What type of travel systems/pushchairs/strollers have you had?

[allduffedup]

We're expecting DC1 in August, and a bit overwhelmed by the choices.

The main thing, is I don't know whether to get something that will last all 3 years that DC1 will need it, or to change as we go along. From what I gather, most people start with a heavy, sturdy travel system that accommodates a good size carrycot, and then later switch to a lighter, compact travel system and/or umbrella stroller.

So I was wondering what other people have had, and at what point you changed to a different travel system/stroller? Has anyone had a travel system that they used all the way through from birth?

Well we have a Bugaboo Bee and still use it. I didn't want a big heavy pram that was a faff to put down and have to take the wheels off just to get it in the car. So we bought the Bee and still use it for DS aged 2.

We have an umbrella fold maclaren which we bought to go on holiday, but I find it a pain and use the Bee far more. It's just lovely. And DS can climb in it when he's tired.

Now we are due DC.2 we've bought a buggy board for the Bee so I can use it with the baby and DS can use the board.

Now you're asking! I have had a few 9 prams in total for my three children. Here is my run-down;

1. Mamas and Papas Ultima (no longer sold) that had a separate proper carrycot and a seat that went flat too. By flat I mean it had a proper hinged backrest, it was not a bucket-shaped seat that you tilted on the chassis and the child ended up with it's legs in the air.

1. Maclaren Quest, bought when DS was about 3 months old and we were going to visit family. The Ultima took up most of the boot so we needed something smaller.

1. Britax Trekker 3 wheeler. Bought to replace the Ultima (although I still kept the Ultima) because by this time DS was in the pushchair seat and the floating harness was driving me mad! Basically, it was a 5 point harness that was only attached to the pram by the child's hips - the straps went up over the child's shoulders but were not attached to the back of the pram so DS was bobbing around all over the place, falling forward onto the bumper bar or leaning way too far out of the pram! I really liked the Britax Trekker, the real tyres gave a really smooth ride and it was great for the beach or park walks.

1. Maclaren Volo. Not needed at all, but fancied something really lightweight for going on holiday when DS was almost 3.

1. At this point I had DD1. I kept the Mamas and Papas carrycot in the house for her to sleep in and had her in the pushchair seat from birth. But I knew that I'd want something different as soon as she was sitting up because I was not messing about with that stupid floating harness again! So I bought a Britax Visio (no longer made, but the same as a Mamas and Papas pramette). I liked it as a pram, but when I started using it as a forward facing pushchair I realised that the seat was really narrow. By 9 months DD1 was too big to sit back against the backrest - the pram was just too narrow to allow her to lean back! So I sold that one and I think I must have gone back to using the Ultima for a while.

1. Maclaren Techno XT. Bought when DD1 was about 18 months old, I knew we were going to try for another baby and thought that a stroller suitable from birth would be handy to have for a third baby (by the time you get to your third you realise that big travel systems are a pain in the arse and actually nothing bad is going to happen if you have a tiny baby in a stroller facing away from you!).

1. Got pregnant with DD2 and bought a Mothercare MyChoice 4 wheeler. My sister-in-law had one and I really liked it. By this time I had given my sister the Mamas and Papas pram, and the original Macalren I'd bought (the Quest) was at my mums as a spare for all the grandchildren.

1. Maclaren Quest. After using the Techno XT for a while I decided it was too big to be a 'second' pram and sold it to buy a new Quest (in brown and pink, since I knew DD2 was our last baby and therefore a future boy would not have to sit in it!). Still using this now.

1. Finally, swapped the MyChoice for a BabyJogger City Mini and finally found the one pram I should have just bought in the first place (but in my defence, I'm not sure they were around in 2005). Love it, dare I say it even more than my Maclarens!

The Britax Trekker and the Maclaren Volo have been sold at some point along the way. Not sure I've quite come to terms with the fact that DD2 has just been 2 and I can't buy any more prams!

I started using the Maclaren prams when my babies were quite small, I never like to barge my way onto a bus or tram with a massive pram and have only ever taken the Maclarens abroad (not the big prams). I also used the Maclaren if I knew I was going to a cafe or somewhere where again I'd feel like I was in the way with a big pram. But other people are different, a friend of mine has her 15 month old in a Mothercare Orb pram and doesn't have any other pram - she uses that one all the time.

You don't have to buy a big bulky system if it's not what you want/need, most people switch pushchairs because they buy something totally impractical for their lifestyle.

With my first I had lots of prams because I struggled to find something that suited me, with my second I used what I learnt first time around and bought an Emmaljunga for walking (love, love, love it!) and a Baby Jogger City Mini for travelling. Ironically these were the first and last pushchairs I had with my first. I also use a sling a lot nowadays as I find it easier for busy places and buses.

Think about what you NEED the pram to do by asking yourself a few questioms :

1. Do you mainly walk/car/public transport?

If you walk, do you walk on paths/bumpy ground/off road.

If you use the car, is bootspace an issue?

If you use public transport, you need something compact and easily collapsible in one piece.

1. Is storage space an issue?

If it's going to be kept in your house will you be able to keep it upright or will it need to fold to fit in an allocated space.

Also think about how you will get it into your house so door width should be taken into account and flights of stairs may affect your decision.

Now move onto what you want:

1. Separate carrycot or lie flat seat?
2. Parent facing beyond carrycot or forward facing only?
3. Car seat compatible?

I've a graco miracle - it's a ly flat pushchair suitable from birth to 3 yrs, with a car seat.

It was tarome a hundred and works well so far, esp the big basket underneath for shopping trips.

I've a graco miracle - it's a ly flat pushchair suitable from birth to 3 yrs, with a car seat.

It was tarome a hundred and works well so far, esp the big basket underneath for shopping trips.

Sorry about double post.

Ment to add its quite bulky for storage and getting into the boot of the car.

I have the iCandy peach jogger. Dd is 2 now and we've not needed to buy anything else.

I have had
Silver cross sleepover- too big and not practical
Maclaren quest- great wee buggy
Phil and teds vibe. Good for my baby and toddler but a fucker to fold.
Maclaren Xlr- great pram but blue so when dd came along I got..
Quinny buzz- very heavy. Tipped over a lot but steered well. Baby outgrew very quickly.
Now have a baby jogger city gt and I wish I'd had this to start with. It is awesome. Big shopping bag, good size buggy bit, a dream to steer and folds in an instant and has a massive hood. Icannot fault it. Get one!

If you buy the right pushchair for your needs and requirements, for your lifestyle, home, car and daily outings, you will never want to downsize to a smaller stroller because you will love your one and only pushchair.
If you buy a pushchair which is too big for your car, too heavy to lift in and out, too heavy to push, or too bulky to store, then you will undoubtably look forward to the day when you can sell it and buy something lighter.
However, I see no reason at all why the latter should happen, if you buy the right pushchair at the start.