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,

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Hope that helps!

MNHQ

We bought a Stokke Xplory. Hands down, our best purchase. We have used it every single day of DD's life (15 months). We plan to get the sibling board if we have another. It is so well built, handles like a dream and looks amazing! It's really easy to get on and off the bus and the telescopic handle means it fits into small spaces on the bus if there is a wheelchair user in the big space. The chassis is the heaviest part but I manage to get it in and out of the car without difficulty.

We bought the winter kit which means she can sleep outdoors even if the temperature is down to minus 10. It's cosy for us too as the muff keeps our hands warm!

Just fantastic!

I am that the Maclaren XLR no longer takes a car seat. What a shame. Am glad I've still got our old car sea for when DC2 arrives.

My friend has a babystyle oyster and is still using it with her 2.3 yo, we however have bought a cheap stroller for our toddler as the buggy got too bulky to lug around. One thing I wish we had thought about was whether we'd need a double further down the line. Even with a biggish age gap (2.7) I'm pretty sure we'll need a double when this one is born (toddler is lazy!) so we're having to shell out a shed load of money for that.

Might be worth getting a buggy you can add to later with a second seat? Oyster max is looking good.

cariad that was harsh. People do live in the country you know, where public transport is a very rare and expensive thing. I live in a town, but have countryside on my doorstep so I had to consider both aspects.

OP, I settled on an uppababy vista, after not wanting to spend £££. We bought an ex display model for £500, so much cheaper than list price, helped by a donation from MIL.

I wanted to go down the sling only route at the start, but the midwife said a baby does need time lying flat.

With 3 dc I have had -

A m&p Pliko pramette
A graco tour duo
A cosatto umbrella stroller
Silvercross dazzle
Cheapie £20 umbrella stroller
Cosatto giggle
Silvercross zest
M&p zoom

My favourite has to be the zoom. I used the carrycot daily until dd was 5 months so do feel it was worth it, the pram and carrycot were £300. It can be used with a car seat but I have a different make and don't really need to do this. It's a nice push. Basket is a bit dodgy though

I do also have a light stroller for busses etc as zoom is fairly wide

I would never spend over £500 on one pram because your needs do change

Ha ha skiing? Try caravan holidays in Wales, that's more our budget with the 160,000 miles on the clock land rover. Wind your neck in Cariad, I'm simply saying (like everyone lose) to consider your lifestyle first and foremost, what is important to everyone else may not be to you.

Old fashioned pram for a newborn baby is nice for a few months (second hand very cheap), which baby can sleep in in or out of the house, plus baby sling as very easy and can take them anywhere, and nice to use as baby is close to you. You can go on long country walks with that. For an older baby one of the very cheap, lightweight foldable pushchairs is great - very easy in town as it doesn't take up much space and can be folded if you want to go into a cafe or use public transport, and will fit into the tiniest car boot.
You can buy all of these for £100 odd.
Why get taken for a ride with one of those massive systems which blocks streets and shops and costs a fortune if bought new. More a status symbol than anything else. And there is almost nothing that needs to be bought new for a baby - there is loads of good quality almost new second hand stuff around.

I bought a mother are spin and a maxicosi pebble. Used the chassis with the car seat a lot of the time when DS was little.
Then when he started sitting up, realised the pushchair bit of the spin was really uncomfortable so bought a stroller - looking back, it would have been so much cheaper to just buy the stroller and car seat. I wouldn't bother with a travel system again.

We bought a travel system and then when dd was around 10 months we bought a second hand stroller for £15. We were going on holiday so needed something lightweight. I probably wouldn't have bought one at full price and a tavel system too but it has come in really handy

For those with a bugaboo bee - does the new version (plus - post 2010) fold with one hand or do you still need two?

I have a Bugaboo Bee and love it and still use it with my 22 month old.

Just remember babies shouldn't be in a car seat for a long time so don't soley rely on it for a newborn.

The Bee has bits on both sides you have to pull up to fold it so yes it takes two hands but it takes two seconds to fold. I find it a breeze to fold. Unlike most prams you have to take the wheels off first to even get it in the car!

If this will be your first, and you intend to have a second, I'd do both - get a proper pram and a lightweight stroller later.

We have the Uppababy vista. I love it. My only gripe is that the huge baker is hard to access when you're using the bassinet, but that's not going to be a long term problem.

I intend to use it for our next baby (with rumble seat/buggy board etc), but we'll also get a lightweight stroller I suspect. We'll wait until we know what our needs are though - DD is only 10 weeks.

I don't think you can beat a proper lie flat pram for a newborn and on fact, DD is asleep in her bassinet in the hall as I type.