travel system advice?

[jellybean86]

Weve aleady bought a travel system for a babe, the graco quattro elite. We havent bought the seperate carry cot for it. Do we need one or is she ok in the car seat to go for walks in?

Not really ok, it's hardly comfortable for her and they aren't meant to spend more than 2 hours a day in a car seat.
Have you read any of the online reviews for Graco car seats ? They don't generally do very well in the Which reports nor are they known for their quality prams.

I had a Graco Quattro for Tom and stopped using it after falling down the stairs to my flat carrying it. I won't be using it for DC2 for that reason. I will still use the car seat though. Luckily, I have the car seat adaper for Graco for my P&T and Mountain Buggy.

If I lived in a house, I would happily use the Graco buggy again, but would get the carrycot bit for it.

Babies really need to lie flat, short trips in the car are fine but yes if planning lots of fresh air and walks (to perk you up from no sleep and help baby sleep!!) you really should not be using the car seat for a newborn.

I'm sorry to agree with the above that Graco are not the most comfortable (tries to be delicate if you have already parted with your cash for it!) so if you can get a proper carrycot for it I would say it is absol worth it!

Please try to use the car seat for car journeys and a quick run around the shops only as babies need to lie flat, its not a natural position for them to be in.

I would get a carry cot then there is no need to worry about how long baby has been in it!

just echoing what others have said baby best in car seat for min amount of time

keep her/him in the carrycot cosy in blankets for long walks

I have the Graco system and LOVED it. Have got it back out again for next baby due next week (eek). We do have the carrycot and the car seat which - as part of the whole system (prepare to judge me) was second hand.

The carrycot was really useful, especially for visiting relatives as somewhere for tiny DD to sleep comfortably in the days before needing a travel cot.

You really ought to get the carry cot if the baby will be in it for any length of time. Babies are supposed to be able to lie flat in their pram for the first 6 months. It will probably be more likely to sleep too.

I had a Gracco travel system for DS1 which we used until we got a Maclaren for a holiday. Luckily ours came with a travel cot but I really would advise you get it - it was fantastic for carting about to relies houses and he always slept when I took him out in it.