Travel system help! Too much choice!

[forgetmenots]

please help point me in the direction of some decent travel systems, there are so many out there my head is spinning!

I live in the city, use public transport, and will likely be living in a first or second floor flat when LO arrives. I don't drive. I would ideally like one system I can use from birth right through. Any recommendations? Grateful for any pointers.

Shameless bump on this, really would appreciate any tips!

I think you need to get together with Diamond - see her "going round in circles" thread just below (or above) this one. She's in very similar shoes to you and there's a whole long thread where she's debated everything. Well worth reading.

Don't get a travel system - they are bulky and you will end up getting rid in a couple of months.

Ah! Thanks both - I will check out the other thread (and think about other options too!)

I think it depends what you mean by a travel system. Most proper pushchairs these days (and even done umbrella fold ones) take a car seat. So don't worry so much about 'a travel system' as finding the right pushchair and a car seat that fits well in your car together. Some pushchairs take a choice of car seat. A good independent shop should help!

Thanks tiggy. I don't drive so the car seat would be more for relatives' cars - but I see I think I have it all wrong, I was basically lookin for one setup that I could buy that would give me a pram/buggy that I could use from birth right through, and if the car seat worked with that, all the better! Haven't even been in a shop for a look, totally overwhelmed by the options!

It's soooo confusing when it's your first isn't it. I have a list of things I'd do differently next time round.

If the car seat is only for the very occasional taxi journery or relative's car I'd just get the basic £19.99 one off the kiddicare website.

If this is your first child and you REALLY haven't a clue what you want then why not get a second hand silver cross dazzle (theoretically ticks off all the key city dwellers requirements) and a brand new dazzle carry cot from the outlet section on the silver cross web site to start? I reckon you could put together the 2nd hand buggy/brand new carrycot combi for under £50 if you are canny. It's light weight and designed for urban, public transport using flat dwelling lifestyles.

www.silvercross.co.uk/outlet/ - link to carrycot (brand new)

Then sit back and relax as you'll have the necessities when your new born arrives, and some money still in your bank account.

Once bubba's been part of your life for a while and you have a clearer idea of your lifestyles specific demands then you'll either continue along as happy as pie with your cheapo silver cross birth-toddler combo, OR you'll start looking longlingly at those Mum's in the park whose buggy set ups do EXACTLY what you wish yours did.

With your revised list of criteria based upon bitter experience of motherhood you can then go back to that infinate list you looked at while pregnant and easily pick out the brand new thousand pound model that suits you perfectly. You can use the money you saved on NOT making an really expensive mistake right at the beginning to purchase the pram of your dreams at that point .

Bochead that is really useful and food for thought. Thanks so much. I think you're right, my worry at the moment was that I would be so dazzled by all the choices that I would just pick one on the spur of the moment that wasn't right! Perhaps holding off isn't a bad idea! Thanks again

I got a Bee+ and Maxi Cosi car seat for getting taxi's and getting into relatives cars.

The Bee has been an absolutely amazing pushchair and I picked it because it could do everything including have a reverse seat position. My friend had a Maclaren with all the bells and whistles and even though it is also a great option, the Bee's lighter weight and smoother handling made it a dream for getting trains and buses.

After a year, my DD has become heavy enough that I felt I needed an even lighter and more compact pushchair. I recently bought a Maclaren Triumph and use both of my pushchairs daily depending on what I am doing. The triumph is for days I know I will be getting public transport and the Bee is for weekends and days I don't leave my local area.

Also, invest in a really good baby carrier. I bought a Beco Gemini and I take it with me everywhere.

With the Bee, I never folded it to get on a bus as the fold is too bulky. I would rather wait for an emptier bus, but that's a choice I made. I would pick the Bee up with DD inside for going up and down stairs, that's why I needed something even lighter now DD is older and heavier. But, I don't pick up my pushchair if I can help it and use a combination of baby carrier and Maclaren now for busy days out on public transport or when I know I will be going up and down stairs. The triumph is so light and has a 10 second fold (once you get used to it) so great for buses.

