Travel system vs cheap strollers for baby and then toddler?

[jaykay987]

I have been looking at various travel systems. I like that everything matches and I can get one that works in combination with my chosen car seat.

But, as a first timer - I am currently conscious of over buying! (The changing table thread made me think!)

So for any second (or third timers) out there.....would you recommend an all singing all dancing travel system? (Currently looking at an uppababy vista - approx £700) Or should we just buy a cheaper stroller compatible with the car seat for baby and then another cheaper, lighter stroller for when baby is bigger?

I can see the advantages of a lighter stroller later on, will I miss out if I don't opt for a travel system?

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Hello,

We've noticed this thread is quite old and some of the product recommendations are a little out of date. We've spent weeks speaking to parents and testing prams and pushchairs. Here's our round up of pushchair reviews for the best prams on the market right now.

Hope that helps!

MNHQ

Watching with interest as I was having the same thoughts.

I'm a first-timer like you and was thinking the same, but then my DH went and fell in love with the bloody Bugaboo Cameleon. The choice has been made, apparently . The way I think about it is that I'd rather invest a little extra and have something that will hopefully last us through to toddler years. HOPEFULLY.

When they are really little, the travel systems are fantastic. They're backwards facing which most strollers aren't, so you can keep an eye on them and chat to them etc. And being able to bung the car seat on the wheels is fantastic.

Once they get to a year or so you probably won't use it as much. We packed our bugaboo away when dd was 18mo and just used the Stroller. Most of the time she wants to walk anyway.

So a travel system is nice to have but they're expensive and you don't NEED one, if that makes sense? Oh and shop around. We got our bugaboo with all accessories for £200 on gumtree....

Got a bugaboo bee because it was parent facing, could go other way too, folded in one piece, relatively lightweight, suitable from birth, good shopping basket, could fit a car seat on it (tip - you don't have to remove the seat to put it on) etc. really pleased with it, and very pleased that we didnt get a pram travel system thingie.

We did get a lightweight mclaren for the nursery bus run when she was about 10 months old as the downside with the bee is that you can't fold it one handed. The bee is still my favourite buggy though as its comfy, got a good sun shade, better basket etc.

Pregnant with #2 and still going to use the bee, but will probably invest in a better mclaren at 6 months because I'll have two kids to lug around on the bus etc. some mclarens are suitable from birth but I don't like that they're not parent facing.

I have a DS who is 3, with him I bought a travel system which I replaced for something lighter in the Summer, if I were to ever have a DC2, I'd use a sling. Especially if they were Winter born as DS was as it is a great way to keep them warm and get bits done etc. I'm not sure if you have already done this, but make a list of the kinds of tasks and requirements you need your pushchair to fulfil, places you might visit or transport you rely on.

Ooh thank you for that DontCallMe, just done a gumtree search and found one at a much more reasonable price near me! Don't know why I didn't think of that

I bought a lightweight stroller that was suitable from birth and a fixed car seat (not a carry-style one) that did from birth to 4. Ended up getting a secondhand Bugaboo Frog when DS was 18 months as the stroller really wasn't sturdy enough, also I wanted something that would take a buggy board for DS to stand on when DC2 eventually came along. I found the stroller's little plastic wheels rubbish for muddy paths (where I live is semi-rural) so the Bugaboo's big back tires are a massive bonus too, and when DC2 arrives in May I'll be buying a Maxi Cosi that I can slot onto the Bugaboo frame - not having to wake baby up every time we get out of the car will be amazing.

have a look at the expedior, its the cheapest car seat on wheels type travel system from mothercare at 200 pounds at the moment. worth a look

We bought a Jane travel system (we're abroad, not sure if they're available in UK?). Bog standard thing, really; parent-facing cot-like bit, street-facing pushchair when older (which was fine by us, ds happy to look out the front, I coyldn't give two hoots, we also.had an Ergo carrier).
Ds now 2yo and pushchair still going strong, haven't had to replace anything, it hasn't broken, easy to get on and off a bus, haven't had to fold it one-handed in all this time.
Ds also likes to walk, but bolts, so it is pushchair to the park, running wild when w're there, pushchair home. If he whines when we're still out, he has another run.
We paid €260 I think (roughly £210 or so?). It's orange We don't have theoney or the space to 'just buy a Mclaren' another 6 months down the road. DSil gas dd same age and is on her 3rd buggy/pushchair!

