Confused by whole pram, pushchair, car seat business! Help!

[Cosmogirl]

Hi,

First-time mum to be here ....Am only 23 weeks so not thinking of buying anything until after Xmas, but confused about what to buy re: pram. Is it best to get a travel system or a pram [read somewhere that newborn should lie flat and can't do this in travel system such as Graco ones].
Silver Cross look nice but a bit large. Bugaboo ones seem really expensive and confusing! Quinny look ok but for a newborn it is basically pushing the baby around in a car seat and there doesn't seem to be any hood or protection around seat so baby quite exposed.

Anyone who can shed light, advice etc - very welcome! Haven't a clue what I'm doing.

Maclaren XT or something like that is the one we have got. Its a buggy, but the seat folds completely flat so its better for the baby. Its a reasonably lightweight buggy so doesn't take up much space in the car, and suits them all the way up to the point where they don't need one any more. Ours is still in very good nick, is the only pushchair we bought, and will be fine for number 2. So glad we didn't get a huge expensive travel system, they just aren't worth it, and get replaced by lightweight buggies later on anyway.
You then just need to buy a separate car seat, and because you aren't buying it with a travel system you get more choice. We looked in the Which guide and got the second best (best was too big for our car). At the time it was a Mothercare own brand and considerably cheaper than a lot of the others.

Thanks for the advice Cookie - really helpful!

Depends if you want a pram or not.

I personally wouldn't want a newborn facing away from me in a maclaren.

Ditto CookieMonster2, except that we had a Graco pushchair that went flat. I wanted to be able to choose the safest car seat, and not be restricted by what fitted the travel system. I also didn't want to pay a fortune for a pram / buggy.

I did kind of wish that I had a rear-facing buggy (this was several years ago), but I couldn't justify the cost. It's really not that hard to talk to a baby that is facing away from you. Well, no harder than talking to a baby facing you; I always felt like a twonk, irrespective of positioning!

I just don't like not being able to see if the baby has been sick/blanket has ridden up etc in a forward facing.

Hello,

I was just as confused its a minefield out there isn't it!
Everyone i've spoken to has suggested that as soon as the baby is old enough you are going to want a lighweight buggy (the travel systems are generally quite heavy) such as a Maclaren.

What I did was bought a second hand travel system on ebay. After a bit of research I found out that the Pliko Pramette from mammas and pappas had fairly good reviews (from mumsnet actually!) so did a search on there and bought it including unused car seat, carrycot and buggy for £120. (they are over £600 new) I will then buy a maclaren once the baby gets to 6 months old.

It isn't that much harder to talk to a baby facing away from you, but it's a damn sight harder to listen and that is also very important. Also, watching pre-verbal babies' expressions and them seeing yours because that is how they communicate with you.

Have just been on another thread where I said I might have used my buggy more if it had been a fancy, all-singing type e.g. Stokke Xplory I might have used it. As it was, I bought a Mothercare stroller suitable from birth and although it is a very good pushchair I found I much preferred slings.

My advice is not to plan your pram needs for 3 years; there is no pram that is ideal for such a long time; better imo to get second hand something thats good for the first few months and is not trying to do everything.

My actual advice (but I don't tend to give it because I am an odd non-pramming person) is to get secondhand or better yet borrow any kind of pram for the first few weeks. After pushing around your actual baby for a few weeks, you will know what you want out of a pram and will be able to go out and get it.

And get a stretchy wrap or a ring sling and learn how to use it properly. Go for walks outside with it and get you and baby (and DP) used to it.

For a carseat, get the best performing carseat that will fit in your car (currently I think Britax and Maxi Cosi are the top performing baby seats but that info could be a bit out of date now).

get a car seat that fits your car, not your buggy.

get a buggy that suits your lifestyle.

ie, dont buy a tradional pram if u live on a 3rd floor flat with no luift access or storage room on ground floor. dont get a stroller if you walk loads and never use a car or public transport. dont get a all-terrain one if the worst terrain u encounter is a few cobblestones in town centre.

if u do drive, check it fits in the boot. also think about where u will put it when not in use

I bought a Pliko Pramette and then swapped DD1 to buggy when she was about 15 months. I loved the Pramette as it gave me the versatility of a pram and then pushchair, although don't believe it when it says it will last for 3 years... I sure it would but by then DD was heavy and buggies are LOADS lighter.

If you can get a decent second hand one brilliant, if not, get one that suits your lifestyle like Misdee says. Ensure you are able to get the thing into the car for example, a friend of mine had to take her bugaboo back as it didn't fit in haha!

Thanks for comments so far - this is all really good, helpful stuff. I am learning a lot. Keep it coming!

Hi Cosmo
I've been having similar debate! Feels like I've been going round in circles looking at stuff..

Finally think Im decided on (despite hideous costs) a Bugaboo Bee due to ability to clip on car seat, size to fit in car, goes flat enough, faces forward and backward and is light enough stroller for easy use later on...

I've concluded that what you need really depends on your needs. Lots of walking probably justifies bigger pram, more car journeys- something to fit in car etc.

Also have you been and looked at buggies etc in a shop? I was looking online for ages but finally went to JohnLewis for browse and had a really good demo and chat with sales person. Was able to "test drive" which really helped.

Am sure some of the more experience mums will have other views!

Good luck

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Agree with misdee.

Travel systems are a waste of money and you will end up having to buy a new car seat by the time they are about 11 mths old. I would buy a good car seat that will last - Britax 123 or evolva (Halfords will even fit it for you)

I really liked the look of the Silver cross pram that converts to buggy, but when the girl in the shop couldnt figure out how to collapse it I passed.

