Overwhelmed & need a travel system...

[Spuddybean]

i am expecting our 1st baby in August and i need a travel system. I keep reading reviews and looking at some in the shops but i am bewildered.

We walk loads, so i want it to be light and easy to manage. We would like one which has a car seat, carry cot, buggy. It should be quite high as we are both very tall and i have a bad back.

Does anyone know of ones i should look at or any i should avoid?

Thanks.

Baby jogger city mini. There is also a new model that is coing out some point this year (verso I think its called) which will rear face, but if that doesn't bother you, go for the mini.

Fab pram and all you'll need from birth to toddlerhood and beyond.

Thanks but i don't think it is a travel system? i need one with car seat, carry cot etc too.

You just buy them separately. Not many prams are travel systems these days.

I have silver cross 3D and love it :-D

I had the mamas and papas ultima for my dd comes with co ordinating car seat, carry cot and seat unit. It was brilliant was so sad when I had to put it away.

The City Mini and Versa have both got carrycots. The City Mini and City Mini GT have a choice of 3 carrycots plus they take Maxi Cosi car seats. I think the Versa will also take a car seat too. The Versa seat is fairly high too.

The Mutsy Evo has a tall handle and is light and easy to use. Have a look too at the iCandy Peach, Cherry and Apple. The latter has a high handle. The MyChild Pinto has a tall handle too.

Look also at the Uppababy Vista.

We have the iCandy peach jogger. She is 6ft2 and manages fine with it. The handle goes really high

We've got the iCandy Apple Jogger and love the handle bar - it's very adjustable so good for backs.

I had a M&P Pliko Pramette. Loved it with dd1, and use just the buggy now. was really easy to use. I'm 5'10", and the handle adjusts. Do go into shops, and take them off the plinth to try, as this adds an air of height to the pram if it's on a plinth, and can be deceiving. I also have a Britax B-Dual, and the handle is really high up, but this buggy is quite heavy/cumbersome, and takes up lots of room.
I've heard the Stokke buggies are good for height, and take a car seat.

This bewildered me as well in my first pregnancy. IME You don't actually 'need' a travel system. What you need is a good buggy which you can use from newborn (some you will need a carrycot for, some have an insert etc.) and can attach a car seat too. Choose a buggy based on your priority need (e.g offroad walking then three wheeler, good suspension probably key, public transport then easy one handed fold is key, if planning another baby quickly then something like phil and teds etc.). Don't be seduced by big chunky travel systems. I was. I bought a big, expensive, heavy travel system (icandy apple) and quickly realised this was no good for the walks I went on with my dog. So I then bought an out and about nipper which was fab. I also wouldn't worry about a carrycot so much, unless you will use it for sleeping. As soon as your baby is alert, they will be less keen on lying flat out on a walk. Also be aware of what you are buying. The icandy carrycot can neither be carried, nor is a cot unless you buy an additional mattress suitable for sleeping / overnight. You may also find that f you enjoy walking, then you use a sling more than anything else, and then you may as well just get a cheap buggy with car seat attachments.
The best thing for me, with the icandy, is the adjustable handle as I am quite tall. The nipper is not adjustable so not as comfy. Also, look at the micralites - I had a fastfold which is fab, very light etc. I didn't get this until my DD was much older so not sure about newborn suitability, although they do a carrycot I think.
Sorry I have really rambled - hope it helps!

I think your clarification is good lobsterswife

Most mid to top end pushchairs (ie beyond basic umbrella fold strollers) will take a carrycot or car seat.
It is a case of choosing a pushchair you like, and then working out a) if it takes a car seat and if so which one, and does it fit in your car and then buying that one and b) whether there is a carrycot option or if the baby can just lie on the seat unit flat, and if you dont like that, then what other soft cot or cocoon could be used to make the baby more snug.

Cheers all. I'm going to do some googling now. I do like the uppababy from what i've seen.

Does anyone know where is good to try all these things out? Our local John Lewis has none of the above on the shop floor. I really want to feel them/try them out before i order online.

I live in MK.

I also live in MK! There is the Small Baby Mall in Stacey Bushes, Bump Start Baby Shop in Whaddon, Mothercare in Kingston... That is probably it.
Its not a bad run over to Kiddicare from MK which probably has the biggest range. We got ours from Bump Start. Pretty good service but not entirely convinced they gave the best advice. Good luck looking... Wish I cold justify another buggy!

Thanks for the advice. Not sure how i'll get to these places as i don't drive (I know - worst choice of place to live ever - cheers DP!) so i am reliant on DP taking me till i pass my test. And he works/is busy most weekends.

I'll check out some bus routes tho. Thanks :)