If you are thinking of purchasing a travel system it's worth remembering that babies shouldn't routinely be in the carseat for longer then 60 mins at a time.

As a mum of two I would say that whilst the option to clip car seat on for quick trip into a shop, doctors etc is very helpful, it's also nice to have a proper pram for baby to be in for more extended periods. If you bought the Uppababy vista you'd have the option of car seat on chassis for quick trips, carrycot for extended times and once baby is 6 months you'd have the pushchair seat to use. Having used the vista I would definately recommend it, I loved it for the huge basket alone! Yes you may eventually end up buying a basic stroller but the vista will be a joy to use and the large seat easily accommodates a 2 year old. I've found that smaller lighter strollers are actually harder to push than a big pram once you've got a hefty toddler!

My DS is nearly 3 and I still use the travel system (Babystyle Oyster) the majority of the time if we need to as it's so much nicer to push than a stroller, and can fit tons more shopping in it :) I do also have a stroller though which I use if getting a bus or train, as it can fold one-handed and I wouldn't be happy if I had to wait for a later bus/train because there wasn't room for the pram!!

Although, virtually all my friends now only use a stroller, so think I'm the odd one out :)

Dc4 coming any day.... We have a travel system mamas and papas one which car seat fits on top and havent even bothered taking it out of the garage this time. I much prefer a baby carrier (various ones including an ergo) and snuggling newborn under a coat and then a cheapy lightweight stroller once he gets a pain to carry.
However some people cant get on with carriers and its very much a personal thing i think about how you use a buggy. Id always say try and get a second hand one/ save your money for the mortgage or a treat like a holiday rather than a mega pricey buggy

We had an iCandy for DS and would have carried on using that, but he grew out of it at about 2yo. So we got a Mclaren that we used for another 6 months or so, then he gave up buggies.

DC#2 is on the way now so we'll probably follow the same pattern, seeing as we've now got both. I was a bit disappointed that the iCandy wasn't large enough to last until he had grown out of needing a buggy though (he's not particularly enormous or anything!).

Personally I'd recommend a cheaper one of everything, as your needs change when they get older.

We had a travel system at the start but changed within months to a fold-flat Maclaren Techno XLR. For DC2 I think I might just put the cot attachment on that! It is technically a pushchair but feels very sturdy and well protected. I found the travel system very heavy and awkward, and DD wanted to sit up and forward face.

DD is 2yo and we've just changed to another, lighter pushchair (M&P Kato) as the Maclaren was starting to feel heavy. All in all we've spent about £500 on all three, which I know I could have easily spent on one travel system at the beginning.

A lot depends on how often, and how, you are using the pushchair. We used a pushchair from 4mo as we didn't have a car so didn't actually need the travel system. We now take DD to the CM in a pushchair every day and they often need to put it in their car, and we don't have a huge house, so an umbrella stroller was best for both situations rather than a very big travel system pushchair. By 1yo a fair few of the mums I know were bemoaning their heavier travel system pushchairs and fancied an umbrella pushchair, but had spent a lot of money on the travel system.

I'd always recommend buying whatever you can afford to replaced within a year or so if you need or want to. So if you could afford £500 on a system, M&P etc do have some very good own-brand travel systems for £200-£300 and then you have money to still buy a very decent umbrella if you want to. Or get a 2nd hand iCandy etc first.

It all depends on what you are actually going to be using it for.
I get tired of hearing people talk about ease of use on public transport, lightweight etc as if these are the only important factors for everyone. They just don't matter to me, my lifestyle includes a landrover and no buses ever. My brother is very scathing of my choice of pram (1st time round, Quinny Speedi, this time Maxi Cosi Mura) as both of his children have been in little strollers at 6 months. However the little strollers are totally rubbish off Tarmac - and we are hardly ever ON Tarmac - try a lightweight Mclaren on a muddy bridleway, soft beach or a foot of snow!
I have loved being able to lift the carseat onto the chassis or quick trips into the supermarket for example, so I would recommend that for ease. I would say make a list I what you will actually use it for, then shop second hand.

