Help me choose a newborn travel system, needs to fit in Fiat 500

[Phoenix321]

Getting stressed trying to find a travel system and any help appreciated. Wanting a newborn travel system:
suitable from newborn
parent and world facing
with car seat that attaches
carrycot option
needs to fit Fiat 500 boot

A colleague recommended the Joolz aer 2 which meets all of the above with the additional bonus that stroller fits in overhead cabin for travel (planning a holiday with baby when 6 months old so if buy a bulkier system will a travel stroller to take on the plane). Also been told no guarantee airline won't make you check in to hold if busy flight and stroller not cheap so concerned about damage etc and all the extra add ons such as protective bag, footmuff, cup holder etc push up the price. Also as it has small wheels not good for forest walks etc and doesn't feel as sturdy or plush as the bigger travel systems. Carrycot also looks quite 'boxy'. Not sure in reality how many countryside walks we'll be going on and have a baby carrier so not sure how much this matters. I imagine mainly taking baby out around town or to visit friends etc although

dp likes the mamas and papas Ocarro 2 which looks lovely and plush, but not sure if I'll need to take wheel/s off to fit in the boot.

mamas and papas flip xt3 cheaper than Ocarro 2 and wheels not quite as big so should fit in boot. However doesn't feel as plush as the Occaro 2.

The more I look the more confused I get. Any help appreciated!

Have you got any baby shops near to you? Eg: Lester's nursery world? I was so confused shopping online and found they were amazing in store!

Big yes for Jools Aer so long as you are sticking to pavements.

Definitely huge no for the bugaboo fox! Its a right PITA to fit in anywhere.

We’ve got the Joolz aer 2 and a small car (although not as small as yours) we really like it. It’s very practical for us as we live in London so need to also navigate tube and busses and it’s nice and light so I can carry it where I need to. we paired it with the Maxi Cozi Pebble as we wanted a lie flat car seat. It came with the airline bag and a rain cover for the stroller, we bought the pram top separately (might be able to get one on Vinted) and picked up the footmuff and some pram sheets in their sale (again can probably get Vinted/unbranded). It will be insured if it’s damaged in flight and they normally gate check them so they don’t get bashed about on the conveyers.

if I was getting in and out if the car all the time I would not be arsed with taking the wheels off. That would be super annoying.

The other small one everyone in London has is the Stokke yoyo. Might be worth looking at.

if you book a baby appointment at John Lewis they will give you 10% off if you spend over £1000 on baby so it worked well for us to get everything we needed in one go.

Look at Bugaboo Dragonfly as well. It’s very compact (the new Bee) but a bit more sturdy than the Joolz one.

Don’t bother with the Ocarro, Fox etc. Full size “all terrain” travel systems are nearly always abandoned once your child can sit up as they’re heavy and surprisingly bad in UK winter weather - the slightest bit of mud and the wheels get stuck. Nearly everyone ends up with a Joie stroller or one of the Aer/Yoyo/Butterfly types.

We only ever needed two strollers: the Joolz Aer for around town and an OutnAbout Nipper for rural walks. We never needed a full blown travel system.

silver cross nia

the bassinet is collapsible and the pushchair/base fits in an overhead locker on a plane. It also will allow a car seat to attach to the pushchair

it folds very small

Thank you for all your suggestions. I have looked in person in John Lewis and Mamas and Papas. Found an ex display Flip xt3 for a reasonable price that comes with carrycot, footmuff, rain cover, changing bag etc so was considering that and then getting the pebble and base separately to attach which would work out approx £750. Then get the aer2 stroller by itself once baby gets
to 6 months in time for travel. Have seen the YOYO in person and although practical I just didn't find it aesthetically pleasing and looks like the baby is quite close to the ground in it. With the Joolz aer2 just have to pay extra for all the add ons so ends up quite pricey.

@100Otters where did you get your Aer 2 from with rain cover and carry bag included? I'm finding it's all those extra bits that are adding up!

I think you'll really struggle with such a tiny car and a baby to be honest....any way you can afford to change it? We have had bigger cars and even then it's a struggle to fit pushchairs in.

@Phoenix321It was from John Lewis. I wasn’t expecting it but the both came in the box. We ordered the bassinet separately and that didn’t come with the rain cover so I got one on Vinted.

I wouldn’t bother with the cup holder. I kept smashing it into doors and am now using the bottle holder on the nappy bag which I clip on to the handles so it doesn’t get in the way.

I agree I don’t really like the yoyo. I would say I don’t think it’s worth buying the aer2 just for travel. If you go with another system then pick up a cheap secondhand stroller for the airport otherwise you won’t get the use of it.

Just get a car seat and a baby carrier and save the pushchair for when the baby is bigger.

@Anon501178 Unfortunately I can't afford another car at the moment but will only be using my car primarily for quick trips with baby and possibly one of my two other bigger children squeezed in! I do have access to a slightly bigger 5 door car and for longer trips with all 5 of us will be in dp's car.

thanks to everyone for suggestions. I also do have a baby carrier.

The Yoyo is better than the aer and meets most of your requirements. It's much more robust than it looks. Plus the car seat adaptors fit maxicosi and cybex which are two of the safest car seats.