Do I need the carry cot?

[WeeS]

I'm due my first baby in July, so bear with me if this is a stupid question - do I need the carry cot bit of the pram if the baby will be born in July?

OH & I have started looking at 3 in 1 travel systems, but somebody said do we really need the carry cot if it's born in summer?

I thought I needed it all. Totally confused! HELP!

x

[Tiggywunkle]

Supershiv
Carrycots suitable for overnight sleeping have to meet both the carrycot and the moses baskets safety regulations so I was told last week. I know there has to be a certain depth to the carrycot - hence why you see notices saying not to add deeper mattresses and ventilation is also seen on carrycots like the Bugaboo Cameleon and Vista ones. Daytime use of other carrycots is deemed ok because you should be awake during the day if your baby got into trouble.
If you mean the more general whether you need a carrycot for overnight sleeping - that depends if you plan to use a moses basket or cot or other bed and also if you travel at all (and dont plan to take a travel cot). Its not important if you wont use a carrycot overnight.

[WeeS]

Thanks Supershiv1 & AmandinePoulain
After looking at prams again, I think we might rule out the Oyster

We went to a different pram store yesterday and was introduced to the iCandy Peach..... now totally torn between the Vista and iCandy Peach. I'm sure the girl said the carrycot was safe for overnight sleeping but I'm always suspicious of salespeople lol so will have to research that. We think they'll work out about the same price once you add on things like car seat, adaptors, travel bag, footmuff etc. We were given a price of £999 for the iCandy Peach package which included chassis, carrycot, pram seat, liner, car seat (maxicosi) & car seat adaptor, icandy travel bag, parasol, footmuff. Not sure if this is a good deal or not since we can't find prices for iCandy online (dont think they are for sale online)

Argh - why is choosing a pram so tricky!

[Loupee]

I have the vista, and love it, I paid £700 for everything including carseat, footmuff and snug seat at a baby show, they can be good place to try out various buggies and get a decent discount.
The Vista was the hands down winner for me. Once you get hang of folding it becomes second nature.
My DS is now 6 months and in the seat part, I love how high up he is to me, I have proper conversations with him while I'm walking along

[DoItToJulia]

They don't sell online, you are quite right.

I liked the iCandy too, but was told that they get scratched easily and end up looking tatty quickly! I can't confirm that, but it informed my choice!

[ceeveebee]

My Icandy is totally unmarked after 14 months of use

Give babynest in Croyden a call, I got a good deal from them with mine, iirc about 10% cheaper than John Lewis (it was £1190 for the twin version with two carrycots, two seats and two car seats)

[Ihateparties]

On the main page of the icandy website, bottom right there is a download pricelist button. Disounts will probably come from the extras, car seats etc. The basic prices for the important bits, pushchair, carrycot, blossom kit etc. I would not expect anyone to sell you just those without add ons for any less than the rrp you will see on this list.

But someone prove me wrong, please.. i would love that in this case!

[MumOfMissy]

I have the vista, I only used the carry cot about 3 times as my LO had silent reflux and hated lying flat! (She wouldn't go in Moses basket either after she was 2 weeks old.) I did try elevating the mattress etc but she was having none of it. I mostly use car seat and clip that onto base, and now she's a bit older she can go in the proper seat part too. I think the vista is a good choice if you walk a lot everywhere, but I drive a lot and find the base heavy to lift in and out of boot. Also if you're using the proper seat part, it won't fold while clipped onto the base unless the seat is facing away from you, whereas I think with a young baby you always want them facing towards you. So if you go out in the car, you'd need to attach the seat to the base facing away from you, fold it, then when you get there, unfold it, detach the seat, and turn it round the other way. It's a lot of faffing and easier just to use the car seat. One good thing about the proper seat though is that it reclines so they can lay flat. All in all I think the vista is very good value and great for those who like to walk everywhere. We got ours as a package deal with the maxicosi car seat and isofix family base. I'd recommend buying from an actual store rather than online as we had to get our basket repaired, and I was glad didn't have to try and arrange that over the net.

[DoItToJulia]

Ah, ceeveebee, I did wonder how true it was!

[Ihateparties]

I have a brio smile, which is a vista frame, with 4 air wheels, 6cm narrower and with lie flat seat instead of a bucket one so suitable from birth. Oh the handle is slightly different to the vista, hinged rather than telescopic but I love it and i wonder if a vista seat would fit on it as my only gripe is the seat back is short

[DoItToJulia]

Liking the smile parties!

[WeeS]

Wereonourway sorry just saw your message! Hadnt realised this thread had spread onto 2 pages! Gosh that's so kind of you I will let you know but I think both of our families are wanting to contribute to the pram, but I really appreciate the offer, you're so kind

[lotsofcheese]

I had thought about the Oyster, but ruled it out due to it's chassis being 10kg - 2nd time mum here & learned my lesson with a heavy 1st pram - never agin!

Also ruled out the Uppababy Cruz as, although lightweight, it is expensive & I felt the colours were limited.

I'm going for an icandy cherry - lightweight, nice colour choice & have compromised on cost by buying a 2nd hand carrycot on eBay.

There are also inserts you can buy for the pushchair base, which make it suitable from birth. That would mean you wouldn't need a separate carrycot.