Well good for you but for those of us plebs who don't have landrovers, take public transport and don't go on skiing holidays etc lightweight and ease of use of buses etc is quite important, so why shouldn't we mention it?

I've had a few prams since DC1.is now DC3 and I'm using the city mini jogger which I bought as a stroller for DC2 as I was truely fed up of using a heavy, cluncky, travel system type pram. Have bought adapters so the maxi cosi car seat clips on. It's suitable from birth as it lies flat, is light, easy to fold and put up while holding baby and I've bought a sheepskin and fleece cosy toes to make sure baby is protected from the elements. This pram is lovely, easy to push and hard wearing (has already seen 3 years of use and showing no signs of wear.) Although I agree that parent facing prams are fab I have never owned one and I have to say that my DC have been fantastic buggy sleepers. It's much easier to ignore an over tired baby who just needs a nap if they are facing away from you!

I am the only one of my NCT group and friends who has only bought one pram/pushchair-everyone else has ended up swapping what they got initially. I am accordingly smug about my original choice of a Maclaren Techno XLR! It works as a travel system when they're tiny as the bassinet and car seat both fit on it and are parent facing, but it also lies flat so technically baby can just go on the regular pushchair bit if you prefer. It's a really sturdy pushchair when they're toddlers. Ours has been on holiday with us a couple of times with no need to buy a second, lightweight stroller as although sturdy and strong it's also light and easy to throw in the boot/hold. DD is now almost 2.5 and we'll be using it for DC2 in the summer. It was also considerably cheaper than the posh travel systems. We got it from Boots, with various deals, plus points and I think we paid about £250 plus extra (£70? £80?) for the car seat. All the other bits and pieces (bassinet, floor muff etc) were included.

Foot

I am now PG with my 4th and have had every buggy you can think of!

I would highly recommend the Bugaboo bee as it can be a travel system with the Maxi Cosi Pebble I think it may even fit a Besafe carseat now it is light weight, it fits a buggy board (for when you have your 2nd) you can get it a nice cocoon for newborns, if you get bored a change of hood usually fixes that lol! it can face either forward or rear and will take you all the way to walking. Also it is an easy one piece fold - which believe me after a few weeks of a two piece you will wish you had! I would recommend going to a big baby shop and test them the taking apart and trying to lift the buggy as that is what you will be doing most and are the main reasons people change to a simple stoller.

Oh and the Maclaren XLR no longer fits a carseat unless you but second hand

Babres r us have a half price offer on Graco rock travel systems, reduced to £179.99, they seem to have good reviews.
In the past I've made made the mistake of a pram/travel system including a carrycot which we rarely used (DC1 ,20 yrs ago!!) and then a very heavy all terrain three wheeler which I used for DC2 and DC3 and was very sturdy but was awkward getting in and out of the car and was prone to punctures.I ended up getting lightweight pushchairs in addition for practicality/travelling etc.
I've since given everything away so have to buy again for DC4.
I know previously I tended to use a sling /baby carrier a lot ,especially when dog walking etc so I think having an off road pushchair is probably less of a priority. Pushchairs can possibly be picked up from small ads/friends etc second hand but I definitely want a new carseat so I think a good basic travel system is the way to go!

I mean Babies r us!

It depends on lifestyle. Babies aren't supposed to stay in a car seat longer than an hour max so I wouldn't choose one based on car seat fitting. Babies need to lie flat as spine is developing.

Saying that we used a bugaboo cameleon every day and never swapped for smaller. Never put car seat on, and just folded if needed to fly/ go in car

I would prob go somewhere in between if buying again. Like the bugaboo bee

I've had seven prams for only two children... Three second hand (bugaboo bee, I candy, baby jogger citi mini double), two strollers that fell apart from heavy usage (Mcclaren and argos cheapy), a cosatto stroller and a rubbish mamas and papas one bought from a charity shop that steered like a tank. I firmly believe in buying the best pram for your child for their age which does mean a lot of prams. Because I buy and sell on ebay I would say I spent £900 on prams overall BUT have recouped about £500 - £600 of that in resale value.

If I had to choose one pram on that list to see me through it would be the bugaboo bee though. Absolutely fantastic pram. With the £100 umbrella strollers in second place.