Buggies/prams/???? Not sure if right place.

[Lizziewhizzie]

Hello lovely ladies...in need of some help. This is my first baby and I think i really need to start looking at this now (am now 24 weeks gone so am starting to ry and sort things out ready for September), but i havent got a clue and neither does DH. I really feel out of my depth on this, we went into mamas and papas just to "have a look" at the kind of choice out there then may well end up looking on ebay for a deal.
My problem is I thought a travel system would work well but ive since been told this is bad for a newborn as they need to be flat so do I have to get a pram and then swap when bump is older?? Realistically I would like something that i could take bump out with me with the dogs and walks (maybe a sling too) and travelling I cant see them going too far in the car at first - maybe 20mins to MIL ?
Any advice?? What are my actual options...an idiots guide would be good :)

there are travel systems with a buggy that goes rear facing and lies flat like a pram, we had an old style MPX (not at all like current MPXs), you could use the chassi to attatch the car seat to if going somewhere with the car, or for walks you could put the pushchair bit in back to frond and lie it flat pram stylie

for no2 I will be looking for similar

beware, there are a few popular buggy systmes with a sort of angle in the middle that say they go flat but they go into a V shape, which keeps the pressure in the pelvis so is no different from leaving them in a car seat

this one looks good to me:
www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplayA_54_10751_-1_14601_126874_10001_14601

I don't like the ones with the moses basket type attatchment, would have been no good for DH who didn't suit being COMPLETELY flat due to being a CS baby (more stuffed up), with this kind you can have them facing you and as flat or as upright as you want

www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplayA_54_10751_-1_14601_126874_10001_14601

Ah that does look good - I like the idea of being able to get one with two attachments (travel and then the rear facing bit). It is a minefield out there!! Thats a good tip about the "V" I think Im going to have to face another trip out to "play" with them and see what I am comfortable with. :)

Hi, wouldn't really recommend M & P.

Does your pushchair need to be all terrain for your walks?

There is some good info on this thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pushchair_chat/1487112-Please-help-complete-newbie-who-wants-to-walk-on-beach

It also depends on your budget, car size etc. You may want to post in the pushchair forum, there are some experts over there who give great advice :)

Ahh theres a pushchair forum didnt know that ;)

My pram is fab seems to cover everything, it's the obaby zezu pramette.

I looked at the zezu but it'ld never have suited DS, not adjustable enough

Really i thought it was v adjustable?

I've had a few prams 4 for my ds, the one I've stuck with for the past 9 months is babystyle oyster, and it's amazing, wish I'd had it from birth! Fine on any terrain I've taken it, can use with carry cot, car seat to make travel system, and pram seat can be forward or rear facing. DS is now nearly 15 months and still plenty of growing room despite him being enormous, it's just a pleasure to push it around!

is it? it didn't look it to me but I only looked online, it looked like the pram function only did flat, and the buggy function always had that carseat bend in it even reclined? was I wrong?

Yeah, it has the car seat attachment. Then the Carycot faces forwards or back, then the seat adjusts front back and all kinds of recline positions. Huge basket, light, swivelly wheels etc. It's only my first and I'm suitably impressed. Was on offer at Kiddicare and got the car seat free, which I don't think has a base attachment- that's the only disappointment for me

I mean that the pushchair function looks like it always has a bend, like a car seat does, and just rocks back n forth with the bend even when reclined

and the pram/carrycot only does flat not degrees of incline which you need for reflux or colds

so it wouldn't have worked at all for DS, needed rear facing pram style which could lie completely flat or instantly tilted up at varying degrees, but without a permament V which would limit its use like with carseats

have I got it wrong (genuinely interested as travel system shopping for no2)

Oh sorry monkey, I see what you mean now. Oh and it seems I think your right, now I'm not too sure about the pram myself... Maybe I was a bit hasty

I though that's how it looked from the pics but you can't be sure with online - thanks for clarifying

It might well be perfect for you so don't worry, it just wouldn't have worked for DS and I'm probably gonna have an ECS again so chances are I'll have another bunged up baby

We got the silver cross surf it has a newborn wedge which makes it totally flat like a pram without the need for the carry cot ? U can get the carry cot but can't see the point with the wedge? Also can attach a car seat it's reversible too and looks purdy :)

I'd really recommend the pushchair forum, there are some serious addicts who know their stuff. I've had 6 pushchairs for dd and she's only 8 months as I acquired quite a few hand me downs plus bought a travel system that was Jack of all trades, master of none.

I thought I'd then got the perfect combination sorted (baby jogger city mini for the car and baby jogger summit for off-road) only to find that I'm going to need a double in a few months...

Lying flat is important as people have said, especially for long days out, so check that it is actually suitable from birth - some have unsupported bucket seats which are no good for a tiny one.

Pop over to pushchairs and ask there, with your budget and what use it will get (ie off- roading) and see what they say

My DS is 7 weeks and I'm so happy with his pram which rook me 7 months to pick we've got the sola from mamas and papas and although it's fine from newborn I bought the carrycot as well so he could be flatter and a bit more protected in the crap weather. It doesn't change into a carseat but there is one that clips straight on and a few that u can but adapters which is what we have - although I havnt used the seat on the buggy yet.
It's a great buggy, light and moves around really easily I couldn't fault it

Babyjogger is the way forward because of the idiot proof, single handed folding mechanism. I still can't fold my sister's Jane and she's had it 6 years .

I had the Summit XC from birth. Takes a flat carrycot or a carseat, both of which are very easy to attach/ unattach. The pushchair is awesome to push and I'm sure my very tall DS is going to be fine in it for as long as he needs a pushchair. I think it is the ultimate pushchair for the great outdoors.

I have an estate car but my friend manages fine with her Summit in her Focus.

I have to say though, like Daisy I also have a citimini for shopping because the Summit can be a bit awkward in narrow isles.

Another baby jogger addict!

I think I'm going for the sling/summit combo for the farm, and then get a city mini double (eBay), plus carrycot to fit all three and hopefully I'm sorted!

Yep- adore my babyjoggers! Nothing has phased the Summit- it cheerfully goes anywhere over anything.

Congratulations on your new one Daisy even though it has derailed your buggy-nirvana!

uppababy vista and a close baby carrier sling has done us wonders for dog walks etc xx