[ceeveebee]

Think the icandy peach chassis about 10kg too - I know it's 14.2kg with one seat on. Very easy to steer but a but heavy lifting in and out of boot etc

[pebbles1234]

Would thoroughly recommend the iCandy peach. Mine has been going strong for 2.5 years now and still looks great, that's despite numerous trips abroad and a lot of day to day use. The hood on the seat can be moved up to give more room, and one of the seat inserts removed so we're able to continue to use as ds has grown. I had the carrycot top which was used for 3/4 months

I've never found it heavy, fits in the boot of dh's sporty car as well as my mummy tractor as it separates and the seat can be put on top of the frame. It's worth bearing in mind John Lewis will usually price match if you can find it cheaper, plus you get the reassurance of their service!

[WeeS]

When we saw the Vista, the girl didnt show us how to collapse it, which is a pity - and as newbies, we didnt think to ask But at the other shop the girl showed us how to do everything with the icandy peach and I was quite impressed by the one handed folding and the strap you use to do this which can also carry the folded pram.

I probably need to compare them both together... just have to find a shop that sells them both that's not miles away!

lotsofcheese interesting that the seat for the icandy has inserts for the pushchair base! The girl never mentioned this, but I'll quiz her on it when I go back into the shop. I suspect the inserts are cheaper than the carrycot

[Wereonourway]

It's no problem. It seems sad for it to be sitting there, hope I didn't offend you in anyway by offering!
Good luck with choosing the pram. Exciting times.
Try as many as you can, I'm sure one will strike you and you will know its the one x

[lotsofcheese]

weeS I think you're probably right re:the cost of seat inserts ! The icandy cherry chassis is only 6kg - that's what made my mind up! Too many years of dragging a 10+ kilo pram around - scratched my car trying to haul it into the boot - oh dear.

[TinyDiamond]

I have the oyster and love it!!! Yes, it's heavy but it's so sturdy, dd now 18 months and it still looks as new. and when it is looking tired I hope to get the lovely polka dot covers for the next one

We had the carrycot, got the whole package. Shopping basket is big and the main pro is that you can have the stroller parent facing or facing out. If front facing you can fit so much stuff underneath and hanging off the handle (I use clips) once I bought a big baby walker as it was on offer and fit that plus all my shopping and comfortably walked home. I don't drive so this stuff was a priority for us

[Ihateparties]

Icandy themselves don't sell inserts, they sell carrycots for ££££ but inserts are available generally, stokke do one for the xplory, silver cross for the surf plus there's the smartmuff and may well be others too, those are just the ones i know of...

[Tiggywunkle]

LOL I was carrying two Peaches around today - one slung over each shoulder and the seats, one in each hand. Its absolutely fine to carry one, never mind two!! One of my Peaches is nearly a year old and is immaculate. There might be a scratch on it, but thats about it. And its been flung all over. My other previous Peaches got a little scractched on the front edge but I once again flung them in and out of my car. But none got any serious scratches and looked in excellent condition when they were sold. If a Peach gets scratched, its how its been looked after rather than the pushchair TBH!
I love the Peach. I like the Cherry a lot too because it is so lightweight but there's just something special about the Peach.

[WeeS]

Wereonourway not at all, it's so kind of you and if we go with the Oyster I will let you know

I think OH is preferring the icandy because he thinks it looks the biz (one of the reasons we were going to get the Oyster was so he could have a separate colour pack for when he takes the baby out on his own pmsl) TinyDiamond I absolutely LOVE the Polka Dot Dalmatian covers!! but think this was the main reason for OH wanting his own colour pack, because he'd be too embarrassed pushing it in public alone it doesnt stop him walking/lifting my pug across the road

As for the icandy cherry, the girl in the (local) shop says they dont stock them anymore due to so many problems being reported with them (?) She didnt say what though. She has given us a price of £899 for the icandy peach package in one of the old colours, or £999 for the icandy peach package in a new colour (package is pushcahir, carrycot, footmuff, bag, parasol&clamp, carseat&adaptors) The prices she's given me are the cheapest so far for brand-new. Also, because the shop is local, we're very tempted to go with them.

I'll definately look into the inserts too though, thanks Ihateparties - I also hear Stokke has a fabulous handwarmer for the pram handlebar which I'd love for next winter. Just need to keep it away from OH lol

[Supershiv1]

Yay WeeS you joined the ante-natal thread yippeeee!
Hubby really wants the vista btw.

[WeeS]

Hi Supershiv1! It took me a while to find it haha Think "baby brain" has taken over!

We ordered the iCandy Peach today! Yes, despite warnings of it being really heavy, easily scratched and the customer service being awful. It was the only pram that OH saw and got excited about and that we both really like.

Now for another dilemma though - we're going to get it in Black Magic so that it'll suit a boy or a girl and as I'm sticking to my guns about not finding out the sex of the baby before the birth, it's the safe option. However, if I found out I was having a girl I could get it in the Berry Bon Bon colour....

[pipsytwos]

As far as I've researched newborns should be lying down flat. It's bad for their necks and backs to be in car seats all the time, and contributes to flat head syndrome. If you won't be taking them out much in it then I guess you could get away with it, but personally I wouldn't. In fact my dd is 5 months and still in the carry cot, she loves it. It always looks a bit sad to me when you see tiny babies in car seats or pushchairs, their little head can't support itself so it sort of lulls to the side-very uncomfortable in my opinion. Plus if I was sleeping I'd prefer to be lying down rather than sat up. Don't see why seasons have anything to do with it?

Hope that helps. Congratulations! How exciting for you