Doona Pram

[AnxiousAnnie86]

Hey ladies! Hoping someone can offer some advice! We have bought the doona pram and car seat in one! Just wondering what everyone did with regards to the maximum car seat time issue, for example, it obviously doesn't have a bassinet, so if we were to go to families or anything we don't want to leave her sat in it for her naps etc, did you buy anything alongside it that you took out with you? Bouncy chair maybe or Moses basket? We haven't bought a Moses basket as our other daughter hated hers

Any advice welcome x

It doesn't really replace a pram in my experience. It's great as a portable car seat, but you really need that lie flat for when the baby's going to be in there for a longer amount of time. It's not good for their breathing or their back for them to always be in that car seat position.

You can get away with no pram if you use slings mainly for the first few months, and then it can always be used for shorter trips. But it's really low down so doesn't work that well as a pushchair either and no storage basket so no good for a day out. The wheels are also designed for nothing more strenuous than a smooth pavement, shopping centre or airport.

Sorry, I think if you've bought it based on it being a total pram replacement you've been missold.

I would agree with @BertieBotts It looks great for doing the school run with, or running into the supermarket with, but doesn't look like an 'out for the day' pram.

I guess a Sleepyhead could work if you were going to be at someone's house etc for the day and you needed some where for the baby to nap, but I would assume that once they are no longer tiny newborns, they wouldn't just want to lie in that for much beyond their nap time, in which case I guess a bouncer or even a play mat would be better.

What Bertie said, plus I DD hated her car seat pretty soon and so did DNiece. You could use a sling/carrier indefinitely though, I still carry DD at 2.5 years and I've plonked her on the floor to sleep

Ah yes, I had a thought process there :o baby brain...

I think I meant - you could use slings to get past the time where they need a totally lie flat surface, and then get a small-folding umbrella type buggy like a Maclaren or Silver Cross Pop (you might even have one from your older child?) To use for longer days out or when you need to hang things off the handle, use the basket, toddler wants to nap etc. The Doona only lasts until about 18 months anyway so you'll likely want some kind of buggy for a toddler and you can start using those once your baby can sit up a bit.

Or indeed you could use slings the whole way through and just use the Doona when you need wheels for whatever reason.

That's the plan we've spent a lot of money on a sling so she will be in that mainly. I just meant more for when visiting

I don't think I ever really used a pram for naps when we were visiting people, I just held my babies or laid them down on a sofa/blanket/etc.

I have a Doona and love it.
But it most definitely does not replace a pram.
Its extremely convenient if you frequently do school runs, pop round to the shops or do short trips in the car. Its a very clever invention. But a lie-flat pram its not...