brands you like on eBay and seeing if you can pick up a bargain for the chassis/pram/buggy bit of the travel system and just get the car seat brand new?

Its well worth going to a store with lots on display to have a play with all the prams and pushchairs. You don't have to buy but it could really fix in your mind what you like and what you don't.

Then you can go online for a deal.

There is also a M&P outlet in Bridgend South Wales if that's any help

I went to Babies R Us and spoke to a wonderful sales girl there who gave me lots of advice. She explained that the Babies R Us staff do not get any commission on anything so she could advise which was genuinelly the best option for my needs rather than steering me towards the most expensive. She told me the staff at mothercare are on commission so be aware of that.
I'll almost definitely go to Babies R Us to buy my pram because while they're not the cheapest they will price match any pram and if I buy from there it makes it easier to return if theres any problems rather than packing it off to an internet based company!
The girl there also told me which pram got returned more than any others (a Silver Cross model which suprised me) and pointed out cheaper versions of the one I like and the downsides of prams such as Quinny - very helpful!

I've learnt recently the value of price comparision sites & reading reviews, theres so many helpful reviews of prams online that can really help rule in or out different prams!

I found BHS Direct on a price comparison site, I had no idea they do prams!
But speaking of BHS, their instore baby range is great when they have a sale on, I brought 2 lovely pairs of shorts there which should have come to £9.50 for £2.28 this week, bargain!!

It is probably worth a trip to Babies-r-us then. We have that and a Mothercare close by but the Mothercare is quite small and doesnt have many on display.

I think after looking at lots of reviews and prices I'm down to either the Britax B Smart 4 or the Hauck Apollo. I don't think there is anywhere that has the Apollo on display but I'm hoping maybe Babies-r-us will have the B Smart on display.

I think the main draw of the Apollo is everything comes in one package for £320. That seems very good value. On the other hand the Britax is parent or forward facing.

Decisions are never good! I didn't have this many problems when choosing a car!! :)

Thank you so much for all the help though, my pregnant brain doesn't cope well on it's own!

Good luck with it!!