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Original poster

pushchairs & kits vs travel systems - help!!

26 replies

badharry · 28/03/2007 19:25

Hi everyone,
I'm new here, this is my first post, but have been reading lots of other threads and all v helpful! I'm just wondering if I can get some help from the experienced? I'm 5 1/2 mths preg with my 1st baby and have started to look around at pushchairs/travel sysytems etc and am totally confused and a bit overwhelmed. Not sure if its worth getting the whole travel system or if I should buy a pushchair, sling and car seat seperately?? Any ideas, tips, useful stuff would be totally heplful!
Thanks a lot - in anticpation

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chirpygirl · 28/03/2007 19:47

Hi! Welcome to MN..although I am fairly newbie myself!
The way I made my decision was money....If you get a travel system, at some point after the first 6 months you need to buy a new car seat. So I bought a buggy and a car seat that does from birth until 4 so I wouldn't need a new one.

However, I am now PG with no 2 and I am looking at this as the seat does for a year and I started to get really narked off with waking DD up eveytime she fell asleep when we were out and I wanted to get her back in the car.
The other reason I originally didn't want a system was because you shouldn't leave babies in car seats for too long as it is an unnatural position so you can't leave them in it for ages, but if it means I can get her fmor car to house without fannying about with straps then it's all good.

Hope that helps a bit!

chirpygirl · 28/03/2007 19:51

Oh and slings are awesome....I would recommend one even if you do have a buggy just for going round tesco or jumping out of the car to go to the cashpoint...so much easier when you have both hands free and don't have to get a buggy out of the car.

misdee · 28/03/2007 19:54

is it better to get a car seat that fits your car and a buggy that is suitable for your particular needs.

the best car seats for infants appear to the maxi cosi cabrio, britax isofix ones, and non-isofix (cosy tot?). but they are only good if they fit your car.

There is no point getting a travel system if the car seat doesnt fit your car. travels systems are awful anyway IMO. babies should lie flat and have alittle stretch out. It is recommended that babies should only spenmd two hours at a time i na car seat, that includes your travelling time.

so are you a walker/driver/public transport user? what is your budget, how much storage space do you have?

MrsBadger · 28/03/2007 19:56

Much better in my opinion to have a pram or pushchair that lies properly flat and (seperately) a good safe carseat that fits your car properly - if you get a decent pushchair that's right for you you'll use it till they're 3 so really it's an investment.

What's your lifestyle like - do you drive everywhere / get buses / go on long country walks / have a big hall to keep a big pram in / live upstairs etc?

glassslipper · 28/03/2007 19:56

i have a travel system and love it. it has an autobase which makes getting baby in and out of the car without waking her up very easy.

MrsBadger · 28/03/2007 19:57

go on misdee, you beat me to this one

chirpygirl · 28/03/2007 19:57

Much more sensible advice there from misdee...I am being so rambly today!

misdee · 28/03/2007 20:42

mrsb we make a wonderful duo.

Original poster
badharry · 29/03/2007 10:44

Thanks for all the advice...
If it helps, I am fairly active, do a lot of walking and hope to carry on when the baby arrives (we'll see), drive a lot and never use public transport.
Storage is a bit of an issue cos of tiny house, unless someone buys it VERY quickly!

OP posts:
MrsBadger · 29/03/2007 11:49

sounds like a job for a 3-wheeler...

MrsApron · 29/03/2007 11:52

are you planning to have another one soon?

Original poster
badharry · 01/04/2007 11:54

I think a 3 wheeler too...would like another one, but will see how this goes first (baby that is, not 3 wheeler).
Well, having spent the day wiyh my ma yesterday, we did an nct sale, mothercare and toys r us and now I think I will buy a 2nd hand travle system and a new car seat.
Cannot believe how confusing it all is!!

OP posts:
Loopymumsy · 01/04/2007 14:31

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MrsHarry · 01/04/2007 17:51

What does anyone think about the Quinny Buzz? Apart from the fact it looks so cool (!) I liked the fact you can buy a carry cot to make the whole thing into a lie-flat pram from birth, but it would also serve as a decent buggy on its own from about 6mths. I thought maybe at that point i could sell the carry cot.

But I've just found out that to fold it up you have to take the whole seat unit off, so although the chassis folds up small there is then the seat to store separately in the car or house....anyone know if this takes up a lot of room?

Loopymumsy · 01/04/2007 18:37

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annieapple7 · 01/04/2007 20:51

I use the Mamas and Papas travel system. Expensive, but it is now being used for my third child, so over 5 years has been a great investment!
Mine had off-road tyres, great for long walks - a really smooth ride.
The car seat clips straight onto the chassis, great for short trips, like the school run, without waking up/disturbing the baby.
Last summer I had my two boys aged 4 and 3 in it!
Really strong and well made and looks fab 5 years on.

MrsHarry · 01/04/2007 21:36

Thanks, Loopyumsy, that was the best Buzz review I've read so far. Think I'm still confused tho!!

Loopymumsy · 01/04/2007 21:51

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kks · 01/04/2007 21:55

I bought a travel system which is great. The car seat on it is rear facing and we have to buy a new carseat soon to face forward. I am curious though, if you buy a pram and carseat seperate from birth and the carseat is from 0-4 years,is the carseat rear facing?

Loopymumsy · 02/04/2007 06:19

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ENTP · 02/04/2007 06:26

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Hoonette · 02/04/2007 07:22

30 minutes? Didn't know that - my midwife says 1.5 to 2 hours...

Imawurzelcoveredinchocolate · 02/04/2007 07:27

i heard 2 hrs.

lubyluby · 02/04/2007 08:01

proper lie flat pram/pushchair is the way to go and then choose a car seta based on what fits in your car.

i have had 3 children and never brought a travel ssytem on princple, babies should lay flat as much as possible, think how awful it is for you to be cramped up for a couple of hours in say an aeroplane seat but yet lots of people have no hesitation cramping up their delicate newborns in a car seat all day long.

there is some research out there that being in a car seaty for long periods of time causes back problems in later life and acan also cause breathing problems as the airways aren't free. half an hour is the optimal time for baby to be in a car seat, but obviously the researchers know that isn't a practical time scale so the advisory limit is 2 hours when you should take baby out and let them lie flat soemwhere and havea stretch.

re flat ehad syndrome, i beleive that is because we all now oput baby on his/her back to sleep and they instinctivley turn their head to one side, not form being in a car seat, but they usually grow out of the flat ehad by the age of 2. My 12 month old had a really flat one side of her head when she was about 10 weeks old, but now at 12 months it ahs almost resolved itself.

daisyhun · 02/04/2007 18:33

My travel system is a godsend - they are fab if you drive a lot rather than walk. My dd LOVES her car seat and going for walks with it clipped in to the buggy frame - she can see around her and see me - she absolutely hates the lay flat pram attachment. The longest she ever spends in it is about 2 hours.

The research on car seats and the length of time babies should be in them is sketchy and the car seat on my Graco travel system keeps dd's back very straight as it has an extra "cushion" for the back until the babies' backs get stronger.

I have discussed the concerns about leaving babies in car seats for lengths of time with my HV and doctors - they all agree it is an over-cautious recommendation by car seat manufacturers and if babies have colds doctors actually recommend trying baby sleeping in the car seat for 1 or 2 nights to help drain away the gunk from their noses.

Obviously no-one would want to take risks but I don't think this issue should put you off buying a travel system as it is so easy to clip the car seat onto the frame and go shopping etc without waking the baby - far easier than having to find room in your car for a chassis, car seat, and carry cot or pram attachment, plus shopping, yourself and perhaps dh or a. n. other!