Prams/pushchairs/travel systems - what's the difference and how do I choose for a first baby?

[wem]

I'm pregnant with my first and starting to think about various bits of equipment. I'm finding it really hard to work out what kind of pram we will need.

I'd like to try a sling, but think a back up would be a good idea, for longer trips out at least. I'll be relying on public transport because dh takes the car for work. There's a reasonable high street in walking distance for essentials though.

Any thoughts?

We bought a Britax pram with carrycot which we used as a pram in the day time and a bed at night. It could carry the car seat but we used that only a couple of times as I preferred the baby flat. I didn't buy the pushchair bit as I knew we would be having a light weight buggy. Was fab.

(For sale if interested. )

NotABanana - I'll keep it in mind if we ever get round to making a decision. Only 15 weeks at the moment tho, so got a while to think about it.

How long did you use it for - when did you switch to a buggy?

We switched to a buggy at 5 months I think. Compared to some of the weird prams I see now, it isn't trendy but it did its job. The baby was flat, slept in it well and it was really lovely to use and easy to fold. Some of the pushchairs I see look like they should be on Mars and they just don't look comfortable for the baby. JMO obviously.

Hubby won't let me have any more babies so if there is anything you wouldn't mind being preloved, let me know.

Buy a car seat that fits your car well . If it has a compatible chassis/pushchair you like , fine if not it really wontl eb the end of the world. soem ahve a carrycot part which is good for naps and overnight and in winter , others are less structured. Some face either way , others only forwards.

The Mamas and Papas pramette is pretty light, folds easily and converts from pram (rear facing) to pushchair (front facing). Nowhere near as heavy as the dreaded Bugaboo.

oh and it lies flat as a pram, and reclines easily as a pushchair. Also like the floating harness, as DS is nosy and liked looking about.

I use public transport a lot and so I chose a Maclaren that went flat so could be used from birth. It isn't trendy, but I'm still using it now at 21 months.

I did use the sling a lot in the first 3 months, much easier to get on/off buses, but DS got v heavy v quickly. Next time I would get a better sling! (we had a Baby Bjorn).

firstly, i wanted to go down the sling route, I've got four different ones - my ds doesn't like being in one at all.

Prams are something that you must really go to town researching and trying them out.

I couldn't live without a carry cot. Even tho lo might only be in it for a few months, those first few months are really important and putting your lo in a pram and it guaranteeing sleep is priceless.

I have a car seat that fits my pram, I have NEVER used that facility, can't see that it is easier or useful.

I have a mountain buggy and i LOVE it

MaeWest - did you have to buy new bits and pieces to continue using it, or could you just use the same set up to 21 months?

def a maclaren xt.........

i wish i shouldve of bought it from the beginning when my dd was a newborn as its so light and brill. you can used these from birth. i bought it when my dd was just after 2 and weighed a ton (she walking everywhere now), so now im pg with my 2nd...im gonna carry on using the maclaren all the way thru.

Sorry - off to get some food, but thanks for all replies so far, and I'll check back in later

wem - it came with a footmuff and a rain cover, which was handy. But basically it's just a simple folding buggy, weighs about 6kg.

ive had my maclaren for a year and a half and no prob. theres also a maclaren classic that inc the footmuff. (i bought my footmuff seperate for my maclaren xt).

oh and mine came with the raincover.

I had a travel system with DD1 Really lovely simple and useful. Short journeys she stayed in the carseat that clipped over the pram, BUT as you are mot using a car a lot, I would go with a really nice GOOD quality light buggy that can have the baby from birth. Personally I would get a 3 wheeler if I went again, But a great Mclaren is worth look. Don't waste time on carry cots (IMHO) we had an old fashioned crib beside the bed (my old crib!!) which lasted until she moved into her own room at 6 months.

ACTUALLY I take that back I did have a FAB old fashioned pram, proper silver cross type thing (again my old pram) which I used athome during the day fopr naps - we had a dog and I liked DD being safe in teh pram. I could also go outside to the garden or around the village with her - not for urban areas but fab in villages

I had a travel system which was great because I used the car a fair bit in the beginning and it was great to be able to clip the car seat in and out of the base and into the pushchair.

If I was going to mainly use public transport, I'd get a maclaren XT I think, then you just have one multipurpose thing.

Go and try and few out though - I changed my mind totally after trying a few different makes/models