In my experience, living in the city means needing a few different options for day to day travel. I think one pushchair like the Bee to begin with and then a lighter option like the Maclaren Triumph when baby is old enough to sit in a partially reclined seat. Plus a baby carrier to use in combination or by itself for quick trips out.

I wouldn't recommend a baby carrier for all day wear as it can put a lot of pressure on your back once your baby gets older and heavier.

Don't get an expensive car seat if you don't need one. I only got the Maxi Cosi because I thought I would be going on trips in my DM's car more often than I actually did. I only used it about a handful of times so it was a waste of money. If you do use cars, taxi's or other, regularly then I would get a compatible car seat.

The Bee is expensive and I think there are cheaper options on the market now. I bought mine as an investment as I plan on having another baby. That's my other tip, make sure to get things with a reputation for lasting long when you have to put them through the battering of city life. For me, this meant spending more. Everything I bought was expensive IMO, but will last me long enough to use again.

HTH

Really helpful, LDNmummy! Thanks so much. Hadn't considered getting a lighter one as they get heavier but it's obvious when you think about it. Will check out the Bee now. I don't mind spending a bit more (like you, I hope they will last through a punishing city lifestyle...!) thanks for the tips

My city living friend swears by her Baby Jogger City Mini.

I looked at one, but didn't like how the Carry cot fitted on. A Baby Jogger Versa may suit you.

Duly added to my new, easy-to-search list! Thanks for the help, oohlaalaa!

No problem forgetmenots

It is so surprising how complicated this stuff can be!

The Versa I think is probably the best all round pushchair I have tried. They should be back in stock hopefully in December :)

Just to add the Baby Jogger City Mini is fab for carrycots. Theres a choice of 3 types - a hard bassinet, a compact carrycot and a bigger compact plus carrycot. The compact carrycots just slot into the side brackets of the City Mini using adaptors. The bassinet uses different adaptors to fit on. All the carrycots can be put on with or without the seat fabric in place. You have the awesome Baby Jogger one handed fold as well. There are some photos here which show the hard bassinet and the compact carrycots, and the adaptors. The fabric just poppers off if you dont want to have it. There is also the choice of a 3 or 4 wheeled version of the City Mini, as well as the GT wheel version! So lots of choice!!

Oooh thanks tiggy, do the three-wheelers work with the carrycots too? (And I noticed Versa is reverse and front facing, which I like...) could be a winner!

I am drooling over the Versa

I would have bought the Versa if DD had been born a year later

I love Baby Jogger's and the City Mini was my second choice. It just didn't have that reversible seat, the Versa seems to have it all. There's a version with GT tyre's but I don't know if that would make much difference in the city.

Anyway I am going to avoid this thread now as it's making me think I need another pushchair and I don't have enough space for three sadly.

Yes, the carrycots fit on all the Baby Joggers - 3 and 4 wheelers.

There's always room for a Versa :o The box it comes in is tiny!!

Oh no LDNmummy! Pushchair cravings!

Thanks tiggy, the Versa sounds like an ideal place for me to start - really helpful of you.

I loved my bugaboo cam. I used it when DS was in the seat though, so didn't test the bassinet. It handles really nicely, looks nice and is very comfy too. X

Thanks Cordelia, another bugaboo recommendation so that and baby jogger now at top of the list :)

tiggywunkle, is the Versa on sale in usual outlets? Will check back in Dec for new stock! (Looking at Babyjogger stockists in central belt of Scotland, so a few independent retailers (inc. www.pramcentre.co.uk) and John Lewis etc... But can't see any mention!)

The Versa should hopefully be back on sale in mid December

Fantastic thank you :)

My current one is a baby jogger city mini gt. great for toddlers, plenty of space and so easy to use/fold. I preferred something rear facing when DS was younger, I went through so many pushchairs! I would definitely have a look at the versa, sounds perfect. My DS looked a bit big for his cam at 15 mo and he's not that tall. I'm not sure how long he would have fit in it tbh. I loved being able to change the hood and covers though, it was like having loads of different pushchairs! And I would have loved to have had it from when he was a tiny baby because they look so comfortable with the bassinet.