Got a MacLaren XLR (from birth to when it's no longer needed). Its a great buggy, light weight, easy to get in the boot. Turns on a pin.

The only downside is the baby is facing away from you. I missed talking to my dd and gazing at her little face, still do. but she has a great view.

The other thing to take into consideration is how much walking you are going to do and where. In towns the MacLaren is great, in the country a good three wheeler. My shoulders can be pretty tights after a couple of laps of the common.

Give the travel systems a miss would be my advice.

Number 2 is on the way and I'm going with a double nipper.

Go and have a push in the shops, you'll get a better feel for weight, turning, brakes, collapsing, extras etc.

Think misdee has nailed it too...

I walk a lot, use public transport, so have used a Maclaren from birth with DS. That buggy has been through a lot. I did have a baby bjorn sling, but didn't get a lot of use out of it as DS became heavy so quickly (and I don't think he was v comfy). DC2 is due in a few weeks time and has a lovely stretchy wrap sling awaiting him/her. I haven't bought a new pram/buggy yet, existing one will do for the moment and my mum has offered to take me shopping when baby is here.

That's something to bear in mind actually - some babies love their prams and others scream the place down and prefer a sling when tiny...

Hi, I'm going to be a first time mum too (currently 30 weeks), and have spent the last few months doing lots of travel system research (had some time on my hands!).

I've decided for me to buy the Silver Cross Sleepover Linear, which is a pram-pushchair travel system (also includes rocking moses basket, car seat, changing bag, etc etc) but much bigger than the Bugaboo, so should last longer. We've got a big car, so that suits us, and I wanted a traditional pram the baby can lie flat on its back in for a year, as this is best for the spine. Also that I can park in the garden, at friends' houses, parties etc so baby can sleep in it. www.silvercross.co.uk/sleepover_linear_chassis.php

It's cheaper than the Bugaboo (my best price for the package so far is £450), and when I tried it out, is higher off the ground (closer to my face for the baby, further away from traffic fumes) and very stable/easy to push.

I think having the baby facing you for the first three years is vital for a few reasons, not least child development, speech and comfort. Check out this recent article 'Are Modern Buggies Bad For Babies' (from the Guardian Family section) if you have time:

www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/nov/22/forward-backward-facing-baby-buggies

I must admit I am a bit turned off the Bugaboo because it's become such a ubiquitous must-have fashion pram, although it's undeniably a great design. Also the idea of leaving any baby under 12 months in something like a car seat, that makes its fragile little spine bend, doesn't appeal to me.

I'm also looking to buy one of the only lie-flat car seats on the market, by Brittax, in addition to a sit-up one, for longer car journeys, as experts say the sit-up car seats shouldn't be used for longer than an hour. www.mothercare.com/Britax-Baby-Safe-Sleeper-lie-flat-seat/dp/B0018MFOCS

Of course I'm no expert, these are just my own conclusions! Good luck, and as someone else said, there's nothing like actually getting into a shop and pushing a few prams around.

Oops, meant to add that the Silver Cross Sleepover pram is the only one approved by government for overnight sleeping, (because of mattress, breathability etc) which was a big sway factor for me; although I am buying a permanent cot as well.

Oh, and please don't beat yourself up to much about that recent piece of research about forward facing buggies. DS is now 2y 4m, and is pretty garrulous! He would only spend maybe an hour a day in his buggy, most of that in the early days asleep as I pushed him round the park in desperation.

There are plenty of opportunities to interact with your baby besides the time spent pushing a pram. And we couldn't afford to spend the best part of £500 on a pram anyway...

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I'd go for word of mouth recommendations from people who've tried and tested the buggies. I had a quinny buzz, and used the Dreami carrycot for the first 6 months or so, and used the buggy bit after that. I bought it because I was conned into the "suitable up until age 3" claim, which turned out to be a load of rubbish!

Obviously I could use it, but by about 18 months or so it was just too heavy and cumbersome to use everyday. A stroller was much easier to whip in and out of the car!

Babybjorn sling is not the most ergonomic sling. Lots of people love them, but IME the vast majority of them use them very rarely and they tend to pull on the neck after a while. It is more ergonomic to hold the weight of a baby with their knees tucked up higher than their bottom (compare holding a baby with legs dangling and legs up). It is better positioning for baby's hips etc. as well (I hasten to add BB won't do any harm unless your baby has clicky hips, but other positions are better)

If you get a BabyBjorn for a fiver on Ebay it's probably a good investment. If you pay any more than that, it would be overpriced IMO.

Wrap, ringsling, or mei tai would be far better than a BabyBjorn.

I think people are right in saying that the Maclarens aren't as good if you do a lot of walking on rough ground in the country etc, but when we do this we use a back carrier for toddlers (and a front sling when they are younger). There aren't any wheels to wash the muf off when you get home then

Hi

There is a lot of good advice on here!

Don't try and get a pushchair that will do 3 years it doesn't work that way something will always come up, personally if I could do it again I'd get something big for walking and something little for travelling.

IMO 3 wheelers are the best to push when walking and I use mine for shopping etc too so they are not to bad in town.

I wouldn't bother too much about baby facing you in pram, I had my son facing me for the first 8 months and then he would go mad unless he was looking forward because he was so nosey

Mrsgboring can I ask you about slings (sorry for hijack). I had a BB and hardly used it last time because it was so uncomfortable. I've got a two year old dd, and new baby due in New Year, so want a really comfy sling suitable for bf too - can you say anything about the wrap, ringsling or mei tai, are they similar? Do you have a view on which is best, or is it a case of horses for courses? Thanks