First time Mum, literally so confused.

[Honeybear30]

Hi all, hoping you will be able to help me!

My first baby is due in September, which I know is a while away but I feel like the pram/travel system is likely to be my most important and biggest purchase so I've been thinking about it quite a lot.

I really don't understand what I need? It's so overwhelming! I assumed I'd need a carry cot, car seat (like a maxi cosi) and pushchair all in one, but DH asked me why I needed the carry cot and I couldn't come up with an answer? I live in a village so will have to drive to get anywhere, and as baby is due end of sept I don't anticipate being outside all that much (too cold?).

I'm not looking for specific brands or anything at the moment (even though I know I'll need something quite specific due to a small car and hyper mobility in my wrists!) but just some detail about what bits get used when?

Any advice would be really helpful to get me started in this mammoth pram buying journey! If I need to give more details please let me know!

Thanks for all the great advice ladies!

I will definitely be looking into a sling, it will ease the stress on my wrists massively. I also really like the idea of baby being so close to me but also having the freedom to do other things. Think I will tackle the pram first and then sling!

Didn't realise you could get isofix fitted retrospectively, that's really handy to know :)

Umbrella folds are awful to push IMHO, with your hypermobility you need something that will glide along with little effort which normally means tyres rather than plastic wheels.

As for the ability to attach the car seat to the pushchair, its alright to have the option but its no good for babies for longer than 30 minutes and I wonder if the lifting may put too much strain on your wrists anyway? The cabriofix is one of the lightest at 3.5kg (IIRC) plus another 3.5-4kg for baby to start is obviously not the lightest weight to be lugging around.

A carrycot isn't essential either and tbh of the 10 prams i've had, I've only had one carrycot and I didn't like it. A lie flat seat with a soft footmuff/liner (i love my sheepskin) is fine for a baby.

I would also like to add that a sling might be good in your sutuation even just fir days when your hands ache, there are a lot of comfortahle and easy to use slings on the market but please stay away from Baby Bjorn types where the baby dangles by there crotch as these are horrid for you and the baby!

How about doing the research and then holding off on the final purchase until the baby is here? You could get the car seat you know is compatible with the ones you are considering.

My born last September baby is in an umbrella fold Maclaren Techno XT and has been since 4 months. I tend to end up using the car for most trips out and it is light and easy to put up just flick and push with one foot to unfold (also it is 7 years old now and still going strong!)

He had reflux so would not tolerate lying flat at all So we used a stretchy wrap sling, it was lovely ad snuggly in the winter, (google moby sling to get an idea although I have a cheaper one) I still use the sling for days out where I will mostly be on the tube or I need him to be 'out the way' (for example he was in the sling for most of my older son's birthday party at soft play)

I have a Phil and Teds sport (about 3 or 4 times the price of the Maclaren) in the garage. It is lovely to push but heavy and a PITA to lift and fold into the boot so is only used when I walk from the front door somewhere. For this baby thats maybe 4 or 5 times in the past 6 months.

I have, and love, the iCandy Cherry. It's lightweight, narrow and faces both ways, can be used from birth surg carrycot, but isn't too flimsy unlike some other really lightweight ones. It's also cheaper than the Raspberry.